Week 1 Introduction Flashcards
What is Causal Loop Diagrams
- A tool to depict the causal connections between components of a system
- Illustrate how changes in one component cascade into changes in others and back to itself, via feedback loops, potentially affecting the status of the entire system.
What is a Reinforcing Feedback Loop?
A loop that causes exponential growth.
e.g. Infection/Virus
What is a Balancing Feedback Loop?
A loop that seeks equilibrium.
e.g. Finding Hj in Pipelines
In Earth’s atmosphere balance Equation, what are E_in and E_out?
E_in = Solar radiation (shortwave)
E_out = Earth re-emit radiation (long wave) and trapped energy (heat)
What is Black Body Radiation
Perfect absorber/emitter of radiation.
What is the energy flux equation?
E = sigma * T^4
S(1-A) = epsilon * sigma * T^4
S = solar radiation
A = albedo
epsilon = emissivity
sigma = S-B constant
T = temp in K
Give example/s of long-lived GHGs
CO2, CH4, N2O, CFC.
Give example/s of short-lived GHGs
H2O vapour, O3
Give example/s of aerosols
Black carbon (soot), organic carbon, dust, and soil particles, SOx
What is Radiative Forcing (RF)?
The measure of the net change in the energy balance of the Earth system in response to external upset.
Is the atmosphere warming or cooling if RF is positive?
Warming
What is Global Warming Potential (GWP)
A measure of how much energy the emission of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given period of time, relative to the emissions of 1 ton of CO2.
What is the IPCC?
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: UN body for climate change assessment.
- Thousands of scientists
- Created to provide policymakers regular scientific assessments of climate change
- Releases reports every 6 years
What are Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs)?
Scenarios include time series of projected emissions and concentrations of GHGs, aerosols, and land use change.
What are Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs)?
A tool used to project the socioeconomic conditions of the world until the end of the century.
Global warming effects examples.
- Mean temperature changes
- Precipitation changes
- Sea level rise
- Ocean acidification
- More frequent and intense weather (droughts and floods)
Define Mitigation
Design/plan/engineer solutions that reduce/eliminate GHG emissions to the
atmosphere.
Define Adaptation
Design/plan/engineer solutions for future projected changes
What is the Impact of Climate Change on the Earth Energy Balance
Albedo decreases, emissivity increases –> less radiation is reflected so temperature increases
Why are some GHGs worse than others
- Emitted in different concentrations
- have different lifetimes
- have different warming impacts
What are the current global projections for climate change?
Larger changes in …
- regional mean temperature (worst in the arctic)
- regional mean precipitation (dry areas get drier, wet areas get wetter)
- regional mean soil moisture
- intensity and frequency of weather extremes
How are the impacts of climate change distributed across NZ?
largest impacts will be experienced in the north
What can we do about climate change?
Mitigation AND Adaptation
