Topic 3 - Climate Change

Question 1

Weather

Answer 1

Refers to the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time.

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

• The long-term pattern of a weather conditions in a particular area, typically observed over a period of 30 years or more.
• Scientists classify the climate of a certain place by studying 2 main features: temperature and precipitation.

Question 3

Earth’s Energy Budget

Answer 3

Refers to the balance between the Earth receives from the sun and the energy it radiates back into space.

Question 4

Solar Radiation

Answer 4

All light measured on spectrum.

Question 5

UV Radiation

Answer 5

Invisible, causes sunburns, skin cancers and eye damage and is absorbed in the mesosphere.

Question 6

Infrared Radiation

Answer 6

Felt as heat, is absorbed by the troposphere and the Earth’s surface.

Question 7

Visible Light

Answer 7

Colours that can be seen by the human eye, is absorbed and reflected by the Earth’s surface. Reflected light becomes infrared.

Question 8

The Albedo Effect

Answer 8

• Refers to the amount if light a surface reflects.
• Light surfaces have a high albedo (reflect more light)
• Dark surfaces have a low albedo (absorb more light)

Question 9

The Natural Greenhouse Effect

Answer 9

• The atmosphere is made up of many greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, etc.)
• Greenhouse gasses absorb infrared radiation.
• The absorption of solar radiation in the troposphere is what maintains Earth’s surface temperature (IMPORTANT!)
• More GHG = more trapped heat = hotter temperature

Question 10

Solar Cycles

Answer 10

• The amount of energy the sun produces follows a pattern.
• There are times a lot of energy is produced (solar maximum) and times a low amount of energy is produced (solar minimum)
• The whole cycles lasts ~ 11 years