Chapter 1 Climate Change Flashcards
What is Global Warming?
Global warming relates to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s surface that has been observed in recent years, and it is projected to continue.
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
The greenhouse effect is the process by which absorption and emission of infrared radiation by gases in the atmosphere are purported to warm a planet’s lower atmosphere and surface.
What is the average warming effect of natural gases?
Naturally occurring greenhouse gases have a mean warming effect of about 33 °C.
What are greenhouse gases? What are the major greenhouse gases?
A greenhouse gas is a gas that traps heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The major greenhouse gases are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and ozone.
What is the cause of global warming?
Global warming is caused by several things which include man-made or anthropogenic causes and natural causes.
What is a natural cause of climate change? Give Examples?
Natural causes are causes that are created by nature. One natural cause is a release of methane gas from arctic tundra and wetlands. Methane is a greenhouse gas and a very dangerous gas to our environment. Another natural cause is that the earth goes through a cycle of climate change. This climate change usually lasts about 40,000 years.
What is a man-made cause of climate change? What is the biggest?
There are many man-made causes of global warming. Pollution is one of the biggest man-made problems. Pollution comes in many shapes and sizes. Burning fossil fuels is one thing that causes pollution. Fossil fuels are fuels made of organic matter such as coal, or oil. When fossil fuels are burned they give off a green house gas called CO2. When you dig up the fossil fuels you dig up the methane as well letting it escape into the atmosphere
What effects of global warming have already shown? What is Climate Change already having a major effect on? What could this mean for island and coastal regions?
In the last 40 years, the global average sea level has risen, ocean heat content has increased, and snow cover and ice extent have decreased, which threatens to inundate low-lying island nations and coastal regions throughout the world. Effects of global warming are already being felt on plants and animals worldwide
What can we expect if nothing is done?
Higher temperatures will cause a melting of ice in Greenland and Antarctica. This will accelerate the rise of sea level. The speed at which global warming is expected to occur in the 21st century is faster than most plant and animal species will be able to cope with. Some will adapt but others will suffer and may become extinct. Global warming will affect agriculture. New crops will be able to be grown in areas that are currently too cold to support them. However, more pests and diseases may offset any benefits higher temperatures may have. Water resources will also be affected.
What is Ozone? What color is it? What does oxygen consist of?
The ozone layer protects the Earth from the ultraviolet rays sent down by the sun. Ozone is a bluish gas that is formed by three atoms of oxygen. The form of oxygen that humans breathe in consists of two oxygen atoms, O2 .
What would be the consequences with the destruction of the ozone?
If the ozone layer is depleted by human action, the effects on the planet could be catastrophic. When found on the surface of the planet, ozone is considered a dangerous pollutant and is one substance responsible for producing the greenhouse.
What was the hottest year on record?
•According to NASA, the hottest year on record was 2005, which matched 1998.
How much damage was caused by hurricanes last year?
According to the National Climactic Data Center $100 billion of damage was caused by hurricanes hitting the U.S. coast in 2005 alone.
What effects will climate change have on animals?
It was projected that 15- 37% of all plant and animal species could be wiped out by global warming by the year 2050, which could further cause considerable damage to our planet’s environment.
List some basic predictions of the effects of global warming on temperature and sea level?
Some basic predictions of global warming on temperature and sea level:
- Global mean temperature may increase by between 1.4 and 5.8°C.
- The Northern Hemisphere cover may decrease further but the Antarctic ice sheet may increase.
- The sea level may rise by between 9 and 88 cm (3.5” to 35”).
- Extreme weather events
