Climate Change

Question 1

What are the top five Greehouse gasses that contribute to global warming? and what is their radiative forcing in WM-2?

Answer 1

Water Vapour - 100
CO2 - 55
Methane - 17
Nirous oxide - 1.3 
Ozone - 1.3

Question 2

What was the goal of the Montreal Protocol?

Answer 2

The elimination of ozone depleting substances.

Question 3

What was the goal of the Veinna Convention?

Answer 3

It aimed to bring up the concerns but no actual actions. Encouragement of research cooperation amongst countries and exchange of that information.

Question 4

What is the current carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere?

Answer 4

396 ppm

Question 5

According to the IPCC projections what is the global average air temperature predicted to increase by between 2000 and 2100

Answer 5

1.6-4.3 degrees centigrade.

Question 6

What is a common feature of winter time weather conditions in south east Queensland that lead to poorer air quality?

Answer 6

An anticyclone moves over Australia causing air to sink, this creates a inversion layer above the troposphere trapping pollutants in the troposphere. This creates a greater concentration of pollutants in the troposphere.

Question 7

Describe Global Warming Potential, how does this relate to the lifetime of the chemical in the atmosphere?

Answer 7

Global Warming Potential is based on a gasses ability to create change in the global temperature, based on CO2 which is 1. This factor also describes how destructive the gas is and how long it remains in the atmosphere.

Question 8

What is the principal contributor to Australia Greenhouse gas emissions?

Answer 8

Electricity - principally for heating.

Question 9

When was the last ice age and what was Australia’s climate like compared to today?

Answer 9

The “Little Ice Age” occurred 1200-1800 years age. Australia’s climate was twice as dry and twice as windy.