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EAS 210 > Climate Change > Flashcards

Climate Change Flashcards

1
Q

Define climate. What can you say about climate wrt jet stream

A

Weather averaged over a long period of time. Standard averaging period of 30 years, but its not set.
-DOES NOT DEPEND ON JET STREAM

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2
Q

Define Weather. What can you say about weather wrt jet stream

A

State of atmosphere wrt temperature, rainfall, cloud cover, and wind

  • warmer on south side of jet stream
  • jet streams deform depending on weather
  • windy when your under a jet stream
  • Weather is dependent on jet stream
  • climate has nothing to do with jet stream
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3
Q

Define climate zones

A

Defined using parameters of temperature and rainfall

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4
Q

Who made the Gaia hypothesis, and what is it

A

James Lovelock
-The hypothesis is basically that planet earth is a living organism that has various in/ner organs that has various communications in such a way that (METAPHOR: say u get infected by a virus, it wont just stay in naval passages, it goes to liver or somewhere else)

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5
Q

4 Interacting systems of climate. How do these correlate with gaia hypothesis?

A
  • lithosphere
  • atmosphere
  • biosphere
  • hydrosphere
  • so according to the gaia hypothesis, these are all connected
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6
Q

Carbon cycle wrt control on global climate

[PRIMARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE]

A

Photosynthesis and respiration equation (carbon cycle)
CO2 + H2O –> CH2O + O2
-CO2 goes down into mantle in form of limestone
-then it comes back up to volcanoes where CO2 escapes (how biosphere connects with lithosphere, as the CO2 dissolves into ocean which makes the limestone)

-“Dynamic equilibrium” - Always inflow, and always out flow, and they are in balance. This is how CO2/O2 should work. Except us humans are adding CO2 faster(burning + deforesting) than the outflow of O2 (faster than nature can pull it out)
HUMANS ARE THE VIRUS #!@#!@#
-there should be 400ppm of CO2 and 21% O2, but CO@ is increasing like crazay

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7
Q

WHAT IS CH2O

A

Formaldehyde, part of carbon cycle

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8
Q

Greenhouse gas effect wrt climate control. What is albedo? What waves of greenhouse gases are we concerned with?qq
[PRIMARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE]

A
  • albedo is the amount of solar radiation reflected from earths surface
  • we are interested in the long wave radiation (heat). This will get partially absorbed by the atmosphere, and this is what we call the greenhouse effect.
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9
Q

Greenhouse gas effect wrt climate control; atmospheric trace gases involved in greenhouse effect - per mol efficiency (methane and CO2, CFCS, N2O) and net effect Of overall
[PRIMARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE]

A

Per mol efficieny, how potent the greenhouse gas is:
-Methane has 23 per mol efficiency, carbon dioxide has 1 per mol efficiency
-yet, carbon dioxide has higher net effect, that’s b/c theres so much more
NET effect of greenhouse gases:
H2O (1) CO2(2) Methane(3)
HIGHEST PER MOL EFFICIENCY RANKING
CFC’s: 17500-20000 (1)
N2O (nitrous oxide): 300 (2)
Methane - 23 (3)
Carbon dioxide - 1 (1)

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10
Q

Greenhouse gas effect wrt climate control; atmospheric trace gases involved in greenhouse effect; atmospheric concentration at surface (ppb) and preindustrial vs NOW total contribution
[PRIMARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE]

A 
2015: CO2: 400000PPB, CH4 (methane): 1810 PPB
Total contribution:
CO2: 9-26%
CH4(methane):4-9%
Ozone(O3):3-7%
Water(H2O);36-72%
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11
Q

Are GHGS a good thing? Explain by mean global temp

[PRIMARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE]

A

MEAN GLOBAL TEMPERATURE:
Today with GHGS: +16 degrees celcius
Without GHGS: -17 degrees
THEREFORE WE DO NEED GHGS

OBVS theyre essential, but too much is harmful

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12
Q

Albedo’s wrt climate change

[PRIMARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE]

A

-The present averaged global albedo (‘reflectivity of diffuse light’) of the earth is about 30-35% (percentage of reflected light from incident radiation

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13
Q

Solar radiation wrt climate change

[PRIMARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE]

A

The solar radiation plotted over time.. Has periods of hot and cold cycle…doesn’t effect it that much

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14
Q

Volcanic eruptions wrt climate change

[PRIMARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE]

A

The volcanic dust can shield the earth from solar radiation… short periods of time.. And make the earth cooler.. Then the dust settles and it will be back to normal… the dust anyways.. The carbon dioxide stays
-large effect, negative, very short lived

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15
Q

Orbital forcing wrt climate change (= milankovich cycles):
3 Orbital forcings
[PRIMARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE]

A

1) Precession of the equinoxes ;
The earth’s axis is not always constant.. Takes about 23,000 years for revolutions to complete
2) The tilt of axis: varies from 21.5 to 24.5 degrees. (cycles of 41,000 years)
3) Eccentricity (dominant period = 100000 years) High eccentricity (more elliptical), low eccentricity (more circular). Effects the position of earth relative to sun if orbit is elliptical or circle (changes climate)

These things can determine how warm the earth is
70% of the earth’s land mass is in the northern hemisphere… so climate control based on orbital forcing

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16
Q

MULTIPLE LINES OF EVIDENCE FOR ORBITAL FORCING

A

Act as a proxy for global temperature:
proxy a) Ice cores. They drill into ice, several hundred meters long. H2O in the ice is the proxy for temperature, as when water freezes, u freeze the air bubbles in it. You thaw the ice, and then you get all the enclosed air to escape, and then u measure the gas in the ice core

b) Stalagmites. Grow over a regular rate. Drill into stalagmites. They have growth rings over time. The pore water is analyzed in each layer.
So the proxies are (ice cores, stalagmites, and H2O)

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17
Q

How many degrees does it take for ice age (glaciation) to occur?

A

-2 to -4 degrees

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18
Q

What path is nature supposed to be taking wrt climate change?

A

IF NATURE WAS LEFT ALONE, WE SHOULD BE GETTING COLDER, BUT B/C OF HUMAN ACTIVITY IT IS NOT

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19
Q

Largest atmospheric factors to climate change? What compounds in the atmosphere are the worst? Rank 5 from highest impact to lowest

A

GREEN HOUSE GASES ARE THE LARGEST ATMOSPHERIC FACTORS TO CLIMATE CHANGE

H2O > CO2 > CH4 > CFCs > N2O

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20
Q

Ocean circulation patterns(rapidly distributing heat) wrt climate change
[SECONDARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE]

A

RAPIDLY DISTRIBUTING HEAT
These patterns depend on the orientation of the plates… ex.. Plate tectonics come into play
El nino and el nina
Ocean circulation patterns:
The water that flows off greenland, fresh water, more dense (cold), sinks, drives the flow of these currents. They have a dramatic influence on climate
Greenland is glaciated but norway and sweeden is not.. Even if theyre on the same latitude (because of ocean currents)

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21
Q

WIND AND WAETHER PATTERNS (rapidly distributing heat) wrt climate change
[SECONDARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE]

A

-jet stream
RAPIDLY DISTRIBUTING HEAT-
happening all the time (analogous to blood circulation in your body)
-creates sandstorms, African dust, has a role to play in human health

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22
Q

Plate tectonics wrt climate change

[SECONDARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE]

A

SLOWLY CHANGING GLOBAL ALBEDO AND OCEAN CURRENTS
Plate tectonics (changing global albedo and ocean currents)
-huge different in plate tectonics (they move)
-these kinds of ocean circulation patterns get deflected/flow around thus there will be different currents an stuff

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23
Q

SUPERPLUMES wrt global climate change [SECONDARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE]

A

EPISODIC HUGE CO2 INPUT

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24
Q

METEORITE IMPACTS wrt global climate change [SECONDARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE]

A

Episodic catastrophic dust shields

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25
Q

[SECONDARY REASON OF CLIMATE CHANGE] explain why theyre called secondary, and list them

A

On differing time scales, and interdependent

  • OCEAN CIRCULATION PATTERNS
  • WIND AND WEATHER PATTERNS
  • PLATE TECTONICS
  • SUPERPLUMES
  • METEORITE IMPACTS
  • HUMAN ACTIVITES
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26
Q

