Climate Change Vocab And Stuff Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Weather

A

Weather refers specifically to the atmosphere conditions that occurs at a particular place, at a particular time. Eg, Local, specific, time of day etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Components of weather?

A

Temperature, Precipitation, Wind speed, Relative humidity, Atmospheric pressure, cloud cover.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Climate

A

Climate is the average weather conditions that occur in a region over a long period of time, at LEAST 30 YEARS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Factors that climate is affected by

A

Latitude, Elevation, Ocean currents, Nearby bodies of water, Topography/Relief, Prevailing winds

LEONRD

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Components of climate

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Basic needs depending on climate

A
  1. Clothing - Variety for the summer and winter
  2. Agriculture - We rely on importation or frozen frozen canned food in winter
  3. Housing - Homes must be insulated, heated, and air conditioned
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Climatographs

A

Graphs of climate data for a particular region based on measurements taken over several years.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What do climate graphs include?

A

Information on average monthly temperature and an average of the total monthly precipitation. (Rain and snow.)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Indicators of climate change

A

Global warming, Changes in polar & glacial ice, sea levels, acidity, Human health, Wind & precipitation patterns, biomes, growing seasons.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Energy transfer

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Cloud cover?

A

How much of the sky is covered by clouds at any given point. A component of weather. Increased CC = increased albedo = decreased temp

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Atmosphere pressure

A

Weight of air pressing down on earths surface, component of weather

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How many years is climate measured over?

A

At least 30

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Latitude

A

Latitude is the distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees. The sun and earths tilt.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Elevation

A

Elevation is the height of a place above sea level.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Ocean currents

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What drives ocean currents?

A

Temperature differences, Winds, and the earths rotation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How do volcanoes affect climate change?

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What happens to albedo and surface temp when volcanoes erupt, how long approx does it take to get back to pre-eruption levels.

A

Surface temperatures immediately decrease, while Albedo increases. It takes approx 20 years to reach pre-eruption levels.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

3 types of energy transfer

A

Radiation, convection, conduction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Radiation

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Conduction

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Convection

A

Transfer of energy through the movement of particles in a liquid or gas. Creates convection currents.

Eg, hot goes to top, steam in pots.

24
Q

Explain thermal energy in the atmosphere

A

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.

25
Q

Why do warmer regions exert less atmospheric pressure?

A

Because warm air is less dense then cold air causing warmer regions to exert less atmospheric pressure.

26
Q

What is continous convection current

A

If there earth did not spin, it would occur btw the poles and equatorial regions.

27
Q

What is to Coriolis effect

A

The apparent change in direction of the wind currents

28
Q

explain energy transfer in the hydropshere

A

Ocean currents transfer thermal energy from the equator to the poles. Warm water rises, cold water sinks.

29
Q

What is thermohaline

A

Evaporation along the way that makes water salty and denser.

30
Q

What is the direction of currents affected by?

A

Temperature and salinity

31
Q

What is albedo?

A

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.

32
Q

Explain Greenhouse gas effect

A

Natural process which keeps our atmosphere warm. Gasses in our atmosphere trap infrared radiation from the sun which warms our planet.

33
Q

Explain some wind patterns

A

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.

34
Q

What is a heat sink?

A

Oceans are huge heat sinks. They hold more heat than the atmosphere and release it slowly.

35
Q

How does temperature affect ocean currents

A

Warm ocean currents create wetter climates and cold ocean currents create dryer/cooler climates.

36
Q

Explain thermohaline circulation cycle

A

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.

37
Q

Anthropogenic

A

Human activity, Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, Livestock methane release

38
Q

Composition of atmosphere

A

78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
1% of other gasses like co2, methane, nitrous oxide
0.4% water

39
Q

What gasses make up GHG’s

A

Water vapour - 70%
Carbon dioxide - 20 - 25%
Methane - 2%
Nitrous oxide - 5%

40
Q

Anthropogenic GHGS

A

Carbon dioxide - burning fossil fuels, transportation, deforestation

Methane - Farming, Landfills, processing coal, farming cattle

Nitrous oxide - Chemical fertillizers,manure and sewage treatments, vehicle exhaustion

41
Q

CFCs

A

Human made chemicals which cause holes in the ozone layer, examples include Cleaners, coolants in refrigerators, and hairsprays (anthropogenic)

42
Q

Carbon sources

A

volcanoes, fires, fossil fuels, respiration, ocean

43
Q

Carbon sinks

A

Plants (photosynthesis), and oceans (but they r also heat sinks)

44
Q

What is paleoclimatology

A

Study of ancient climates

45
Q

How far back do tree rings span

A

100,000 years

46
Q

How far back do coral reefs span

A

1,000,000 years

47
Q

which proxy records have collected data for the longest time in history

A

ocean sediments and continential sediments

48
Q

Dendrochronology

A

Tree rings, tree grows new rings each year (xylem)

49
Q

What does thickness in tree rings mean

A

Wide/thick means good growing conditions, normal precipitatoon, long growing seasons, and normal temps

50
Q

what does narrowness mean in tree tings

A

Poor growing conditions, low or rly high precipitation, colder temps, droughts. Burnt means forest fires

51
Q

pH relationship to co2

A

pH decreases and ocean becomes more acidic

52
Q

Changes in atmosphere

A

Heat waves, droughts, wildfires, storms, floods

53
Q

Changes in hydrosphere

A

Antartica and greenland loosing sea icem increase in ocean acidity killing marine life, changes in salinty affecting ocean currents

54
Q

Changes in the biosphere

A

Range shift (wildlife habitats shifting to more suitable climates), Threatned species, loss of food sources and shelter,Loss of pollinators eg bees

55
Q

Coral bleaching

A

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.