Climatology

Question 1

What is weather?

Answer 1

short term state of the atmosphere
-weather is only temporary
-changes minute-mintue, hour-hour, and day-day

Question 2

What is climate?

Answer 2

climate describes long term pattern of weather
- over a long period of time (30 years or more)

Question 3

What is the relationship between weather and climate?

Answer 3

-changes in climate (can) leads to changes in weather
-climate dictates the seasonal variations of weather
-changes in the long term climate can result in shifts in local weather patterns

Question 4

Give examples of how climate affects weather

Answer 4

-regions with a tropical climate generally experiences warm and humid weather more often

-regions with a four season climate experience variations in temperature and precipitation throughout the year

-climate change driven by factors like greenhouse emission can lead to alterations in temperature, precipitation and frequency of extreme weather events

Question 5

What is Solar Enegry?

Answer 5

energy that is emitted by the sun as heat, light, and UV
-can be absorbed (gaining energy)
-can be transmitted through particles
-solar energy can be reflected
-when the earth’s surface gains thermal energy the temperature rises

Question 6

What is the atmosphere?

Answer 6

the atmosphere is layers of gases that extend up toward the boundary of outer space
-radiation reflects off of clouds in the atmosphere
-the atmosphere protects the earth from harmful radiations
-helps maintain a steady temperature on Earth
-it also prevents thermal energy from radiating out (of space)

Question 7

What is the hydrosphere?

Answer 7

the total of all the water on Earth
-includes all bodies of water: oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, and atmosphere
-everything that makes up the earth’s water system

Question 8

Order the layers of the atmosphere (out to in)

Answer 8

Exosphere (exit)
Thermosphere (thermo no)
Mesosphere (middle)
Stratosphere
Troposphere (traped)

ETMST

Question 9

Which two gases make up the greatest majority of the atmosphere?

Answer 9

1.Nitrogen 78%
2. Oxygen 21%

Question 10

What is the difference between permanent and variable gases?

Answer 10

Main difference lies in their stability with changes in temperature and pressure

Permanent gases:
-are relatively constant in concentration
-are stable and have very long residence times

Variable gases
- vary significantly
-have more of a dynamic role in the Earth’s atmosphere (processes)

Question 11

Name the heat transfers:

Answer 11

1. Radiation
2. Conduction
3. Convection
4. Ocean Currents

Question 12

What is radiation?

Answer 12

Radiation refers to the emission or transmission of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles
-short waves have the highest energy
-long waves have the lowest energy
-energy from the sun deposit their energy when they interact with matter
-all of the energy from the Sun that reaches the Earth arrives as solar radiation

Question 13

What radiation types does the sun emit?

Answer 13

1.infrared radiation
2.visible light radiation
3.ultraviolet radiation (UVA)

Question 14

What is conduction?

Answer 14

Conduction is a way heat or electricity is transferred through a material
-matters need to be in contact for conduction (it also needs and requires a medium)
-vibration (collision) transfers the thermal energy

Question 15

What is convection?

Answer 15

the movement of heat in liquids or gases
-the movement of convection is based on the density of the liquid or gases
-the warmer particle: less dense
-the cooler particle: more dense

Question 16

What is ocean current?

Answer 16

Ocean currents are like giant rivers of water flowing through the ocean
-they carry warm water from the equator to the poles
-they can be caused by the wind
-ocean currents can have strong effects on climate
-warm currents: heats the air above them (warming the land and producing rain

Question 17

How does solar radiation, the atmosphere, and the hydrosphere contribute to the Earth’s surface?

Answer 17

-solar radian provides the energy that drives the earth’s climate system
-the atmosphere traps heat through the greenhouse effect and atmosphere circulation
-the hydrosphere stores and transports heat influencing regional and global climate patterns
-the interactions among these components are essential for maintaining the Earth’s Climate and determining the planet’s temperature and weather conditions.

Question 18

List the order of a garden greenhouse

Answer 18

1. Sunlight enters greenhouse
2. Sunlight is absorbed by plants and the greenhouse itself
3. This process converts light to heat which is contained in the greenhouse
4. Long wavelengths radiants through the glass into the atmosphere

Question 19

List the order of greenhouse effect on climate

Answer 19

1.solar radiation travels to the surface of the earth.
2.the radiation is absorbed by the earth’s surface.
3.earth’s surface releases radiation in the form of infrared radiation (heat)
4.the infrared radiation tries to leave earth but gets trapped by the greenhouse gases.

