Increasing human inteference

Question 1

What are greenhouse gasses?

Answer 1

Greenhouse gasses are primarily water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. These gases both absorb and emit solar radiation and, in doing so, create the greenhouse effect that determines global temperatures.

Question 2

What are the main two greenhouse gases?

Answer 2

Carbon dioxide and methane

Question 3

How much of incoming short wave radiation is reflected back into space by clouds, greenhouse gases and by the land surface?

Answer 3

31%

Question 4

What percentage of incoming short wave radiation is absorbed at the Earth’s surface, especially by the oceans?

Answer 4

69%

Question 5

Why are large amounts to long-wave radiation prevented from returning into space?

Answer 5

Clouds and greenhouse gases.

Question 6

How does photosynthesis play an essential role in keeping carbon dioxide levels relatively constant and thereby helping to regulate the Earth’s mean temperature?

Answer 6

The amount of photosynthesis varies spatially, particularly with net primary productivity. Net primary productivity is highest in the warm and wet parts of the world, particularly in the tropical rainforests and in shallow ocean waters. It is least in the tundra and boreal forests.

Question 7

What is net primary productivity?

Answer 7

The amount of organic matter that is available for humans and other animals to harvest or consume.

Question 8

What is the main component of soil organic matter?

Answer 8

Carbon

Question 9

What is the number one threat to the global carbon cycle?

Answer 9

Fossil fuel combustion

Question 10

How much of the extra emissions of carbon dioxide since 1750 have remained in the atmosphere and where has the rest gone?

Answer 10

Half

The rest has been fluxed from the atmosphere into the stores provided by the oceans, ecosystems and soils.

Question 11

It is that additional carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and its impact on the greenhouse effect that is largely responsible for what climate changes?

Answer 11

A rise in the mean global temperature
More precipitation and evaporation
Sudden shifts in weather patterns
More extreme weather events, such as floods, storm surges and droughts.
The nature of climate change is varying from region to region - some areas are becoming warmer and drier, others wetter.

Question 12

The changes in climate due to the greenhouse effect has had KNOCK ON effects on what three things and how?

Answer 12

Sea level: this is rising because of melting ice sheets and glaciers; many major coastal cities around the world are under threat from flooding by the sea.
Ecosystems: a decline in the goods and services they provide; a decline in biodiversity; changes in the distributions of species; marine organisms threatened by lower oxygen levels and ocean acidification; the bleaching of corals, etc.
The hydrological cycle: increased temperatures and evaporation rates cause more moisture to circulate around the cycle.