Unit 2 - Global Climate

Question 1

Natural Greenhouse Effect

Answer 1

Natural process that warms the Earth’s surface. When the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and re-radiated by GHGs.

Question 2

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

Answer 2

Impact of increasing levels of GHGs in the atmosphere as a result of human activity.
Often referred to as “global warming”.

Question 3

Global Climate Change

Answer 3

The change in global patterns of climate - precipitation temperatures, winds and pressure systems.

Question 4

Enhanced GHE vs. Global CC

Answer 4

GCC can relate to any aspect of climate change whereas Enhanced GHE specifically impacts upon temperature.

GCC can have natural causes, EGHE is anthropogenic (caused by human activity).

Question 5

Energy Balance

Answer 5

How the incoming energy from the Sun is used and returned to space.
If incoming = outcoming then temperature remains constant.

Question 6

Insolation

Answer 6

Incoming solar radiation.

Question 7

Positive Feedback Loop

Answer 7

Enhances or amplifies changes; a small change will cause a “snowball effect”. This tends to move a system away from its equilibrium state, making it more unstable.
Eg. Permafrost thawing, melting of ice caps which releases more methane, which increases temperature, which melts even more permafrost etc.

Question 8

Negative Feedback Loop

Answer 8

Dampens changes; a change in conditions will cause another change which will return conditions to their initial state. Tends to hold a system to some equilibrium state, making it more stable.
Eg. global dimming by volcanic eruptions.

Question 9

Planetary albedo

Answer 9

The fraction of light reflected from a body or surface. The higher the albedo, the higher radiation amounts reflected.
Albedo = higher on lighter surfaces

Question 10

What wavelength (long or short) is incoming vs outgoing radiation respectively?

Answer 10

Incoming: shortwave
Outgoing: longwave

Question 11

Hydrosphere

Answer 11

All the waters on the Earth’s surface, eg. lakes and seas.

Question 12

Atmosphere

Answer 12

Thin layer of gases that surrounds the Earth.

Question 13

Biosphere

Answer 13

The parts of the land, sea and atmosphere in which organisms are able to live.

Question 14

Disparity

Answer 14

A lack of similarity or equality.

Question 15

Vulnerability

Answer 15

Refers to the degree to which people are susceptible to, or unable to cope with, the adverse impacts of climate change.

Question 16

Exposure

Answer 16

The degree to which people are exposed to climate change.

Question 17

Sensitivity

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Risk

Answer 18

Expressed as: the likelihood of loss of life, injury or destruction and damage from a disaster in a given period of time.

Question 19

Risk perception

Answer 19

Refers to people’s subjective judgments about the likelihood of negative occurrences such as injury, illness, disease and death.

Question 20

Adaptive capacity

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Adaptation

Answer 21

Measures based on reducing vulnerability to the effects of climate change.
Eg. Building floating hospitals

Question 22

Mitigation

Answer 22

Actions that are taken to reduce and curb the potential future impacts of climate change.
Eg. by reducing GHG emissions.

Question 23

Carbon Sink

Answer 23

A natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs and stores the atmosphere’s carbon with physical and biological mechanisms.