Week 1

Question 1

How has the air T in the alps changed over the last 50 years? comment on glacial ramificatoins

Answer 1

• Air temperature has increased by double the global mean,

- this could be detremental to the glacials ( melting them)

Question 2

The rising of artic weather could cause?

Answer 2

-At the rate which the artic sea ice is melting (12%) per decade, the artic could be ice free by 2030.

Question 3

Weather vs. Climate

Answer 3

• Weather can change minute to minute (constantly varying)

- climate is the average weather overtime

Question 4

Time Scale Vs. Resolution

Answer 4

• Time scale refers to the period of time being studied

- Resolution refers to how many years we can tell from the data (tree rings=annual)

Question 5

Who studies Climate sciences

Answer 5

All walks of life

Question 6

What is a forcing, name 4 examples.

Answer 6

A forcing is something that puts stress on a system, and requires change or a reaction to occur,

1. Anthropogenic (last 10000 years)
2. Tectonic (Myrs)
3. Orbital changes (10-100kyrs)
4. Changes in the sun

Question 7

How does Response time relate to forcings?

Answer 7

Response time is the time it takes to react fully to a forcing

Question 8

How do different parts of the earth system react to forcings

Answer 8

Highly variable , I.e. Atmosphere reacts the quickest ( dust from volcano) Ice sheets react the slowest ( melting from global warming)

Question 9

What is IPCC, what do they do?

Answer 9

Intergovernmental panel on climate Change

-authoritative and comprehensive source of info on climate change, connects scientists

Question 10

Positive Vs negative feed back

Answer 10

Positive - Enhances original condition (albedo)
Negative - Dampens original condition
(chemical weathering)

Question 11

Mean global temperature

Answer 11

+15

Question 12

Three main contributors to the Green house effect?

Answer 12

Water, CO2, Methane

Question 13

Are Greenhouse gases the same as air pollution?

Answer 13

No, CO2, methane, and water are all naturally occuring gases, other pollutants are (CO, orgocarbons, sulfates, etc.)

Question 14

What is the most important greenhouse gas?

Answer 14

Water (50% contribution)

Question 15

Humans are responsible for water emmisions

Answer 15

Not true, heat is responsible for evaporation for the most part

Question 16

Water vapour control the earth’s climate?

Answer 16

No, water vapour is controlled by the earths climate.

Question 17

Conclusion about H2O as a greenhouse gas.

Answer 17

It is important, but remains a consequence of globals warming, not the cause.

Question 18

DGWP is

Answer 18

Direct global warming potential ( power of a compound to be a green house gas relative to carbon dioxide)

Question 19

Lapse Rate is

Answer 19

The rate of cooling with elevation (6.5 C/km)

Question 20

Movement around High pressue cells in NH vs SH

Answer 20

Clockwise - NH

Counterclockwise - SH

Question 21

What is a Hadley cell

Answer 21

A giant tropical circulation , occurs between 30 N and 30S, helps push energy from low to high ALtitude, as well as low to high LAtitudes

Question 22

ITCZ is

Answer 22

Inter- Tropical convergence zone

Question 23

ITCZ moves because?

Answer 23

Of the earth tilt and its relative position to the sun.

Question 24

How does the Earthsystem transfer energy from sea to land? comment on winter vs summer

Answer 24

monsoons,
summer monsoons- strong land surface heating, causing incoming moisture from the ocean to rise (rainfall)
Winter monsoons- land cools faster, ocean provides heat and transfers it over land in the form rainfall.

Question 25

Ocean energy distribution (how does it occur)

Answer 25

shallow as well as deep water currents circulate energy throughout the globe.

Question 26

What is upwelling

Answer 26

When surface water is moved towards the sea (usually by wind) and cool nutrient rich water is pulled from the depths.