Unit 2

Question 1

Adaptation

Answer 1

Initiatives and measure to reduce the vulnerability of human and natural systems of climate change.

Question 2

Albedo

Answer 2

The amount of incoming solar energy reflected back into the atmosphere by the Earths surface.

Question 3

Anthropogenic

Answer 3

Human-related process and/or impacts.

Question 4

The enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 4

The increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, as a result of human activities, and their impact on atmospheric systems, including global warming

Question 5

Global warming

Answer 5

The increase in temperatures around the world that have been noticed since the 1960’s and in particular since the 1980’s

Question 6

The greenhouse effect

Answer 6

The process by which certain gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)) allow short-wave radiation to pass through the greenhouse gas to the earth.As more heat is retained the earths atmosphere will become warmer. Long wave radiation is either absorbed by the greenhouse gases or redirected back into the earth.

This radiation leads to a warming of the atmosphere.

Question 7

Mitigation

Answer 7

Attempts to reduce the causes of climate change

Question 8

Resilience

Answer 8

The ability of a population or a human or natural system to absorb change without having to make a fundamental change.

Question 9

Vulnerability

Answer 9

The degree to which a human or natural system is susceptible to, and unable to cope with, the adverse impacts of climate change.

Question 10

The structure of an earth’s atmosphere

Answer 10

1) TROPOSPHERE –
This is where we live and where most weather processes take place.
• Most “weather” occurs in the lowest 16-17km.
• Temperatures fall with height (6.5^C) as atmosphere thins.
• A lot of water vapor until 15 kms then it becomes too hot.

• Tropopause

2) STRATOSPHERE -
• Layers lacks dust and water vapor
• Stable / constant temperature as its too thin
• As height increases so does temperature due to absorption of solar radiation

3) MESOPHERE
• Coldest region
• Temperature decrease because decreasing density prevents the absorption of energy

4) THERMOSPHERE
• Virtual vacuum – rise in absorbed energy due to energized short wave radiation.

Question 11

Insolation

Answer 11

incoming solar radiation

Question 12

what kind of system is the atmosphere?why?

Answer 12

An open energy system, because it receives energy from both the sun and earth

Question 13

Explain the redistribution of energy

Answer 13

Energy that drives all weather systems and climate comes from the Sun. The energy is absorbed by the Earth from tropical regions and polar regions.
The compensate for this there is a redistribution in energy from lower to higher altitudes, caused by wind circulation and ocean currents.

Question 14

Energy balance

Answer 14

is the balance between energy from the sun and outgoing energy from the atmosphere (solar)

The earth constantly receives energy but doesn’t get hotter because of the balance but recent heating is linked to human activities

Question 15

Under neutral conditions the balanced is achieved in three main ways:

Answer 15

1) RADIATION – The emission of electromagnetic waves (X-rays, short and long waves. Sun radiates mostly short wave radiation of ultraviolet and visible light)
2) CONVECTION – The transfer of heat by the movement of the gas
3) CONDUCTION – Transfer of heat by contact.

Question 16

What kind of waves do cold or hot bodies radiate

Answer 16

Hot bodies emit short wave radiation

Cold bodies emit long wave radiation

Question 17

Short wave solar radiation:

What is it affected by?

Answer 17

Short wave solar radiation (incoming) - Sun

Incoming solar radiation (insolation) is the main input.

It is effected by three things:

ν Latitude
ν Season
ν Cloud cover

= SUN EARTH

Question 18

Long wave radiation

Answer 18

(out coming) – Earth

Radiation from the earth to the atmosphere and eventually into space.

During the day:
Outgoing radiation is greater than incoming radiation.
Long wave radiation transfers = so there is a net loss of energy

During cloudless night:
Large loss of long wave radiation from earth because lack of clouds = little return of long wave radiation from atmosphere = net loss of energy
Eg, in the desert there are no clouds= maximizes the loss of energy

During cloudy night:
Clouds return come long wave radiation to the surface which reduces the overall loss of energy.

= EARTH = ATMOSPHERE = SPACE

Question 19

Net radiation balance

Answer 19

Is the difference between the incoming and outgoing energy at the top of the atmosphere.

Question 20

The greenhouse gas effect:

Answer 20

The process by which certain gases…

Water vapor                                
Carbon dioxide                                - From fossil fuels
Methane                                           - Cattle convert what they eat into this
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)         - More efficient in trapping heat than CO2

Allow short wave radiation from the sun to pass through the atmosphere but trap an increasing proportion of outgoing long-wave radiation from the earth. Radiation leads to warming of the atmosphere

SHORT WAVES = PASS THROUGH ATMOSPHERE
LONG WAVES = GET TRAPPED

⎫ Is a good thing as without it their sound be no life on earth

Question 21

External forces on the climate

• Changes in insolation:

Answer 21

Earth’s temperature changes for a number of reasons, change in the output of energy from the sun.

