Topic 3: Climate Change

Question 1

What is Weather?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Define Climate

Answer 2

The long term pattern of weather conditions in 1 area, recorded over a period of 30 or more years.

Classified by precipitation and temperature

Question 3

What’s Earths Energy Budget?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Solar Radiation

Answer 4

All light is measured on a spectrum. We can only see visable light. Different types of light will interact differently with the atmosphere

Question 5

UV Radiation

Answer 5

Is invisible, causes sun burns, skin cancer and eye damage. Gets absorbed in the mesosphere.

Question 6

Infrared Radiation

Answer 6

Felt as heat. Is absorbed by both troposphere and earth’s surface

Question 7

Visible Light

Answer 7

Colours that can be seen by the naked eye. Is absorbed and reflected by earth’s surface. Reflected light becomes infrared light.

Question 8

Albedo Effect

Answer 8

The amount of light a surface reflects. Light surfaces reflect, dark surfaces absorb.

Question 9

Natural Greenhouse Effect

Answer 9

The natural trapping of infrared radiation which maintains earths surface temperature

Question 10

Solar Cycles

Answer 10

The amount of energy the sun produces follows a pattern. Solar maximum (a lot of energy) solar minimum (low energy)