Drivers of Climate Change

Question 1

What are the anthropogenic drivers of climate changes?

Answer 1

Greenhouse Gases
Aerosols
Land-Use Changes

Question 2

How does the concentration of greenhouse gases vary over thousands of years?

Answer 2

With changes in glacial periods. During these glacial and interglacial periods, the concentration of various greenhouse gases changes. This is inferred from Vostok Ice Cores.

Question 3

Describe the data collected from the Mauna Loa Observatory since the 1950s.

Answer 3

This data represents the changes in CO2 concentration over time which features seasonal variation incurred by vegetation and photosynthesis changes.

Question 4

Since what event has the concentration of various greenhouse gases started to rise?

Answer 4

Industrial Revolution

Question 5

What are aerosols?

Answer 5

solid particles usually produced in industry and transportation such as dust and soot.

Question 6

How do aerosols lead to climate change?

Answer 6

They are hydrophilic meaning they attract water vapour in the atmosphere which assists with cloud formation. They can also enrich the whiteness of clouds which leads to increased albedo.

Question 7

What is the history of aerosol production?

Answer 7

They were previously heavily produced in N.America and Europe during industrialisation, but are now being produced by the largest emerging industrial economies such as China and India.

Question 8

What is the predicted future of aerosol production?

Answer 8

A sharp decrease as the extent of their impact is realised.

Question 9

What are the three ways that land use is changing and significantly causing climate change?

Answer 9

Human Appropriation of the biosphere
Ice melt
Automobile use growth

Question 10

How is human appropriation of the biosphere leading to climate change?

Answer 10

Removing natural vegetation reduces the ability of the terrestrial carbon cycle as well as the albedo

Question 11

How is the melting of sea ice leading to climate change?

Answer 11

Reducing the amount of sea ice and snow means that the albedo of the earth will dramatically decrease.

Question 12

How is automobile growth leading to climate change?

Answer 12

By creating more roads this encourages the use of greenhouse gas and aerosol producing cars as well as increasing the amount of low albedo roads with black tarmac surfaces.

Question 13

What are the natural drivers of climate change?

Answer 13

Sunspot activity
Milankovitch Cycles
Volcanic Activity

Question 14

What is sunspot activity?

Answer 14

These are 11 year cycles when the surface of the sun is a lot hotter and thus emits a greater amount of radiation.

Question 15

How likely are sunspot cycles to be MAIN drivers of changes in climate?

Answer 15

Not very likely - there is little correlation between their cycle and temperature records. However, they must be considered as influences still.

Question 16

What are milankovitch cycles?

Answer 16

Cycles established by a Serbian scientist that outlines how changes in the earth’s tilt, orbit of the sun and proximity of the earth to the sun influence how much radiation the earth receives.

Question 17

How long is the cycle of change in the earth’s tilt?

Answer 17

~41,000 years

Question 18

What values does the earth’s tilt vary between?

Answer 18

21.8 - 24.5 degrees

Question 19

Explain the relationship between the earth’s tilt changes and the radiation over the poles?

Answer 19

The greater the tilt, the greater the seasonal variation (effect is biggest over the poles)

Question 20

How long is the cycle of change in earth’s orbit of the sun?

Answer 20

~96,000 years

Question 21

What shape doe the Earth’s orbit of the sun fluctuate around?

Answer 21

Elliptical

Question 22

What impact do changes in the earth’s orbit of the sun have on climate?

Answer 22

It affects the perihelion and aphelion which affects the strength of winters and summers

Question 23

What is the perihelion?

Answer 23

Point when the earth is closest to the sun.

Question 24

What is the perihelion today approximately, when does it occur, how much insolation is received?

Answer 24

147.1mn KM/ 4th January/ 1400 w m2

Question 25

What is the aphelion?

Answer 25

Point when the earth is farthest from the sun

Question 26

What it the aphelion today, when does it occur, how much is insolation is received?

Answer 26

152mn km/5th July/ 1311 w m2

Question 27

what is the percentage variation between the aphelion and the perihelion?

Answer 27

7%

Question 28

How long is the cycle for the perihelion and aphelion to return to initial position?

Answer 28

22,000 years

Question 29

What milankovitch cycle is strongest at the poles and at the equator?

Answer 29

Earths tilt = poles

Distance to sun = equator

Question 30

How do volcanic eruptions influence the climate?

Answer 30

they release material and gases in to the atmosphere that can affect cloud formation. Very similar to the aerosol effect

Question 31

What was a notable volcanic eruption that affected climate the following years?

Answer 31

Krakatoa 1883

Question 32

How strong is the correlation between volcanic eruptions and changes in climate?

Answer 32

Some correlation, it is more of an immediate impact with minor magnitude, otherwise it has little influence.