climate change test Flashcards
define/give examples of common greenhouse gasses
Greenhouse gases absorb longwave infared radiation, radiating heat back out (co2, methane, water vapor)
main sources of GHG from human activities
combustion of fossil fuels, rice fields and livestock, and lanfill sights
describe the enhanced greenhouse effect
GHG trap reradiated heat and continue to send it back into the atmosphere, warming the earth beyond what is natural
what 5 things are impacted by climate chage
temperature/precipatation, sea level, ocean/wind circulation, melting of ice, and biodiversity
describe impacts: temperature/precipitation
increase in temp leads to change in rain patterns, warming oceans also leads to coral bleaching
describe impacts: sea level
due to thermsl expansion and melt water
describe impacts: : ocean/wind circulation
FUNDEMENTALLY DRIVEN BY TEMP DIFFERENCES
describe impacts: melting of sea ice
warming waters melts from the bottom of ice, ice is not as thick as it once was
describe impacts: ice sheets
antarticas ice sheets are melting rapidly, 219 billion tons per year
describe impacts: glaciers
melt water contributes, more energy is absorbeed because of less ice, animal speciies die off
describe impacts: permafrost
the tundra decaying leads to methane release which is a positive feedback mechanism
describe impacts: biodiversity
loss of biodiversity, insects
describe climate change impacts on human populations
damages to low lying countries-flooding causes damage, forced migration of people to new areas, warmer weather leads to longer/extreme droughts, negative impacts on certain industries
describe strategies fore reduction of GHG
reduction of carbon footprint, more trees, investment in carbon capture,energy policies, international agreement
describe reduction of carbon footprint
fewer children, less red meat, an energy efficent lifestyle
describe stop cutting down the trees
reducing deforestation and increasing reforestation
describe investment in carbon capture
could be potentially risky for our future
describe changing energy policies
reducing use of fossil fuels, alternative forms of energy (bike/public transport)
2 policies that could help involving urban design
underground railways to reduce traffic and promotic electric/hybrid cars
what are the two climate agreements
kyoto protocol (1997)
The paris climate accord
geoengineering staratgeies
solar radiation management stratagies- albedo enhancement, space reflectors, stratospheric aersols
