Global Systems Flashcards
weather vs. climate
weather occurs at a given time at a particular location
climate the conditions are in an area over a long period of time
weather includes (7)
pressure temperature precipiatation UV index humidity wind cloud cover
climate can be indicated by (6)
- Changes to gas concentration in the atmosphere
- Satellite images
- Biodiversity
- Weather balloons
- Ice cores
- Tree rings
biosphere is
the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth (or analogous parts of other planets) occupied by living organisms
biosphere includes (3)
Lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere
Lithosphere
all of the land including continental and oceanic crust (energy from the sun and from the molten magma in the mantle)
atmosphere is composed of
composed of nitrogen gas (78%), oxygen (21%), carbon dioxide and argon and methane and ozone (1%)
layers of the atmosphere (5)
- thermosphere
- mesosphere
- stratosphere (ozone layer)
- troposphere
- earth
absorption of the sun’s energy
20% absorbed by the atmosphere and 50% by the earth
Ozone layer does what
absorbs UV radiation keeping us from high cancer rates and melting (MAZE RUNNER)
Ozone depletion in 1993
caused by CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons used in refrigerators and air conditioners) – caused the hole in the ozone that fixed itself
Hydrosphere
all of the water (70% of the biosphere is hydrosphere)
Hydrosphere composure
oceans (97%)
other 3% mostly glaciers but also rivers, groundwater, lakes, water vapour in the atmosphere
3 types of energy transfer
radiation
conduction
convection
radiation
travels through space as EM waves
conduction
heat transfer in solids (touching)
convection
heat transfer in fluid (hot air rises)
heat transfer effect by oceans
** large bodies of water have a moderating effect (ex. Hawaii is always hot while Alberta has very cold winters and hot summers) – due to the heat capacity of the water
- these areas don’t change temperatures as much because all the solar energy is working towards heating the water
water has a very (high/low) heat capacity?
high (ex. sand gets hot on beach before water) (pot gets hot before water boils)
Climatologists believe that we are experiencing climate change partly caused by humans TRUE OR FALSE?
TRUE
water vapour
is a potent greenhouse gas
enhanced greenhouse effect
is making the earth hotter (caused by human activity)
Greenhouse gases
CO2
methane CH4
N2O
Carbon Sources
combustion of fossil fuels (coal, gasoline), wood
respiration
Carbon sinks
photosynthesis
carbon sequestration (incorporated into rocks on soil)
CO2 dissolving in oceans
effects of temp increase (6)
- Rising sea levels – more flooding for coastal regions
- Retreat of glaciers – lower albedo – more absorption of solar energy
- Increase of disease from tropical areas to other areas
- Bleaching of coral reefs
- Drought in some areas
- Loss of biodiversity
Ozone depletion
atmospheric measurements indicated in the 1970s-80s that ozone levels were declining over time
- CFCs
CFCs do what to the ozone
react w it and break it down into oxygen
Montreal protocol of 1993
banned the worst CFCs
Kyoto Protocol
“environmental goal by this year” - not all countries agreed
Natural greenhouse effect
due to the atmosphere (ice age)
Venus is farther from the sun than Mercury but hotter because…
Venus has an atmosphere of CO2
