Unit D - Climate Change Flashcards
List the four layers of earth’s atmosphere
Earth’s atmosphere contains the troposphere, stratosphere, the mesosphere, and the thermosphere.
What is the ozone layer?
The ozone layer is a layer in the stratosphere made up of ozone gas.
Describe how climate affects daily lives.
Climate affects shelter, clothing, and food.
Describe the effect of climate on the behavior of the grizzly bear.
Grizzly bears can put on as much as 200 kg of fat during the summer months. This fat layer helps to insulate their organs from the cold of winter, as well as provide fuel. They also make a dent in a protected spot, such as a cave, and become extremely inactive during the winter.
What types of evidence are used to provide evidence of climate change?
Anecdotal evidence of climate change relies on reports from people about particular weather events and how they interpret these events changing over time. Scientific evidence of climate change relies on evidence collected in a manner that ensures it is unbiased and that reflects general situations.
List some characteristics of the hydrosphere
The hydrosphere accounts for all the water on earth. About 97% of this water is saltwater and earths oceans, the other 3% is fresh water. Many different organisms live in the large water bodies of the lithosphere.
List some characteristics of the lithosphere
The lithosphere is a solid portion of earth that floats above the semi fluid portion of the upper mantle. It is home to many micro organisms, plants, and animals.
What is the main source of Earth’s energy?
The main source of Earth’s energy is solar energy.
Identify four types of radiation that can be found in solar radiation.
Radio waves, microwaves, ultraviolet rays, x-rays, gamma rays.
What is radiant energy?
Radiant energy is energy that is transmitted as electromagnetic waves.
Define insolation
Insolation is the amount of solar energy received by a region of Earth’s surface.
Describe the relationship between Earth’s angle of inclination and the seasons.
On the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere, the angle of inclination causes the North Pole to be tilted toward the sun. On the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere, however, the north pole is tilted away from the sun.
What is the angle of inclination of Earth?
Earth has an angle of inclination of 23.5°
How does insolation vary with latitude?
Areas at more polar latitudes always receive less solar energy per square kilometer then areas at or near the equator because the angle of incidence of incoming solar radiation is much higher near the poles.
Compare the relative albedo of Earth’s surface in an area covered with water and an area covered by grasslands.
Areas covered with water have a lower albedo value because dark surfaces reflect less solar radiation than light coloured surfaces, such as grasslands.
State the component of the atmosphere that is the main contributor to the natural greenhouse effect.
The main contributor to the natural greenhouse effect is water vapor.
Identify three greenhouse gases
Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Explain the relationship of the net radiation budget to Earth’s climate
Regions with a net radiation budget surplus will be significantly warmer than those with a net radiation budget deficit
Describe the Coriolis effect
The Coriolis effect is the deflection of any object from a straight line path by the rotation of earth. This causes moving air or wind to turn right in the northern hemisphere and left in the southern hemisphere
What is a jet stream?
A jetstream is a band of fast-moving air in the stratosphere. Because of their high altitude, these winds are not subject to as much friction, and so are much faster than winds closer to earth’s surface.