What are climate controls influenced by and what do they influence

A

influence and are influenced by almost every near-surface natural process and pattern on earth
-many of which impact the welfare of humanity

EXAMPLE:
Sea level rises and falls, (between 18000 years ago and today) due to combined effect of ice melting and thermal expansion.
Ocean circulation (Temp, salinity, acidity)
Coriolis force dictates wind and current directions
During El Nino years (3-5 years cycle) warmer water, heavier rainfall, changes temperature patterns.
Stronger (higher) waves …
Warms the earth’s temperature… changes weather patterns and causes destructive weather
A differentiation in a cool and warm belt on the earth’s ocean surface
Salinity patterns will also change as temperature changes (dependent water temperature)
Acidity will also change
Organic productivity patterns will also change… through time, the colder it is.. The less photosynthesis and thus more CO2 level.

27
Q

when WAS the warmest period of time?

A

Middle cretaceous
-bcuz heat distribution easier ( as the land mass was in one spot and ocean currents can flow easier and distribute heat easily) and there was a super plume eruption.. And thus, global temperature was much higher in the past at certain points

28
Q

What can you say about our global climate rate change?

A
  • although long ago it was hotter, the rate was never as fast as the rate is right now
  • the earth has been warming up dramatically since 1880 and continues to do so
  • raised 1 degree since 1880
  • nature does not work that quickly, the increase in temperature is doing so in such a rapid rate that its not possible that nature is doing it
29
Q

How much has earth warmed recently? and in the grand scheme of things?

A

1 degree since 1880

4 degrees overall

30
Q

what is the main reason for increase in methane

A

Microbes

-main methane producers are anthropogenic(MAN MADE, GHG MAINLY ANTHROPOGENIC), ex; coal mining, rice paddies

31
Q

Aside from rising sea level, why is our glaciers melting such a bad thing?

A

METHANE IN ICE BUBBLES. IF IT ALL MELTS

32
Q

Worst emission per capita place?

A

ALBERTA

33
Q

WHY IS CANADA SO SHITTY: REASONS

A

worst per capita pollution

forestry; #1 in total area loss

Cattle: second highest cattle consumer; another anthropogenic source of methane

34
Q

What was Kyoto? Hows Canada doin in Kyoto?

A

Kyoto protocol around 1997. Signed in Canada

  • ultimate objective was to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent danger to climate system
  • overall reduction: 5.2% below 1990 levels
  • NOT FOR CANADA DOE, we pulled out in 2011
35
Q

% green house gases of industries vs individuals? % of carbon dioxide and methane

A

~70% industries

~30% individuals

36
Q

% of electricity generated from coal (alberta)

A

53%. SO BAD, should be using solar

37
Q

How much of amazon is disappearing/yr

A

15k square km. ~16% of the rain forest spoiled over the years

38
Q

what is the carbon bomb

A

combined effects of logging + insects + forest fires + permafrost melting

39
Q

What does cattle have to do with environment? How does alberta do cattle?

A

-Second biggest anthropogenic (man made) methane source
-most costly and wasteful food to produce
ALBERTA ~~ 6MILLION CATTLE

40
Q

How much on avg (THIS IS WRT TO CATTLE (BEEF)):
water consumed to produce 1k callories

average kilograms of CO2 to generate a thousand calories

average calories that we have to feed cattle in order to get 1000 calories for ourselves

A

434 gallons of water

  1. 6 KG
  2. 2k calories
41
Q

Changes in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990-2003 for Canada and US?

A

Canada: 24.2%
US: 13.3%

42
Q

Economy of climate change

A

From studies, overall GDP will be equivalent to losing 5% each year

  • damage could rise to 20%
  • can be limited to around 1% of global GDP each year. WORTH OR NAA??
43
Q

How to go green

A

no hummer, smart car

save electricity = save coal = cuts down co2 emmisions

boycott plastic bags

but brick in bathroom tank to displace water
25L tank. 1 FLUSH = 50 LITRES. PUTTING BRICK SAVEES double the mass of brick IN LITRES

44
Q

What can you do with light bulb

A

replace 1 incandescent light bulb with compact fluorescent lamp and you will save 500 pound pile of coal

