climate change/ climate Flashcards
how could climate change sea level?
projected to rise 1-8 feet by 2100
could put up to 410 million people at risk of losing their homes
how could climate change hurricanes?
hurricanes could become stronger
hurricane season could be extended
How could climate change ecosystems?
climate is changing so fast ecosystems can adapt quickly enough
Loss of habitat, or unfavorable growing conditions, lead to decrease biodiversity in more extinction
how could climate change precipitation?
Northern US and southeast expected to get wetter
southwestern US expected to get dryer.
Seasonal precipitation. Amounts will vary
heavy precipitation Events may increase everywhere.
how could climate change global temperature?
Depending on emissions, global temperatures could rise 2° to 8° by 2100
US temperatures could rise 2° to 9°
Higher latitude regions could see most warming
why care?
Current rate of changes too fast for adaption
How is climate change carbon dioxide
carbon dioxide level steadily increasing
Current levels around 413 ppm
How has climate changed ecosystems
growing seasons have changed
Loss of habitat or unfavorable conditions have lead to changes in species range
How has climate change to sea level
Global, sea level Rose, about 8 inches in the last century
Melting, ice and expansion of warm water contribute to sea level rise
how has climate change, glaciers, and ice?
Glaciers in land eyes are retreating worldwide
Arctic sea ice has shrunk 13% per decade
How is climate change to global temperature?
average global temps have risen 2.12° since 1880.
Not everybody has warmed
Polls have warmed much more than other places
How has climate changed?
climate has always been changing
Past climate change was cyclical and slower paced
Recent changes have been faster
Why has climate change greenhouse effect?
differential absorption allow short, wave lengths to pass through the atmosphere, while trapping long wavelengths
Heats the atmosphere
Greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane water vapor
how has climate change the atmospheric turbidity?
turbidity is the amount of suspended particles in the air
Can influence short term, transmission and absorption of terrestrial and solar radiation
1815 Tamburro volcanic eruption year without a summer
why has climate change continent location?
Change in location of land masses can drastically alter amount of insulation, absorbed albedo, and ocean currents
Milenkovitch cycles eccentricity
change in the shape of earths path around the sun from circular to more, oval shaped
Milanković cycles obliquity
Change in the tilt of the earths axis from 21.5° to 24.5°.
Milanković cycles precession
Wobble of the earths axis
Milanković cycles
Variations in the earths orbit, which influence climate by changing the distribution of solar radiation
Change every 26,000 to 100,000 years
Dark cool patches on the surface of the sun, solar storms
Distinct 11 year cycle
Mini sunspots, equal more active son, higher solar output equals warmer temps
Sunspots
using tree ring, size to determine climate of the past
Dendrochronology
 Width of annual ring indicates favorability of environmental factors for growth
One ring for every year
extra cords of sediment from Lake floor
Analyze pollen Contant
Reconstruct, vegetation patterns of the past
Proxy evidence lake sediments
extract course of ice from continental glaciers
Analyze composition of air, trapped, and bubbles between water molecules
Reconstruct atmosphere composition of Past atmosphere
Proxy, evidence, ice, cores
16O equals light oxygen
18O equals heavy oxygen
during warm years 18O levels are higher, all of the heavy oxygen able to evaporate
extra course of sediment from ocean floor
Perform oxygen isotope analysis
During cold years 18O levels are higher, all of the heavy oxygen, unable to evaporate
Proxy, evidence, ocean sediment
Preserved clues about what past climates were like
Proxy data
Second letters climate
W equals desert arid
S equals Steppy semi arid
B climates
2nd letter climates
T equals tundra at least one month above 32°
F equals ice cap no months above 32°
E climates
Second letter precipitation patterns
F equals full year wet
W equals winter dry
D climates
Second letter precipitation patterns
F full year wet
S summer dry
W winter dry
C climates
Second letter precipitation patterns
F tropical rainforest all months get at least 2.4 inches of precipitation.
M tropical monsoon short 2 to 4 months dry season
W tropical savanna longer 4+ month dry season
A climate
arid or semi arid dry
Temp varies by location
Precipitation low for much of the year
Location 25° to 35° latitude
B climates
polar
Temperature all months below 50
Low levels of precipitation for much of the year
Location near the pole 55° to 90° latitude
E climates
severe mid latitude or micro thermal
Coldest temperature less than 27°
Precipitation varies by location
In the mid latitudes closer to the poles 40° north to 55° north latitude
D climates
mild mid latitude or mesothermal
Temperature Lowest 27
 precipitation, varies by location
In the mid-latitudes closer to the equator 30° to 40° latitude
C climates
tropical
All months above 64°
High levels of precipitation for much of the year
Location near the equator 0° to 20° latitude
A climates
Classified based on average monthly temperature in average monthly precipitation using koppen Geiger system
climate
momentary state of the atmosphere
Weather
average state of the atmosphere over a longer period of time
Climate
