Unit 2

Question 1

What are the 2 main reasons for climate change?

Answer 1

1. Changing concentrations of greenhouse gases.

2. Various kinds of external forcing.

Question 2

What is a greenhouse gas?

Answer 2

The atmospheric gases that absorb infrared radiation and cause world temperatures to be higher than they would otherwise be.

Question 3

What is external forcing?

Answer 3

A description of Earths climate system which originates from outside of the climate system such as solar output.

Question 4

Describe the 6 steps of the Natural Greenhouse Effect:

Answer 4

1. Incoming solar radiation through the Earths atmosphere in short-wave radiation.
2. Short wave energy can be scattered or reflected from dust particles or water droplets.
3. A little short wave radiation is absorbed into the atmosphere.
4. Solar energy hits the Earths surface, it absorbs the short wave radiation and re-emits long wave radiation into the atmosphere.
5. Long wave radiation is easily absorbed by naturally occurring greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. (Carbon dioxide being the most abundant).
6. Some long wave radiation escapes into space.

Question 5

Explain the Human Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

Answer 5

This is the negative aspect of the greenhouse effect and how this can lead to climate change. As there is more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the Earths atmosphere absorbs increasingly more heat.

Question 6

Give 3 examples of what increases the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere:

Answer 6

1. Burning fossil fuels
2. Intensive farming
3. Deforestation

Question 7

What are the effects that are linked to climate change:

Answer 7

Increasing natural disasters, changing ocean currents, rising temperatures.

Question 8

Explain Global Dimming in terms of Volcanos

Answer 8

It is a reduction in the amount of solar energy received from the sun. Factors such as volcanic eruptions ejects large amounts of dust particles into the atmosphere and this reflects the suns energy and therefor “dims” the energy from the sun. As it shields the earth from incoming solar radiation, it may lower the global temperature.

Question 9

Describe the thermosphere

Answer 9

The 2nd last layer of the atmosphere. It has a rise in absorbed energy due to the energized short-wave radiation. It is directly above the mesosphere. The temperature can reach up to 4,500 degrees Fahrenheit but it would feel cold as there are not enough gas molecules to transfer the heat.

Question 10

Describe the troposphere

Answer 10

This is the layer in the atmosphere that we are in.
The weather is constantly changing and mixing up the gases.
It extends from the ground to 12km high.
It contains 75% of all of the air in the atmosphere and almost all of the water vapor which forms clouds and rain.

Question 11

Describe the stratosphere

Answer 11

This is above the troposphere and is the region where planes fly.
It extends to roughly 50km above the earths surface.
Contains a thin layer of ozone molecules- this forms a protective layer and absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.

Question 12

Describe the Mesosphere

Answer 12

Located above the stratosphere and is the middle layer in the atmosphere.
It is 35 kilometers thick.
There are fewer air molecules to absorb incoming electromagnetic radiation from the Sun.
This would be where meteors burn up in this layer.

Question 13

Describe the thermosphere

Answer 13

THERMOsphere- the layer has extremely high temperatures and is located above the mesosphere and below the exosphere.
It extends up to 700km above the earths surface and therefor is roughly 615km thick.
It is the thickest layer in the atmosphere, the lightest gases are found within the thermosphere such as oxygen, helium, and hydrogen.
This is where most satellites are found.

Question 14

Describe the Exosphere

Answer 14

Exo- means outside. This represents the outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere.
It extends from the top of the thermosphere to 10,000km above the earths surface.
This layer is where atoms and molecules escape into space and higher altitude satellites are located.

Question 15

Define convection

Answer 15

The transfer of heat by movement of a gas or liquid.

Question 16

Describe the stages of the energy budget

Answer 16

Roughly 342W/^2 of incoming sunlight enters the atmosphere.
77W/m^2 is reflected from the atmosphere and clouds.
67W/m^2 is absorbed from the atmosphere and clouds.
30W/m^2 is reflected from the earths surface.
168W/m^2 is absorbed from the earths surface.

Question 17

What is positive feedback from albedo?

Answer 17

As there is melting of the polar ice caps, it results in less ice and lowers the planetary albedo. As there is less ice, which is more reflective than water, it leads to less reflection and therefor more absorption on the Earths surface which increases the temperature.

Question 18

What is negative feedback with albedo?

Answer 18

Increased evaporation at low levels results results with higher precipitation which may lead to increased snowfall on the polar ice caps. This reduces the mean global temperature as the increased amounts of snow increase the rate of reflection and therefore more reflected in that area opposed to absorption.

Question 19

What is a positive feedback loop?

Answer 19

Where larger forest coverage is located in high latitudes, which decreases albedo and increases warming. Increases of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also contributes to the general increase in temperature as there are additional greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Question 20

What is a negative feedback loop?

Answer 20

Increases evaporation causes an increase in cooling as the hot air rises as water vapor and condenses into clouds. Increases absorption and reflection and therefor cooling the region it covers.

Question 21

Define the exposure to climate change

Answer 21

The degree to which people are exposed to climate change.

Question 22

Define the sensitivity to climate change

Answer 22

The degree to which they could be harmed by exposure to climate change.

Question 23

Define adaptive capacity to climate change

Answer 23

The degree to which they could mitigate the potential harm by taking action to reduce their exposure or sensitivity.

Question 24

What is the equation for vulnerability?

Answer 24

Exposure x Sensitivity +/- adaptive capacity

Question 25

How does wealth effect the outcome of climate change?

Answer 25

Wealth generally results in the quality of education and understanding of the present dangers. This would allow them in taking action beforehand and avoiding certain dangers.
They would be able to spend more money towards mitigation of damage towards residences and other current assets. This is a form of adaptation.

Question 26

Define mitigation

Answer 26

Reducing climate change- such as reducing the flow of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in to the atmosphere. An example would include: using renewable energy opposed to non-renewable energy.

Question 27

Define adaptation

Answer 27

Adapting to life in a changing climate which involves adjusting to the current or predicted climate. The overall goal is to reduce the vulnerability to the harmful effects of climate change.

Question 28

Explain possible examples of adaptation due to climate change

Answer 28

Diversifying crops
Increasing the quality of building infrastructure
Developing action plans for climate emergencies.
Promoting public transport and sustainable mobility- reducing CO2 emissions.

Question 29

Give an example of a corporate response to climate change

Answer 29

Telco had been the first big company globally to set goals and ambitions for climate change for their own operations. They invested 700 million points in energy and refrigeration efficiency in their stores and distribution centers. This had achieved over 40% reduction in emissions per square foot of their stores and distribution centers between 2006 and 2016. This saves them money and is better for the environment.

Question 30

What are sunspots

Answer 30

Dark areas on the sun where intense magnetic storms are happening. This would increase solar output and hence provide greater energy to the earth and heat the atmosphere more.
There is an increase in sunspots once every 11 years.

Question 31

Give possible examples of mitigation

Answer 31

Carbon taxes- This gives regions a limit for the amount of green house gases which are emitted and this would generally decrease the emissions overall.
Cap & Trade- from these carbon taxes, carbon trading is an attempt to create a market in which permits issued by governments to emit carbon dioxide can be traded.
Geo-Engineering- A large scale manipulation of the environment to counteract climate change, many seem to be expensive and near to impossible. An example would include sulphate aerosol particles to dim the incoming sunlight and thereby cool the planet.