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1410 Chap 15 - 19 > Sem#2 Chap 8 > Flashcards

Sem#2 Chap 8 Flashcards

1
Q

Signs of a stealth disaster:

A
  • Melting glaciers
  • Rising sea level
  • Hot temperatures
  • Frequent, large wildfires
  • Devastating floods
  • Worsening algal blooms

 Future natural disasters will
be more frequent and severe.
 Climate change controversy
is partly due to its stealth.
 Slow changes are hard to
detect and easily dismissed

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2
Q

All objects emit _________.

A

electromagnetic radiation

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3
Q

Hotter objects emit ________ wavelengths than cooler objects.

A

shorter

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4
Q

Earth absorbs sunlight, which is mostly ________.

A

shortwave radiation

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5
Q

Earth radiates longwave radiation into ______

A

space

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6
Q

Absorbed energy is balanced with _________

A

radiated energy

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7
Q

 Greenhouse gases absorb Earth’s ________ , radiated energy.

A

longwave

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8
Q

CO2 is _____ times more efficient at trapping heat than water vapor.

A

CO2 is 20 times more efficient at trapping heat than water vapor.

  • Contributes 9%–30% of the greenhouse effect
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9
Q

CH4 is _____ times more efficient at trapping heat than water vapor.

A

CH4 is 70 times more efficient at trapping heat than water vapor.
* Contributes 4%–9% of the greenhouse effect

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10
Q

Weather:

A

atmospheric conditions at a given location and time

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11
Q

Climate:

A

average weather conditions over years or decades

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12
Q

A region’s climate depends upon:

A
  • Average temperature and temperature range
  • Amount and distribution of precipitation
  • Seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation
  • Characteristic weather extremes and storms
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13
Q

Temperatures at most latitudes vary over _______

A

a year

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14
Q

Insolation:

A

the amount of solar energy at a location

 Insolation varies due to Earth’s 23.5° tilted axis.
* N. Pole has no insolation in January.
* N. Pole has 24 hours of daylight in June.
 Earth has seasons because of its tilted axis

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15
Q

 Sunlight intensity varies due
to ______________

A

Earth’s spherical shape

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16
Q

At low latitudes:

A
  • Steep sunlight angle
  • More energy is absorbed
    than at high latitudes
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17
Q

At high latitudes:

A
  • Shallow sunlight angle
  • Less energy is absorbed than
    at low latitudes
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18
Q

Water has a greater ______
capacity than land.

A

heat

  • Temperature change in
    oceans is less than on land.
  • Coasts have less temperature
    range than inland locations.
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19
Q

Climate change occurs over ________

A

decades, centuries, or millennia.

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20
Q

Global warming:

A

An average increase in global temperature

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21
Q

Global cooling:

A

An average decrease in global temperature

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22
Q

Paleoclimates:

A
  • Climates that existed before instruments and record keeping
  • Scientists use paleoclimate indicators to discern ancient climates.
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23
Q

Class Question #1

How is climate different from weather?

a) Climate is about atmospheric gases such as H2O, CO2, and CH4 and their relative concentrations, while weather is only about H2O concentrations.

b) Climate is about how the atmosphere absorbs electromagnetic radiation, while weather is about how the atmosphere reflects electromagnetic radiation.

c) Climate is about how the atmosphere is in a state of accelerated warming, while weather is about how the atmosphere warms and cools over long periods of time.

d) Climate is about atmospheric conditions over decades or millennia,
while weather is about atmospheric conditions at given location and
time.

A

(NOT GIVEN) (Probably D)

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24
Q

Fossils:

A
  • Indicate climate as far back as 539 Ma
  • Fossilized grass pollen indicates warmer climates.
  • Fossilized spruce pollen indicates cooler climates.
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25
Q

Microfossils

A

are plankton remains in marine sediment.

