Chapter 1 Flashcards

Question

seal level rise

Answer 1

will rise 17 to 30 inches (44-76 cm) by 2100 under SPP2 -estimate sea-level will rise a few meters with every decree warming 1 possibility: sea-level rise responds slowly and takes millenia 2 possibility: tipping point is reached

Answer 2

1/4 of CO2 emissions ends up in ocean - decreasing ocean's pH

Answer 3

extreme events are stochastic (random in time) will become more intense and more frequent

Answer 4

how likely would an extreme event had happened without climate change - uses 3 different sources of information 1. statistical analysis of historical climate (can help determine likelihood that an extreme event occurring today could happen prior to human-induced warming: by itself this type of analysis can't tell whether phenoma was caused by global warming or by something else (correlation not causality) 2. understanding physics of phenomena (ex: warmer world = more frequent heatwaves -- solid proof heat wave is consequence of climate change; for other phenomena harder to prove - ex: tornadoes (don't have good understanding how frequency of tornadoes will be affected by climate change)) 3. computer simulation (Global Climate Models - GCM): evaluate frequency and intensity of extreme events -simulation can be run with and without GHG therefore impact of climate change can be quantitatively estimated (ex: simulation without climate change shows heatwaves rarely occur)

Answer 5

decline in land and sea-ice can amplify warming beyond just GHG release - ice has a higher albedo (reflect) therefore previously covered ice regions will absorbe more solar radiation - heating up the atmosphere and thus melting more ice therefore exposing more areas to absorb more light -- cyclical affect (similar to water vapor feedback)

Answer 6

primary reason arctic and antarctic regions are warming aster than other areas on earth (1. shallower atm; 2. heat content of open water) leads to average arctic temp that is 3/4 times that of the rest of the northern hemisphere consequences: -faster melting of greenland ice sheet (cause sea level rise + release of CH4 + alterations of large-scale wind patterns (northern hemisphere jet stream)

Answer 7

any self-reinforcing warming phenomena - ex: water feedback, polar amplification a feedback loop either slows down / speeds up a change in the system positive feedback: accelerates change negative feedback: slows down change --feedbacks play important role in climate tipping points

Answer 8

where enough GHG have been added to climate that climate system will undergo a large and rapid shift to an entirely new climate state ex: 12,000 years ago - we were coming off of last ice age and climate in norther hemisphere plunged several decrees in decades due to disruption in ocean currents

Answer 9

1. shutdown of gulf stream - major and widespread change in climate (similar to 12,000 years ago example) 2. rapid disintegration of greeland or west antarctic ice sheets - raise sea levels by meters in a century or less 3. thawing of permafrost and CH4 hydrates - release huge amounts of GHG into atm thus accelrating climate change 4. shift in timing and magnitude of indian monsoon - changing seasonal rainfall (relied on by billions) -- is difficult to assess probability of a tipping point occurring

Answer 10

1. adaptation 2. mitigation 3. geo-engineering

Answer 11

physical enhancement: 1. human-built infrastructure 2. enhancement of eco-system services and functions Adaptive responses: Can also improve human communication, processes and regulations (better warning systems)

Answer 12

intended adaptation action that increases climate vulnerability consequences: 1. increase in vulnerability 2. increase in GHG 3. imposition of disproportional burdens on the most vulnerable populations

Answer 13

Amount of CO2 produced / unit E Highest C intensity: 1. coal 2. oil 3. nat gas -- while nat gas has been deemed as "cleaner" and a bridge towards renewable E, with natural gas comes risk of CH4 leakage

Answer 14

to satsify all human E need would requie ! M km^2 to be covered with Solar panels (0.2% earth's surface - same as cities)

Answer 15

One turbine = 10 MW - could satisfy with few million (especially if we place offshore)

Answer 16

Intermittency - has to be balanced with dispatchable Carbon safe E sources (always available and can counteract wind and solar) -- nuclear power - risk of waste leakage - advancement with small modular reactors (SMRs): 1. physically smaller (allows for most of plant to be manufacutred off site); 2. saves cost and constructions time; 3. are simpler than traditional power plan and safer 4. less frequent refuel cycle may ease proliferation concerns

Answer 17

1. short term (couple hours - could shift E produced at peak of solar power (noon) to peak demand (late afternoon/early evening)) 2. long term (days to weeks - could displace need for dispatchable power) --> long term storage at sufficient scale is currently not feasible + issue of obtaining chemicals that make batteries(Ex: cobalt - comes from politically volatile regions in Africa)

Answer 18

1. Solar Radiation management (inject sulfur intro stratosphere to act as aerosol) - side effects: change precipitation patterns; lead to misunderstanding and cause political destabilization 2. CO2 removal: CCUS (carbon capture utilization and storage) - removes CO2 from exhaust gas of a power plant 3. Direct Air Capture 4. BEECS (Bio-E C capture and sequestration) - plants are grown and then burned to product power - CO2 produced is capture and sequestered

Answer 19

US: cut 50% emissions below 2004 levels by 2030; NZ by 2050 EU: 55% emissions reduction below 1990 levels by 2030; NZ by 2050 in reality, commitments put us on tracker for 2.3-3 degree warming in 2100 with continued warming

Answer 20

carbon budget = limit future emissions to 1.5 trillion tonnes humans have already emitted 2.2. trillion tonees with present day emissions exceeding 40 B tonnes / year, we will exceed budget by 2050s Limit for 1.5 : 580 B tonnes (on track to exceed in 2030s)

Answer 21

need to decline 50% emissions by 2030 and reach NZ by 2050

Answer 22

decline 50% emissions by 2040s and reach NZ by 2080

Answer 23

3 degrees C