4.4 Climate Change

What two factors determine the warming impact of a greenhouse gas?

1) How readily the gas absorbs long-wave radiation 2) The concentration of gas in the atmosphere

Consequences of Global Warming

1) Islands and low level states will be submerged from sea levels 2) Rising Sea Levels, inconsistent water temperatures, 3) Releases CO2 and methane which creates a warmer temperature 4) Destruction of Animal Habitats (Sea Levels and Melting Ice Caps) 5) More extreme weather in different areas 6) Invasive species to populate there are ruin ecosystem 7) Changes Migration 8) Disruption of farm land

Effects of Global Warming

1) Rising of Sea Levels 2) Melting of land and sea ice 3) Changing of Weather Patterns

How many waves from the sun's radiation get to the Earth's surface?

70-75% of the solar radiation reaches the Earth

How many waves from the Earth's surface are absorbed by greenhouse gases?

70-85% of Earth's long waves are absorbed by Greenhouse Gases

What is the Earth's oceans pH supposed to be?

8.179, but it has become 30% more acidic since then to 8.069

Why is it important to evaluate claims (both counter and for a cause or belief)?

Admission of truth, twisting of facts, may have changed since then, etc.

How has the increase in CO2 effect the oceans and coral reefs?

An increase in CO2 leads to a rise in ocean uptake which causes the pH of the ocean to become more acidic due to the combination of CO2 and water creating carbonic acid. This carbonic acid when too much then reaches the coral reefs which are sensitive to acidic environments and are destroyed by them. As a result of their sensitivity and the carbonic acid, the coral reefs slowly decompose and whither from the acid breaking down the reefs.

Why is Methane not the most important Greenhouse Gas despite its warming per molecule being so high?

Because there is a very small concentration of Methane compared to CO2 which has a slightly smaller warming rate per molecule than methane, but has a higher concentration.

Most Significant Greenhouse Gases and Why?

CO2 and Water Vapor because they have the largest warming effect on the Earth since CO2 and Water vapor retain heat in their gaseous forms and rarely release it.

How long does CO2 stay in the air for and how fast does it go into the atmosphere?

CO2 goes into the air at differing rates depending on the time of the year (spring vs. fall) and stays in the air on average for 12+ yrs

CO2 + H20= H2CO3=H+ + HCO-3, H+ +CO-2 3= HCO-3

Carbonic Acid Formula

How does the precautionary principle affect the economy?

Controls competition, restricts variety, new processes and innovation becomes less common due to the cost of producing it, causes a lower economic trade and innovation causing a lack of money flow, hinders the economy.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases in the atmosphere that retain heat within the globe similar to the way glass retains heat in a green house. These gases include (in order of importance): 1) CO2, 2) Water Vapor, 3) Methane, and 4) Nitrous Oxide.

Why is the precautionary principle a global issue?

If all countries don't abide by the precautionary principle, then global warming will not get any better and many countries will add to the pollution and global warming rise.

What is the discussion regarding Global Warming now?

It is about whether or not the global rise in temperature is due to humans/that it is unnatural or not.

How long does Methane stay in the air for and how fast does it go into the atmosphere?

Methane's rate of rising into the atmosphere differentiates like CO2 but only stays in the atmosphere for an average of 12 yrs.

Are the concentrations of greenhouse gases directly proportional to the Earth's temperature? Why or Why not?

No, because other factors such as the Milankovitch Cycle help determine the Earth's temperature, but gas concentrations have the most impact on the temperature.

Do greenhouse gases all gather the same wave lengths?

No, they all gather different wave lengths Look at the Graph on Pg. 232

What other factors determine the global average temperature besides greenhouse gases?

The Milankovitch cycle (the Earth's orbit and variation in sunspot activities).

When was the burning of fossil fuels most rapid in its rise?

The 1950s because of the rise in the common family car and world wide production.

What length of wave does the surface of the Earth absorb and what length does it emit from the surface?

The Earth's surface intakes short wave lengths, maxing out at 400 nanometers, whereas the surface emits long waves lengths (infrared) maxing out at 10,000 nanometers.

What set off the sudden rise in CO2 emissions and global warming?

The Industrial Revolution caused the sudden increase of CO2 emissions as during this time everyone began to use fossil fuels to create and manufacture items.

How does this translate to Global Warming?

The capturing of these long-waves cause the gases to capture the heat within the rays. When the heat is captured, it stays within the atmosphere and causes the Earth to heat up from the gases in the air.

Precautionary Principle

The idea that the introduction of new products/processes with unknown effects should be restricted.

What does the concentration of gas depend on?

The rate at which the gas is released into the atmosphere and how long on AVERAGE it remains there.

How do we find the CO2 concentration from several years before to see how amounts of CO2 contributed to the Earth's temperature?

Use of ice cores, use carbon dating to find how much CO2 there was in the air, it is believed the core came from. This data is then compared to what the temperature was and is with today's CO2 concentration to create a hypothesis about CO2's effect on temperature. Look at Pg. 232

How do warmer temperatures effect storms in the atmosphere?

Warmer temperatures increase evaporation which causes there to be more water in the atmosphere which results in rain becoming more frequent. It can also cause more tropical storms and hurricanes, as increased temperature=increased ocean temperatures.

How long does water vapor stay in the air for and how fast does it go into the atmosphere?

Water vapor goes into the air very quickly, but only stays in the atmosphere for about 9 days on average.

What would happen if the greenhouses did not exist?

Without greenhouse gases the Earth's temperature would be around -18 degrees Celsius