Topic 3: climate change

Question 1

Weather

Answer 1

refers to the state of the atmosphere at a particular time

Question 2

climate

Answer 2

The long-term pattern of a weather condition in a particular area, typically observed over 30 years or more

Question 3

Earths Energy budget

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Solar rasdiation

Answer 4

-All light is measured on a spectrum

-Different types of light will interact differently with the atmosphere

Question 5

uv radiation

Answer 5

-Invisible

-Causes sunburns, skin cancers and eye damage

-Is absorbed in the mesosphere

Question 6

Infrared radiation

Answer 6

-Felt as heat

-Is absorbed by both troposphere and earths surface

Question 7

albedo effect

Answer 7

-Albedo refers to the amount of light a surface reflects

-Light surfaces have a high albedo (reflect more light)

-Dark surfaces have a low albedo (absorb more light)

Question 8

Natural Greenhouse Effect

Answer 8

-The atmosphere is made up of many greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour, etc.)

-Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation

-the absorption of solar radiation in the troposphere is what maintains earth’s surface

-more GHG = more trapped heat = hotter temperatures