ecology- climate change Flashcards
climate change is:
definition
a change in the average magnititudes of climate factors
factors include temperature, precipitation, ocean currents and atmospheric currents
climate change natural factors
plate tectonics proximity to the sun asteroid collisions ice ages interglacial periods
increase in warming(unnatural) is due to:
greenhouse gasses GHG
greenhouse gasses include
water, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, CFC
GHG are byproducts from human processes such as
burning fossil fuels
agriculture
clearing forests
production of consumer products
methane
efficient at trapping thermal energy
25x more efficient than co2
produced by bacteria decomposing wastes in oxygen free environments, animals digestion’s plant matter, rice paddies and other wetlands
and burning fossil fuels
nitrous oxide
third largest contributor to the greenhouse affect
300x more GWP than co2
comes from bacteria, fertilizers and improper disposal of human and animal waste
ozone
important UV radiation blocker in the stratosphere
in lower altitudes it can be a powerful ghg
halocarbons
used as refrigerants
strong GHG
main reasons for ozone depletion
CFCs are the best known halocarbons
affects climate change has
increased risk of extinction sea levels rise loss of ice caps increased ocean acidity decreased ocean salinity extreme weather and wildfires health risks flooding bleaching and death of coral reefs loss of water supply inland from no melt water loss of habitat and agricultural lands
