Chapter 20 Flashcards
Temperature and CO2 trends
Growing number of scientists and engineers do not agree that drastic actions to reduce CO2 emissions are needed
CO2 concentrations have followed temperature changes long before man started pumping CO2 into the atmosphere
For the past 10 years temperature increases have not kept up with CO2 emissions increases
No link between mans release as % of temperature increase
Rising article mercury levels
Global mercury emissions could grow by 25% by 2020
Global warming could add to problem by releasing mercury stores in permafrost or ice sheets.
Polar bears, beluga whales, and seals have shown elevated levels of mercury
Greenhouse effect
Remitted infrared radiation absorbed bY the atmosphere
Moderates day/night temperature swings & makes earth habitable
Greenhouse gases
Water vapor and particles (97% of total greenhouse warming) Carbon dioxide (CO2) Methane ( CH4) Chlorofluorocarbons Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
Greenhouse effect
Process of trapping heat in the atmosphere
Amount of sunlight earth receives
Amount of sunlight of earth reflects
Retention of heat by atmosphere
Evaporation and condensation of water proof
Negative feedback
Stimulated algae growth could absorb CO2
Stimulated growth of plants ditto
Increased precipitation/polar snow/ reflection
Cloudier conditions
Positive feedback
Increased evaporation from the oceans
Melting permafrost/ release of methane
Darker surfaces deuce reflectivity (albedo)
More air-conditioning/fossil fuels/CO2
Negative Feedback Cycles
Algae
Terrestrial vegetation
Polar regions
Cloud cover
Positive feedback cycles
Increased evaporation
Melting permafrost
Reduction in summer snowpack
Urban islands
Causes of climate change
Milankovitch cycles Solar cycles Atmospheric transparency Albedo (reflectivity) affects Climate forcing Oceans Carbon sink/source Currents El Niño
