[AI] Chapter 2 | Global Climate Change Flashcards
What is rainfall in relation to the hydrological cycle?
Rainfall is the key process of the hydrological cycle, facilitating the exchange of water from the atmosphere back to Earth’s surface.
Where is the highest concentration of rainfall found?
Low latitudes near the equator.
What creates rainfall in mid-latitude temperate regions?
Cold fronts within subpolar or mid-latitude low pressure systems.
What phenomenon occurs when warm moist air is forced to rise?
Rainfall is produced through coalescence of moisture.
What areas tend to experience higher rainfall?
- Coastal areas
- Windward slopes of mountains
What causes low rainfall in regions of high pressure?
Descending cool air reduces condensation, leading to clear skies.
What effect does distance from large bodies of water have on rainfall?
Inland areas tend to receive low levels of rainfall.
How does albedo affect temperature?
Areas of low albedo absorb more insolation and therefore tend to have higher temperatures.
What is the average surface temperature of equatorial regions?
25°C or higher.
What is the environmental lapse rate?
The temperature decreases 6.5°C for every 1 kilometre in altitude.
What is the heat budget?
The balance between heat energy reaching Earth as short-wave radiation and the amount emitted back into space as long-wave terrestrial radiation.
What percentage of solar energy is reflected back to space?
Approximately 30%.
What is the role of greenhouse gases in the greenhouse effect?
They absorb some of the terrestrial radiation and re-radiate heat, moderating the temperature of the atmosphere.
What is the hydrological cycle?
The continuous movement of water as liquid, gas, and solid throughout the land, oceans, and atmosphere.
What is evaporation?
The process of water changing from liquid to gas, requiring solar energy.
What occurs during condensation?
Water vapour cools and changes back into tiny liquid water droplets.
What is precipitation?
Rain, snow, sleet, or hail falling from the sky.
What is infiltration in the hydrological cycle?
The process where precipitation soaks into the ground, replenishing aquifers.
What is surface flow?
Water that flows across the land instead of soaking into the ground.
What is transpiration?
The process where plant roots absorb water, which is then evaporated from leaves into the atmosphere.
What is the significance of the heat budget to Earth’s climate?
It largely determines Earth’s climate; any alteration in the balance has significant implications.
What does an increase in the net absorbed heat amount indicate?
It coincides with an increase in global surface temperature and observed changes in rainfall patterns.
What is the process called when snow and ice evaporate directly from a frozen state to vapor?
Sublimation
Sublimation occurs without passing through the liquid phase.
What is the primary process by which plants absorb water from the soil?
Transpiration
Transpiration accounts for 10% of the water vapor in the atmosphere.
What role does the hydrological cycle play in Earth’s climate?
Regulates weather elements including rainfall, humidity, and temperature.
What climatic event in 2022 was influenced by warmer ocean temperatures off the east coast of Australia?
Catastrophic flooding event in Southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.
What is atmospheric circulation responsible for?
Distribution of thermal energy across the Earth’s surface.
True or False: Weather systems can be predicted beyond a short window of 10 days.
False
What are the three large atmospheric cells?
- Hadley Cells
- Polar Cells
- Ferrel Cells
What is the primary characteristic of Hadley Cells?
Largest cells in atmospheric circulation, extending from the equator to 30°-40° latitudes.
What phenomenon forms due to rising warm air near the equator in the Hadley Cells?
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
What do Polar Cells primarily act as in the Earth’s atmospheric circulation?
Heat sink to balance the Hadley cell.
What are the characteristics of the air in Polar Cells?
Sinks over high latitudes and flows out towards lower altitudes.
What is the main function of Ferrel Cells in atmospheric circulation?
Moves in the opposite direction to Hadley and Polar cells.
What atmospheric conditions are typically associated with areas of low pressure?
Unstable, cloudy, and windy weather with a chance of rain or storms.
What is the carbon cycle?
Continuous movement of carbon compounds between land, oceans, atmosphere, and stores.
What two key processes are involved in the carbon cycle?
- Processes that remove and store carbon from the atmosphere
- Processes that release carbon back into the atmosphere
What is the significance of photosynthesis in the carbon cycle?
Plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere to produce glucose.
Fill in the blank: The process that acts within a single lifespan in the carbon cycle is called the _______.
Fast carbon cycle
What percentage has CO2 in the atmosphere risen since the industrial revolution?
48%
What natural phenomenon can cause short-term cooling effects on global temperatures?
Volcanic Eruptions
What is the Maunder Minimum?
Period from 1650 to 1715 with almost no sunspots, leading to a cooling effect.
What is the effect of sunspot activity on Earth’s climate?
Increased solar activity and storms can raise Earth’s temperature.
What are the consequences of high temperatures on Earth’s climate?
- Changing rainfall patterns
- Increased frequency of hazard events (droughts, cyclones, etc.)
What role does CO2 play in the greenhouse effect?
Retains heat generated from the sun.
What is the primary anthropogenic cause of climate change related to fossil fuels?
Direct burning of fossil fuels releasing stored carbon.
What major climatic event occurred due to the Lake Toba super-volcano eruption?
Global cooling of 3.0° to 3.5°C and a winter lasting several years.
What is the estimated contribution of urban land use to total anthropogenic GHG emissions?
76%
What is the largest contributor to energy-related CO2 emissions?
Power generation
What percentage of global energy generation comes from fossil fuels?
40%
What are the main greenhouse gases released during the combustion of fossil fuels?
