Climate Change Intro

Question 1

How do we know climate change is real? Hint: think of the Industrial Revolution.

Answer 1

Studies since the Industrial Revolution indicated a greater concentration in greenhouse gases.

Question 2

For most of the planet’s history, CO2 concentrations have been under 300ppm. What is it now? (keep in mind this change occurred over a short time period).

Answer 2

Above 400ppm.

Question 3

How do we know the Industrial Revolution increased the concentration of CO2?

Answer 3

The increase is directly linked to when we implemented fossil burning and industrialized agriculture.

Question 4

How do we know that concentrations were lower and more consistent in the past? Hint: what is the term for studying ancient substrates to ascertain info on past climate?

Answer 4

Scientists extract data about the atmosphere from ancient substrates. This study is called paleoclimatology.

Question 5

How can ice cores in the Artic and Antarctica give us data about our past climate?

Answer 5

Air gets trapped in ice that has formed over thousands or millions of years ago. We can get at least 800,000 years of data from this trapped air.

Question 6

How can isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen in the ice tell us if it’s a warm or cold year?

Answer 6

Lighter isotopes evaporate in the heat and less would remain oh H1 and O16 isotopes in warmer years. Warmer years = lower concentrations of H1 and 016.

Question 7

How can sediment from the ocean give us data about the climate?

Answer 7

Water trapped in the sediment have concentrations of atmospheric gases.

Question 8

True or false: the sun radiates 3 types of radiation: Ultraviolet (high energy), visible light(ROY G BIV), and infrared (lower energy, usually experienced as heat).

Answer 8

True. 1)Ultraviolet 2)Visible Light 3)Infrared.

Question 9

Which type of light does Earth’s atmosphere allow the most to pass through? Hint: harmless and not related to heat)

Answer 9

Visible light.

Question 10

What two types of light does Earth’s atmosphere absorb and scatter the majority of? Hint: high energy/potentially dangerous and the second involves heat.

Answer 10

Ultraviolet and infrared.

Question 11

What type of light is absorbed and reflected by Earth’s surface? What kind does it turn into when it is re-radiated?

Answer 11

Visible light is absorbed and reflected. It is re-radiated as infrared.

Question 12

True or false: greenhouse gases do NOT trap heat in the troposphere.

Answer 12

False, they do trap some of the heat energy in the troposphere.

Question 13

What type of gases are Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), and Nitrous Oxide (N2O)?

Answer 13

Naturally occurring greenhouse gases (but can also be produced by human activities).

Question 14

Why are natural greenhouse gases key to our survival?

Answer 14

They trap enough heat energy to keep water in a liquid form. Life needs liquid water to survive.

Question 15

Why are excessive levels of greenhouse gases potentially dangerous?

Answer 15

They can cause rapid and unpredictable climate change.

Question 16

Mauna Loa in Hawaii experienced a dramatic increase in C _ _ _ _ n D _ _ _ _ _ e in a short period of time.

Answer 16

Carbon dioxide.

Question 17

What is the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)?

Answer 17

Results from equatorial ocean currents, atmospheric systems, and ocean temperature shifts that cause major climatic events.

Question 18

The west coast of South Africa enjoys productive fisheries due to a strong u _ _ _ _ _ _ _ g system.

Answer 18

Upwelling.

Question 19

True or false: Upwelling of deep cold waters cool the equatorial Pacific, creating a system where climates in Southeast Asia are tropical and in Southwest North
America are sunny and relatively dry

Answer 19

True.

Question 20

Will an increase in ocean temperature impact the upwelling process?

Answer 20

Yes, the “normal” conditions will dramatically change.

Question 21

Can paleoclimatiological evidence prove that periods of atmospheric warming causes more pronounced shifts in the El Nino cycle?

Answer 21

Yes, it can. Atmospheric warming causes more pronounced shifts in the El Nino cycle.

Question 22

Does warming of sea and land temps increase the rate of the hydrological cycle on a global scale?

Answer 22

Yes, warmer temps = more evaporation = more precipitation.

Question 23

Do you think warmer water contributes to more severe storm events like Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 23

Yes it does.

Question 24

What do climate models need to recreate past events and predict future events?

Answer 24

Math and data from several variables.

Question 25

How do they test the correctness of a climate model?

Answer 25

If it recreates past events correctly, then it can be used to predict future events.

Question 26

Most climate models predict w _ _ _ _ _ g due to human activities.

Answer 26

Warming.

Question 27

What does the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) & IPCC do in regards to climate change?

Answer 27

Research and document how human activities contribute to climate change.