Climate Change Flashcards
Differnece between weather and climate change
Weather is atmospheric condition (temp., precipitation, wind) in a location of short period of time. Climate is average weather in a region over long period of time (over 30 years
What is thermal expansion
Water expanding slightly when warmed. Increase in sea level partially due to this. Rising sea level evidence of climate change.
5 factors affecting climate change
Lattitude (horizontal lines). presence of large water bodies. Presence of ocean or air currents. Land formation. Altitude.
Once sun radiation hit matter. What are outcomes.
Radiation absorbed by particle. Transmitted through particle. Reflected off particle.
What type of radiation emitted from earth surface.
Infared
Why is subs radiation and location latitude a factor of climate zone.
If near equator, sun overhead, energy is spread over small area, less radiation absorbed by atmosphere.
If near pole, energy spread over far area, energy spend more time in atmosphere and gets absorbed more.
4 components of climate system.
Atmosphere gas. Hydrosphere water. Lithosphere rock. Biosphere living things.
What layers in atmosphere
Troposphere air we breathe. Stratosphere planes travel here ozone layer here. Mesosphere where meteors burn up. Thermosphere where space shuttles are. Exosphere where satellites are.
What is greenhouse effect
Infrared radiation from earth will by absorbed by clouds heating up earth
Most human produced greenhouse gas
Co2, water vapour, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide. Co2 most produced.
Why do greenhouse gasses trap more infrared radiation
Other gasses have 2 identical atoms so vibrate in 1 direction and cannot absorb energy. Greenhouse have 3 so can vibrate in many directions and absorb more energy.
What would you see at equator.
Near equator air heats up rapidly. Less dense. Colder air falls from above. Warm air moves up. Low pressure area created near equator. Warm air then spreads to poles and cools. Cook air sinks. High pressure near poles.
What is thermohaline circulation
Continuous flow of water around oceans due to difference in water temperature.
What are proxu record.
Storage of natural information that we can measure today. Like tree rings.
Evidence of climate change.
Rising temp. Melting glacier. Rising sea level. Changes in severe weather. Changes in precipitation pattern. Changing season. Changing in ecosystem.
