Climate Change Vocab And Stuff Flashcards
Weather
Weather refers specifically to the atmosphere conditions that occurs at a particular place, at a particular time. Eg, Local, specific, time of day etc.
Components of weather?
Temperature, Precipitation, Wind speed, Relative humidity, Atmospheric pressure, cloud cover.
Climate
Climate is the average weather conditions that occur in a region over a long period of time, at LEAST 30 YEARS
Factors that climate is affected by
Latitude, Elevation, Ocean currents, Nearby bodies of water, Topography/Relief, Prevailing winds
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Components of climate
Average monthly temperature, Average monthly precipitation, Average monthly wind speed/direction
Eg, Southern Ontario’s climate in January is cold, snowy and windy, with an average daytime temperature of -9 C.
Basic needs depending on climate
- Clothing - Variety for the summer and winter
- Agriculture - We rely on importation or frozen frozen canned food in winter
- Housing - Homes must be insulated, heated, and air conditioned
Climatographs
Graphs of climate data for a particular region based on measurements taken over several years.
What do climate graphs include?
Information on average monthly temperature and an average of the total monthly precipitation. (Rain and snow.)
Indicators of climate change
Global warming, Changes in polar & glacial ice, sea levels, acidity, Human health, Wind & precipitation patterns, biomes, growing seasons.
Energy transfer
Energy can be transferred from one place to another by one of the following 3 methods, which contribute to the earths weather. Radiation , Conduction, Convection.
Cloud cover?
How much of the sky is covered by clouds at any given point. A component of weather. Increased CC = increased albedo = decreased temp
Atmosphere pressure
Weight of air pressing down on earths surface, component of weather
How many years is climate measured over?
At least 30
Latitude
Latitude is the distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees. The sun and earths tilt.
Elevation
Elevation is the height of a place above sea level.
Ocean currents
Ocean currents are continuous, directed movements of seawater generated by forces such as wind, temperature differences, the Earth’s rotation, and the shape of the ocean basins.
What drives ocean currents?
Temperature differences, Winds, and the earths rotation
How do volcanoes affect climate change?
white ash is spewed into the air when eruptions occur. This white ash is very hot when airborn. The white covering on the ash reflects sunlight back into the atmosphere increases albedo and cooling the atmosphere. However, GHG’s like water and carbon dioxide are also released which warm the atmosphere.
What happens to albedo and surface temp when volcanoes erupt, how long approx does it take to get back to pre-eruption levels.
Surface temperatures immediately decrease, while Albedo increases. It takes approx 20 years to reach pre-eruption levels.
3 types of energy transfer
Radiation, convection, conduction
Radiation
Transfer of energy in waves, matter may absorb, reflect, or refract any radiation it comes into contact with.
Eg, A fire, sun rays, can feel heat when not touches, in waves
Conduction
Transfer of thermal energy btw 2 objects that are in direct contact. Thermal energy moves from warmer objects to cooler objects.
Eg,touching a hot pot, pot it heated by stove.
Convection
Transfer of energy through the movement of particles in a liquid or gas. Creates convection currents.
Eg, hot goes to top, steam in pots.
Explain thermal energy in the atmosphere
Equator receives most solar radiation, so the gasses there is less dense and rises. This warm air travels northward or southward. Atmospheric gasses above the pole recieve LESS solar radiation, making them colder more dense causing them to fall.
Why do warmer regions exert less atmospheric pressure?
Because warm air is less dense then cold air causing warmer regions to exert less atmospheric pressure.
What is continous convection current
If there earth did not spin, it would occur btw the poles and equatorial regions.
What is to Coriolis effect
The apparent change in direction of the wind currents
explain energy transfer in the hydropshere
Ocean currents transfer thermal energy from the equator to the poles. Warm water rises, cold water sinks.
What is thermohaline
Evaporation along the way that makes water salty and denser.
What is the direction of currents affected by?
Temperature and salinity
What is albedo?
Amount fo light or heat reflected from a surface. Dark absorbs, means low albedo eg dirt. White reflects, means high albedo eg, ice or clouds.
Explain Greenhouse gas effect
Natural process which keeps our atmosphere warm. Gasses in our atmosphere trap infrared radiation from the sun which warms our planet.
Explain some wind patterns
The green house gas effect, and convection currents. As we know the equator gets solar radiation. Air heated at the equator expands and rises and has low surface air pressure. Air cooled at poles has high surface air pressure and contracts and sinks.
What is a heat sink?
Oceans are huge heat sinks. They hold more heat than the atmosphere and release it slowly.
How does temperature affect ocean currents
Warm ocean currents create wetter climates and cold ocean currents create dryer/cooler climates.
Explain thermohaline circulation cycle
Water heated at equator is less dense, which riseses and is pushed to poles (convection)
Evaporation causes water to become more salty and dense
Reaches poles, cools, more dense, sinks, returns to equator.
Anthropogenic
Human activity, Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, Livestock methane release
Composition of atmosphere
78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
1% of other gasses like co2, methane, nitrous oxide
0.4% water
What gasses make up GHG’s
Water vapour - 70%
Carbon dioxide - 20 - 25%
Methane - 2%
Nitrous oxide - 5%
Anthropogenic GHGS
Carbon dioxide - burning fossil fuels, transportation, deforestation
Methane - Farming, Landfills, processing coal, farming cattle
Nitrous oxide - Chemical fertillizers,manure and sewage treatments, vehicle exhaustion
CFCs
Human made chemicals which cause holes in the ozone layer, examples include Cleaners, coolants in refrigerators, and hairsprays (anthropogenic)
Carbon sources
volcanoes, fires, fossil fuels, respiration, ocean
Carbon sinks
Plants (photosynthesis), and oceans (but they r also heat sinks)
What is paleoclimatology
Study of ancient climates
How far back do tree rings span
100,000 years
How far back do coral reefs span
1,000,000 years
which proxy records have collected data for the longest time in history
ocean sediments and continential sediments
Dendrochronology
Tree rings, tree grows new rings each year (xylem)
What does thickness in tree rings mean
Wide/thick means good growing conditions, normal precipitatoon, long growing seasons, and normal temps
what does narrowness mean in tree tings
Poor growing conditions, low or rly high precipitation, colder temps, droughts. Burnt means forest fires
pH relationship to co2
pH decreases and ocean becomes more acidic
Changes in atmosphere
Heat waves, droughts, wildfires, storms, floods
Changes in hydrosphere
Antartica and greenland loosing sea icem increase in ocean acidity killing marine life, changes in salinty affecting ocean currents
Changes in the biosphere
Range shift (wildlife habitats shifting to more suitable climates), Threatned species, loss of food sources and shelter,Loss of pollinators eg bees
Coral bleaching
When coral looses its vibrant colours due to increased ocean temps. The algae leaves its body which provides the colour causing them to be bleached.
