Measuring climate change

Question 1

what are in situ measurements of climate?

Answer 1

capable of making most measurements necessary to study climate
- must measure same “thing” under same conditions, NOT EASY

Question 2

what is a stevenon shelter?

Answer 2

measures specified height of shade temperature, well ventilated, white shelter
PREVENTS DIRECT SUNLIGHT OR TERRESTRIAL RADIATION

Question 3

what are the limitations of surface and satellite data?

Answer 3

Period of collection - satellite data only recently available really, so can only really contribute to future monitoring
Type of measurement - measure upwelling radiation from a relatively thick slice of atmosphere, SO SURFACE AND SATELLITE NOT DIRECTLY COMPARABLE.

Question 4

what declines of sea ice have been observed by satellites?

Answer 4

in Arctic average annual sea ice declined by 2.7% +- 0.6 a decade since 1978
but SUMMER sea ice declined 7.4% +- 2.4% per decade
ANTARTIC SHOWS NO SIGNIFICANT TREND

Question 5

what is the overall rise in temperature since the start of the 20th century?

Answer 5

total uncertainty reckoned to be +- 0.2 degrees. with overall rise of 0.65 degrees

Question 6

give an example tree rings providing evidence of climate change?

Answer 6

study of tree rings done in mongolia displayed unusually rapid growth in alpine tree line during last century. indicates temperature rise

Question 7

what did shibera et al find in relation to methane?

Answer 7

in siberian arctic, found that concentrations of methane were already reaching up to 100 more than normal