Module 5

Question 1

Coefficient of determination (r squared)

Answer 1

Determines how best fit data is to a line

Question 2

When coefficient of determination is 0….

Answer 2

Data does not fit on a line

Question 3

When coefficient of determination is 1….

Answer 3

Data perfectly fits to a line

Question 4

Volcanic eruptions increases…

Answer 4

Greenhouse gases which result in warming

Question 5

What 3 main gases come from a volcano?

Answer 5

Water vapor, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide

Question 6

Equation for the speed of an object falling due to gravity

Hint: Think of y=mx+c

Answer 6

v=gt, c =0

Question 7

Least Squares method

Answer 7

Determines line of best fit for a model of data which yields the minimum squared distance between the data and the straight line

Question 8

Linear Regression Analysis

Answer 8

Using idea of least-squares straight fit line to explore whether or not two or more time series are related

Question 9

In linear regression what are the variables x and y referred to as?

Answer 9

x- predictor

y- predictand

Question 10

What has been the trend in temperature in the last 55 years?

Answer 10

Undeniably going upward with an increase of 25%

Question 11

What are two things covered in this module which affect global average temperatures?

Answer 11

Greenhouse gases

Volcanic eruptions

Question 12

Sulphate aerosols (from large volcanic eruptions)

Answer 12

Particles which act as a shield against incoming solar radiation, increasing effective albedo of the Earth and reducing the global average surface temperature

Question 13

How long can sulphate aerosols stay in the stratosphere before settling in the troposphere?

Answer 13

Two years

Question 14

Carbon dioxide concentration is related to…

Answer 14

The rising global average surface temperature

Remember! Correlation does not prove causation!

Question 15

Radiative Equilibrium

Answer 15

Net radiation absorbed = net radiation emitted

Temperature is unchanged

Question 16

If net radiation absorbed is more than net radiation emitted…

Answer 16

Temperature goes up

Question 17

If net radiation absorbed is less than net radiation emitted…

Answer 17

Temperature goes down

Question 18

Stefan-Boltzmann Law

Answer 18

A black body is a perfect absorber and emitter of energy

Question 19

Major Greenhouse Gases

Hint: There are 7

Answer 19

Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, freon-11, freon-12

Question 20

Which Greenhouse Gases have the most concentration?

Answer 20

Water vapor and carbon dioxide

Question 21

Where does most of water vapor reside?

Answer 21

The troposphere

Question 22

Greenhouse Effect

Answer 22

Greenhouse gases (and clouds) absorb the infrared radiation emitted by the Earth and re-emit it back to the surface, warming it more

Question 23

Albedo

Answer 23

Fraction of incident solar radiation that is reflected by clouds

Question 24

High albedo implies what kind of effect?

Answer 24

A cooling effect

Question 25

Thick, low altitude clouds have…

Answer 25

A stronger albedo effect than greenhouse effect, which cools the Earth

Question 26

Thin, high altitude clouds have…

Answer 26

A stronger greenhouse effect than albedo effect, which warms the Earth

Question 27

All clouds are excellent absorbers of…

Answer 27

Infrared radiation

Question 28

The net influence of all clouds…

Answer 28

Cools the Earth

Question 29

The IR flux/temperature feedback

Answer 29

As temperature increases, so does outgoing energy which in turn decreases temperature

Question 30

Water vapor feedback

Answer 30

As surface temperature increases, so does atmospheric water vapor and the greenhouse effect, which keeps the temperature increasing

Question 31

Snow/Ice Albedo

Answer 31

As surface temperature decreases, snow and ice increase which results in a decrease in planetary albedo
(works in both directions)

Question 32

El Nino events result in…

Answer 32

Warmer than average surface temperatures

Question 33

Brewer-Dobson Circulation

Answer 33

Circulation in stratosphere directed from the equator to the poles. Effective in transporting volcanic gases

Question 34

Examples of natural forcing

Answer 34

Changes in solar radiation, orbital changes, volcanic activity

Question 35

Examples of anthropogenic forcing

Answer 35

Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations (particularly carbon dioxide emissions)

Question 36

Natural climate variability

Answer 36

Variability that is intrinsic to the climate system and independent of climate forcing
(i.e. ENSO, PNA, NAO, etc)

Question 37

Global Climate Models (GCMs)

Answer 37

Complicated mathematical representations of what we think we know about the planet

Question 38

What is useful for running GCMs because of uncertainties?

Answer 38

Ensembles