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EAS > Lecture 32: Climate Change > Flashcards

Lecture 32: Climate Change Flashcards

1
Q

What is anthropogenic change driven by?

A
  • Accelerating global population growth

* The ecological footprint of each human being on the limited resources that the earth provides

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2
Q

What does deforestation impact?

A

Soil stability, the water cycle, and biogeochemical reactions

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3
Q

Why is placing restrictions on fishing challenging?

A

Because marine systems are more difficult to study than terrestrial

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4
Q

What is the biggest concern with fish nets?

A

That they capture non-target species or damage seafloor habitants during net dragging from large ships

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5
Q

What are Coral reefs?

A

Colonies of tiny animals coexisting with photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae

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6
Q

How is the relationship between Zooxanthellae and corals symbiotic?

A

Zooxanthellae produce food from photosynthesis which is shared with corals. Corals provide nitrogen to zooxanthellae

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7
Q

What occurs if the algae from corals is gone?

A

Coral do not build reefs

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8
Q

What causes algae to leave coral?

A

Soil erosion inhibiting photosynthesis

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9
Q

Aside from soil erosion, what also contributes to the death of corals?

A

Ocean acidification due to CO2 which prevents them from forming carbonic shells

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10
Q

What caused the death of the great barrier reef?

A

Unusually warm water

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11
Q

What greenhouse gasses has the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation added?

A

CO2 and CH4

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12
Q

Why is CO2 building up in the atmosphere?

A

Because the rate of CO2 added exceeds the ability of natural processes to remove it

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13
Q

What are the main Greenhouse gases?

A

CO2, CH4 and N2O

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14
Q

How has the industrial revolution affected greenhouse gases?

A

It has causes dramatic increases in their concentrations

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15
Q

What effect does the increase in greenhouse gases have on the atmosphere?

A

They absorb heat and raise the temperature of the atmosphere

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16
Q

How many mass extinctions have there been in geologic history?

A

5

17
Q

What was the biggest mass extinction?

A

The Permian-Triassic

18
Q

How does deforestation affect the carbon cycle?

A

Increased CO2 buildup in the atmosphere

19
Q

What is the concern with the increasing CO2, CH4, and N2O in the atmosphere?

A

They are radiatively active causing them to absorb heat and raise the temperature of the atmosphere

20
Q

Where are atmospheric CO2 concentrations recorded at ?

A

Mauna Loa Observatory

21
Q

Which greenhouse gas contributes the most do Radiative forcing?

A

CO2

22
Q

What contributes to radiative forcing?

A

Greenhouse gases, ozone and water vapor

23
Q

What is radiative forcing?

A

The influence that a factor has on incoming radiation to the earth

24
Q

Which factors contribute to earth cooling?

A

The cloud effect, particulate matter like aerosols that block incoming solar radiation

25
Q

What can be used to estimate temperature?

A

The ratios of isotopes in records

26
Q

What do all the climate models suggest?

A

That we face certain great changes in global climate

27
Q

What changes in earth have been clear over the past 100-150 years?

A
  • Increased average global temperatures
  • Sea ice has decreased dramatically
  • Sea level has risen by nearly 20 centimeters
  • Precipitation patterns have changed dramatically
28
Q

What does the heat content of the upper ocean differ by?

A

Geographic location, largely due to atmospheric and ocean circulation patterns

29
Q

What are RCPs?

A

Representative Concentration Pathways are CO2 emission scenarios

30
Q

What is RCP 2.6?

A

Very stringent meaning we take dramatic action to reduce emissions

31
Q

What is RCP 4.5?

A

Moderate and assumes emissions peak in 2040 and decline thereafter

32
Q

What is RCP 8.5?

A

Business as usual and emissions continue to increase through the century

33
Q

What would happen to the earth if we continue on the path we are on now?

A
  • 4º C increase in temperature
  • 1 meter
  • CO2 concentration in the atmosphere increase
  • Ocean pH would increase
  • Sea ice in the northern hemisphere would be nonexistent

EAS (33 decks)

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