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Climate Change > Lesson1 > Flashcards

Lesson1 Flashcards

1
Q

How much have average global temperatures incresaed since 1880?

A

2.2°F (1.4°C)
The average temp is 15°C

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2
Q

Where has it been worst?

A

The Arctic.
It has increased 4°C (7.2°F)

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3
Q

What has human activity since 1850 triggered?

A

a Greenhouse effect

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4
Q

What normally happens when the Sun warms the Earth?

A

Infrared Radiation is emitted, mostly back out into Space.

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5
Q

What are the major Greenhouse Gases?

A

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Methane (CH4)
Nitrous Oxide (N20)
(smaller: F Gases)

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6
Q

What do the Greenhouse gases do?

A

They absorb some of the radiation.

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7
Q

What does this absorbtion do?

A

It raises the temperature of the planet.

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8
Q

What is the weight of Greenhouse Gases currently emitted by humans each year?

A

51 billion tons

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9
Q

What is the limit of how much more temperature increase to avoid the severest effects of climate change?

A

1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius

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10
Q

What must we do to avoid the catastrophic effects?

A

Reduce emmission of Greenhouse Gases to net zero in a few decades (2050).

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11
Q

[What percentage of the Earth’s population live north of the Equator?]

A

90%

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12
Q

Can Greenhouse Gases occur naturally?

A

To some extent.
Before 1750, however, it was in equilibrium.

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13
Q

Which is the most prevalent Greenhouse Gas?

A

CO2

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14
Q

How is CO2 created?

A

Burning of fossil fuels.
Deforestation.

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15
Q

How is methane (CH4) created?

A

Livestock.
Fossil fuel production.
Breakdown of waste in landfills.

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16
Q

How is Nitrous Oxide (N2O) created?

A

Waste from animal agriculture.
Nitrogen fertilzers to increase
crop yields.

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17
Q

What are F-Gases?

A

Like HydroFluorocarbons (HFCs)
found in refrigerants.

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18
Q

Which of the Greenhouse Gases have a higher warming potential?

A

Methane
Nitrous Oxide
F-Gases

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19
Q

What is another important
characteristic of
these gases?

A

How long they stay in the
atmosphere.

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20
Q

How long do each of the gases
stay in the atmosphere?

A

Methane - 12 years
N2O - 121 years

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21
Q

How are these differences accounted for?

A

In CO2 equivalents.(CO2e)

22
Q

How is this done?

A

They are measured by their 100-year warming potential compared to CO2.

23
Q

Using this measure, what is the 100-year impact of a ton of methane?

A

Methane: 28X CO2.

24
Q

What is the 100-year impact of a ton of nitrous oxide?

A

N2O: 265x CO2.

25
Q

What is the 100-year impact of a ton of F-gases (HFCs)?

A

HFCs: 138x CO2

26
Q

Given the quantity and staying power, how much do each account for?

A

CO2 - 75% (38B)
Methane - 17%
N2O - 6%
HFCs - 2%

27
Q

What is the IPCC?
https://www.ipcc.ch/

A

Intergovernmental
Panel on
Climate Change

28
Q

Who does the IPCC serve?

A

The UN Framework
Convention on
Climate Change.

29
Q

What is their latest report?

A

The 6th Assessment Report
https://www.ipcc.ch/ar6-syr/

30
Q

What is their most fundamental finding?

A

Humans are influencing Climate Change.

31
Q

Where is most of the heat increase being retained?

A

the Oceans

32
Q

What percentage of heat stored on the planet is in the oceans?

A

90%

33
Q

What do warming oceans do?

A

Warm the atmosphere.
Increase the sea level: thermosteric expansion

34
Q

How much of current sea level increase is due to thermosteric expansion?

A

about half

35
Q

What percentage of glaciers are in retreat?

A

95%

36
Q

How detailed have forecasts of Climate Change become?

A

Within 50 miles.

37
Q

What else are the models getting better at?

A

Looking at the connection between weather events and Climate Change

38
Q

What time of day is warming faster than the other?

A

Nights

39
Q

What is the TropoPause?

A

The place between the Troposphere (where we live) and the Stratosphere.

40
Q

What has happened to the Tropopause?

A

Its height has increased.

41
Q

What has happened to the Stratosphere?

A

It cooled because of ozone depletion (caused by CFCs) but has stopped.

42
Q

Do clouds reflect heat back out into space?

A

Not really.
Wrong color.
Wrong altitude.

43
Q

What is a tipping point?

A

A place in a natural cycle where there is so much change, you can’t go back.

44
Q

What is the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)?

A

A large system of ocean currents carrying water from the Tropics north.

45
Q

What does AMOC include?

A

The Gulf Stream moves heat north. This is why Europe has mild weather.

46
Q

What has happened to the Gulf Stream?

A

It has slowed making Europe colder.

47
Q

What tipping point could there be with the thawing Permafrost?

A

It contains much organic matter which could rot and turn into methane.

48
Q

What are Methane Cathrates?

A

Methane trapped in water crystals on the ocean floor.

49
Q

What tipping point could we have with Methane Cathrates?

A

They can explode (one did in Siberia) releasing much Methane.

50
Q

What are the 2 primary conclusions of the UN report?

A
  1. Climate Change is happening now
  2. The primary driver is the burning of fossil fuels.(Oil, coal, natural gas)
51
Q

What are oil, coal and gas?

A

Stored carbon from millions of years is released over just 200 years.

Climate Change (11 decks)

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