Chapter 5 (Climate Change) Flashcards
When you think about ocean currents- what does thermohaline circulation refer to?
Thermohaline circulation refers to deep ocean currents that are driven by differences in waters density, which is controlled by temperature and salinity. This also modifies the climate.
What makes saltwater more likely to sink?
It has saline in it and is more dense than fresh water.
What is ENSO?
El nino/ Southern oscillation (balancing system)
If it’s an El Nino event- are the trade winds near the Eastern Pacific Strong or weak? How does that relate to the atmospheric pressure?
-Weak
-Decreased atmospheric pressure in pacific, Increase in indian
What is the greenhouse effect? Did we cause it? How are affecting it?
-Re-emmitted heat comes into the atmosphere while some escapes into space.
-We did not cause it but have enhanced it, less heat is escaping into space while more re-emitted heat is entering the atmosphere.
What makes a gas- a greenhouse gas?
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere
What are the major greenhouse gases?
CO2, CH4, N2O, H2O, F-gases
Which one do we emit the most of?
CO2
Which one has the greatest impact on warming of the atmosphere?
CO2
Why is there a seasonal cycle in atmospheric CO2 levels?
During the warm months, there are more plants to absorb the CO2
How has the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere changed since the industrial revolution?
Increased tremendously
What is the (approximate) current level od CO2 in the atm?
415ppm
How can scientists determine what the concentration of CO2 was 100,000 years ago?
They drill in ice cores and analyze the air bubbles.
How does the current concentration of CO2 compare to the last 800,000 years?
Very much increased, 415ppm above previous normal range
How do we know the additional CO2 is from burning fossil fuels?
We analyze the carbon isotopes
How has global temperature changed in the last few decades?
It has increased
How do we think global temperature will change by 2100? What (general) areas of the globe will change the most?
-Global temp expected to increase (2-5 degrees?)
-The polar regions
What is the IPCC? What is it made up of? What does it do?
-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
-United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Worlds Meteorological Organization (WMO)
-Find out the physical factors of climate that impact climate change (working group 1), How climate change will impact social and economic factors (working group 2), and solutions/ strategies to address the problems
How is weather different than climate? What signs are there that climate change is affecting weather events?
-Weather is short term while climate change occurs over a long period of time
-Increasing global temps, increasing storm severity, longer droughts.
How does the amount of arctic ice change over the course of a year?
-Takes a dip in the fall months, then increases
How has the minimum arctic ice coverage level changed over the past several years?
Has been decreasing (melting)
How is a melting glacier different than melting sea ice?
Glaciers are formed on land, so when they melt, the ocean levels rise.
What contributes to sea level rise?
Thermal expansion, glacier reduction, reduced water storage on land
What has happened so far to sea level?
Sea-Levels are rising, more flooding from spring tides.
What could happen if the sea levels keep rising?
Florida and Louisiana at risk of submersion, the spring tides that are flooding Florida may become more than just a spring thing.
What is happening to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) current? How might this impact Europe and the Northeastern US?
-The north Atlantic subpolar gyre is sinking, the melting glaciers (freshwater) are causing the current to slow.
-Could create colder winters (Ice age?)
How might the amount of phytoplankton in the oceans be changing? How could that effect other marine organisms? What about us?
-The amount of phytoplankton is decreasing
-Decreased food source (primary consumers) would decrease marine life as well.
-Decrease aquatic life we may harvest for food. Phytoplankton are also a big source of oxygen.
How might an ocean hot spot affect marine life?
Warmer water has less O2, would drive species away.
Why might Coral reefs be especially sensitive to these changes?
Warmer temps decrease O2 and nutrients, they are more at risk for coral bleaching.
Why are we so concerned about loss of coral reefs in the first place?
They protect coastlines, and are home to many marine species.
Why are sea turtles particularly sensitive to climate change?
What could happen to populations in the future?
-The temperature determines sea turtles sex.
-Since higher temps produce more females, there may be fewer/ no males in the future
How is the pH of the ocean changing?
The pH is decreasing
What greenhouse gas is responsible for the ocean becoming more acidic? What acid is produced? What kind of marine organisms may be affected most? What life stages are most vulnerable for crabs?
-CO2
-Carbonic Acid
-Crabs, snail/shell invertebrates, etc
-Larval stage
How will the sea level, temp, pH, circulation, and dissolved oxygen be affected by the increase in atmospheric CO2?
-rise
-rise
-decrease
-slow
-decrease amt able to be dissolved
Where will species have to go to adjust to changing climate? How does this relate to exotic species? What might inhibit the ability of organisms to disperse?
-They may have to move upward in latitude or elevation.
-Exotic species will come and disturb the habitat they move to
-They may not be able to survive in the new habitat (not well adapted, too much competition, etc.)
What in Phenology? Can you provide examples of how species are changing in phenology?
-The study of cyclic and natural phenomena.
-They expand their ranges, spring (and all its activities, i.e. breeding) is coming sooner
What determines how high global temperature will go?
How we deal with our greenhouse gas emissions.
Why might it be more expensive to just keep emitting CO2?
-We would no longer have natural resources to pull from
-would cost more to reverse the effects at that point as well, if they are even able to be reversed.
-Costs more to recover from increasing natural disasters
