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Geol 101 Lecture > Chapter 21 > Flashcards

Chapter 21 Flashcards

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1
Q

Climate system

A

multidemensional system of many interacting parts

includes: atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, cryosphere

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2
Q

Climate impacts geologic processes

A

weathering, flooding, mass wasting

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3
Q

Geologic process affect climate

A

volcanism and mountain building

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4
Q

paleoclimatology

A

reconstructing past climate change

Instructional records only go back a couple of centuries

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5
Q

Scientists use proxy data

A

indirect evidence of climate change

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6
Q

Seafloor Sediments

A

Storehouse of Climate Data: Abundance and types of organic remains are indicative of past sea-surface temperatures

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7
Q

Oxygen Isotope Analysis

A

precise measure of the ratio of O18/O16
Higher ratios indicate climate was colder
-ratios trapped in calcium carbonate shells of marine organisms
-ratios vary with amount of sea ice and water temp

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8
Q

ice can be analyzed for

A
  • oxygen isotope analysis
  • Carbon dioxide ad methane (air bubbles trapped in the ice)
  • Dust, volcanic ash, pollen
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9
Q

Tree Rings

A

Archives of environmental history

-growth rings are added each year (thickness and density of rings reflect environemental conditions

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10
Q

Other types of Proxy Data

A

-Fossil Pollen: Pollen can provide high-resolution records of vegetation
Best type of paleovegetation indication
-Corals- Through oxygen isotope analysis, corals are used as paleothermometers and precipitation proxies
-Historical Data

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11
Q

Composition of the Atmosphere

A
  • Air is a mixture of many discrete gases
  • Clean dry air: mostly nitrogen and oxygen, carbon dioxide is a minute component of air but can absorb and affect global climate
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12
Q

Water Vapor in atmophere

A
  • amount varies from none to 4% of air
  • source of clouds and precipitation
  • can absorb heat and affect global climate
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13
Q

Ozone (Atmosphere)

A
  • A combination of three oxygen atoms in one molecule in one molecule
  • Thin layer of gas concentrated in the stratosphere
  • Absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation
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14
Q

Aerosols in atmosphere

A
  • tiny solid and liquid particles found in the air
  • Can attract moisture for cloud formation
  • can block sunlight from reaching earth
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15
Q

Pressure changes with ____

A

height

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16
Q

Pressure in the atmosphere structure

A

is the weight of the air above

  • Pressure at higher altitudes is less
  • Average sea level pressure is 1 kilogram per centimeter
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17
Q

Earth’s atmosphere is divided into four layers based on temperature

A

Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere

18
Q

Troposphere

A
  • Bottom layer of atmosphere
  • We live in it
  • Temp decreases with increase in altitude
  • Where weather occurs
  • Bounded on top by tropopause
19
Q

Stratosphere

A
  • Temp remains constant until 20 Km then it increases
  • Ozone is concentrated here
  • Bounded on top by stratopause
20
Q

Mesophere

A
  • Temp decreases with height to mesopause

- Coldest temperatures in atmosphere

21
Q

Thermosphere

A
  • tiny fraction of atmosphere
  • Temp increases due to absorption of solar radiation
  • no defined upper limit
22
Q

The sun emits _______ ______ in the form of rays and waves

A

electromagnetic radiation

  • as an object absorbs radiation, molecule movement increases causing temp to rise
  • key difference among electromagnetic radiation is the wavelengths
23
Q

Basic laws governing radtiation

A
  • All objects emit radiant energy
  • Hotter objects radiate more total energy than do colder objects
  • The hotter the radiating body, the shorter the wavelengths of maximum radiation
  • Objects that are good absorbers of radiation are good emitters as well
24
Q

50% solar energy passes through

A

atmosphere and is absorbed on Earth’s surface

25
Q

20% solar energy

A

is absorbed by clouds and atmospheric gases

26
Q

30% solar energy is

A

reflected back to space by clouds, atmosphere, snow and ice

27
Q

Greenhouse Affect

A
  • Shortwave solar radiation passes through the atmosphere and heats Earth
  • Longwave radiation emitted by Earth is absorbed by gases in the atmosphere (CO2 and water vapor)
28
Q

Selective absorption and reheating of Earth is called ______ _____ and results in warming of the atmosphere

A

greenhouse effect

29
Q

Plate Movements

A
  • landmasses move closer or further from equator

- can affect ocean circulation

30
Q

Volcanic Activity and Climate Change

A

effects volcanic aerosols on climate
Sulfuric acid droplets
lowered global temps
increase in atmospheric CO2

31
Q

Sunspots

A

huge magnetic storms on the sun
cycle is too short to have effect on global temps
Changes in temperature and precipitation

32
Q

Humans modifying the environment

A

fire, overgrazing, burning fossil fuels, deforestation

Causing temps to rise

33
Q

Trace Gases

A

Methane
Nitrous Oxide
CFCs

34
Q

Methane

A

trace gas

Less abundant than carbon dioxide, but more effective at absorbing outgoing radiation

35
Q

Nitrous Oxide

A

trace gas

Greenhouse gas that lasts for 150 years in atmophere

36
Q

CFCs

A

trace gas

commercially produced chemical that depletes ozone

37
Q

different possible outcomes of climate change

A

climate-feedback mechanisms

38
Q

Changes that reinforce the initial change

A

positive-feedback mechanisms

39
Q

Produce results that are opposite of the initial change and tend to offset it

A

negative-feedback mechanisms

40
Q

Possible consequences of global warming

A
  • temp increase not uniform
  • precipitaion changes
  • sea level rise driven by melting glaciers and thermal expansion
  • Changing arctic (loss of sea ice and melting of permafrost)
  • Increasing Ocean Acidity

Geol 101 Lecture (13 decks)

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