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RDHC (finals) > Climate Change pt.1 > Flashcards

Climate Change pt.1 Flashcards

1
Q

Atmosphere

A

a thin envelope of gases surrounding the earth

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2
Q

the earth’s atmosphere is a dynamic system that includes 4 layers

A

troposphere, (pressure), ozone layer, stratosphere

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3
Q

weather

A

consists of short-term changes in atmosphere variables, such as the temperature and precipitation in a given area over a period of hours or days

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4
Q

climate

A

determined by the average weather conditions of the earth or of a particularly area, especially temperature and precipitation, over periods of at least three decades to thousands of years

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5
Q

30 years

A

climate scientists look at data on normally changing weather conditions to see if there has been a general rise or fall in any measurements such as average temperature or precipitation over a period of at least

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6
Q

over the past 3.5 billion years

A

the planet’s climate has been altered by volcanic emissions, changes in solar input, continents moving slowly atop shifting tectonic plates

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7
Q

(900,000 years) - glacial and interglacial periods

A

the atmosphere has experienced prolonged periods of global cooling and warming

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8
Q

10,000 years

A

we have lived in an interglacial period characterized by a fairly stable climate and a fair steady average global surface temperature

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9
Q

1,000 years

A

the average temperature of the atmosphere has remained fairly stable

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10
Q

last century

A

clearing more forests and burning more fossil fuels

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11
Q

radioisotopes

A

past temperatures changes are estimated through analysis; temperature measurements taken regularly since 1861

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12
Q

temperature change (over past 22,000 years)

A

average temperature over past 10,000 years = 15c (59f) - END OF LAST ICE AGE

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13
Q

greenhouse effect - phase 1

A

solar radiation in the form of lightwaves passes through the atmosphere

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14
Q

greenhouse effect - phase 2

A

most of this radiation is absorbed by the earth and warms it

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15
Q

greenhouse effect - phase 3

A

some energy is radiated back into space by the earth in the forms of infrared waves

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16
Q

greenhouse effect - phase 4

A

some of this outgoing infrared radiation is trapped by the earth’s atmosphere and warms it

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17
Q

greenhouse effect

A

a natural process that occurs when some of the solar energy absorbed by the earth radiates into the atmosphere as infrared radiation (heat)

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18
Q

four greenhouse gases absorb the heat which warms the lower atmosphere and the earth’s surface, helping to create a livable climate

A

water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide

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19
Q

anthropogenic causes

A

the biggest sources of greenhouse gases

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20
Q

anthropogenic causes (12)

A

coal mining, thawing permafrost, coal plants, air transport, oil production, industrial processes, industrial agriculture, land transportation, landfills, forest burning, fertilization, crop burning

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21
Q

14 of the hottest years on record (since 01)

A

1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

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22
Q

likely to be the warmest year on record globally

A

2020

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23
Q

the effect on global temperature of CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels in selected countries increased between 1965 and 2009

A

the energy trapped by man-made global warming pollution is now equivalent to exploding 400,000 Hiroshima atomic bombs per day 365 days per year

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24
Q

Alaska’s Muir Glacier

A

It already melted

25
Q

encyclical letter of the holy Father Francis on care for our common home – June 18, 2015

A

“…the gravest effects of all attacks on the environment are suffered by the poorest.”

26
Q

what role do oceans play in projected climate disruption - 1

A

the world’s oceans help to moderate the earth’s average surface temperature and its climate by removing about 25-30% of the CO2

27
Q

what role do oceans play in projected climate disruption - 2

A

the oceans absorb heat from the lower atmosphere and currents slowly transfer some CO2 to the deep ocean

28
Q

what role do oceans play in projected climate disruption - 3

A

the ability of the oceans to absorb CO2 decreases as water temperatures increase so as the oceans warm up some of their dissolved CO2 is released into the lower atmosphere

29
Q

higher temperature

A

less gas dissolves

30
Q

lower temperature

A

more gas dissolves

31
Q

gas solubility in the environment (6)

A

the lake has dissolved oxygen gas, fish breathe dissolved oxygen, amount of oxygen depends on temperature, lake temperature rises, less oxygen dissolves, fish die

32
Q

what role do oceans play in projected climate disruption - 4

A

increasing levels of CO2 in the ocean have increased the acidity of its surface. this threatens corals and other organisms with shells made of calcium carbonate

33
Q

there is uncertainty about the effects of cloud cover on projected atmospheric warming

A

create more clouds which can either warm or cool the atmosphere

34
Q

An increase in thick and continuous cumulous clouds at low altitudes

A

could decrease surface warming by reflecting more sunlight back into space

35
Q

An increase in thin, wispy cirrus clouds at high altitudes

A

could increase the warming of the lower atmosphere by preventing more heat from escaping into space

