Climate Change Flashcards
1
Q
Weather
A
- state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.
- Atmospheric conditions (temp, precipitation, wind, humidity) in a particular location over a short period of time
- meteorologist gather info around the world (weather stations, weather balloons, satellites).
2
Q
Climate
A
- it is the usual pattern of weather in a region over a long period of time
- climatologists collect weather data over 30+ years so that they can average the results.
- using climate data you can get “expected” weather (predict the weather)
3
Q
Altitude
A
How high an something is in comparison to sea level or ground level
4
Q
Latitude
A
Place North or south of the equator
5
Q
Temperature
A
Measurement of heat
- Of an object
- Of a living thing
- Of a liquid
- Of a gas
6
Q
Thermal expansion of water
A
when water expands when heated
- Pushing itself up
- Sea levels rising
7
Q
Greenhouse Gases
A
- The most important ones are CO2 and H2O(g) (H2O- clouds form and fall constantly (water cycle).
- Co2 can stay in atmosphere for 100 years (reservoir)
- Trap warm air from rising out of earth’s atmosphere
- absorbs infrared radiation
- Examples: carbon, Methane, Nitrous Oxide
8
Q
Fossil Fuels
A
- Examples: Natural Gas, Coal, Crude Oil
- Made from dead geological remains of living organisms.
- Burned to produce energy (heat, electricity)
9
Q
Ozone
A
- colourless
- toxic gas
- Protects us from Ultraviolet light
- In the Stratosphere
- It is a gas
- It is O3 (3 oxygen molecules stuck together)
- It has a sharp, strong odour (like chlorine)
- It is highly reactive (strong oxidizer)
- It is corrosive (a main component of smog)
10
Q
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)
A
- any of a class of compounds of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine
- They are harmful to the ozone layer
11
Q
Carbon “sink”
A
- Also referred to as Carbon stores or reservoirs
- There can be short term and long term carbon sinks
- Long-term: Geosphere, atmosphere, Bigger - plants/animals;ex.=tree, Area with less or no organisms; ex.= Iceberg that stores carbon in its frozen million-year-old waters
- Short term: Surface of earth, biosphere, Smaller plants/ animals; ex.= mayfly, Aria with more organisms; ex.= lake with lots of fish
12
Q
Carbon “footprint”
A
Referring to a person’s/peoples/things release of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds into the atmosphere through the use of fossil fuels
13
Q
Greenhouse gas effect
A
- It is an energy trapping process. (the suns heat is absorbed by greenhouse gases and trapped in the earth’s atmosphere, other goes back into space.
- It is a natural process (A natural way of keeping Earth warm)
- Too much makes it too hot
- Too little makes it too cold (ice age)
14
Q
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
A
- It is a Greenhouse gas
- Plants use it for Photosynthesis
- Is involved with Climate change, and greenhouse effect (exhaust from Human sources: burning of fossil fuel, land use)
- Makes up 0.0385% (400 ppm (parts per million)) of the atmosphere but cause up to a quarter o9 natural greenhouse effect
- Natural carbon sources: volcanic eruptions, burning of organic matter and cellular respiration (O2 + Sugar -> Co2 + energy [plants opposite]).
15
Q
Methane (CH4)
A
- a colourless, odourless flammable gas
- Is a Greenhouse gas
- Is a component of natural gas.
- Is involved with Climate change, and greenhouse effect (fossil fuel exhaust)
- 1 molecule of methane can absorb way more thermal energy than CO2.
- Methane is about 23x more powerful as GHG that CO2
- Comes from both natural (animal digestion & decomposition) and human sources (mining, landfills)
