Global Climate: Vulnerability and Resilience

Question 1

Global Energy Balance/Budget

Answer 1

The balance between incoming energy from the Sun and outgoing energy from the Earth.
* 100% of energy comes from sun.
* 50% is absorbed by Earth’s surface
* 30% is reflected back
* 20% is absorbed by atmoshere

Question 2

Shortwave radiation

Answer 2

Energy from the sun that enters the atmosphere

Question 3

Longwave radiation

Answer 3

Energy radiated back into the atmosphere (start of greenhouse effect)

Question 4

Greenhouse effect

Answer 4

Trapping of the suns warmth in the planet’s lower atmosphere

Question 5

Why is the greenhouse effect necessary for human life?

Answer 5

It allows the planet to stay warm. if there was no greenhouse effect, the planet would be freezing

Question 6

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 6

Human activity increases the amount of radiation trapped in the atmosphere, making temperatures rise

Question 7

Albedo

Answer 7

The reflectivity of a surface (ex: white buildings have a higher albedo than black buildings)

Question 8

Insolation

Answer 8

The amount of solar radiation reaching a given area

Question 9

Negative feedback loops

Answer 9

No overall change to the system

Question 10

Negative feedback loop example

Answer 10

1. rabbit
2. more rabbits
3. food dies
4. rabbit dies
5. grass grows
6. back to rabbit

Question 11

Positive feedback loop

Answer 11

The loop continues to amplify effects (self compounding), more unstable

Question 12

Positive feedback loop example

Answer 12

1. temperatures rise
2. sea ice melts
3. reflect ice dissapears and ocean waters absorb heat
4. temperatures rise more

Question 13

Globalization

Answer 13

The increase of international interaction and integration of nations, governments, companies, and people.

Question 14

Globalization example

Answer 14

nike putting factories in china, thailand, south korea, and vietnam

Question 15

Trade

Answer 15

The exchange of goods and servacies between companies, brings more jobs, increases emissions

Question 16

Industrialization

Answer 16

The development of industries in a country or region on a wide scale.
* Countries that are industrializing produce more emissions

Question 17

Industrialization example

Answer 17

China, Latin America, and the Middle East are all developing, and they produce more GAG emissions

Question 18

Economic Development

Answer 18

1. All countries start focused mainly on subsistance agriculture
2. As countries develope, the GHG emissions rise greatly.

Question 19

Economic Development example

Answer 19

** Industrial revolution**
* Mechanization of agriculture
* Industries increase
* Electricity
* Population increase

Question 20

Global dimming

Answer 20

Observed widespread reduction in sunlight at the surface of the Earth

Question 21

Example of global dimming

Answer 21

• 1991: Mt. Pintabo, Philipines
• 17 million tons of object into atmosphere
• 10% drop in sunlight
• Drop in nothern hemisphere temps ~ 0.5 degrees Celcius
• Cloud in stratosphere for 3 years
• destruction of ozone

Question 22

Greenhouse gases examples

Answer 22

• methane
• CO2
• Nitrous Oxide

Question 23

Greenhouse gases

Answer 23

Gases in the earth’s atmosphere that trap heat

Question 24

Climate change

Answer 24

A long-term shift in temperatures and weather patterns

Question 25

Mitigation

Answer 25

Reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something

Question 26

Mitigation example

Answer 26

Increase use of renwable energy and the applicaton of new technologies

Question 27

Vulnerability

Answer 27

Those who will be most impacted by the effects of climate change

Question 28

Vulnerable populations examples

Answer 28

• Indigenous people: fishign sources depleated, wildlife death, destruction of native lands, high heat
• Dense Urban Populations: urban heat island effect
• Island and low-lying communities: losing land mass
• Elderly: less resliant to heat
• Poorer communities: job loss, less healthcare

Question 29

Disparities

Answer 29

Low-income communities are likely to be disproportionately affected by climate change

Question 30

Hard engineering

Answer 30

A coastal managment technique used to protect coasts, highly visible man-made structures used to stop/disrupt natural process

Question 31

Soft engineering

Answer 31

Where the natural environment is used to help reduce coastal erosion and river flooding

Question 32

Hard engineering examples

Answer 32

Retaing walls, offshore breakwater equipment

Question 33

Soft engineering examples

Answer 33

Beach stabilization by sand, drainage, dune stabilization

Question 34

Geo-engineering

Answer 34

A term used for both carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation management

Question 35

Solar geo-engineering example

Answer 35

Ocean mirror
* creating a layer of sea foam that has high albedo
* reflects sun rays

Question 36

Carbon geo-engineering example

Answer 36

Direct air capture plant
* captures CO2 in atmosphere
* CO2 can be used to make fertilizers and fuel