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Environment > The Science of Climate Change > Flashcards

The Science of Climate Change Flashcards

1
Q

In essence, what is the greenhouse effect?

A

The trapping of long-wave solar radiation in the atmosphere

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2
Q

Describe the process of the greenhouse effect. Give 4 steps.

A
  1. Short-wave infrared radiation comes in from the sun
  2. Some is reflected back into space by the atmosphere while the rest is absorbed by the Earth
  3. The Earth warms, and emits long-wave radiation back out (on its way to space)
  4. Some of that is absorbed and re-emitted by GHGs and clouds
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3
Q

There is a continual exchange of radiation between the Earth and GHGs in the atmosphere. True or false?

A

True - they are constantly absorbing and re-emitting the radiation to eachother.

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4
Q

Without the Greenhouse Effect, Earth would be too cold to sustain life. True or false?

A

True

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5
Q

Define weather.

A

What is happening in the atmosphere in a given moment.

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6
Q

Define climate.

A

Average weather over longer time frames; includes temperature and precipitation patterns.

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7
Q

Define global warming.

A

The warming of the planet, based on the average temperature across Earth’s surface.

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8
Q

Define climate change.

Give 5 examples of factors that might change.

A

The change in climate characteristics over long periods.

Things that might change:

  • Temperature
  • Rainfall
  • Humidity
  • Wind
  • Frequency of extreme weather events
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9
Q

Name 3 factors that can ‘force’ (affect) Earth’s climate.

A
  1. Solar events
  2. Volcanoes
  3. The Greenhouse Effect/GHGs
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10
Q

Which GHG has the highest GWP (global warming potential)?

A

Carbon dioxide

Contributes to approx. 64% of total radiative forcing.

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11
Q

How much CO2 is absorbed by the biosphere and how much stays in the atmosphere?

A

Approx. 50% each

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12
Q

CO2 has a long half life. How long is it?

A

Between 300-1000 years.

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13
Q

Which anthropogenic activities produce CO2? Give 3 examples.

A
  1. Deforestation
  2. Oil refineries
  3. Steel production
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14
Q

Which GHG has the second highest GWP?

A

Methane.

Contributes to approx. 18% of total radiative forcing.

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15
Q

Regarding methane, how much of it in the atmosphere is from…

a) natural sources
b) anthropogenic sources

A

a) ~40%

b) ~60%

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16
Q

Methane has a short half life. How long is it?

A

~12 years.

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17
Q

Which anthropogenic activities produce methane? Give 4 examples.

A
  1. Fossil fuel mining
  2. Cattle farming
  3. Rice farming
  4. Landfill decomposition
18
Q

Which GHG has the third highest GWP?

A

Nitrous oxide (N20)

Contributes to approx. 6% of total radiative forcing.

19
Q

Regarding N2O, how much of it in the atmosphere is from…

a) natural sources
b) anthropogenic sources

A

a) ~60%

b) ~40%

20
Q

N2O has a medium half life. How long is it?

A

~114 years

21
Q

Which anthropogenic activity produces N2O?

A

Fertiliser production

22
Q

After CO2, CH4 and N2O, what is the final group of GHGs?

A

Fluorinated gases

23
Q

Fluorinated gases have a GWP 23,000x more potent than CO2 - true or false?

A

True!

24
Q

If fluorinated gases have a much higher GWP than CO2, why are we not totally fucked?

A

Because they make up a very small percentage of emissions.

Together they contribute ~12% to total radiative forcing.

25
Q

Name the three groups that make up fluorinated gases.

A
  1. Hydroflurocarbons (HFCs)
  2. Perflurocarbons (PFCs)
  3. Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)
26
Q

How did we end up with fluorinated gases in our atmosphere?

A

The Montreal Protocol (ratified 1988) sought to remove-ozone depleting substances from circulation, instead replacing them with these which are a major greenhouse gas lol…nice one boys

27
Q

Fluorinated gases have a very long half life. How long?

A

~50,000 years

28
Q

What does a positive feedback loop do?

A

Increases the effect of a process

29
Q

What does a negative feedback loop do?

A

Decreases the effect of a process

30
Q

What are the two effects of melting glaciers in polar regions?

A
  1. A reduction in the cryosphere, which will lead to further warming
  2. Sea level rise
31
Q

Increased global temperatures are causing polar regions to melt. This causes a reduction in the cryosphere, which through positive feedback will lead to further warming. How?

A

Glaciers melt = reduced cryosphere

Reduced cryosphere = reduced albedo

Reduced albedo = more radiation absorbed by exposed Earth/ocean (not reflected back into space)

More radiation absorbed by exposed Earth/ocean = warmer Earth/ocean

32
Q

Even if we stopped producing GHGs tomorrow, the oceans would continue to warm. Why?

A

The timescale that connects surface water to the deep ocean is thousands of years, meaning heat is not yet equally distributed throughout the oceans.

33
Q

Sea levels rise by two methods. What are they?

A
  1. Thermal expansion: increased temperatures cause water to expand and occupy more space
  2. Increased water in the system i.e. melting of the ice caps
34
Q

What are the two ways people can die from climate change?

A
  1. Directly: killed in an extreme weather event
  2. Indirectly: killed by a vector borne disease that has increased in range; socioeconomic disruption e.g. famine from crop failure
35
Q

Give the

a) direct
b) indirect

causes of death from drought.

A

a) Heat-related mortality

b) Malnutrition from water/food shortage

36
Q

Give the

a) direct
b) indirect

causes of death from increased precipitation (storms, flooding).

A

a) Drowning and fatal injury

b) Malnutrition from crop failure

37
Q

How might water-borne diseases increase due to climate change?

Give examples of water-borne disease.

A

Increased flooding likely to alter their distribution and contaminate food and water sources.

Diarrhoea, leptospirosis, cholera

38
Q

Increased temperatures and precipitation will increase vector borne diseases.

  1. Why will this happen?
  2. In what two ways will this happen?
A
  1. Because mosquitos breed in water and like warmer temperatures.

2.
a. Create a longer transmission season in countries already affected

b. Alter the geographic range to affect new regions

39
Q

Why would vector-borne disease spreading to new, previously unaffected regions be particularly damaging? Give two points.

A

The populations lack:

  1. Natural immunity
  2. The necessary public health infrastructure to deal with the resultant disease epidemic
40
Q

Which two vector-borne diseases are of most concern?

A

Malaria and Dengue

Environment (2 decks)

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