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Paleoclimate > L1 - Introduction to the Earth's Climate System > Flashcards

L1 - Introduction to the Earth's Climate System Flashcards

1
Q

What is the difference between Weather and Climate?

A

Weather is the conditions of the atmosphere at a certain time and place on a daily or weekly basis, whereas, climate is the average weather conditions on a timescale of 30 years (as defined by the WMO)

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2
Q

What is the definition of Climate Change as outlined by the IPCC?

A

“A change in the state of the climate that can be identified by changes in the mean and/or variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer”

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3
Q

Which 2 layers of the atmosphere are we most interested in for climatic changes and where are most of the atmospheric gases found?

A

The Stratosphere and Troposphere

80% of gases are found in the Troposphere

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4
Q

What role do clouds play in warming and cooling the Earth’s climate?

A

They trap outgoing solar radiation, which warms the planet and they reflect incoming solar radiation, which cools the planet

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5
Q

Together Antarctica and Greenland’s Ice Sheets equate to how much sea level change?

A

70m

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6
Q

What role does Sea Ice play as an insulator?

A

The ocean is isolated from interacting with the surrounding atmosphere and the albedo effect of the ice reduces the surrounding air temperatures

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7
Q

Why is Carbon monitored in Hawaii?

A

Because of the clean atmosphere

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8
Q

What are the short-term and long-term variations in CO2 caused by?

A

Short-Term: The Boreal Forest

Long-Term: Fossil Fuels and Deforestation

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9
Q

What role do algal blooms play in the Biosphere with regards to the Carbon Cycle?

A

They fix Carbon from the oceans surface

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10
Q

What is the difference between the Organic Carbon Pump and the Carbonate Counter Pump?

A

The Organic Carbon Pump draws in CO2 to the oceans whilst the Carbonate Counter Pump releases CO2 to the atmosphere

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11
Q

Name a location where cloud nucleating gases are common

A

The Amazon Rainforest

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12
Q

What is DMS?

A

Dimethyl sulphide, which is a sulphur compound (a GHG)

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13
Q

How much greater is the oceans heat capacity compared to the land?

A

60x greater

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14
Q

How much greater is the oceans heat capacity compared to the atmosphere?

A

1000x greater

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15
Q

Why is the oceans heat capacity so large? (Give the 2 main factors)

A
  1. Larger Specific Heat of Water

2. Mixing

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16
Q

How much more Carbon do the oceans contain compared to the atmosphere?

A

~50-60x more

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17
Q

How much of the Carbon released into the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution is now in seawater?

A

30%

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18
Q

Are there long or short residence times in the geosphere?

A

Long

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19
Q

What impact does uplift have on global temperatures?

A

It causes increased weathering and CO2 removal, which leads to global cooling

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20
Q

What impact does seafloor spreading have on global temperatures?

A

It depends on the rate, which will impact the rate of CO2 input and removal - fast seafloor spreading causes a rapid input of CO2 which leads to a warmer climate which leads to increases weathering with causes removal and reduced warming whereas slow CO2 input leads to cooler icehouse conditions, which reduces weathering, CO2 removal and therefore a reduction in cooling

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21
Q

What do ice sheets cause?

A

Compression

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22
Q

What is the MPT?

A

Middle Pleistocene Transition

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23
Q

What was said to cause the MPT?

A

Ice sheet erosion of regolith, meaning it was now stable allowing for ice sheet growth

24
Q

How much more is insolation energy compared to internal heat sources?

A

3680x more

25
Q

Why is the climate viewed as a heat engine?

A

Because climate uses heat energy from the sun to keep the atmosphere and the ocean moving

26
Q

Name 5 parts of the Earth’s Heat Engine

A
  1. Evaporation
  2. Convection
  3. Rainfall
  4. Winds
  5. Ocean Currents
27
Q

What does thermally direct mean? and which cells in the atmosphere are thermally direct?

A

It means stable

Hadley and Polar Cells

28
Q

Why are Ferrel Cells unstable?

A

They are secondary circulation features, which depend on the Hadley and Polar cells for their existence

29
Q

Why is the ITCZ important?

A

Its shifting North and South influences the tropical monsoons seasons

30
Q

How much heat is transported from the tropics to the poles by ocean currents?

31
Q

What is the primary driver of ocean currents?

32
Q

Name 4 drivers of ocean circulation

A
  1. Ekman Spiral
  2. Subtropical Gyres
  3. THC
  4. MOC
33
Q

What is the differences between THC and MOC?

A

THC is theoretical whereas, MOC is observational

34
Q

What are the L, N, W and R zones for the MOC?

A

L: Labrador Sea
N: Nordic Seas
W: Weddel Sea
R: Ross Sea

35
Q

Why is the AMOC an important consideration for climatic changes?

A

It slows down when it is colder and Nordic Seas have ice coverage

36
Q

What is the Radiative Equilibrium?

A

The flow of incoming and outgoing energy in the Earth’s energy budget must be equal

37
Q

Where must the energy budget balance?

A
  1. The surface
  2. The top of the atmosphere (TOA)
  3. The atmosphere in between
38
Q

What is the TSI? and what is it also called?

A

Total Solar Irradiance (1360 W/m2)

The Solar Constant

39
Q

What is the TSI averaged across the entire planet not just for the TOA?

40
Q

What is the average albedo on earth?

41
Q

How much energy is absorbed at the surface?

42
Q

How much energy is reflected?

43
Q

How much energy is absorbed by the atmosphere?

44
Q

Name 3 ways in which energy leaves the surface

A
  1. Evaporation
  2. Convection
  3. Thermal Infra-Red Energy
45
Q

How much energy is transmitted downwards by the atmosphere?

46
Q

How much is back radiation equivalent to? what does it cause? and what is this known as?

A

Eqv. to 100% insolation => additional surface warming of 30degC => the greenhouse effect

47
Q

Name 3 climate Forcing’s

A
  1. Changes in Earth’s Orbit
  2. Changes in Solar Output
  3. Changes in greenhouse gas concentration
48
Q

What is the primary consideration for interactions?

A

Feedback Mechanisms

49
Q

What is Positive Feedback?

A

When there is a greater response than that produced by the initial forcing

50
Q

What is Negative Feedback?

A

When there is a smaller response than that produced by the initial forcing

51
Q

What must be the same for a large climate response?

A

If the timescale of the forcing and the system are similar

52
Q

What is cyclic climatic forcing?

A

The production of a number of cyclic responses, each of which depends on the response time of the climate component

53
Q

What does Paleoclimate do?

A

Reconstructs the response and combines it with the forcings to understand the interactions

54
Q

What are the 5 components of the Earth’s System?

A
  1. Atmosphere
  2. Cryosphere
  3. Biosphere
  4. Hydrosphere
  5. Geosphere
55
Q

What are the 3 stages of the Earth’s System?

A
  1. Forcings
  2. Interactions
  3. Responses

Paleoclimate (10 decks)

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