  • Indicate climate as far
    back as 66 Ma
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26
Q

Isotopes:

A

elements with varying numbers of neutrons
* 18O: a heavier oxygen variety
* 16O: a lighter oxygen variety

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27
Q

Climatologists examine ______ and _________.

A

ice cores and isotope ratios.

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28
Q

Ice with a low 18O/16O ratio
indicates _________.

A

cooler climates

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29
Q

Ice with a high 18O/16O ratio
indicates _______.

A

warmer climates

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30
Q

Ice O2 ratios indicate_____

A

~1 Ma old climates.

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31
Q

Limestone O2 ratios indicate _______

A

~500 Ma old climates.

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32
Q

Ice cores contain ________

A

trapped air bubbles.

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33
Q

Air bubbles contain _________.

A

gases from ancient atmospheres

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34
Q

Gases are identified, and their
_______ ratios measured.

A

O2

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35
Q

Lab photos of ice cores reveal
annual ________.

A

snowfall layers

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36
Q

These exhibit annual growth rings:

A

Trees, clams, and coral reefs

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37
Q

Growth ring width varies
according to:

A
  • Annual temperature
  • Annual precipitation
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38
Q

Wide tree rings indicate ________

A

favorable growing conditions.
* Warm, wet years

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39
Q

Narrow tree rings indicate _________

A

poor growing conditions.
* Cool, dry years

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40
Q

Composite tree ring records are
made from ________

A

many trees.

Living, dead, and buried trees
are used for a composite record.

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41
Q

Earth alternates between
_____ and ______ intervals.

A

warmer and colder intervals.

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42
Q

Hothouse intervals are
__________.

A

warmer periods

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43
Q

Icehouse intervals are _________.

A

cooler periods

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44
Q

Temperature anomalies are
comparisons between:

A
  • Temperature at a specific time
  • Average temperature over a long time period
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45
Q

Paleocene-Eocene climatic optimum:

A
  • Occurred ~55 Ma
  • Average global temperature
    was 5°–8°C higher than today
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46
Q

Cenozoic Era extends from
the _______.

A

present to 66 Ma

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47
Q

Advances of Glaciers:(Where do they move)

A

glaciers move towards equator

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48
Q

Retreats of Glaciers: (Where do they move)

A

glaciers move towards poles

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49
Q

An interglacial period is the
time between:

A
  • The end of the last retreat
  • The start of the next advance
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50
Q

Pleistocene was (years ago)

A

2.6 Ma–11,000
years ago.

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51
Q

Pleistocene marine sediment
contains _______

A

oxygen-isotope ratios.

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52
Q

Pleistocene Ice Age Oxygen-Isotope Ratios
:Record …..

A

points to numerous glacial advances and retreats.

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53
Q

Causes of Long-Term Climate Change

A

 Greenhouse gases may increase or decrease.
* If CO2 is removed from atmosphere, Earth cools.
* If CO2 is released into atmosphere, Earth warms.
 Limestone formation removes CO2.
 Volcanic eruptions release CO2.
 Tectonic uplift may remove CO2.
 Plants and shell-producing organisms remove CO2.
 Solar radiation intensity has changed over Earth’s history.
 Continents drifting to high latitudes may facilitate cooling.
 Variations in ocean currents change heat distribution.

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54
Q

 Greenhouse gases may increase or decrease.

A
  • If CO2 is removed from atmosphere, Earth cools.
  • If CO2 is released into atmosphere, Earth warms.
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55
Q

Earth’s orbit and tilt change
________.

A

cyclically

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56
Q

Eccentricity (orbital shape):

A
  • Over 100,000 years, Earth’s
    orbital shape changes.
  • From more circular to more
    elliptical
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57
Q

Tilt of the Earth’s axis:

A
  • Over 41,000 years, Earth’s axis tilt changes.
  • From 22.5° to 24.5°
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58
Q

Precession (axis rotation):

A
  • Over 23,000 years, Earth’s axis rotates.
59
Q

Milankovitch cycles influence _______.