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) * Sulfur dioxide (SO2) * Nitrous oxide (N2O)
What is the total world emission of CO2 from burning fossil fuels per year?
33 billion tonnes (Gt)
What percentage of global GHG emissions does transportation account for?
14%
What is the average CO2 emission per car per year?
5200 kg
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
The forced release of greenhouse gases from terrestrial stores into the atmosphere
Which greenhouse gas contributes most to the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
What percentage of the enhanced greenhouse effect is contributed by methane (CH4)?
20%
How much of the energy stored in the climate system is accounted for by ocean warming?
More than 90%
What agricultural practice produces significant methane emissions?
Rice cultivation
What is anaerobic fermentation?
The breakdown of organic matter in soil due to lack of oxygen
How much methane do rice cultivations contribute annually?
50 to 100 million tonnes
What is the largest contributor to agricultural GHG emissions?
Livestock
What percentage of global methane emissions is produced by livestock?
29%
What is the average methane emission per cow per year?
60 to 120 kg
What is the current global atmospheric concentration of CO2 (as of March 2022)?
417 ppm
What has been the increase in global temperature since 1880?
1.1°C
What significant change has occurred in the rate of sea level rise since the 1990s?
It has more than doubled from 1.4mm to 3.6mm per year
What do ice cores provide evidence of?
Historical atmospheric composition and climate conditions over 800,000 years
What is the relationship between atmospheric GHG concentration and temperature?
Direct relationship; higher GHG concentration leads to higher temperatures
What is albedo?
The amount of radiation reflected by the surface
How does melting glaciers affect the Earth’s albedo?
It decreases albedo, leading to more heat absorption
What is the urban heat island effect?
Urban areas that are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to human activity
What is the Urban Heat Island Effect?
An urban area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities.
What causes the Urban Heat Island Effect?
Caused by decreased albedo, reduced atmospheric circulation, and waste heat.
How does decreased albedo affect urban areas?
Relatively dark surfaces of an urban landscape store significantly more solar radiation than surrounding areas.
What is natural carbon sequestration?
The process of capture and long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the natural biogeochemical cycling of carbon.
What impact does land cover change have on natural carbon sequestration?
Any changes to this process due to land cover change will ultimately affect climate and create feedback loops.
What happens when trees are cut down for agricultural land?
Carbon previously stored in the vegetation is released as CO2 into the atmosphere.
What percentage of anthropogenic emissions is stored by oceans and land vegetation?
Each stores about ≈30% of anthropogenic emissions.
What is the projected impact of climate change on tree species distribution?
Estimated 80% of plants will shift their range towards pole or higher altitudes.
What effect does increased atmospheric CO2 have on plant growth?
Plants might grow from 12 to 76% more if atmospheric CO2 doubled.
Fill in the blank: The long-term heating of the earth’s climate system is known as _______.
Global Warming
What is the primary cause of global warming?
Human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning.
What is the projected increase in extreme fire weather days in Australia by 2025?
An increase of 10 to 50% for a low emissions scenario and 100 to 300% for a high emissions scenario.
How many people currently live in urban settlements without access to water for at least one month a year?
3.6 billion people.
What is the expected increase in people affected by water scarcity by 2050 due to climate change?
An additional 1.4 billion people.
True or False: Climate change is expected to decrease mortality during winter cold spells.
True
What are aerosols?
A suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in gas.
What does albedo refer to?
The amount of radiation reflected by the surface, ranging from 0 (no reflection) to 1 (100% reflection).
What is the definition of climate variability?
The year-to-year variation in monthly or seasonal climate conditions.
What is the hydrological cycle?
The continuous movement of water as liquid, gas, and solid throughout the land, oceans, and atmospheres.
What is the significance of proxy data in climate studies?
Indirect data sources used to identify evidence of climate change in the past.
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
An increase in the effectiveness of the natural greenhouse effect caused by increased atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases from human activities.
What is the role of greenhouse gases?
They contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing and re-emitting infrared radiation.
Fill in the blank: The chemical abundance in the Earth’s atmosphere is known as _______.
Atmospheric Composition
What is the geological time scale?
A system of chronological measurement used to describe the timing and relationships of events in Earth’s history.
What is the Urban Heat Island Effect?
An urban area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities.
This effect is primarily caused by human activities such as construction, transportation, and energy use.
What is Volcanic Winter?
Volcanic eruptions that add significant quantities of Sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere, lowering global surface temperatures.
The conversion of SO2 to sulphuric acid aerosol in the stratosphere can take up to months, so maximum cooling occurs up to a year after the eruption.
Define Weather.
The short-term conditions of the atmosphere at a given place and time, including temperature, humidity, cloud cover, winds, and precipitation.
Weather is different from climate, which refers to long-term atmospheric conditions.
What is the primary cause of the Urban Heat Island Effect?
Human activities.
Activities such as construction, transportation, and energy consumption significantly contribute to the heat retention in urban areas.
How does Volcanic Winter affect global temperatures?
It lowers global surface temperatures due to the addition of Sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere.
The cooling effect can be delayed, peaking up to a year after the eruption.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is the short-term conditions of the atmosphere at a given place and time.
Weather
True or False: The Urban Heat Island Effect only occurs in rural areas.
False.
It specifically refers to urban areas being warmer than surrounding rural areas.
What is the main component converted into aerosols during a volcanic eruption?
Sulphur dioxide (SO2).
This conversion leads to the cooling effects associated with Volcanic Winter.
