Lecture 12: Global Warming

Question 1

Cap and Trade

Answer 1

• Only allowed to pollute so much

- Able to trade with other plants for more room to emit greenhouse gases

Question 2

Earth and water have different _____

Answer 2

Thermal Inertias

Question 3

When is the Earth’s warmest point?

Answer 3

Mid to End of July

Question 4

When is the Ocean’s warmest point?

Answer 4

Around September

Question 5

What is “El Nino”

Answer 5

Warm ocean temperature

Question 6

What is “El Nina”

Answer 6

Cool ocean temperature

Question 7

What kind of water, temperature wise, can hold more CO2?

Answer 7

• Cold water
• Pacific Ocean has been colder than usual meaning there is more CO2 stored in the ocean
• Warmer waters = faster reaction; Colder waters = slower reaction

Question 8

How many of the Earth’s warmer years in recorded history have occurred since 2000?

Answer 8

13 out of the 14 years

Question 9

Ice at the N. Pole does what?

Answer 9

Reflects almost all of the radiant energy front he sun.

Question 10

When there is little to no ice to reflect the energy what happens?

Answer 10

The energy is absorbed int o the water therefore melting more ice

Question 11

Global warming only makes sense if you include what?

Answer 11

Anthropogenic forcing’s a.k.a. Human related doings

Question 12

What did John Tyndall prove?

Answer 12

That the main atmospheric gases are transparent to radiant heat, whereas water vapor, CO2, and ozone all absorb heat ratted from the hearth

Question 13

Atmospheric water vapor and CO2 absorb what? and What does absorption do?

Answer 13

Infrared Radiation; Traps heat

Question 14

The most important greenhouse gases are:

Answer 14

Water vapor
CO2
Methane
Nitrous Oxide

Question 15

Radiant energy

Answer 15

When the sun heats the earth with visible light

Question 16

Infrared Energy

Answer 16

When the Earth has to release the energy

Question 17

Dipole moment

Answer 17

When the greenhouse gases are capturing that energy in the bonds

Question 18

___ amounts of Carbon = ___ amount of ice

Answer 18

High; less

Question 19

On a time scale of centuries, how much (percentage wise) of CO2 still remains in the atmosphere?

Answer 19

15-30%

Question 20

Aerosols

Answer 20

Particulates in the air

*have a large effect on the climate!

Question 21

Primary instigator of climate change

Answer 21

Orbital Change (tilt toward sun)

Question 22

Primary mechanisms of climate change

Answer 22

Feedbacks –> greenhous gases and ice sheets

Question 23

More heat in the atmosphere means:

Answer 23

• More intense storms
• Increasing flooding events
• Megadroughts
• Increasing wildfires