EE Lecture 24: Climate Change Flashcards
define climate
the long term description of weather, including average condns and full range of variation
what does climate change refer to
the directional change in climate over a period of several decades
how is climate change distinguished from climate variation
by the presence of significant trends lasting at least three decades
how many decades do significant climate trends have to last to be considered climate change
three decades
give some observed changes of climate change
increase in number of extreme weather events
more precipitation in terrestrial portions of high latitudes of N hermisphere
drier weather in subtropics and tropics
what are the causes of observed climate change
changes in amount of solar radiation absorbed by Earths surface
greenhouse effect
increase in athropogenic emissions
human activities
how is the terrestrial carbon sink measured
use of eddy covariance
what does eddy covariance do
measures all CO2 going into and out of canopy works for other gases as well
what ecosystem processes will climate change affec5t
NPP
decomposition
nutrient cycling and retention
why will climate change affect photosynth, decomposition,NPP ,resp
photosynth and resp are temp sensitive
their balance determines NPP
how much global warming has occurred over the past century
0.6degrees
name some physical enviro changes that have been a result of climate change
glacial retreat
sea ice melting
sea level rising
give some examples of biological systems responding to climate change
earlier migration of birds
local amphibian&reptile extinction
earlier spring greening of vegetation
what is effect of climate change on mountainous species
plants are moving UP the alps
vascular plants
increase in species richness observed on most summits were attributed to climate warming and the resulting movement of plant species to higher elevation
give an example of positive feedback
permafrost melting
