Assignment 5 Flashcards
Economic sector that uses greatest amount of fresh water globally?
Agriculture.
What happens to local runoff if local evaporation increases?
Local runoff decreases.
Which latitudinal zone predicted to become drier in next 100 years?
Subtropics.
How can climate change in Himalayan mountains affect over a billion people in Asia?
Loss of glaciers = reduced water supply.
How much will global sea level rise if all Arctic sea ice melted?
No change.
What new technology is currently being used to determine thickness of Arctic sea ice?
Cryosat measures height of ice above sea level, from which thickness can be computed.
How might Greenland ice loss accelerate?
Water flows into moulines and lubricates ice sheet.
Why is the West Antarctic ice sheet more unstable than East Antarctic?
West sits on bedrock that is below sea level.
How might permafrost melting create a positive feedback for global warming?
Release of methane.
In what country are mountain glaciers still growing?
Norway.
Largest contributor to current global sea level rise?
Melting of land ice OR melting from mountain glaciers.
Why are typhoons typically stronger than hurricanes?
Western Pacific sea surface temperature is warmer.
Main cause of storm surge in tropical cyclone?
Wind stress on ocean surface.
Main reason why strong but temporary coral bleaching events have already occurred?
El Ninos temporarily warm ocean surface.
Why is acidification of oceans a concern?
Prevents many marine organisms from forming hard shell.
