Unit 3 : Earth's Climate System and Climate Change

Question 1

What is the atmosphere (3)

Answer 1

*500km above the surface of the earth
*comprised of layers that are varying in temperature
*these layers increase than decrease in temp with each layer (up,down,up,down and so on)

Question 2

What passes through the atmosphere

Answer 2

The atmosphere absorbs gamma rays and x-rays from the sun, creating
the atmosphere’s unique temperature profile. Visible light is able to pass through the atmosphere without issue.

Question 3

How plants absorb light

Answer 3

The atmosphere filters out all the shortwave radiation from the sun leaving just the visible light spectrum to pass through it. From this spectrum, chrolophils in plant cells can utilize all wavelengths of light other than green. This is what gives most plants their green appearance as this wave is reflected rather than absorbed. This absorbed energy is trapped in the sugars formed during photosynthesis.

Question 4

Reflection and absorption of the planet

Answer 4

Approximately 30% of the incoming energy from the Sun is reflected back to space. This means that it does not generate heat. 70% of incoming energy is absorbed by the atmosphere as well as the surface of the planet. When energy is absorbed, heat or long wave infrared radiation (IR) is generated. This is the form of outgoing energy that leaves the “hot” planet and moves into the “cold” atmosphere. Similar to our bodies, the planet is constantly releasing heat that is on a path back out to space.

Question 5

Albedo

Answer 5

What % of light a surface can reflect. So Ice would have an albedo of 90% or so and the ocean would have an albedo of 5% or so.

Question 6

Heat Islands

Answer 6

Areas like cities or freshly plowed fields have a very low albedo in a very large area. This leads these areas to absorb more heat from the sun and are therefore warmer than their surrounding climate. This is concerning because heat speeds up decomposition, decreasing the soil quality of the area as the organic matter is broken down.

Question 7

connective cells

Answer 7

how heat and outgoing radiation move around in the atmosphere

Question 8

the conveyer belt effect

Answer 8

how heat and outgoing radiation move throughout the ocean in a thermohaline gradient (thermo meaning temperature; haline meaning salt)

Question 9

The Thermohaline Gradient

Answer 9

Cold salty water developed at the Arctic and Antarctic assist to move the water and generate a consistent current that transports water into the Atlantic Ocean. It leads to a significant sea to air transfer of heat from the ocean to the atmosphere that is moved toward Europe by prevailing winds. Because of this input of heat, Europe is warmer that other locations at this latitude (Canada for example).

Question 10

Natural Greenhouse effect

Answer 10

Largely associated with water vapor. 65% of the natural warming influence is attributed to water vapor (H20), 25% by carbon dioxide (CO2), and 10% by other gases in the atmosphere. The natural phenomenon is key as it has warmed the planet by about 35oC and from an average temperature of -18 to +15oC.

Question 11

Cultural Greenhouse effect

Answer 11

human activities associated with the Industrial Revolution has significantly increased the concentration of naturally occurring gases such as CO2 and methane (CH4) but also the fact that we have created new ones as well.

Question 12

Warming potentials

Answer 12

We assign the greenhouse gases warming potentials and set CO2 with a value of 1 Gases that reside in the atmosphere for long periods and have high warming potentials are considered to be powerful greenhouse gases and able to trap infrared radiation very effectively.

Question 13

Radiative forcing

Answer 13

factors that result in more infrared radiation being trapped in the troposphere contribute to positive radiative forcing while those that reduce this energy contribute to negative radiative forcing.

Question 14

Arctic Amplification

Answer 14

As temperatures in the Arctic continue to warm, the long-standing sea ice melts, revealing the dark water underneath. Because of this, the Albedo of the arctic is greatly reduced as the water is much darker than the ice was. The water then in turn absorbs more heat , which further warms the area causing more ice to melt and so on.

Question 15

What’s up with Greenland?!

Answer 15

There is a tremendous melt that is occurring on the ice sheet that covers Greenland today. This melt is observed as incredible fast-rushing rivers that plummet to the bedrock below and/or discharge directly to the ocean. Glacial calving (when chunks break off the side) is also occurring at a much-accelerated rate. This is predicted to result in a sea level raise of at least 1m if it continues

Question 16

Permafrost is melting - why is that so bad (2)

Answer 16

1. The roads and infrastructure build on permafrost soils are now structurally compromised
2. Organic matter is starting to decay, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere. This is bad enough however, if the decomposition occurs where there is not oxygen, methane is released instead. Methane is 25x more powerful than CO2 when it comes to blocking radiation and therefore 25x worse for the greenhouse effect

Question 17

Climate change and land (5)

Answer 17

examines desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and terrestrial ecosystems;

Question 18

Climate change in the ocean (5)

Answer 18

examines the state of ocean dynamics including acidification, temperature, loss of marine ecosystems, vulnerabilities to rising sea level and food security;

Question 19

Canada’s climate change plan (7)

Answer 19

Clean and renewable energy

Energy efficiency in homes and businesses

Made-in-Canada clean technologies

Electric vehicle charging stations and alternative fuel infrastructure

Public transit

Investments in Indigenous, rural, and remote communities to transition to cleaner energy sources

Support for communities to adapt to a changing climate