Climate/Greenhouse Effect Flashcards
What are greenhouse gases?
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere
What do greenhouse gases do?
They keep the earth warm enough by trapping the suns heat when it radiates off of the Earth’s surface
What is the greenhouse effect?
-Why is it important and how
have humans effected it?
The process through heat being trapped near Earth’s surface by substances known as greenhouse gases
-They keep Earth’s temperature warm and by fossil fuels, farming livestock, and cutting down trees
What is climate?
long-term pattern of weather in a particular area (usually over 30+ years)
What do ice cores tell us about the patterns of CO2 and temperature for the past 800,000 years?
It shows us how carbon dioxide levels now are much higher than in the past, same with temperature
What are some major determinates of climate?
- Sunlight
- Energy earth absorbs
- Tilt of earth’s axis
- Change in earth rotation
- Significant +/- of Earth’s energy output
What is a positive feedback loop?
Feedback that amplifies original change
What is a negative feedback loop?
Feedback that negates original change
What is the difference between a positive and negative feedback loop?
Positive feedback keeps the original change going while negative stops it
What is an example of a positive feedback loop?
Ripening of fruit
What are the steps of the greenhouse effect?
- Energy from sun
- Reflection or absorption of suns energy
- Absorption by land or ocean
- Radiation toward space
- Radiation to atmosphere
- Greenhouse gases
What is the difference between inland and body of water temperature change?
Inland: wide range
Body of water: constant
What is an example of a negative feedback loop?
A heating system thermostat
What is the difference between inland and body of water precipitation?
Inland: less
Body of water: more
How does altitude change climate?
-Every 1000 ft = change in 3.5 degrees F
-Change in precipitation
