Climate, Human Atmosphere Interactions

Question 1

Why are urban climates different from other climates?

Answer 1

Urban regions have a unique set of climate conditions due to their form and composition on the Earth’s surface. This causes inadvertent climate modification

Question 2

What two elements of climate do urban regions modify?

Answer 2

1. Heat storage capacity
2. Albedo

Question 3

What three things do human activities generate, and what four components of climate do they change?

Answer 3

1. Heat
2. Water vapour
3. Pollutants
4. Temperature
5. Humidity
6. Air quality
7. Visibility

This is a form of direct climate modification

Question 4

Urban heat island

Answer 4

Regions that are densely populated and have high concentrations of infrastructure

Question 5

What four elements of climate contribute to generating urban heat islands?

Answer 5

1. Modification of radiation balance
2. Greater daytime heat storage
3. Human generated heat
4. Decreased evaporation

Question 6

Why can urban heat islands be dangerous to humans?

Answer 6

Urban heat islands can cause heat stroke, espically at night when there is no respite from the high temperatures. This is espically salient for the elderly who are more vulnerable to these persistent temperatures

Question 7

What is the main solution to reducing the harmful effects of urban heat island, and how does this solution work?

Answer 7

Re-greening cities with greater quantities and concentrations of flora. The cooling effects generated by this solution can influence the surrounding urban regions, subsequently reducing heatwave mortalities

Question 8

What are the six sources of aerosols?

Answer 8

1. Desert dust
2. Volatile orgnaic compounds
3. Forest fires
4. Volcanic ash
5. Household heat
6. Industry/transport

Question 9

Radiative forcing

Answer 9

The difference between the amount of energy entering and leaving the atmosphere

Question 10

How do the different types of aerosols affect radiative forcing?

Answer 10

Lighter coloured aerosols are more reflective (thus increasing albedo) whilst darker coloured aerosols are more absorbant (thus reducing albedo)

Question 11

How do aerosols affect air quality and visibility?

Answer 11

High concentrations of aerosols in the troposphere can create a haze which is espically prominent over cities

Question 12

Why are climatologists uncertain about the net effect aerosols have on climate?

Answer 12

Depending on their composition, aerosols can either absorb or reflect radiation. Additionally, the increased cloud cover from these aerosols can reduce incoming solar radiation

Question 13

Observational data bias

Answer 13

Although a residual bias is possible in climate data, global warming is undeniable. Observations, history, and models all point to global warming being unequivocal