Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

geo f3 > unit 2: climate > Flashcards

unit 2: climate Flashcards

1
Q

What is global warming?

A

The long-term increase in the temperature of the Earth’s surface.

It can be natural or caused by humans.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is Climate Change?

A

Long-term changes in typical weather pattersn (like rain, wind, and temperature).

It can be natural or caused by humans.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is weather?

A

Atmospheric conditions over minutes/days/months.
It is short-term.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is Climate?

A

Average weather conditions over 30 years or more. It is long term. Includes changes in rainfall, temperature, and air pressure (to name a few).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are greenhouse gases?

A

Gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a greenhouse gas’s job?

A

Lets light pass through the atmosphere, but traps heat.

Because they absorb heat, they trap heat on earth and keep the earth warm and hospitable.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the main greenhouse gases?

A

Water vapour, Carbon dioxide, Methane, and various Nitrous Oxides.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the natural greenhouse effect?

A

The Natural Greenhouse Effect is a natural process that keeps the Earth warm and habitable.

Without it, the Earth’s average temperature would be -18 degrees Celcius. However, because of the greenhouse effect, the average temperature of the earth is about 15 degrees Celcius.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Explain the Greenhouse Effect:

A

1) The sun directs heat and light radiation towards the Earth.

2) Heat passes through Oxygen and Nitrogen in the atmosphere, but is absorbed by greenhouse gases.
When greenhouse gases absorb heat, they trap heat in the atmosphere, keeping the earth warm.

3) Around 30% of light radiation is reflected back to space by ice and clouds.

4) 70% of light radiation is absorbed by oceans, land, and atmospheres. This causes the Earth to heat up.

5) The earth releases heat as heat radiation to the atmosphere.

6) Heat passes through oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere, but is absorbed by greenhouse gases.

7) A small amount of heat radiation which is not absorbed by greenhouse gases go to space. Most of the heat is in the atmopshere.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the albedo effect?

A

Albedo refers to the amount of light radiation reflected by a surface, usually measured as percentage or decimal.

Light coloured objects (like snow, clouds, and ice) reflect light radiation; they have a higher albedo effect. (1/100%)

Dark coloured objects (like soil, land, sea) absorb light radiation; they have a lower albedo effect. (0/0%)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How can buildings take albedo into account?

A

Light-colored roofs on buildings can keep the building cool.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the human enhanced greenhouse effect?

A

The current increased heating of the earth, which is caused by the additional greenhouse gases released through human activities.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Why is human activity releasing so much greenhouse gases?

A

Burning of fossil fuels: for electricity and heating releases carbon stored in them. This reacts in the air to form carbon dioxide.

Deforestation: Trees absorb CO2 but because of deforestation, less trees absorb CO2 and the CO2 in the atmosphere has risen.

Livestock farming: Livestock releases Methane as a waste product.

Agriculture: Use of fertilier releases Nitrous Oxides.

Population growth and increasing consumption levels: results in increased greenhouse gas emissions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are fossil fuels?

A

Materials from plants and animals that have died and degenerated over thousands of years. They are used by humans to provide electricity, transport, and other materials.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Examples of Fossil Fuels:

A

Oil, Natural Gas, Coal.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is anthropogenic?

A

Originating from human activity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is anthropocene?

A

The recent geological time period has been named the anthropocene because humans have been the dominated effect on climate and the environment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are some evidences of climate change?

A

Rise in global temperature

melting sea ice and glaciers

rising sea levels

Changes in extreme weather events

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are the natural changes of climate change?

A

Changes in Solar Radiation

Volcanic Eruptions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How does Changes in Solar Radiation contribute to climate change?

A

The sun emits varying amounts of solar radiation to Earth. This is natural, and caused by various chemical reactions in the sun.

When there is more sunlight, there is more heat and light radiation emitted to the Earth. So more radiation is absorbed by the natural greenhouse effect.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How does Volcanic Eruptions contribute to Climate change?

A

Volcanoes emit greenhouse gases when they erupt. More greenhouse gases, means more heat radiation is absorbed. This causes the earth to heat up.

However, Volcanoes emit a cloud of ash and sulfuric acid, which has a high albedo effect. This results in more sunlight being reflected back into space as it is light coloured. This reduces the natural greenhouse effect. This is the MOST SIGNIFICANT WAY volcanoes affect the climate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

How does changes in natural disasters show that climate change is real?

