IB Core - Global Climate and Vulnerability

Question 1

This diagram uses Watts per meter squared as its unit. From the figure, much insolation reaches the Earth?

Answer 1

By the time insolation reaches the surface of the Earth and is averaged out across Earth’s spinning spherical surface, we receive about 342 watts per m2.

Question 2

Insolation reaching Earth’s atmosphere varies over short periods of time based on sunspot activity. What is sunspot activity?

Answer 2

These are temporary phenomena that appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas.​

They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by intense magnetic storms but these storms increase the amount of highly charged particles, increasing the shortwave UV radiation being emitted from the sun and entering the Earth’s atmosphere​.

Sunspots increase and decrease through an average cycle of 11 years​.

Question 3

Define Greenhouse Gasses

Answer 3

atmospheric gases that absorb infrared radiation and cause world temperatures to be warmer than would otherwise be the case. These include: water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4) nitrous oxide (N2O) and ozone (O3).

Question 4

How can trade affect greenhouse gas emissions?

Answer 4

Will likely increase:

1. increased export of manufactured goods - the production process will increase emissions
2. TNCs relocating to NEEs where regulations may be more lax, leading to more emissions
3. Increased container shipping to transport goods for trade will increase emissions
4. Emerging economies may import fossil fuels, which they will likely be reliant on, increasing their consumption leading to more GHG emissions.

Question 5

Define Climate Change

Answer 5

a long-term trend or movement in climate detected by a sustained shift in the average value of any climate element (e.g. rainfall, droughts, hurricanes).

Question 6

Explain how the global energy balance can be affected by global dimming from volcanic eruptions?

Answer 6

Increased aerosols / dust / particles in the atmosphere prevent the input of shortwave radiation into the atmospheric system, leading to a net cooling effect

Question 7

How can seal-level change as a result of global warming?

Answer 7

1. Thermal expansion: high temperatures result in water occupying a greater space, which results in sea level rise
2. Melting of the icecaps and glaciers results in an increase of water as it moves from the cryosphere into oceans, increasing the amount of water in the oceans - this is known as eustatic sea level change

Question 8

Distinguish between the natural greenhouse effect and the enhanced greenhouse effect.

Answer 8

Natural greenhouse effect: longwave, outgoing radiation is absorbed by GHGs, heating up the atmosphere.

Enhanced greenhouse effect: human activity is increasing the concentration of GHGs, further raising tropospheric temperatures by absorbing and scattering back to Earth some of the longwave outgoing radiation.

Question 9

How can carbon offsetting reduce global GHG emissions?

Answer 9

Funds activities and projects such as tree planting or solar power which reduce or counterbalance (offset) emissions from elsewhere

Question 10

Insolation that reaches the earths surface is converted and re-emitted. What is it re-emitted as?

Answer 10

Long wave, infrared radiation.

Question 11

Solar flares are a form of external forcing that alter the amount of insolation reaching the Earth’s surface. What are solar flares?

Answer 11

Solar flares are closely associated with sunspot activity​.

Hot matter called plasma interacts with the magnetic field sending bursts of plasma up and away from the sun in the form of a flare​.

It is an intense burst of radiation coming from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots.​

Question 12

Identify as many methods as you can to adapt and mitigate to climate change.

Answer 12

Question 13

The atmospheric system is made up of inputs, outputs, transfers, and stores. True or false?

Answer 13

True

Question 14

Outline three ways geoengineering can mitigate climate change.

Answer 14

Solar radiation management: space mirrors or reflective aerosol’s in the upper atmosphere​

Cloud seeding: currently in operation in 8 states and dozens of countries to boost precipitation – particles of silver iodide and dry ice are ices to encourage cloud formation and precipitation – little evidence it works​

Ocean fertilization: involves adding nutrients (iron or nitrates) to the upper layers of the ocean to stimulate phytoplankton activity. These microscopic plants, after blooming, would die and sink to the ocean floor taking with them the CO2 they photosynthesized into new tissues

Question 15

Distinguish between the natural greenhouse effect and the enhanced greenhouse effect.

Answer 15

The natural greenhouse effect = long wave/outgoing radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases heating up the atmosphere.

The enhanced greenhouse effect = when increased emissions from industry, transport, and other means such as methane, carbon dioxide, and water vapour, are emitted into the atmosphere, causing more long wave radiation to be absorbed in the atmosphere and re-emitted to Earth, causing greater levels of warming.

Question 16

A lot of the long wave radiation doesn’t make it back to space and is instead absorbed by greenhouse gasses and clouds in our atmosphere. How much is re-emitted in random directions to then be re-absorbed by the surface or by gasses higher in the atmosphere?

Answer 16

324 watts per m2 is re-emitted in random directions

Question 17

Incoming solar radiation is also known as isolation. Is it short wave or long wave?

Answer 17

It is short wave UV radiation.

Question 18

What happens to short-wave insolation as it enters the Earth’s atmosphere?

Answer 18

Insolation reacts with the chemical composition of the atmosphere, where some of it is absorbed, scattered, or continues on to the Earth’s surface.

That insolation that continues through the atmosphere reaching the surface is converted to infrared radiation and re-emitted back into the atmosphere where further interactions occur.

Question 19

How can carbon trading lead to a reduction in GHG emissions?

Answer 19

Creates a market where permits are issued by governments that can be traded.

Companies that want to pollute more have to buy more permits from companies that pollute less.

This system overall attempts to reduce GHG emissions from business.

Question 20

Is the greenhouse effect necessary to sustain life?

Answer 20

Yes.
Water Vapour, Co2, CH4, CFCs and Nitrous Oxides and Ozone absorb outgoing long-wave radiation.​

Re-emitted in all directions (including towards Earth) = warming.​

Necessary to sustain life – raises Earth’s temp by 15 degrees C.

Question 21

From the diagram, what is the total insolation re-emitted back into space from reflection by the surface, clouds, and atmospheric gasses?

Answer 21

107 watts per m2

Question 22

The Earth doesn’t, continually absorb insolation. Some is re-emitted. What is the total amount re-emitted back into space?

Answer 22

235 watts per m2 as long wave radiation.

Question 23

Why might global climate change result in a higher agricultural yields in some places?

Answer 23

1. More rain than previously = higher yields
2. Warmer climate may extend the growing season leading to higher yields
3. Warmer winters can decrease the stress on livestock
4. More land for agriculture may become available due to glacial retreat or melting of permafrost, that can then be used for farming

Question 24

Define external forcing

Answer 24

a term used to describe processes that impact on earth’s climate system, which originate from outside of the climate system itself, such as variations in solar output.

Question 25

Explain the natural greenhouse effect.

Answer 25

The greenhouse effect refers to the increasing temperature of the lower atmosphere (troposphere) as a result of the heat-trapping effect of gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and CFCs.

Such gases allow incoming short-wave radiation to pass through but block outgoing long-wave radiation.

The greenhouse effect is an entirely natural process and is essential for life on earth.