Climate Change Flashcards
Which gases have the greatest impact on the greenhouse effect?
Carbon dioxide and water vapour
As well as by photosynthesis, how else is carbon dioxide recycled from the atmosphere?
Dissolved by lakes and oceans
Name three other greenhouse gases
Methane
Ozone
Nitrogen oxide
What is required for a gas to contribute to the greenhouse effect?
Absorb longer wavelength radiation
What traps more heat out of methane and carbon dioxide?
Methane
Where are nitrous oxides produced?
Car engines
Certain bacteria
Lightning
How are other countries influenced by our greenhouse gas emissions?
Prevailing winds
Outline the greenhouse effect
Ozone blocks UV so only short wavelength radiation reaches the Earth’s surface. This is re-emitted as longer IR as heat which greenhouse gases absorb (some escapes atmosphere) and emit in all directions, some back at earth to heat the earth
Why do carbon dioxide and water vapour have larger effects on the greenhouse effect?
More present in the atmosphere
What else can influence global temperature?
Sunspot activity
Variation of orbit around the sun
What are some effects of global temperature increase?
Ice caps and glaciers melting due to sea temperature rising
Heavier rainfall from more evaporation
Stronger typhoons, hurricanes and ocean currents
Flooding in low lying areas
What are humans doing which is increasing greenhouse gases?
Deforestation
Burning fossil fuels
What do oceans do when we add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
They absorb some leading to ocean acidification
What causes an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide if the oceans are absorbing some?
We generate carbon dioxide at a faster rate than oceans can absorb it
How do we combust fossil fuels?
Vehicles
Power stations
Heating homes
Factories
What is against the idea of climate change by us?
Not a causal relationship
Only a correlation
Temperature has increased before due to natural phenomena
What happens when carbon dioxide is dissolved in oceans?
Forms carbonic acid which dissociates into H+ ions and hydrogencarbonate ions which makes oceans more acidic to damage coral reefs
What major event began the increase in CO2?
Industrial revolution and burning fossil fuels
How are corals affected?
Lowering of ocean pH increases solubility of calcium carbonate used to build their exoskeletons (calcification). Less is available and they become more brittle as their own exoskeletons dissolve. Less resilient to factors influencing survival and struggle to recover from damage
What is a consequence of losing coral reefs?
Underwater grasslands which do not calcify replace them as they cannot colonise