1. Milankovitch cycles
2. Changes in albedo
3. Sunspot activity
   - An area on the sun’s surface where increased magnesium leads to the cooling of hydrogen.

More sunspot activity = higher temperature of earth
Less sunspot activity = lower temperature on earth

4. Volcanic activity
   - Explosive volcanic eruptions have been shown to have short term cooling effects on the atmosphere if they eject large quantities of Sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere. Ash and Sulphur in the air can reduce the absorption of solar radiation on the earth’s surface. This is known as global dimming.

Question 22

Global dimming

Answer 22

Decrease in the amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth.

Question 23

Milankovitch cycles

Answer 23

1) ECCENTRICALLY / ELLIPICAL
- When the earth’s orbit is elongated is receives more variation in energy from the sun then when it is circular

1) OBLIQUITY
• The tilt of the earth’s axis varies between 22.2 and 24.5. The greater the tilt angle is the more solar energy it receives.

1) PRECESSSION
• Gradual change / wobble in the orientation of the earth axis affects the relationship between tilt and eccentrically.

Question 24

Albedo

Answer 24

Albedo – % of solar radiation that is reflected by the earth’s surface.

Light color reflects the most albedo
Black reflects the least and absorbs the most.

Poles reflect the most and the closer to the equator you are the less albedo is reflected.

Vegetation (rainforests) reflect some but not as much albedo

Question 25

Feedback loops

Answer 25

• Play a role in controlling the Earth’s atmosphere. Changes have impacts on the climate.

There are both positive and negative feedback mechanisms and they are both associated with changed in the global mean.

Question 26

Positive feedback

Answer 26

Causes global warming

Ice caps-
Melting of ice caps leads to less ice and lower planetary albedo. Ice is more reflective than water so it means less reflection.
Lowering albedo increases the amount of solar radiation absorbed on the surface = increase in temperature.

Rotting vegetables-
Rotting vegetables trapped under ice will release methane then the ice melts as it was trapped before. Increased methane levels will increase temperature.

Global temperature rises Polar ice caps melt Albedo decreases

Question 27

Negative feedback loop

Answer 27

Prevents global warming

Higher levels of precipitation = increased evaporation in low altitudes = increased snowfall in polar ice caps = reducing global warming temperature

Increase in CO2 leads to plant growth by allowing higher levels of photosynthesis = reduce CO2 due to plant biomass productivity

• Increased evaporation – increased cooling
• Burning, leading to more aerosols and thus reduced solar radiation at the surface causing cooling.

Aerosols – By product of pollutants and absorb radiation and reflect it back out into the atmosphere and then space.

Question 28

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 28

Is the impact of increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as a result of human activities / often referred to as Global warming

Question 29

Global climate change

Answer 29

Refers to the change in global pattern of:
•	Rainfall
•	Temperature
•	Sea level 
•	Droughts 
•	Floods
•	Storms

Resulting from changes in the earths atmospheres, believed to be mainly caused by the enhanced greenhouse effect.

Question 30

An increase in the worlds greenhouse gases is linked to:

Answer 30

o Trade
o Industrialization
o Globalization

Question 31

The implications of climate change

Answer 31

• Sea levels will rise, causing flooding in flow lying area
• Storm activity will increase
• Agriculture patterns will change
• Less rainfall in USA and Southern Europe
• 40% of wildlife species will be extinct

Question 32

Hydrosphere

Answer 32

Hydrosphere – Total amount of water on a planet. Includes water on the surface, under the ground, and in the air. It can be liquid, vapor or ice.

• Rise in sea levels, flooding low lying areas
• Flood from melting glaciers
• Increase high tides and storm surges

Question 33

Carbon sink

Answer 33

a forest, ocean or other natural environments viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere.

Question 34

Where is carbon stored:

Answer 34

Where is carbon stored:

• Rocks – Largely unavailable, slow turnover
• Atmosphere
• Biomass
• Fossil fuels
• Oceans

Question 35

Potential impacts of temperature increases

Answer 35

Up to 1C increase

• Vital of survival of low lying lands
• Artic sea will disappear for the summer months
• Heat waves and fires will become more frequent
• Most of the world corals will die
• Glaciers that provide water for millions of people will melt
• Diseases such as malaria and diarrhea will affect 300,000 people a year.

Up to 2C increase

• Heatwaves in Europe killing people
• Amazon rainforest will become a desert, increase CO2 levels
• Oceans too acidic killing life
• Agriculture yields will drop
• Starvation and disease more severe
• Loss of glaciers
• Flooding

Up to 4C

• Artic permafrost enters a danger zone releases methane and CO2
• Artic would disappear
• Islands lost
• Sea rise
• Spain, Greece, Italy become deserts

Question 36

Impact of climate change on people and places

Answer 36

• Diseases spread easily (malaria causes 60 million Africans to be exposed) due to temperatures rising 2C
• Increase human migration
• Sea level rise takes low lying homes away
• Opens up sea routes
• Tourism changes
• Hunger and conflict

Question 37

Vulnerability

Answer 37

Refers to the degree to which people are susceptible to or able to cope with impacts of the CC

Question 38

Three mains factors associated with vulnerability

Answer 38

1) Exposure – Degree of which people are exposed to climate change
2) Sensitivity – The degree of which they could be harmed or exposed to climate change
3) Adaptive capacity – The degree to which they could mitigate the potential harm by taking action to reduce their exposure / sensitivity

Question 39

Four things that affect the impacts of the disaster:

Answer 39

1) Wealth
2) Location
3) Population group
4) Risk perception

GROUPS
Some population groups are more at risk than others:

1. Indigenous / urban people – high exposure and less ways to stop impact
2. Ageing populations – Can’t move and need more attention
3. Single parents’ households – number of risks, age, gender, poverty
4. Careers (women) – burden of caring for the young, the elderly and the sick
5. Urban people – More tech, youthful but more crowded = majorly affected (buildings)
6. Youthful –Less vulnerable more resilient

LOCATION
Some locations are more at risk than others

Low lying islands, river mouths and valleys, coastal areas and regions that derive their water supplies from mountain glaciers.

Problems with low lying lands include:
- Increased coastal erosion
- Deterioration of coral reefs
- Saline intrusion in groundwater supplies
- Out migrant of people
- Loss of income as a result of decline in economic activities, infrastructure and resources
WEALTH
General idea that wealthy people are less affected by climate change.

• Poor people have poor quality housing, more exposed
• Better education, hazards become disasters without good adaptive capacity

RISK PERCEPTION

Risk perception – The subjective judgement that people make about the characteristics and severity of a risk

Question 40

Risk perception

Answer 40

The subjective judgement that people make about the characteristics and severity of a risk

Question 41

Government led action on climate change

Answer 41

UN Framework convention /Rio conference 1992
Key objective: stabilize greenhouse gases. Went into effect in 1994

The Kyoto protocol 1997
Key objective: Stabilization of greenhouse gas emissions at same levels.
Countries were allocated amounts of CO2 they were allowed to emit, if they had an spare they would sell it to other countries (Carbon trading)
American, Australia and Canada did not sign

The Paris Agreement 2015
Key objective: Limit global warming to 2C compared to preindustrial levels and also greenhouse gas emissions by 2030-2050.
174 countries signed

Question 42

Mitigation

Answer 42

Involves the reduction / stabilization of greenhouse gas emissions and their removal from the atmosphere.

Question 43

Mitigation strategies

Answer 43

Strategies to reduce GHG emissions may include:
• Reducing energy consumption
• Reducing emissions of nitrous and methane from agriculture
• Using alternatives to fossil fuels
• Geo engineering

Mitigation strategies of CO2 removal
• Enhancing carbon sinks and protecting them
• Using biomass as a fuel source
• Using carbon capture and storage
• Enhancing CO2 absorption by the oceans

Pollution management and control
Methods to prevent increase in global temperature
• Controlling / reducing atmospheric pollution
• Stopping forest clearance
• Increasing forest clearance
• Increasing forest cover
• Developing alternative renewable energy sources
• Improving public transport
• Setting national limits on carbon emissions
• Recycling programmes
• Developing carbon capture methods

Carbon trading
• Is an attempt to create a market. Each country has a certain carbon limit. If a country uses less they can sell it to other countries who exceed theirs.

Carbon taxes
• $25 = $100 per tonne

Carbon offset systems
Designed to neutralize effects of the CO2 produced by human activities by investing in offset companies that buy carbon credits/ plant trees/ encourages renewable energy.

Reductions of nitrogen / methane from agriculture
Agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gases.
Nitrogen is from fertilizers
Methane is from livestock
Agriculture would have less of an impact is there were less in fertilizers and less intensive farming was used.

Reducing energy consumption

This can be done by:
• Increasing public transport
• Car pooling
• Energy conservation

Main GHS comes from burning fossil fuels.

Decarburization – refers to large reduction in C02 per value of gross world product

To achieve decarburization:

• Energy efficiency increased
• Fuel shift
• Reduce emissions of CO2 per electricity

Geo-engineering

• Place giant mirrors in space to deflect some of the incoming solar radiation
• Place Sulphur aerosol particles in the air in order to dim incoming sunlight and thereby cool the plant to offset the warming effects of carbon dioxide.

Question 44

Decarburization –

Answer 44

refers to large reduction in C02 per value of gross world product

Question 45

Adaption

Answer 45

process of adjusting to actual /expected climate and its effects. Used to decrease negative effects and increase positive ones.

Question 46

Civil society

Answer 46

Society considered as a community of citizens linked by common interests and a collective activity

Question 47

Examples of civil society

Answer 47

Greenpeace –
Non-governmental organization which uses nonviolent creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems and force solution

WWF-
Non-governmental organization, their mission is to stop the degradation of our planets natural environment and build a future in which people live in harmony.