Lesson 12 Flashcards
Define climate change
Climate change refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time. Includes change in temperature, precipitation or wind patterns.
What does climate change refer to?
Any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time.
What are some examples of changes that climate change includes?
Changes in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns.
What is the pre-industrial level of atmospheric CO2 concentration?
280 ppm.
What CO2 concentration level is expected to cause an increase in average global temperatures?
A doubling to about 560 ppm.
What is the current atmospheric concentration of CO2?
Over 400 ppm.
What complicates the relationship between carbon dioxide levels and temperature?
The overall climate system is more complex with other influencing factors.
What are some factors that influence temperature besides CO2?
- Atmospheric dust
- Volcanic eruptions
- Area of forests and grasslands
- Variation in solar radiation.
What effect does warming have on water vapour in the atmosphere?
A warmer atmosphere generally contains more water vapour.
Why is water vapour treated as an amplifier of climate change?
It keeps its increase mostly in step with warming.
What is the role of clouds in climate change?
Cloud cover changes can either amplify or diminish temperature change.
What factors affect the influence of clouds on climate change?
- Extent
- Altitude
- Properties of clouds.
How do local patterns of winds affect climate?
They strongly affect average temperatures and rainfall extremes.
What moderates climate change significantly?
The ocean as a huge heat reservoir.
What recent observations have been made regarding ocean temperatures?
Warming of both surface and deep-ocean waters.
True or False: Water vapour is a driver of climate change.
False.
Fill in the blank: A doubling of atmospheric CO2 concentration is expected to increase average global temperatures by _______.
1 – 2.5 °C.
What has been released into the atmosphere due to human activities over the past century?
Large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
This release is primarily due to burning fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial processes, and some agricultural practices.
What is the primary source of greenhouse gases?
Burning fossil fuels to produce energy
Other sources include deforestation, industrial processes, and certain agricultural practices.
What do greenhouse gases do in the atmosphere?
Act like a blanket, trapping energy and causing warming
This process is essential for maintaining life on Earth.
What is the phenomenon called when greenhouse gases trap energy in the atmosphere?
The greenhouse effect
This effect is natural and necessary but can lead to climate change when gases accumulate.
What are the potential impacts of the build-up of greenhouse gases?
Changes in Earth’s climate, endangerment of human health and welfare, and impacts on ecosystems
This includes both natural and managed ecosystems.
Fill in the blank: The build-up of greenhouse gases will change Earth’s _______.
climate
True or False: The greenhouse effect is solely a result of human activities.
False
The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon but is intensified by human activities.
What is the scientific consensus regarding the warming of the climate system?
The scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal.
How have human societies adapted to climate since the last Ice Age?
Human societies have adapted to the relatively stable climate enjoyed since the last Ice Age.
What are some potential impacts of a warming climate?
A warming climate can affect water supplies, agriculture, power and transportation systems, the natural environment, and health and safety.
What is ‘elevation-dependent warming’?
‘Elevation-dependent warming’ refers to the more rapid temperature changes in high-mountain environments compared to lower elevations.
What mechanisms contribute to elevation-dependent warming?
- Snow albedo and surface-based feedbacks
- Water vapour changes and latent heat release
- Surface heat loss and temperature change
- Aerosols
What can changes in mountain ecosystems indicate?
Changes in mountain ecosystems may provide an early glimpse of potential changes in lowland environments.
What do glaciers demonstrate about climate change?
Glaciers provide tangible, visible evidence of the immediacy of climate change.
What did Mike Demuth state about mountain glaciers?
Mike Demuth noted accelerated changes in the length, thickness, and mass of mountain glaciers around the world.
What was the result of the 1958 to 2008 glacier survey in the Yukon?
- 4 glaciers got bigger
- 300 glaciers disappeared completely
- Almost all glaciers got smaller
What do ice cores reveal about ancient climates?
Ice cores are repositories of information on past climates and environments, showing past temperatures and CO2 concentrations.
What correlation exists between temperature and CO2 over the past 800,000 years?
Over the past 800,000 years, temperatures and CO2 levels have varied together, rising and falling in tandem.
What was the maximum historical level of CO2 before the Industrial Revolution?
CO2 levels never exceeded 280 parts per million until the Industrial Revolution.
What is the current level of CO2 in the atmosphere?
Today, CO2 levels exceed 400 parts per million.
True or False: The rate of change in CO2 levels today is unprecedented.
True
Fill in the blank: The rate of change in CO2 is _____ higher than when CO2 was varying for natural reasons.
40%
What is the IPCC? What statement did they release during thier 5th assessment report in 2014?
The United Nations Intergovernmental panel on climate change is the leading int. Advisory body comprised of over 800 leading scientists
Their 5th assessment report was released in march 2014 including that scientific evidence for warming of the climate is unequivocal.
True or false: Every major scientific agency, representing every country in the world (200 organizations) all agree that human-made climate change is real.
True
What happened during the 21st United Nations climate change conference in Paris, France, 2015?
The conference negotiated the Paris Agreement - a global agreement on the reduction of climate change which represented the consensus of 196 countries.
This agreement called for zero net anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions to be reached during the second half of the 21st century (2050). This will cause the rise in climate temperature to be capped at 1.5 degrees celcius.
What is Australia’s highest continental mountain?
What effects are the predicted changes in climate anticipated to have on mountain environements?
Assuming a 2.9 degree celcius increase in temperature, how would this affect the snow line of this mountain?
Mount Kosciusko
- a decrease in the duration of snow cover and an even more dramatic reduction in maximum snow depth from over 2 meters to under 50cm.