Question 20

What is infrared radiation?

Answer 20

Infrared is a type of radiant energy that is invisible to the eyes

Question 21

What is ultra violet radiation (UVA)?

Answer 21

A form of non-ionizing radiation that is emitted by the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds.
-aging of skin cells

Question 22

What is visible light radiation?

Answer 22

electromagnetic radiation that causes the sensation of sight; light.

Question 23

What is PPM? What does it do?

Answer 23

Parts Per Million

It’s a way of expressing very dilute concentrations of substances. It usually describes the concentration of something in water or soil

One PPM is equivalent to 1 milligram of something per kg of soil (mg/kg) (mg/L)

Question 24

What are the greenhouse gases?

Answer 24

Carbon Dioxide - most important
Methane
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCS)
Ozone - blocks UV
Nitrous Oxide - more efficient than CO2
Water Vapour

Question 25

What is GTC?

Answer 25

Gt = Gigaton (1 000 000 000 tonnes)
1 tonne = 2000lbs

Question 26

Why is there still controversy surrounding the idea of climate change?

Answer 26

(use of fossil fuels contributes to climate change) we have to switch to alternative energy sources
-we need money
-money = politics
when passion, politics, and money meet science, the results often ends in controversy

Question 27

What are the six indicators of Climate Change?

Answer 27

(1) Carbon dioxide
(2) Sea levels
(3) Ocean Warming
(4) Ice sheets
(5) Global temperature
(6) Arctic Sea Ice Extent

Question 28

What is Albedo?

Answer 28

Albedo is an expression of the ability of surfaces to reflect sunlight

-Low Albedo surface reflects less radiation (absorbs)
-High Albedo surfaces reflects more radiation (reflects)

Question 29

What is a climate model and what is the purpose of them?

Answer 29

A climate model is a computer simulation of the Earth’s climate system, including the atmosphere, ocean, land and ice.

They can be used to recreate the past climate or predict the future climate.

Question 29

Are climate models accurate and reliable?

Answer 29

Despite a small amount of uncertainty, scientists find climate models of the 21st century to be pretty accurate because they are based on well-founded physical principles of earth system processes

Question 30

how is convection responsible for ocean currents and wind?

Answer 30

-Lighter (less dense), warm material rises
- heavier (more dense) cool material sinks.

In the ocean, warmer water rises while colder water sinks

Convection affects wind by creating rising warm air and sinking cool air, which generates wind as air moves from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas

Question 31

What is runaway greenhouse effect?

Answer 31

A runaway greenhouse effect is when a planet’s atmosphere traps so much heat that it becomes too hot to sustain life. This can happen if a planet’s greenhouse gas levels, like carbon dioxide, become extremely high, causing a dangerous temperature rise

Question 32

What is a positive feedback loop?

Answer 32

A positive feedback loop is a process that intensifies or amplifies a change in a system, pushing it further away from its original state.

Question 33

What is a negative feedback loop?

Answer 33

A negative feedback loop is a self-regulating process that works to counteract and reverse changes in a system, helping to maintain stability and balance.

Question 34

What are some possible consequences of climate change? (name at least five)

Answer 34

Rising temperatures: Hotter weather and heatwaves.
Melting ice: Shrinking polar ice caps and glaciers.
Rising sea levels: Increased coastal flooding.
Extreme weather: More frequent and severe storms.
Droughts: Water shortages and crop failures.
Wildfires: Increased fire risk in many regions.
Species extinction: Loss of biodiversity.
Ocean acidification: Harm to marine ecosystems.
Health impacts: Heat-related illnesses and disease spread.
Economic costs: Damage to infrastructure and agriculture.

Question 35

How do scientists make predictions about Earth’s future climate?

Answer 35

Climate models

Scientists make predictions about future climate using computer models that analyze historical data and factors like greenhouse gas emissions to simulate potential climate changes.

Question 36

What are some possible solutions and the ways in which societies are tackling climate change?

Answer 36

1. Transition to renewable energy
   2.Energy efficiency
   3.Reforestation
   4.Reducing waste
   5.Climate policies

Question 37

What is global warming?

Answer 37

Global warming is the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily caused by human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation.