Global Climate Change Part 1 Flashcards
What is a more suitable term for global warming?
Global climate change- not all regions and seasons will be warmer
What happens to weather in climate change?
It becomes more extreme
Has the earth seen fluctuations in climate before?
Yes, both warmer and colder over very large timescales
What causes warmer periods?
Multiple atmospheric conditions including greenhouse gasses, and an energy imbalance
Who used basic principles of physical chemistry to calculate the effects of carbon dioxide on earth’s surface temperature? When?
Svante Arrhenius - 1896
What are light waves transformed into?
Infrared radiation
How can we tell that the concentration of gasses had changed over time?
Through Glaciers, the gas gets trapped under the snow and compresses. Can analyze cores to see what the concentrations were and when.
Concordant
In agreement- all ice sheets show CO2 fluctuations over time but a dramatic increase over the last century
T/F the increase of CO2 correlates strongly with the increase in atmospheric temperature
True
Are most places becoming wetter or dryer?
Wetter, with some becoming dryer
What is the most significant driver of climate change?
Greenhouse gasses from human activities since the mid 20th century
What are the main greenhouse gases?
Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluoridated gas
Global warming potential
A conversion of other gases into carbon dioxide equivalents to compare emissions
Changes in emissions in the US in the last 30 years
2% increase since 1990 but 12% decrease since 2005, carbon dioxide increased 3%, methane decreased 15%, nitrous oxide increased 1%, fluorinated gas increased 86%
Emission by sector in the US 1990-2020
31% is electricity generation, historically transportation was 2nd at 26%, transportation is the largest sector since 2017
How is emissions per capita?
Emissions per capita has decreased, and so has emissions per gdp value
How does population growth affect emissions per capita?
In 1990 the population was 250 million, and in 2020 it’s 330 million, - the population grew, limiting the impact of technology in reducing greenhouse gases
What region emits the most greenhouse gas?
East Asia and pacific, then Europe and Central Asia, then the US
How much did the worldwide emission of greenhouse gases increase from 1990 to 2015?
43%, with carbon dioxide increasing by 51%, methane by 17%, and nitrous oxide by 24%, and fluorinated gases more than tripled
How much of the worldwide greenhouse gas production is tied to energy production and use?
75%
Where are carbon dioxide emissions decreasing the most?
East Asia
How has average global sea surface temperature changed over time?
It had gotten warmer/ increased
Are changes in ocean temperature limited to the surface?
No, and they’ve been increasing
Is global climate change disproportionately higher in polar areas?
Yes, 40% greater, central arctic is 100% greater
How does global warming affect sea level?
Sea level rises due to melting ice caps. Sea ice in north pole does NOT affect Sea level change
How is flooding affected by global climate change?
Flooding is more likely and more frequent in costal areas
How is breeding habitat of birds affected by sea level rise?
Reduced tundra area, tree movement north, altered predator cycles, altered prey emergence, which all affects breeding success
How is winter habitat area affected by climate change and sea level rise?
Reduced intertidal area, altered land use patterns, altered resource competition, altered energy costs, all of which affect survival
