Global Change

Question 1

What is global change?

Answer 1

Promotes changes in land-atmosphere-ocean systems

Question 2

What are these global changes that we made?

Answer 2

1. Atmospheric change
2. Land cover change
3. Oceanic change
4. Climate change

Question 3

Atmospheric change

Answer 3

Changes in the chemical composition of the atmosphere

Question 4

Land cover change

Answer 4

A change in the physical or biotic state of a site

• 40%+ of earth’s surface is composed of croplands and pastures
• Huge areas of natural vegetation

Question 5

Oceanic change

Answer 5

Changes in the physical, chemical, and/or biotic state of the oceans

Question 6

Climate change

Answer 6

Changes in atmospheric circulation, pressure, temperature, precipitation

Question 7

What is the trend for CO2 concentration?

Answer 7

They’re at their highest level since the last 650,000 years

Question 8

What are the indicators of human influence towards the atmosphere?

Answer 8

Increase in:
1. Carbon dioxide concentration
2. Nitrous Oxide concentration
3. Methane concentration
4. Sulfate aerosols deposited in Greenland ice

Question 9

How do plants respond to CO2?

Answer 9

Respond positively however response declines over time (adjusts to CO2 in environment)

Question 10

What are the negative affects of CO2 in ocean life?

Answer 10

1. Causes acidification in ocean waters on a global scale
2. Causes degradation of animal shells or anything made of calcium

Question 11

Natural causes of climate variation

Answer 11

1. Atmospheric clarity
2. Variation in solar activity
3. Climate oscillations

Question 12

Atmospheric clarity

Answer 12

Volcanic eruptions, meteor strikes

Question 13

Variation in solar activity

Answer 13

Solar flares / solar dimming

Question 14

Climate oscillations

Answer 14

A recurring climate pattern

• El Nino/Southern
• Pacific decadal
• Atlantic multidecadal
• North Atlantic
• Madden Julian

Question 15

Human causes of climate variation

Answer 15

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Question 16

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 16

Increases in gases from fossil fuel burning and deforestation

Question 17

How can we detect climate change?

Answer 17

1. Ice cores
2. Lake sediments
3. Tree rings
4. Direct observations

Question 18

Ice cores - observations

Answer 18

Between greenhouse gases and climate

Question 19

Lake sediments - observations

Answer 19

Between pollen assemblages and climate

Question 20

Tree rings - observations

Answer 20

Link thickness in tree rings to changes in climate

Question 21

Direct measurements

Answer 21

Weather stations are used to measure climate

Question 22

What are the natural causes of oceanic temperature change?

Answer 22

Hatched region / green triangles have little resemblance to observed temperatures - red dots

Question 23

What are the human causes of oceanic temperature change?

Answer 23

Hatched region is highly correlated with observed temperatures - red dots

Question 24

What is the main reason for oceanic temperature changes ?

Answer 24

Human causes - green house gas emissions

Question 25

Coastal flooding is caused from

Answer 25

• Higher sea level and storm surge
• Losses of glaciers from thermal expansion

Question 26

How has hurricanes changed over time?

Answer 26

Intensity has increased due to increase in sea surface temperatures

Question 27

How has climate change affect biodiversity?

Answer 27

The distribution and timing of biological activity for many plant and animal species have changed (Traveling patterns)

Question 28

What is a barrier to migration?

Answer 28

Light pollution