Lecture 10 - Climate Change Flashcards
What is the aim of earth system science?
To study how to components of the system are linked on a global scale and how these complec links affect life on Earth
Climate?
The characteristic atmospheric conditions of a region over years or decades
Weather?
Refers to the atmospheric conditions of a region for days or weeks
Permanent Gases?
Concentrations of gas in the atmosphere which do not change
- Nitrogen, oxygen, argon
Variable Gases?
Concentrations of gas in the atmosphere that vary in time and space
- Carbon dioxide, water vapour, ozone, methane
Which gases make up 99% of all atmospheric gases?
Permanent - nitrogen (78%), oxygen 21%), argon
Co2?
Released naturally by volcanic activity, plant and animal respiration, wldifires, decay, FOSSIL FUELS
Water Vapour?
Produced by the evaporation at Earth’s surface
- eventually returns to the surface as precipitation
Warm air increases evaporation, therefore increase water vapour
Ozone (O3)
Found in the stratosphere
- partially shields earth from ultraviolet radiation from the sun
- smaller amounts found in the troposphere
Methane
- a major component of natural gas
- forms naturally by decay, and in livestock intestines
- levels in the atmosphere have doubled since 1700
Nitrogen Oxide Gases (nitrous oxides)
- natural sources includin microbiological processes in soils/oceans/wildifres/lightning
- human sources: automobiles, power plant,s planes, fertlizers
Halocarbons
- almost entirely anthropogenic
- contribute to warming of the troposphere and ozone depletion
Aerosols
Microscopic liquid and solid particles in the atmosphere
- natural: desert dust, wildfires, sea spray, volcanic eruptions
- human: burning of forests, fossil fuels
Which two layers of the atmosphere don’t participate in climate change?
Mesosphere and the thermosphere (outermost layers)
What happens as warm moist air rises and moves towards the poles?
it cools and loses moisture as rain