A

Global warming increases the temperature of the atmosphere and oceans.

Warmer oceans contribute to stronger hurricanes and typhoons.

This is how the change in natural disasters show that climate change is real.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How does changes in rising sea levels show that climate change is real?

A

Rising sea levels are caused by:

Melting of glaciers: Global warming means temperatures are rising means glaciers melt.

THERMAL EXPANSION: This is the expansion of water due to rising temperatures. MAIN REASON FOR SEA LEVEL RISE.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is geo-engineering?

A

refers to humans deliberately trying to alter the natural greenhouse effect, in order to reduce the effects of climate change

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What are the two types of geo-engineering?

A

Solar Radiation Management

Net Emissions Technology

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What is Solar Radiation Management

A

Refers to affecting the amount of solar radiation in the earth’s atmosphere. This includes shading the earth from incoming light and heat radiation and reflecting more light radiation away from the earth.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is Net Emissions Technology?

A

This refers to reducing the overall amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by using technology.

28
Q

What is a method of Solar Radiation Management?

A

Stratospheric Aerosol Injection.

29
Q

What is a method of Net Emissions Technology?

A

Direct Air Capture.

30
Q

What is Stratospheric Aerosol Injection?

A

Aerosols are tiny particles that can reflect light. They are injected into the atmosphere, and Light and Heat Radiation are reflected off these particles, and away from Earth.

31
Q

What are advantages of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection?

A

-Occurs Naturally (Volcanoes)

-Relatively cheap

-Easy to Implement

32
Q

What are disadvantages of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection?

A

-CAN CAUSE ACID RAIN

-Need to keep sending them up into space (dont last forever)

-damage the ozone layer

33
Q

What is Direct Air Capture?

A

This method refers to directly absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere. It can be done naturally through reforestation or manmade structures.

34
Q

What are advantages of Direct Air Capture?

A

-More plants and trees are reforested in the process, contributing to rehabilitating earth’s ecosystems.

-enhanced oil recovery: CO2 can be sold to oil companies, creating a profit in the process as well (Incentive).

-Creates carbon-neutral fuel

35
Q

What are disadvantages of Direct Air Capture?

A

-Handles dangerous toxic substances (like chlorine gas) , can cause a risk to environment if not handled properly

-Very expensive almost 50 times most climate solutions

-Needs investors.

36
Q

What does the Malthusian View State?

A

This is the view that as world population increases, the resources (such as food, clean air, and energy) will run out, to the point where humans will no longer survive.

37
Q

What does the Cornucopian View state?

A

This is the view that humans will build technology to create new resources and to make their current resources more efficient. This view states that humans will be able to survive as a species, even if the population rises over time.

38
Q

What are the advantages of Solar energy

A

-Not expensive to maintain

-relying on natural processes

39
Q

What are the disadvantages of Solar Energy?

A

-Takes up a lot of space, requiring deforestation and loss of habitats.

-Geographical limitations: can’t be used by countries who don’t get sun, or don’t get sun throughout the year.

40
Q

What are the advantages of Wind Farms?

A
  • Clean energy
    -Creates jobs: maintainance, installing, manufacturing -> boosting local economy.
41
Q

What are disadvantages of Wind Farms?

A

-Dependant on the amount of wind
-Requires a large amount of wind to produce a small amount of energy

42
Q

What are the advantages of Nuclear Energy?

A

-Low Greenhouse gas emissions (helps combat climate change, less that fossil fuels)
-High energy density (only a small amount of uranium required for large amounts of energy)

43
Q

What are the disadvantages of Nuclear energy?

A

-risk of accidents: very dangerous
-radioactive waste: waste produced is very toxic, can be harmful towards humans and hard to dispose of safely.

44
Q

What are the advantages of Biomass?

A

-good for developing countries, bc they’re agriculture-based
-creates job opportunities

45
Q

What are the disadvantages of Biomass?

A

-produces an excession of greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming.
-high initial costs

46
Q

Disadvantages of HEP?

A

-Geographical limits

-Environmental impact: impacts surrounding ecosystem, could be a danger to the wild-life

47
Q

Advantages of HEP?

A

-Maintainence cost low
-Sustainable
-Low ghg emissions

48
Q

What is carbon footprint?

A

The amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere by human activity.

49
Q

What is carbon offsetting?

A

Instead of reducing your carbon emissions, you compensate for the amount of carbon dioxide you’re making (carbon footprint) by preventing the same amount of pollution from happening somewhere else.

