Climate Change Flashcards
Identify Ghgs, Identify the global warming potential of each Ghg, Identify threats to human health and the environment by increase in ghgs, Explain the short term and long term impacts of climate change, Explain the cause and effects of ocean warming, and Explain the cause and effects of ocean acidification
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
The natural process by which certain gases in Earth’s atmosphere trap heat, keeping the planet warm enough to support life.
What are Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)?
Gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), water vapor (H₂O), and synthetic gases like CFCs that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation.
What is Water Vapor (H₂O) in the context of greenhouse gases?
The most abundant greenhouse gas; it amplifies the greenhouse effect through positive feedback (higher temperatures lead to more evaporation, increasing H₂O in the atmosphere).
What is Infrared Radiation?
A type of electromagnetic radiation emitted by Earth’s surface, absorbed and re-emitted by greenhouse gases.
What is Albedo?
The reflectivity of Earth’s surface; surfaces with high albedo, like ice and snow, reflect more solar radiation.
What is Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)?
The most common anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GWP = 1); released through fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and industrial processes.
What is Methane (CH₄)?
The second most potent greenhouse gas, emitted during fossil fuel extraction, agriculture (e.g., livestock digestion), and decomposition in landfills.
What is Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)?
The third most potent greenhouse gas, produced by agricultural activities (e.g., fertilizer use), industrial activities, and fossil fuel combustion.
What are Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)?
Synthetic compounds used in refrigeration and aerosols; the most potent greenhouse gases but less common due to regulatory bans.
What is the Montreal Protocol?
An international treaty adopted in 1987 to phase out the production and use of ozone-depleting substances, including CFCs, which also contributes to reducing potent greenhouse gases.
What is Carbon Sequestration?
The process of capturing and storing atmospheric CO₂, either naturally (e.g., in forests and soils) or artificially (e.g., through carbon capture and storage technology).
What is Global Warming?
The observed increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases.
What is Climate Change?
Long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions on Earth.
What is a Positive Feedback Loop?
A process that amplifies changes in a system, such as ice melting, which reduces albedo and causes further warming.
What is a Negative Feedback Loop?
A process that stabilizes changes in a system, such as increased plant growth due to higher CO₂, which removes CO₂ from the atmosphere.
What is a Carbon Footprint?
The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly and indirectly by human activities, expressed as CO₂ equivalent.
What is the Keeling Curve?
A graph showing the increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations over time, based on measurements from Mauna Loa Observatory.
What are Milankovitch Cycles?
Long-term changes in Earth’s orbit and tilt, affecting the amount of solar energy Earth receives and influencing climate patterns.
What is Thermal Expansion?
The increase in ocean volume due to the warming of water, contributing to sea-level rise.
What is Coral Bleaching?
The loss of color in corals due to stress from warmer water temperatures, leading to the expulsion of symbiotic algae.
What are Marine Heatwaves?
Periods of extremely high ocean temperatures that can disrupt marine ecosystems.
What is Thermohaline Circulation?
A key global oceanic conveyor belt system driven by differences in temperature and salinity, which influences climate patterns and may be disrupted by warming.
What is Ocean Stratification?
The layering of water based on temperature and salinity, which reduces mixing between surface and deeper waters, impacting nutrient distribution and marine ecosystems.
What is Ocean Acidification?
The decrease in pH levels of the ocean caused by the absorption of excess atmospheric CO₂.
What is pH?
A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, with lower values indicating higher acidity. The ocean’s average pH has decreased from 8.2 to about 8.1 due to CO₂ absorption.
What are Carbonate Ions (CO₃²⁻)?
Ions essential for marine organisms to build shells and skeletons; their availability decreases with acidification.
What is Calcification?
The process by which marine organisms form calcium carbonate structures, hindered by lower pH levels.
What is Buffering Capacity?
The ocean’s ability to resist changes in pH, which is declining as CO₂ levels rise.
What is the Troposphere?
The lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere, where weather occurs and greenhouse gases are concentrated.
What is the Stratosphere?
The second layer of Earth’s atmosphere, containing the ozone layer that absorbs and scatters ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
What is the Mesosphere?
The third layer of the atmosphere, where temperatures decrease and meteors burn up.
What is the Thermosphere?
The outermost atmospheric layer, where temperatures rise due to solar radiation and the auroras occur.
What is the Exosphere?
The outer fringe of the atmosphere, where it transitions into space.
What is the Ozone Layer?
A region in the stratosphere with a high concentration of ozone (O₃) that absorbs harmful UV radiation.
What is Weather?
Short-term atmospheric conditions, including temperature, precipitation, and wind.
What is Climate?
The average long-term weather patterns in a specific region.
What is a Carbon Source?
Processes or systems that release more carbon than they absorb (e.g., fossil fuel combustion, deforestation).
What is a Carbon Sink?
Processes or systems that absorb more carbon than they release (e.g., oceans, forests, soils).
What is Decomposition?
The breakdown of organic matter by decomposers, releasing CO₂ or methane (CH₄) depending on the availability of oxygen.
What is Combustion?
The burning of organic material or fossil fuels, releasing stored carbon as CO₂.
What is Ocean Uptake?
The process of oceans absorbing CO₂, leading to ocean acidification and its effects on marine ecosystems.
What is a Primary Pollutant?
A pollutant directly emitted from a source, such as vehicles, factories, or natural events like volcanic eruptions.
What is Tropospheric Ozone (O₃)?
Forms from the reaction of sunlight with nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Ozone is a greenhouse gas that contributes to warming.
What is Acid Rain?
Precipitation with a lower-than-normal pH, caused by the reaction of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) with water vapor in the atmosphere.
What is a Secondary Pollutant?
A pollutant not emitted directly but forms when primary pollutants react in the atmosphere.