A

insolation.

60
Q

Up to 25% insolation change
is possible at high latitudes.

A
  • Glacial advances correlate with low insolation.
  • Glacial retreats correlate with high insolation.
61
Q

Changes in Earth’s albedo
may cause _______

A

ice ages.

62
Q

Albedo

A

is surface reflectivity.

63
Q

Thermohaline circulation
changes may cause

A

ice ages.

  • Freshwater from melting ice
    may trigger changes.
64
Q

Feedbacks (In regards to climate, not water )

A

climate changes that trigger additional changes

65
Q

Positive feedbacks:

A

amplify a phenomenon that caused it.

  • As Earth warms, more liquid H2O evaporates into atmosphere.
  • As atmospheric water vapor increases, warming increases.
66
Q

Negative feedbacks:

A

reduce the phenomenon that caused it.

  • As Earth cools, water vapor precipitates out as rain and snow.
  • As atmospheric water vapor decreases, cooling increases.
67
Q

Residence times for atmospheric gases:

A
  • The average time spent by a gas within the atmosphere
  • CH4 and CO2 remain in circulation longer than H2O.
  • Gases with longer residence times have greater climate impact.
68
Q

Class Question #2

How do oxygen isotopes act as climate indicators?

a) Excessive 18O concentrations in ice bubbles indicates lower
atmospheric levels of H2O and CH4, thus a warmer paleoclimate.

b) Ice containing low concentrations of 18O compared to 16O indicates a
cooler paleoclimate.

c) Since 16O is a heavy variety of oxygen, more heating is needed to
evaporate this molecule, thus indicating a cooler paleoclimate.

d) Limestone that contains 18O also has high concentrations of
fossilized plants that required this isotope for transpiration, thus
indicating a cooler paleoclimate.

A

(NOT GIVEN)

69
Q

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):

A
  • World Meteorological Organization
  • United Nations
  • Evaluates climate studies and summarizes findings
70
Q

IPCC findings:

A
  • Global warming is occurring.
  • Human activities are
    contributing to warming.
  • Certainty is increasing with
    every subsequent report.
71
Q

Sea level frequently _____ and
______ relative to land.

A

rises and falls relative to land.

72
Q

Pleistocene glacial advances:

A
  • Sea level fell as water was locked in advancing glaciers.
73
Q

Tapering off correlates with melting ________.

A

Pleistocene ice sheets

74
Q

When glaciers melt, water returns to ________

A

Earth’s oceans.

75
Q

Sea level change varies across ________:

A

ocean basins

Currents and wind unequally move water around Earth.

76
Q

The Arctic Ocean is _______ covered by sea ice all year

A

no longer

77
Q

Biological indicators:

A

Organisms that are sensitive to temperature and seasons

78
Q

Plant hardiness zones are
migrating ________.

A

northwards

79
Q

Other biological indicators of global warming:

A
  • The date when maple sap starts to flow in spring
  • The date when leaves change color in fall
  • The date at which cherry blossoms bloom
  • The latitudinal ranges of birds, fish, and insects
80
Q

Precipitation distribution and character is changing;

A
  • Some areas are becoming
    wetter, while others are drier.
81
Q

 Storm severity is increasing:

A
  • The annual number of major cyclones is increasing.
  • Cyclones’ rate of intensification is increasing.
  • The amount of rain that cyclones produce is rising.
82
Q

Global warming is linked to ______

A

rising CO2 levels.

83
Q

The Keeling Curve

A

lect 8 slide #50

84
Q

Two predictions of GCMs:

A
  • Earth’s current warming trend
  • No warming if greenhouse gases remained ~300 ppm
85
Q

The Carbon Budget

A

 Red arrows indicate sources that release carbon into atmosphere.
 Green arrows indicate sinks that remove carbon from atmosphere

86
Q

Carbon sources release ________ gases

A

release greenhouse gases.

87
Q

Carbon sinks _____

A

remove greenhouse gases.

