Climate Change and Weather Flashcards 1:
To study for the Climate Change and Weather Test
Define weather.
The atmospheric conditions in a particular region over a short period of time.
Name 4 examples of atmospheric conditions.
Temperature, precipitation, wind, and humidity.
Define climate.
The average of the weather in a region over a long period of time.
How long does a climate last in a region?
30 years or more.
Higher latitudes are… (temperature)
Cooler.
Higher latitudes are… (distance from the sun)
Farther from the sun.
Lower latitudes are… (Temperature)
Warmer.
Lower latitudes are… (distance from the sun)
Closer to the sun.
Water heats and cools… (type of time) than land
Slower than land.
Land heats and cools… (type of time) than water
Faster than water
Areas near the oceans have… (moderate or distinct) temperatures.
Moderate temperatures.
Areas more inland have… (moderate or distinct) temperatures.
Distinct temperatures.
Oceans do what to coastal cities?
Moderate the temperatures.
Warm ocean currents… (raise or cool) temperatures
Raise temperatures.
Cool ocean currents… (raise or cool) temperatures
Cool temperatures.
What happens to clouds’ moisture as they go over the mountains?
They lose their moisture.
Air is thinner and cooler at… (higher or lower) latitudes
Higher latitudes.
What is a greenhouse gas?
A greenhouse gas is a gas in the atmosphere that absorbs infrared radiation, and emits it back towards the earth, instead of letting it into space.
What is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere?
Water vapor.
Water vapor enters the atmosphere mainly through…
Evaporation, transpiration, and volcanic activity.
Methane gases are products of…
Livestock farming.
Removing forests for cattle farms will… (do what to the GHG (greenhouse gas) problem)
Multiply the GHG problem.
Methane is also released by…
Landfills.
Why is ozone in the upper atmosphere beneficial?
It prevents harmful UV rays from entering the earth.
In the lower atmosphere, why is ozone harmful?
It is a GHG in the lower atmosphere.
How is ozone produced in the lower atmosphere?
Ozone is produced when GHG that is released by burning materials is exposed to sunlight, or when products of combustion is exposed to sunlight.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere started rising dramatically after…
The Industrial Revolution.
What does product mean?
Products are chemicals that are released by a different chemical reaction.
Carbon dioxide is the product of…
Burning fossil fuels.
What happens to CO2 levels during deforestation?
CO2 levels increase.
How do trees help keep CO2 levels under control?
Trees store carbon from the atmosphere into carbon sinks.
What is the main reason for the increase in nitrous oxide?
Agriculture’s overuse of fertilizer.
What is chlorofluorocarbons?
It is a type of chemical released by aerosol sprays and refrigerants.
Are chlorofluorocarbons greenhouse gases?
Yes.
What greenhouse gas is responsible for the hole in the ozone layer?
Chlorofluorocarbons.
How many countries have banned chlorofluorocarbons?
Over 200 countries.
What is the abbreviation for water vapor?
H20.
What is the abbreviation for carbon dioxide?
CO2.
What is the abbreviation for methane?
CH4.
What is the abbreviation for nitrous oxide?
N2O
What is the abbreviation for ozone?
O3.
What is the abbreviation for chlorofluorocarbons?
CFCs.
What is the greenhouse effect?
It is the process of when gases and clouds absorb infrared radiation, and emit it back to earth instead of letting it into space.
Some energy reflects off of what and goes back to space?
Some energy reflects off of the atmosphere.
Some energy from the sun is absorbed by (?) and (?).
Clouds and the Earth’s surface.
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb the radiation from the sun and…
Emit it in all directions.
Some of the radiation emitted by greenhouse gases can go back to either…
Outer space or earth.
What type of process is the greenhouse effect?
It is a natural process.
What is a carbon sink?
A carbon sink is a reservoir that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and stores the carbon in a different form.
Name 2 examples of carbon sinks.
Forests and oceans.
Since the Industrial Revolution, the earth’s average global temperatures have risen by how much?
1 degree Celsius.
