Climate Change Flashcards
What does climate refer to?
The average day-to-day weather conditions and seasonal variations in a particular region (extremes)
What is climate change?
It is a long-term shift in climate of a specific location, region or planet (in day-to-day, seasonal or extremes) - one warm winter does not mean climate change. It consists of changes in precipitation, wind patterns, etc.
What does global warming refer to?
It addresses change in average surface temperatures of the earth. It causes climate shifts, but does not imply uniform warming globally
What is the greenhouse effect?
Most of the sun’s shortwave radiation is absorbed by the earth’s surface to heat it and 30-35% of the radiation is reflected back. If there is more GHG particles in the atmosphere, then there is more long wave radiation bouncing off particles which continues the warming. This is good in moderation for keeping an appropriate temperature but too much is not healthy for ecosystems.
List some evidence of climate change
- CO2 levels in the atmosphere have varied due to ice ages, but have not been this high in millions of years (+0.85 degrees celsius since 1850)
- There have been large changes in CO2 levels over thousands of years, but there has been an extremely large change due to fossil fuels occurring very quickly (150 years)
- glacial retreat & sea ice loss (does not affect everywhere the same)
- rising sea levels (some land mass actually rising after compression under ice, may affect how rising levels viewed)
Describe Metro Manila, Philippines
It has 12 million people and is comprised of 17 cities. It is bounded by water on either side, 80% of annual rain falls during rainy season (has higher tides and more water needing to escape) and has SW winds
Has tropical cyclone occurrence become more frequent in the Philippines?
No, there has been a decrease in cyclone approach and landfall, but there are more people being affected by cyclones
Could cyclones be stronger than they used to be?
Yes, there has been an increase in wind speeds of storms since the 1980’s. There is no trend in total rainfall, but there has been an increase in very heavy rainfall and a decrease in heavy. (ex. tropical storm ketswana and southwest monsoon rainfall).
What other factors involving people may contribute to more people being affected by cyclones?
- rapid urbanization with non-porous surfaces
- 2/3 metro manila high density residential
- increase of informal settlements in high risk locations
- hard to keep track of all people b/c rapidly moving into areas
- increased exposure and vulnerability increase risk
What environmental factors may contribute to more people being affected by cyclones?
- deforestation in watersheds
- disappearance of small rivers
- outdated drainage structures due to rapid urbanization
- decreased channel capacities
- development along rivers
- clogged water ways
The condition of the atmosphere (weather) is expressed by:
- temperature
- precipitation & humidity
- winds
- air pressure
What is weather defined as?
It is the short term sum of atmospheric conditions