88
Q

Sequestration:

A

the removal and storage of carbon

  • Carbon is stored in the
    hydrosphere or geosphere.
89
Q

Rainforests are shrinking:

A
  • Slash and burn activities immediately release CO2.
  • Clear-cutting for farms and ranches eliminates these sinks.
  • Deforestation accounts for ~8%–10% of carbon emissions.
90
Q

Prairies and grasslands are disappearing:

A
  • Plowing immediately releases CO2.
  • Crop cultivation reduces these sinks.
91
Q

The Amazon rainforest stores an immense amount of ______.

A

carbon

92
Q

Carbon has three isotopes:

A

14C, 13C, and 12C.

93
Q

12C is ______

A

carbon’s most common isotope

94
Q

13C is found in _______

A

found in volcanic gases

95
Q

14C is ________

A

a radioactive isotope, and a tiny portion of all carbon.

96
Q

Fossil fuels contain no _____.

A

14C

Their 13C/12C ratio is < atmospheric 13C/12C ratio

97
Q

Volcanic gases, ratio compared to atmospheric ratio

A
  • Their 13C/12C ratio is > atmospheric 13C/12C ratio.
98
Q

Fossil fuel combustion creates unique carbon fingerprints: (ratios)

A

No 14C, and low 13C/12C ratios

99
Q

Class Question #3

What do global climate models predict if greenhouse gases remained at
preindustrial levels?

a) Earth’s atmosphere would exhibit no significant warming.

b) Earth’s atmosphere would contain high concentrations of 13C.

c) Earth’s atmosphere would cool and contract, resulting in more
severe weather events.

d) Earth’s atmosphere would absorb the excess carbon released from
anthropogenic sources.

A

(NO GIVEN ANSWER)

100
Q

Researchers use GCM to ______

A

predict future scenarios.

101
Q

High carbon scenario:

A
  • 1,000 ppm by 2100
  • Atmospheric temperature
    increases by ~4.5 °C.
102
Q

Medium carbon scenario:

A
  • 620 ppm by 2100
  • Atmospheric temperature increases by ~ 3.7 °C.
103
Q

Low carbon scenario:

A
  • 475 ppm by 2100
  • Atmospheric temperature increases by ~2.2°C.
104
Q

High emission scenario: Sea level rises by _____

A

by 2 m.

105
Q

Medium emission scenario: Sea level rises by ____

A

Sea level rises by 0.8 m.

106
Q

Low emission scenario: Sea level rises by ____

A

Sea level rises by 0.2 m.

107
Q

~____% of humanity lives near
coasts < 10 m above sea level.

A

10

108
Q

Coastal areas are at
increasing ______

A

risk of flooding and destruction.

109
Q

Humanity depends on freshwater from a variety of sources:

A
  • Rivers, lakes, and aquifers
  • Snow and ice from mountains
110
Q

Mediterranean climate
rainfall decreases by %

A

20%-40%.

111
Q

 Precipitation increases in
other places by %

A

10%-60%.
* Temperate and polar
climates
* Along the ITCZ

112
Q

Most warming will occur in
______ and ______ regions.

A

Arctic and subarctic regions.

113
Q

Polar amplification:

A
  • Albedo drops as ice and snow melt.
  • More solar energy is absorbed.
114
Q

Permafrost thawing creates a
positive feedback:

A
  • Permafrost is frozen all year.
  • Warming thaws permafrost.
  • Thawing permafrost decays,
    thus releasing carbon.

Infrastructure is damaged as
permafrost thaws

115
Q

Permafrost Thawing

A

 Infrastructure repairs as a result
of thawing cost billions.
 Sediment and slopes become
unstable as permafrost thaws.
 Risks from slumps and
landslides increase.

116
Q

Polar Bear Populations Decrease as _______

A

Sea Ice Melts

 Polar bears use sea ice to hunt for seals.
 Melting ice reduces hunting areas for bears.

