Climate Change

Question 1

Global Climate is dictated by the ___________ on the surface and atmosphere.

Answer 1

energy budget

Question 2

Main Drivers of energy budget? (4)

Answer 2

1.) Insolation: depends on the suns activity and the Earth-Sun distance and orientation
2.) Albedo- which has a positive feedback control on climate
3.) The Greenhouse effect- which has a positive feedback
4.) Rock Weathering- Which has a negative feedback

Question 3

Which 2 factors impact sea-level rise?

Answer 3

1.) Melting of continental ice sheets (Greenland and Antarctica)
2.) Thermal Expansion of Oceans

Question 4

Impacts of Climate Change

Answer 4

-more frequent/intense heat waves
-more intense rainfall/flooding events
-more intense storms
-large areas become more arid (less rainfall)
-more frequent and intense wildfires
-rising sea levels
-ocean acidification and marine extinction
-mass population displacement -political unrest
-Glacial retreat, permafrost recession

Question 5

Type of Feedback (pos or neg)

Role of Water Vapor in Climate

Answer 5

Provides net positive feedback -high temp leads to more water vapor, water vapor =greenhouse gas
Increased moisture in the air in warmer temps then cannot condense and precipitate out of atm

Question 6

Direct effect of permafrost thaw?

Answer 6

-Increased rates of erosion
-landscape degradation
-methane release
-release of harmful chemicals
-release of pathogens
-sea level rise
-wildfires
-oxidation of organic material and CO2 release

Question 7

Atmospheric CO2 conc today?

Answer 7

425 ppm

Question 8

Ocean Acidification

Answer 8

Global oceans are a CO2 sink
-added CO2 to the atmosphere increases the acidity and temp of oceans threatening corals and marine organisms

Question 9

Clouds

Answer 9

net-positive feedback

Question 10

Water-Vapor

Answer 10

net-positive

Question 11

Type of Feedback (pos or neg)

Albedo

Answer 11

Positive

Question 12

Rock Weathering

Answer 12

negative feedback:

As global temps warm-> more weathering of silicate rocks -> more CO2 sucked from atm-> less green house effect -> colder

colder-> less weathering of silicate rocks-> greater green house effect-> warmer

Question 13

Combat Climate Change

Answer 13

1.) Decrease carbon emissions
2.)Natural carbon sequestration (wetland/forest restoration)
3.) Geoengineering (carbon capture at source)
4.) solar radiation management (limit solar radiation that reaches surface)

Question 14

Keeling Curve

Answer 14

CO2 mole fraction ppm in the atm is inc since the industrial rev. with fossil fuel combustion being the biggest contributor to CO2 emissions.

Question 15

Misconceptions

Answer 15

1.) global warming may be due to natural causes -volcanic emissions
2.) Temp inc is due to station bias “urban heat island”
3.) Temp data from the last 15 yrs slowed/stopped

Question 16

Sea-level rise (What’s causing it?)

Answer 16

1.) Sea Ice melt (Greenland and Antarctica)
2.) thermal expansion due to heat
-warmer water causing water volume to increase