45
Q

Disease - from symptons to cure wrt climate change

A

Symptoms: Glaciers melt, wildfires increase, coral reefs die off

Diagnosis: global warming / global climate change

Prognosis: Mass extinctions, droughts, famines, climate refuges, warfare

Identify Causes:
ECO PIGS: overall: China, USA
Per capita: ALberta, Canada, usa
72% industry: coal fired power plants, tar sands, forestry
28% individual: oversized vehicles, idling, overall wasteful lifestyle

Remedy:
do nothing or make it worse:
Canadian federal govt
alberta provincial govt
usa govt

Contain or eliminate causes:
Europe
some individuals + NGOS

TREATMENT:
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING (NO CURE)
46
Q

How do you fix global warming?

A

NO CURE. ONLY PREVENTATION FROM NOW ON

47
Q

While will the near future hold wrt resources

A

oil + gas largely depleted 100~300 years

coal 500 - 1000 years

Climate catastrophy: by 2050,
if no action, by 2020

48
Q

Possiblee partial solutions to global warming:

A 
Gas gydrates
nuclear fusion
hydrogen
renewable energy
carbon capture and storage
carbon dioxide sequestration
geoengineering
carbon tax
change in attitudes
49
Q

Is global warming at a point of no return?

A

QUITE POSSIBLY, YES. WE MUST ACT NOW

50
Q

Evidence that GHG loading is largely anthropogenic; CO2

A

CO2:

1: 1 correlation between atmospheric CO2 and human emissions
- trend is about 1000x faster than past natural trends
- 2010 - 2012: 10 Gt/yr = +2.4 Ppm CO2 / year

51
Q

Evidence that GHG loading is largely anthropogenic; Methane

A

6 of the 8 largest methane emitters are anthropogenic
Rice paddies, cattle, burning of vegetation, gas drilling, terites, landfills, coal mining (rice paddies most, coal mining least)

52
Q

How many tons of methane released into atmosphere per yr for cattle? Why is this scary?

A

2009: 77 tonnes of methane from cattle industry

- scary because cattle industry is still booming

53
Q

Expectation for future climate (2100):

A

1 degree increase since 1880. For future;
+2 degrees by 2100 (minimum)
+4 degrees probable
+6/7 maximum

54
Q

What are the major tipping points in climate system?

A

Melt of greeenland ice sheets

arctic sea ice loss

permafrost and tundra loss

55
Q

What can you say about frozen methane?

A

In gas bubbles in frozen ice

  • 400 Gt (giga tonnes) stored in permafrost (already melting)
  • 10000 Gt stored in shallow ocean shelf deposits (not yet melting, except locally)Natural clathrate reservoir - 30000x annual anthropogenic flux
56
Q

Trends of CO2 (atmospheric)

compare long term with short term?

A

Long term doesn’t look that bad, but short term is terrible. so if you project short term onto long term, its CRAZAY, long term would spike SO MUCH. Its just that this is all happening in the last 130 years or so (since 1880), so it doesn’t show on the long term graph. But if we keep going it will, cuz it looks like a hockey still (spike at end) on the short term graph

57
Q

Effects of marine life due to acidity

A

If CO2 continues to rise unchecked, computer models show that acidification will deplete carbonate ions in much of ocean by 2100, turning waters corrosive for many shell-building animals

58
Q

(review) coral reef destruction

A

30% of worlds coral reefs have died since 1970
60% expected loss by 2030
-due to combined effect of T increase and acidification

59
Q

In the next 46 years, what could happen to species as a result of climate change?

A

25% world animals and planets could go extinct - 1 million species total

60
Q

How have world populations of fish, birds, mammals and amphibians and reptiles changed between 1970-2010

A

fell by 52% overall

61
Q

Droughts and climate change. How will this effect alberta?

A

Drought - agricultural land turning into desert + little or no water for agriculture and drinking

  • ALBERTA WILL HAVE A CLIMATE LIKE NEVADA TODAY
  • 18million people effected by china’s worst drought in 50 years
62
Q

Climate change wrt violent weather

A

now that ocean is warmer, LOTS OF MORE HURRICANES

63
Q

What could happen politically between the world?

A

WARS OVER CLIMATE CHANGE, WARS OVER WATER

EAS 210 (24 decks)

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