117
Q

Aedes aegypti:

A

a mosquito transmitting yellow fever, dengue, and Zika

118
Q

Anopheles:

A

a mosquito transmitting the parasite that causes malaria

119
Q

Sandflies:

A

causes leishmaniasis

120
Q

Ticks:

A

transmits Lyme disease and encephalitis

121
Q

The pH scale measures
acidity:

A
  • pH < 7 is an acid.
  • pH > 7 is a base.
122
Q

Coral Bleaching Is Increasing(Read)

A

 Coral under stress expel algae and turn white.
 Coral die if bleaching conditions persist.
 Warmer water and lower seawater pH cause coral bleaching.
 Recent massive bleaching:
* ~50% of coral died in the Caribbean in 2005.
* ~50% of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef had died by 2019

123
Q

Fisheries Are Degrading

A

 As seawater warms and pH falls, zooplankton migrate or die.
 Fish that depend on zooplankton must also migrate or die.
 Maximum catch potential is shifting poleward.
 Fish stocks in southern oceans are expected to decline.
 Fish stocks in northern oceans are expected to increase.

124
Q

Positive feedback accelerates
_______.

A

global warming

125
Q

Thermohaline circulation transfers _______.

A

heat across latitudes

126
Q

Atlantic thermohaline circulation:

A
  • Slowed by ~15% since the mid-20th century
  • Possibly due to Greenland ice sheet melting
127
Q

Tropical cyclone wind speeds increase with _______.

A

global warming.

128
Q

Polar front is likely to shift ________:

A

northward

  • Number of mid-latitude cyclones may decrease.
  • Nor’easters may strengthen in warmer ocean water.
129
Q

Intensity of heavy rains will increase with _________

A

global warming

130
Q

Heat waves:

A

higher-than normal temperatures
* Lasting days or weeks

131
Q

If global temperatures _____,
heat waves will increase.

A

rise

132
Q

Bell curves illustrate a shift
to ________.

A

extreme temperatures

133
Q

Hot zones, temperature:

A

Place with average annual
temperatures > 29°C

134
Q

Droughts worsen as soil moisture ________

A

as soil moisture evaporates.

135
Q

Hadley cell expansion:

A

Creates arid conditions in semiarid regions

136
Q

Class Question #4

What happened to the length of the growing season in Iowa from 1990
to 2012 (hint: consider plant hardiness zones)?

a) It shortened by 20 days.
b) There was no significant change.
c) It lengthened.
d) It lengthened from April to May but shortened from June through
September.

A

(Not given)

137
Q

Reducing fossil fuel use is
challenging:

A
  • World demand is high.
  • They have high energy densities.
  • Infrastructure already exists to move these resources.
  • They are relatively cheap.
138
Q

Reducing fossil fuel use:

A
  • Energy conservation
  • Encouraging alternative energy resource use
139
Q

Carbon-neutral sources have
no carbon footprint: Examples:

A
  • Solar, tidal, geothermal, wind, hydropower, biofuels
  • Nuclear power
140
Q

Adopting renewable energy
sources is challenging:

A
  • Infrastructure may need to
    be constructed.
  • Wind and solar are
    intermittent resources.
  • Energy storage research and
    development is needed.
141
Q

Carbon capture and
sequestration:

A
  • Trapping CO2 at its emission
    source
  • Pumping liquefied CO2 into
    underground rocks
142
Q

Cap-and-trade policies:

A
  • A carbon emission cap is
    passed by lawmakers.
  • Companies trade credits to
    emit over the cap.
  • Credits are traded and have
    monetary value
143
Q

Adaptation tactics:

A
  • Building seawalls to prevent
    flooding
  • Broadening wetlands to
    lessen storm surge impacts
  • Improving air conditioning
    technologies
  • Improving irrigation
    methods
  • Developing new crop
    varieties

1410 Chap 15 - 19 (4 decks)

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