36
Q

Potential climate change impacts

A

health impacts, agriculture impacts, forest impacts, water resource impacts, impacts on coastal areas, species and natural areas

37
Q

93% of the extra heat trapped by man-made global warming pollution goes into

A

the ocean

38
Q

country with the most number of weather-related major events

A

Philippines

39
Q

enhanced atmospheric warming could have severe consequences (5)

A

ecosystems collapsing, floods in low-lying coastal cities, forests consumed in vast wildfires, grasslands dried out from prolonged drought, rivers and supplies of drinking and irrigation water could dry up

40
Q

enhanced atmospheric warming could have severe consequences (6)

A

premature extinction of up to half of the world’s species, prolonged droughts, more intense and longer-lasting heat waves, more destructive storms and flooding, much colder weather in some parts of the world, rapid spread of some infectious tropical diseases

41
Q

severe drought is likely to increase (8)

A

the growth of trees declines; wildfires increase infrequency; declining stream flows, and less available surface water; falling water tables with more evaporation, worsened by farmers irrigating more to make up for drier conditions; shrinking lakes, reservoirs, and inland seas; dwindling rivers; water shortages for 1-3 billion people; declining biodiversity

42
Q

sea levels are rising

A

rising sea levels are due to the expansion of seawater as it warms, and to the melting of land-based ice

43
Q

the projected rise in sea levels would also

A

flood agriculture lowlands and deltas in coastal areas where much of the world’s rice is grown; cause saltwater contamination of freshwater coastal aquifers and decreased supplies of groundwater needed for irrigation and drinking; submerge low-lying islands around the world; displace at least 150 million people from flooded coastal cities; threaten trillions of dollars worth of buildings, roads, and other forms of infrastructure

44
Q

climate disruption is a threat change will threaten biodiversity

A

projected climate disruption is likely to upset ecosystems and decrease biodiversity in areas of every continent

45
Q

the hardest hit will be (climate disruption) (4)

A

plant and animal species in colder climates; species at higher elevations; plant and animal species with limited ranges; those with limited tolerance for temperature change

46
Q

the ecosystems most likely to suffer disruption and species loss from climate change are (5)

A

coral reefs, polar seas, coastal wetlands, high-elevation mountaintops, alpine and arctic tundra

47
Q

agriculture could face an overall decline

A

crop productivity is projected to increase slightly at middle to high latitudes with moderate atmospheric warming; climate change models predict a decline in agricultural productivity in tropical regions; flooding of river deltas due to rising sea levels could reduce crop production in these areas

48
Q

a warmer world is likely to threaten the health of many people - 1

A

more frequent and prolonged heat waves in areas will increase the numbers of death and illnesses; hunger and malnutrition will increase in areas where agricultural production drops; a warmer, CO2-rich world will favor rapidly multiplying insects and microbes that cause allergies and asthma attacks; microbes that cause infectious tropical diseases such as dengue fever

49
Q

extreme weather conditions in the Philippines (9)

A

typhoon Ketsana “Ondoy”; Typhoons Parma and Melor; Super Typhoon Lupit; Typhoon Mirinae; Super Typhoon Megi; Typhoon Nalgae; Typhoon Nari; Typhoon Haiyan “Yolanda”; Tropical storm Fung-Wong;

50
Q

as global temperatures continue to increase

A

the earth’s water cycle intensifies even more

51
Q

causing bigger, harder downpours, and simultaneously (6)

A
  1. evaporation from the ocean into the atmosphere increases even more
  2. as the air gets even warmer, it can hold even more water vapor
  3. heavy downpours get even heavier causing worse flooding
  4. snowpack melt earlier in the year, leading to more spring flooding, but less water in the heat of summer
  5. there are longer intervals in drought-stricken areas between downpours, making droughts even worse
  6. more water also evaporates more quickly from the soil
52
Q

the same extra heat that evaporates more water from the ocean, causing bigger downpour and floods

A

pulls moisture even more quickly from the soil, causing longer and deeper droughts

53
Q

provinces in the Philippines that experienced drought

A

Maguindanao province and cavite province

54
Q

more intense typhoons to visit the Philippines

A

more intense typhoons are expected to occur more frequently

55
Q

what are our options (5)

A

psychological research; elected officials spending their efforts on long-term problems; money-saved from cutting energy; better health because of cleaner air; more jobs in the less polluting areas; improved national and economic security due to reduced dependence on imported oil

56
Q

two basic approaches to dealing with the projected harmful effects of global climate disruption

A
  1. mitigation is to act to slow it and avoid tipping points
  2. adaptation is to recognize that some climate change events are unavoidable and to try to reduce some of its harmful effects
57
Q

mitigation

A

measures to reduce, prevent, or correct the climate change

58
Q

adaptation

A

measures to soften the impact of climate change as they happen

RDHC (finals) (4 decks)

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