Impacts of Rising Temperatures

Question 1

How is the Arctic an early warning system for the rest of the planet in regards to climate change?

Answer 1

It acts as a barometer of the environmental impacts resulting from fossil fuel climate forcing

Question 2

How is the albedo affect present in the arctic?

Answer 2

Snow reflects the sunlight
-This is an example of positive feedback

Question 3

Give two effects on the water cycle of the Arctic from global warming

Answer 3

.Warm water flowing into the arctic from the pacific and Atlantic
.Rising local air temperatures
.Shrinkage of sea ice
.Funnelling of cold water into the oceanic conveyor belt

Question 4

Give two effects on the carbon cycle of the Arctic from global warming

Answer 4

.Increased new emissions of CH4 from destabilisation of wetlands and sea floor deposits containing methane hydrate
.Mainly CH4 and some CO2 from thawing permafrost
.CO2 from increased forest fires as boreal forests dry out; they may also absorb more CO2 and CH4 from the atmosphere

Question 5

What are the two types of positive climate feedbacks in the Arctic from rising temperatures?

Answer 5

.Sea ice loss (Loss of Arctic Albedo)
.Carbon feedbacks

Question 6

What is Albedo the measure of?

Answer 6

It is a measure of how sunlight is reflected away from the Earth’s surface

Question 7

What feedback loop will a reduction in the amount of sea ice cause?

Answer 7

A positive feedback loop

Question 8

What is a loss of reflective albedo from?

Answer 8

.Less summer ice
.The replacement of lighter Tundra with Darker forests as they advance North with increasing temperature from Climate shift

Question 9

What soils will lead to an increase in CO2 emissions?

Answer 9

Tundra soils