- a 2.9 degree celcius increase is the equivalent of a 3077 m shift in upward snow line therefore, under the worst case scenario, in less than 50 years, conditions equivalent to the current treeline which is at 1850m, would not be found a meter above the top oof australias highest continental mountain
What is the leading indicator of climate change in mountains?
Glacier recession
Where is the Peyto Glacier?
By how much has this glacier receded since 1902?
Banff National Park
In 1902 it was 12 square kilometres
It’s now 7 square kilometres and has lost 200 meters of thickness and a kilometre of length
What is the main argument that global warming isn’t real?
Why is this argument not valid?
Some glaciers are actually getting bigger.
When glaciers were surveyed in the Yukon, they looked at change in glacial area from 1958 - 2008 they found that out of the 1400 glaciers surveyed, ONLY 4 got bigger in those 50 years.
Over 300 have disappeared completely and all the rest have gotten smaller.
What are the changes in weather and climate due to rising global temperatures?
Changes in rainfall, more floods, droughts, intense rain, and more frequent and severe heat waves.
These changes present challenges to society and the environment.
What hazardous conditions are being set up in mountains due to climate change?
Lakes dammed by glaciers or moraines are bursting, leading to extreme downstream flooding, and increased landslides due to thawing permafrost.
Dr. John Clague from Simon Fraser University discusses these hazards.
What is happening to lakes that have been dammed by glaciers or moraines?
They are beginning to burst, causing extreme downstream flooding.
This is a result of rising temperatures and changing conditions.
What is the impact of warming temperatures on mountain landslides?
Increased frequency of landslides due to thawing permafrost in rock slopes.
Thawing permafrost weakens the stability of mountain structures.
How are insurance companies responding to the rising probability of catastrophic events?
They are adjusting their financial models to take on more risk.
This reflects the increasing hazards associated with climate change.
What is the effect of increasing non-seismic catastrophic events in mountains on poverty?
It will exacerbate poverty in many of the world’s mountain areas.
These events create additional challenges for vulnerable populations.
What is the potential sensitivity of alpine plants to climate change?
Alpine plants are potentially sensitive to increased summer temperature
This sensitivity requires reliable historical records and repeated observations over time.
What general pattern has been observed regarding species richness on mountain summits?
Species richness on mountain summits has increased and species are moving upslope
Examples include grasses, dwarf shrubs, and low shrubs.
What are the implications of changes in precipitation and temperature on alpine habitats?
They cause changes in the extent and duration of snow-lie on summit areas
This leads to a decline of cold mountain habitats and their biota.
What factors influence the rates and trajectory of change in mountain habitats?
Factors include nitrogen deposition, land use, introduced invasive species, ski development, and over exploitation
These factors lead to erosion and landscape degradation.
What is the long-term future of alpine plant communities?
The long-term future remains very uncertain due to human impacts and climate change
Long-term observations show increases in trees and shrubs at higher elevations.
Who pioneered the systematic analysis of mountain landscapes using historical and contemporary photographs?
Dr. Eric Higgs at the University of Victoria
This approach is part of The Mountain Legacy Project.
What is the role of fire in mountain landscapes?
Fire is a natural disturbance agent that has helped create landscapes in mountainous areas
Parks Canada uses fire to restore natural processes supporting ecosystem biodiversity.
What are the implications of wildfire suppression?
Decreased habitat diversity, increased possibility of insect outbreaks, and potential for higher intensity fire events
These implications affect ecosystem health and biodiversity.
What is one strategy for protecting biodiversity mentioned in the text?
Reintroduction of species to places where they have disappeared
For example, the planned reintroduction of plains bison in Banff National Park.
When did plains bison disappear from Banff National Park?
Before its creation in 1885
The reintroduction aims to contribute to conservation and recovery efforts.
What is the significance of the planned reintroduction of bison on the park’s eastern slopes?
It will contribute to conservation and recovery efforts and reconnect Canadians to this iconic species
The area provides suitable habitat for bison.
What are some changes in mountains that are unpredictable?
Seismic-related events
These events can include earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, which can occur suddenly and without warning.
What is the umbrella organization dedicated to improving the lives of mountain peoples?
The Mountain Partnership
Founded in 2002, it is a United Nations voluntary alliance of partners focused on sustainable mountain development.
How many members does the Mountain Partnership currently have?
More than 250
Members include governments, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, civil society, and private sector organizations.
When is International Mountain Day observed?
December 11th
Each year has a different theme relevant to sustainable mountain development.
What is the goal of Parks Canada regarding mountain landscapes?
To ensure all Canadians connect with these special places
This includes fostering a sense of stewardship and responsibility for mountains.
Fill in the blank: The Mountain Partnership addresses challenges facing mountain regions by tapping the diversity of _______.
resources, knowledge, information and expertise
What do mountains evoke for Canadians?
A shared sense of pride
Mountains have significant cultural and national importance in Canada, often represented in currency and art.
True or False: The changes in mountains can only be gradual.
False
Changes can also be sudden, unpredictable, and violent.
What is the purpose of International Mountain Day?
To create awareness about the importance of mountains to life
It highlights both opportunities and constraints in mountain development.
What has Parks Canada aimed to instill in Canadian youth and new Canadians regarding mountains?
A passion and appreciation for mountain places
This is intended to foster a sense of place and belonging.
What role do organizations play in sustainable mountain development?
Increasing public and private sector attention, commitment, engagement, and investments
This helps to address challenges and improve quality of life in mountain regions.
