Climate change Flashcards
weather
atmosphere in a given day, day to day conditions in a place (clouds/temp)
climate
long term, weather conditions over an area (averages)
climate system components
atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere
oceans critical for…
short/long term climate controls, store/transfer of heat
global warming may happen due to
build up of co2 which absorbs radiation
greenhouse effect
if no ghe then earth would be cold, ghg rising
how much of co2 is ocean absorbing
30%-50%
latest co2 reading
425.56ppm
where is most warming
poles
why would sea levels rise
melting of land ice
effects of global warming on oceans
ocean chemistry, circulation, increased co2 (changes organisms there as increases pH/temp)
coasts
affected by co2 conc/temp/sea levels, rising seas may submerge coasts, storms may flood/erode coasts and contaminate groundwater
coast delta plains
sea intrudes and builds up sediment which rises seas
human structures
prevent coasts shifting landward as sea rises, interfere with ability to adapt to change
salt marsh/mangroves
salt marshes rot due to seawater exposure, protection from storms/flooding, act as nurseries but opens shore to erosion, negative impact on commercial fishing
ways to alleviate sea level rise
elevate buildings, stop building on coasts, move buidlings
water temperature
influences behaviour of organisms, changes can effect predator/prey, resources, species distribution
coastal water
aquaculture popular for human food, increased temp means more disease, agal blooms which cause human disease/damage to shellfish
seawater
temp/salinity of water causes water to sink, climate change affects deep water flow
salinity
melting of sea ice decreases salinity, expected to slow down downwelling in north atlantic which could shut down entirely, meaning less oxygen in deep ocean causing mass extinction
artic sea ice is
melting at alarming rate
sea ice
affects animals that need it, seals rely on it for breeding, polar bears feed on seals, absence of sea ice means sea will warm up more, winter will freeze later and early spring
species as water warms
warm replaces cold, phytoplankton decrease
ocean acidification
not driven by climate change, co2 builds up and diffuses into ocean, co2 turns to carbonic acid increasing acidity, corrosive to shells, causes coral bleaching
coral bleaching
when corals are stressed they release zooxanthellae due to acidification, temp change, acidification, uv light
polar oceans
become more corrosive
changes in reefs
decrease carbonate ions impacting carbonate secreting organisms