50
Q

Example of carbon offsetting

A

Instead of reducing your carbon emissions, you support a tree-planting program so your carbon emission can be removed by trees.

51
Q

What is additionality in carbon offsetting?

A

Carbon offsetting projects need to make an additional difference in the world: without this carbon offsetting project, this additional difference would not have happened.

52
Q

Advantages of carbon-offsetting:

A

Reduces carbon emissions overall on the planet;

helps developing countries to shift to renewable energy;

anyone can give money to a carbon-offsetting program, hence it is easy to implement and accessible.

53
Q

Disadvantages of carbon-offsetting?

A

Does not encourage people to reduce their own emissions, and thus does not solve the cause of climate change

-Ideally, this should be done in addition to reducing carbon emissions.
-Funding projects for renewable energy should be happening anyway

Considered as greenwash

Reforestation: trees take time to absorb CO2, and this normally isn’t calculated in carbon offsetting projects.

54
Q

What is greenwash?

A

A superficial/insincere concern show for the environment by an organisation.

55
Q

What are some opportunities for Carbon Offsetting:

A

Aviation industry and businesses willing to endore and promote carbon offsetting.

Gained popularity after Kyoto Protocol - more carbon-offsetting projects

56
Q

Threat to carbon-offsetting?

A

-May not last (trees may catch fire bc of wildfire)

-different to enfore

57
Q

What was the Earth Summit?

A

Countries came together and decided that global warming was a problem; no other action was taken.

58
Q

Kyoto Protocol:

A

Created in 1997, but only established in 2005.

United States dropped out bc they thought it would hurt their economy.

Only developed countries were given targets to meet. They were unable to chose, the UN assigned these to them.

Countries did not reach their goals, and treaty failed.

59
Q

Paris agreement:

A

-2015

-All countries agreed to limit global warming “well below 2 degrees Celcius and pursue efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 Celcius by 2500.”

-All countries had to submit a plan and goals to reduce emissions.

-Countries could voluntarily agree to this agreement and could chose how much their emissions would reduce by. The UN would take momentary checks on these.

-Countries agreed to make a CLIMATE ACTION FUND of 100 billion dollars per year.

-Countries meet once a year, in a Conference of the Parties (COP). COP 29 will take place this year.

60
Q

Tragedy of the commons:

A

This theory states that individuals acting based off their own self-interest will deplete a shared resource.

In climate agreements, it would be good for the earth if all countries agreed to reduce carbon emissions. However, each country prioritizes what they want and their own self interests over what the earth needs.

61
Q

Differences between Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement:

A

Only developed countries had to reduce emissions/ All countries had to reduce their emissions, developed countries were encouraged to help developing countries.

Countries were given targets by the UN/ Countries set their own targets, and the UN checked with these targets every 5 years.

Focus on mitigation and reducing emissions/ focus on adaptation and mitigation: 100 billion dollar fund set up.

62
Q

Montreal Protocol 1987

A

Countries came together, and decided to reduce chloroflurocarbons (CFCs), which were destroying the ozone layer.

The agreement was a success, and the ozone layer is healing today

Developed agreed to start reducing first, then emerging, then developing.

A chlorofluorocarbon alternative was found.
The most powerful leaders (PM of UK and Pres of US) lead the thing.

63
Q

What are tipping points?

A

Tipping points are points in a system, where the tiniest change on a point could cause the entire system to collapse into an irreversible, new state.

64
Q

the 6 tipping points:

A

1) Melting of Arctic sea ice

2)Melting of greenland sea ice

3) Melting of west antarctic sea ice

4) Melting of East Antarctic sea ice

5) Loss of Boreal Forests

6) Loss of Amazon Rainforest

65
Q

Explain how ice melts as a tipping point affects the rate of climate change?

A

When Ice melts, less light radiation is reflected and sent back into space.
This means more light radiation is converted to heat radiation and absorbed by greenhouse gases, and causes temperatures to rise.

This cause more ice to melt, and this cycle continues.

66
Q

How does reduction of trees as a tipping point increase the rate of climate change?

A

This means less carbon dioxide absorbed by the trees, which means more present in the air. More heat is trapped by these gases, exacerbating the rate of temperature, which causes wildfires, and the cycle continues.

67
Q

Business as Usual

A

Continuing as usual with no change.

geo f3 (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions