Global Climate Change
Integrative Studies In Physical Science 217 with Peacor/sarnelle at Michigan State University
About this deck
By: Mike Viselli
Created: 2012-04-26
Size: 44 flashcards
Views: 25
Created: 2012-04-26
Size: 44 flashcards
Views: 25
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Climate
•Describes conditions
–overlarge regions
–over seasons, years or longer
Weather
•Describes conditions
–Locally
–Over hours or days
Global Climate Change
–General: changes in earth’s climate which has been happening forever
–Current: Speeding up of climate change due to anthropogenic causes
Global Warming
–Refers to the earths warming
–Often used synonymously with Global Climate Change.
–Is only one aspect of Global Climate Change
Greenhouse Effect
Radiation from sun hits the windows:
•UV radiation does not go through
•Infrared bounces off windows
•Visible light does go through
Once inside the car:
•Visible light is absorbed and heats object in the car
•Heat is emitted as infrared radiation, but can’t go through windows.
•Heat is trapped!!
Greenhouse Gas
–Effectively absorb infrared radiation emitted by earth
–Re-emit heat
•Some goes to space
•Some goes to earth and atmosphere
Essentially trap heat and warm earth
Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation
Electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength then radiation but longer than x-rays
Infrared Radiation
Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than those of visible light but shorter than microwaves; perceives as invisible waves of heat
Global Warming Potential (GWP)
–Measure of how much one molecule contributes to warming
–Expressed in relationship to CO2
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Has a global warming potential of 1
- Important greenhouse gas
- Important greenhouse gas
Methane (CH4)
- Has a global warming potential of 23
- Important greenhouse gas
- Important greenhouse gas
Nitrous oxide (N2O)
- Has a global warming potential of 296
- Important greenhouse gas
- Important greenhouse gas
Chlorofluorocarbon
- organic chemicals containing carbon, chlorine, and fluorine that were widely used as refrigerants
- destroy the ozone layer
- has global warming potential of >1000
- destroy the ozone layer
- has global warming potential of >1000
Deforestation
• Forests remove carbon from the atmosphere: less forests, less CO2removal.
• Forests have been cleared to use the land for crops, pastures, and places to live.
• Only 15% of the original primary forest remains in US
• Tropical rain forests are being cut at a rate of 500,000 km2 per year and could be almost completely eliminated in a few decades
Positive Feedback
– More warming --> more water in air --> more warming --> more water air --> etc.
– Another example of positive feedback: erosion
Negative Feedback
– More warming --> more water vapor --> less warming -->lower water vapor
–Another example of negative feedback: heat in thermostat controlled room.
Proxy Measures
–Ice cores, water molecules from colder periods have less “heavy isotopes” of hydrogen and oxygen
–Tree rings: wetter years lead to larger tree rings
–Sediment cores: plant pollen grains indicate what was growing in the past which holds clues to climate
Sediment Core
Plant pollen grains indicate what was growing in the past which holds clues to climate
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
International panel of scientists and government officials established in 1988
IPCC Assessment Reports
– Represent consensus of scientific research
– Document observed trends and predictions
Drought
• Droughts destroyed the corn crop of this farmer in Zambia.
• Analysis suggest that drought may intensify across southern Africa.
• Droughts in Zambia will increase due to warming of Indian Ocean.
Flood
Causes:
–Expansion of water with warming
–Glacier ice melting
Levels
–Average sea level has risen 20cm (8in) since 1870
–IPCC predicts 20-60 cm rise by end of 21stcentury WITHOUT including Greenland melting.
–If Greenland melts, the rise will be much faster and much more.
Moulin
Moulins deliver water to the bedrock,lubricating the ice sheet, leading it to break off.
What is the difference between Weather and Climate?
Weather
- atmospheric conditions for a small geographic area over a short period of time
- how solar energy interacts with the east
Climate
-weather patterns for large geographic areas over long periods of time
What is the difference and relationship between global climate change and global warming?
Global climate change describes changes in Earth's climate
Global warming refers to the earth's warming. Often used synonymously with Global Climate Change but in reality, it is only one aspect of it.
What three main factors affect the Earth’s climate?
–Sun
•Provides heat
–Atmosphere
•Moderates temperature
–Oceans
•Store and transport heat and moisture
How does the green house effect heat cars? Heat the earth?
