Global Climate: Vulnerability and Resilience Flashcards
Global Energy Balance/Budget
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
Shortwave radiation
Energy from the sun that enters the atmosphere
Longwave radiation
Energy radiated back into the atmosphere (start of greenhouse effect)
Greenhouse effect
Trapping of the suns warmth in the planet’s lower atmosphere
Why is the greenhouse effect necessary for human life?
It allows the planet to stay warm. if there was no greenhouse effect, the planet would be freezing
Enhanced greenhouse effect
Human activity increases the amount of radiation trapped in the atmosphere, making temperatures rise
Albedo
The reflectivity of a surface (ex: white buildings have a higher albedo than black buildings)
Insolation
The amount of solar radiation reaching a given area
Negative feedback loops
No overall change to the system
Negative feedback loop example
- rabbit
- more rabbits
- food dies
- rabbit dies
- grass grows
- back to rabbit
Positive feedback loop
The loop continues to amplify effects (self compounding), more unstable
Positive feedback loop example
- temperatures rise
- sea ice melts
- reflect ice dissapears and ocean waters absorb heat
- temperatures rise more
Globalization
The increase of international interaction and integration of nations, governments, companies, and people.
Globalization example
nike putting factories in china, thailand, south korea, and vietnam
Trade
The exchange of goods and servacies between companies, brings more jobs, increases emissions
Industrialization
The development of industries in a country or region on a wide scale.
* Countries that are industrializing produce more emissions
Industrialization example
China, Latin America, and the Middle East are all developing, and they produce more GAG emissions
Economic Development
- All countries start focused mainly on subsistance agriculture
- As countries develope, the GHG emissions rise greatly.
Economic Development example
** Industrial revolution**
* Mechanization of agriculture
* Industries increase
* Electricity
* Population increase
Global dimming
Observed widespread reduction in sunlight at the surface of the Earth
Example of global dimming
- 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
Greenhouse gases examples
- methane
- CO2
- Nitrous Oxide
Greenhouse gases
Gases in the earth’s atmosphere that trap heat
Climate change
A long-term shift in temperatures and weather patterns
Mitigation
Reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something
Mitigation example
Increase use of renwable energy and the applicaton of new technologies
Vulnerability
Those who will be most impacted by the effects of climate change
Vulnerable populations examples
- 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
Disparities
Low-income communities are likely to be disproportionately affected by climate change
Hard engineering
A coastal managment technique used to protect coasts, highly visible man-made structures used to stop/disrupt natural process
Soft engineering
Where the natural environment is used to help reduce coastal erosion and river flooding
Hard engineering examples
Retaing walls, offshore breakwater equipment
Soft engineering examples
Beach stabilization by sand, drainage, dune stabilization
Geo-engineering
A term used for both carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation management
Solar geo-engineering example
Ocean mirror
* creating a layer of sea foam that has high albedo
* reflects sun rays
Carbon geo-engineering example
Direct air capture plant
* captures CO2 in atmosphere
* CO2 can be used to make fertilizers and fuel
