Unit 6 Warm ups Flashcards
Study Study Study
What is the difference between climate change and global warming
climate change= any change in Earth’s climate including global trends in warming, cooling, precipitation, wind direction etc.
Global warming- an INCREASE in average temperature of Earth’s surface
What are the main factors that influence Earth’s climate
Earth’s tilt and orbit
tilt- area getting different amounts radiation
orbit- when Earth’s orbit is more circular it leads to lower temperatures
Most of the energy reflected from Earth is in the form of what
Infrared Radiation
Are greenhouse gasses themselves bad
No.
Without greenhouse gases, Earth’s average surface temp would be -18 degrees Celsius.
They are gases in the atmosphere that absorb and reflect back energy to keep Earth warm
What are our greenhouse gasses. Name them
water vapor, CO2, methane, nitrous oxide
What on Earth absorbs great amounts of Carbon Dioxide
Earth’s Oceans
How does the Ocean’s temps. impact greenhouse gas
A colder ocean can absorb and store more CO2, allowing for cooler temps.
A warmer ocean can’t absorb and store as much CO2, causing for warmer temps.
What is the importance of ocean currents on climate
Ocean currents move warm water from the equator to the poles and cold water from the poles to the equators. This allows for the climate to be less extreme in the poles and close to the equator.
What 2 events can break ocean current cycles along the equator
El Niño and la Nina- they cause the gulf coast to be wetter than normal
What geologic processes move carbon naturally
plate motion
What impacts do volcanic gasses have
Volcanic Eruptions disperse CO2 and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere.
When sulfur dioxide is released into the atmosphere, its high albedo can cool Earth for years.
The CO2 released can heat Earth, but this may not last as long as the cooling
What impact can meteorites have on Earth’s climate
When meteorite particles go into the air, they block the sun and cool Earth’s climate
How have plants changed the global climate
They release oxygen into the atmosphere, leading to CO2 in the biosphere. Because of less carbon in the air, there is less heat, leading to a cooler climate
What 3 processes are part of the slow cycling of carbon
weathering
formation of sedimentary rocks
volcanic activity
Where does fast cycling of carbon occur
biosphere- through photosynthesis and cellular respiration, organisms are able to move carbon between the biosphere and atmosphere quickly
What has the IPCC determined as the leading causes of climate change
the increase of greenhouse gases (Co2) into the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels and deforestation
How does deforestation affect climate
Plants allow for the removal of Co2 and pollution from the atmosphere but when being cut down, there is less carbon dioxide that is being absorbed leading to an increase in climate
What is the impact of climate change on Earth’s waters
An increase in climate leads to waters warming, becoming more acidic(because of more CO2 absorption), and water levels increasing (because ice melts).
Increased temperatures also leads to increased evaporation and therefore more rain and flooding in wet regions, while it also increases drought in drier areas
What causes coral to lose their color?
Why does this occur?
Because coral are sensitive to temperature changes, when water temp, increases, it causes coral to release their photosynthetic algae (main source of energy).
What is one of the largest outputs of carbon emissions
cities- 75% of global carbon emissions.
Explain the negative effects of deforestation. Be sure to include and discuss why it has such a negative impact in regards to the carbon cycle
By using photosynthesis, plants help remove CO2 from the atmosphere allowing for a cooler climate. When plants and trees are cut though, carbon dioxide cannot be moved into the biosphere, and it leads to an increase in temp and climate. This doesn’t allow for stable exchange in the carbon cycle and leads to more carbon in the atmosphere
What is biomass
the burning of organic matter such as wood, peat, and plant oils.
how does biomass impact the carbon cycle
The burning of biomass doesn’t impact the carbon cycle because the burning of them release carbon that absorbed by the growing of the tree/plant. There is additional carbon as the same same carbon absorbed from the atmosphere from the plant during its growth is the same carbon released whether by people burning it or by it decaying and decomposing naturally.
How do natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions impact climate.
Are natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions short or long term changes
How do growing seasons impact carbon capture in plants
What is the greenhouse effect and how does it work
Discuss things about the Earth that impact our climate
What is albedo and how does it affect solar energy absorbed or reflected back into the atmosphere
How does urbanization affect climate? Discuss the impact and what can be done to help minimize or reduce that impact
Carbon cycles in the atmosphere at different rates throughout the year. Producers play a huge role in this. Why do carbon rates fluctuate over the course of a year
What are ways carbon is captured? What are ways carbon is released
What are some things that indicate changes to Earth’s climate
What are ways that carbon is quickly cycled on Earth
What are ways that carbon is slowly for cycled n Earth
What cell organelle is responsible for making proteins
Explain how to distinguish between and independent and dependent variable.