Raises heat in cars, just like it raises the heat on earth.
Radiation from sun hits the windows:
•UV radiation does not go through
•Infrared bounces off windows
•Visible light does go through
Once inside the car:
•Visible light is absorbed and heats object in the car
•Heat is emitted as infrared radiation, but can’t go through windows. Heat is trapped
What types of radiation do and don’t pass through glass? Through greenhouse gasses?
UV and Infared cannot pass through glass or greenhouse gases, but Visible light can
And once visible light gets through it heats up earth with emits infared that cannot leave atmosphere so stays and warms earth..
And once visible light gets through it heats up earth with emits infared that cannot leave atmosphere so stays and warms earth..
What is similar between glass and green house gasses (concerning the greenhouse effect)?
Both let in visible light and reflect UV and Infared light
Is the greenhouse effect warming the earth a new phenomenon? If not, what’s the big deal?
No, but there has been a heavy increase in past years and we believe the humans are causing it
What is “Global Warming Potential” of a molecule?
–Measure of how much one molecule contributes to warming
About how many Carbon Dioxide molecules have the same effect on Global Warming as 1 Methane molecule? What about as 20 methane molecules?
23; 460
What is the main message of the figure showing how CO2 changed since about 1957? What do the annual peaks indicate and what causes them?
Shows greenhouse gas emissions are increasing steadily
Which gas is considered to contribute the most to greenhouse gasses? What are the two main reasons it is increasing? What other two gasses also contribute a large percentage to greenhouse gasses?
CO2!
2 main causes: Burning of fossil fuels and Deforestation
Other 2 gasses that are contributing: Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N20)
How does deforestation contribute to the concentration of greenhouse gasses?
Forests remove carbon from the atmosphere because plants take in CO2
Less forests >>>> less CO2 removal
What are the two opposing effects an increase in water vapor would have on global warming? Which of these two are examples of positive and negative feedback?
Global warming predicted to increase water vapor concentration
Positive feedback: more warming >>> more water in air >>> more warming >>> more water...
But more clouds also leads to more reflection of suns rays
Negative feedback: more warming >>> more vapor >>> less warming >>> less water vapor
If there is a cold year, does this mean there is no global warming? Why or why not?
No: global warming is an overall increase on long time scale. variation from other factors will still lead to warmer and colder years
How are ice cores, tree rings and sediment cores used to measure climate?
–Ice cores, water molecules from colder periods have less “heavy isotopes” of hydrogen and oxygen
–Tree rings: wetter years lead to larger tree rings
–Sediment cores: plant pollen grains indicate what was growing in the past which holds clues to climate
What is intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) and what does it do?
An International panel of scientists and government officials established in 1988
IPCC Assessment Reports:
- represent consensus of scientific research
- document observed trends and predictions
What are predicted effects of global climate change on precipitation?
-expect some areas to receive more rain, and some less.
-droughts expected
-consistent with what has been happening
What did the example of a farmer in Zambia exemplify?
Showed how global warming has already started to effect people around the globe. and a lot of times it is the people that did not add to the problem in the first place
How does a glacier melting at the top of a mountain affect the community at the bottom of the mountain in the long term?
Hundreds of millions, if not billions, of people will be affected by loss of "natural water storage"
Release water throughout year that feeds rivers and streams needed for drinking water, farming, power
What are the two main causes of rising sea levels?
–Expansion of water with warming
–Glacier ice melting
Levels
Which human activity has the largest impact on green house gases? (see pie chart)
Electricity Generation
How do emissions compare between United States and China in regards to total emissions, per
capita emissions and intensity? What generally leads to the differences in these
comparisons?
Total Emissions-China is a little bit more
Per Capita Emissions-U.S. is a lot more than China
Intensity-China is more
About this deck
By: Mike Viselli
Created: 2012-04-26
Size: 44 flashcards
Views: 25
Created: 2012-04-26
Size: 44 flashcards
Views: 25
About StudyBlue
STUDYBLUE makes things that make you better at school.
Things like online flashcards with photos and audio.
Things like personalized quizzes and friendly reminders about when (and what) to study next.
Think of it as a digital backpack™: access to all of your study materials online and on your phone.
STUDYBLUE exists to make studying efficient and effective for every student, for free. Join us.
“I have used this website for three exams, and I see a huge difference in my test results.”
Naj
Naj