Climate Change Flashcards
What’s the difference between weather and climate?
Weather - describes conditions of the atmosphere at a given time and place
Climate – the long term average of weather
What is climate change?
A rise in global temperature over the last 100 years (global warming)
How much has average global temperature changed since 1900?
0.1 C per decade (1 C in total)
What is a greenhouse gas?
Gases whose chemical structure allows them to have the capacity to trap heat – e.g. carbon dioxide!
What is the greenhouse effect
The heating of the Earth’s atmosphere that results from the absorption of infrared radiation (heat) from the Earth’s surface by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
When did human induced emissions start to dramatically increase?
0.1°C increase per decade since 1900
0.15°C increase per decade in the last 25 years!
In 2016 the CO2 in the atmosphere passed 400 ppm and is increasing at 2 ppm per year
What are the heat-trapping greenhouse gases in our atmosphere?
Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide – ozone - chlorofluorocarbons
Which greenhouse gas has the largest natural greenhouse effect?
Water Vapor
What is responsible for the largest anthropogenic-induced change in the greenhouse effect?
Carbon Dioxide
What is the Keeling Curve and what does it show?
It is a graph that shows the concentration of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere since 1958
How can we study the atmosphere in the past?
Ice cores from antarctica preserves ancient atmosphere in tiny bubbles formed during snow compaction in glaciers
Describe and provide an example of a positive and negative feedback loop
Positive – Enhance the initial change, ex. Sea levels rise cause more glaciers to melt
Negative – Counteracts initial change, ex. Higher rainfall from more moisture in the atmosphere
What affects the natural glacial/interglacial cycles in earth?
Milankovitch cycles – natural changes in the Earth’s orbit that cause the Earth to favor glacial or interglacial periods
Are we in a “cooling” or “warming” phase of the interglacial cycle?
The “cooling” phase
Describe the 4 skeptics arguments discussed in class against climate change
Climate changes naturally, this isn’t anything new
Solar output is increasing and causing increased warming
Volcanic release of CO2 is causing the change, not people
Scientists don’t believe in climate change
Debunk the 4 skeptics ideas with science!
- Climate changes naturally, this isn’t anything new – We are in a cooling phase of historical glacial cycles, our CO2 levels are unprecedented.
- Solar output is increasing and causing increased warming – Wrong, measured results show that we have seen a decrease in the suns radiation.
- Volcanic release of CO2 is causing the change, not people – Yes but the CO2 is short lived, and humans have produces 130x more than volcanoes.
- Scientists don’t believe in climate change - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
How does radioactivity help us in identifying where our increase in CO2 is coming from?
Radioactivity of CO2 in the atmosphere is decreasing meaning the new CO2 in the atmosphere is old. Either from fossil fuels or volcanoes. AKA IT’S OUR FAULT IT’S THERE!!!!
What are some effects of increasing global temperatures?
Severe heat waves, low frost days, extreme drought and precipitation.
Where are we seeing the greatest changes and the smallest changes in temperature on earth?
Greatest changes in High northern latitudes
Smallest changes in Tropics
Is the majority of heat stored in our planet (i.e., on land or in water)?
water
agua
l’eau
acqua
IT’S WATER!!!!!!
Is the heat content greater in the surface or deep ocean? Why?
Deep water current formation has carried it deep into the oceans.
How is climate change impacting hurricanes?
Warmer temperature will bring stronger and bigger hurricanes.
How is climate change impacting polar regions? Why is this important?
Warmer temps are melting sea ice causing the sea levels to rise. This affects marine life that rely on sea ice.
How much has sea level risen in the last 100 years?
1-25 cm
How much is sea level predicted to rise by 2100?
2-5 feet
What is ocean acidification?
By adding carbon dioxide to the ocean, the ph is going down
What are the major sources of anthropogenic CO2?
Fossil fuel emissions, deforestation
What are the major sinks for anthropogenic CO2?
Atmosphere, ocean, land
What number is an acidic pH?
basic pH?
Neutral pH?
<7
>7
7, who woulda thunk?
How much has pH changed since pre-industrial times? How much more acidic is this?
0.1 pH units (this is a >30% increase in hydrogen ion concentrations!)
How does ocean acidification affect organisms that build shells/skeletons out of calcium carbonate?
They can dissolve from the reduction of carbonate ions.
Where is most of the anthropogenic CO2 found in the ocean?
The upper 10% of the ocean, because the ocean mixes slowly
Which ocean has the greatest anthropogenic CO2 content?
The Atlantic Ocean has the highest carbon dioxide content because its where deep ocean water is made
What is geoengineering?
Manipulation of the earth’s climate to counteract global climate change
What are the 2 current methods suggested for climate change?
Reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth
Remove anthropogenic greenhouse gases from the atmosphere
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the 2 current methods suggested for climate change
Advantages:
It could reduce the negative consequences we will continue to suffer from anthropogenic climate change into the future
Sometimes affordable?
Disadvantages of geoengineering
Sometimes expensive?
Variably effective and achievable
Many potential unintended consequences
Doesn’t solve every problem (e.g. ocean acidification!)
Describe the process of “sequestration”. What is the purpose?
Pumping carbon dioxide directly from atmosphere into underground reservoirs or into deep sea.
Goal of reducing global climate change.
Describe the process of “iron fertilization.” What is the purpose?
Fertilize parts of the ocean with iron to increase primary production
What are some of the options to reduce carbon emissions?
Alternative energy – we have the technology for this now! The leaders in fossil fuels can become the leaders in alternative energies
Carbon costs – pay a “tax” for the social cost of carbon emission
Reduce energy consumption – “go green”
