Chapter 15 Flashcards
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather: short-lived, local patterns; temperature and precipitation due to circulation of the troposphere.
Climate: Long-term patterns of temperature and precipitation.
What are the four layers of the atmosphere and rank them in order of the nearest to Earth surface to the farthest from Earth?
1-Troposphere is immediately adjacent to the earth’s surface. Ranges in depth from 18km over the equator to 8 km over the poles. Convection currents redistribute heat and moisture around the globe.Air temperature drops rapidly with increasing distance from the earth.
2—Stratosphere: From tropopause up to about 50 km. Has almost no water vapor, but 1000X more ozone than the troposphere. Ozone absorbs ultraviolet light, which warms the upper part of the stratosphere. Ozone protects all life on Earth since UV radiation damages living tissues. Ozone is being depleted by pollutants including Freon and bromine.
3—Mesosphere: Middle Layer where the temperature diminishes again.
4—Thermosphere : Begins at 80 km. Ionized gases and high temperatures
Lower thermosphere has ions which are struck by high energy radiation resulting in the Aurora borealis
(northern lights)
Natural occurring ozone is located in ____ layer
Stratosphere
Define albedo. Which one has the greatest albedo Sand, dense clouds, fresh snow, water?
Albedo:Reflectivity of surfaces
Dense Clouds has the highest
Explain the greenhouse effect and the gases involved.
A natural phenomena where the atmosphere transmits sunlight while trapping heat.
Carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxides, methane, and other substances that retain heat.
The phenomenon causing the greenhouse effect is that ______ in the lower atmosphere selectively absorb(s) reradiated ____ radiation.
Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and other gasses
Infrared (heat)
Definitions: El Nino, La Nina, anthropogenic, tornado, hurricane, typhoons.
El Nino: An irregularly occurring and complex series of climatic changes affecting the equatorial Pacific region and beyond every few years, characterized by the appearance of unusually warm, nutrient-poor water off northern Peru and Ecuador, typically in late December.
La Nina: A cooling of the water in the equatorial Pacific, which occurs at irregular intervals, and is associated with widespread changes in weather patterns complementary to those of El Niño, but less extensive and damaging in their effects.
Anthropogenic: Of, relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature
Tornado: a mobile, destructive vortex of violently rotating winds having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud and advancing beneath a large storm system.
Hurricane: A storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone in the Caribbean
Typhoon: A tropical storm in the region of the Indian or western Pacific oceans.
What is IPCC and its purpose?
The IPCC is an international group of scientists and governmental representatives from 130 countries formed to review the scientific evidence for climate change.
Fossil fuel is the number one source of energy for humans which contributes to much of CO2 production. How do fossil fuels and CO2 production contribute to global warming(or climate changes)?. What negative impact does global warming(or climate changes) have on the environment? ( Have you watched “The Day After Tomorrow” Movie? It is interesting to watch, if you can).
Burning carbon-based fuels like coal or natural gas or gasoline turns some of the fuel into carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. This greenhouse gas prevents a lot of the heat that naturally escapes our atmosphere from escaping, and heats up the Earth. The negative impact global warming has on the environment is the death of coral reefs, melts ice, rising sea levels, severe droughts, change of season.
What are some sources of methane? Are animals to be blamed for methane production?
landfills, rice paddies, oil wells, and coal mines, and animal farms. Animals produce methane when they consume food.
Purpose of the Kyoto Protocol and its pros and cons?
Kyoto Protocol: Called on nations to roll back carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions about 5% below 1990 levels by 2012. Sets different limits for different countries, depending on prior output
Refer to figure 15.28 and explain carbon capture and injection to improve gas and oil recovery. Also see table 15.3 for actions to reduce global CO2 emission.
Carbon capture and storage involves pumping C02 into permanent storage, usually a salty aquifer of other geologic formation. Captured C02 can also be used to increase pressure on oil and gas wells, increasing recovery.
What are the 4 major steps for combating climate change?
- Implement emissions trading.
- Technology sharing with
less developed countries. - Reducing deforestation.
- Helping poorer countries respond to climate
change
