Chapter 18 - Environmental Science

How much of the solar radiation that reaches Earth is absorbed? How much is reflected back into space?

70% is absorbed buy the atmosphere and water. 30% is reflected back into space.

How are the citizens of the Maldives in trouble?

80% of their land area is less than 1 meter above sea level.

What is climate?

An area's long term atmospheric conditions (looks at temperature, moisture, wind, precipitation, etc.).

What is the predicted impact of climate change in the U.S.?

An increase in the rate of melting permafrost in Alaska.

What is the least potent (per molecule), but most abundant, greenhouse gas?

Carbon Dioxide.

Wat is adaptation?

Cushioning ourselves from the impacts of climate change.

What is the main contributor to rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

Deforestation.

True or False? Runoff from melting glaciers and ice are the primary reason behind sea levels rising.

False. As ocean waters warm, it expands in volume-thermal expansion is the primary cause of current sea level rise.

True or False? Global warming and climate change are the same.

False. Global warming is only one aspect of climate change.

True or False? The current rapid climactic changes are not caused to humans.

False. Humans have caused most of the changes to Earth's climate.

True or False? Climate and weather are the same thing.

False. Climate focuses on long term trends, whereas weather is short term and local.

True or False? Due to climate change, all locations are experiencing a lack of precipitation.

False. Some regions are receiving more precipitation than usual, and others are receiving less-the wet areas are getting more wet, dry areas are getting more dry.

True or False? Climate change only affects life on land, not underwater.

False. Warmer waters contribute to coral bleaching, which kills coral-coral reefs are important for many coastal and island communities.

How long have accurate measurements of Earth's climate been recorded?

For more than a century.

What are the two processes that have contributed most to climate change?

Fossil fuel combustion and deforestation.

Trapped bubbles in _______ ___________ provide a timescale of atmospheric compositions that allow us to look at Earth's climate history.

Ice Cores.

How does climate change affect our forestry?

Increased fires, invasive species insect and disease outbreak.

What are proxy indicators?

Indirect evidence that serve as substitutes for direct measurements.

Reports from the ________________________ ________________ ___ _______________ ________________ are the most reviewed and widely accepted information we have on climate change.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

What is global climate change?

It describes trends and variations in Earth's climate.

What is global warming?

It's an increase in Earth's average temperature.

What greenhouse gas is produced through the raising of cattle?

Methane.

Increased carbon dioxide leads to ___________ ___________________, which is where dissolved carbon dioxide makes ocean water more acidic.

Ocean acidification.

What two factors contribute to cooling?

Parts of earth with high reflectivity (high albedo) and condensed water vapor (cloud albedo).

How does climate change affect our health?

Respiratory ailments, expansion of tropical diseases, disease and sanitation problems from flooding, & drowning from storms.

What is the paleoclimate?

The climate of the geological past (gives a baseline to compare to today's climate)

What is the greenhouse effect?

The phenomenon in which energy travels downward, warming the atmosphere & the planet's surface.

What is global warming potential?

The relative ability of one molecule of a greenhouse gas to contribute to warming.

What is mitigation?

The strategy of a person's actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions to lessen the severity of future climate change.

What 3 factors have the greatest effect on Earth's climate?

The sun, the atmosphere, and the ocean.

What is a storm surge?

The temporary and localized rise in sea level from high tides and winds from storms.

What are greenhouse gases?

They are atmospheric gases that absorb infrared radiation.

How are packrats proxy indicators?

They store seeds and plants in their middens (dens) that can be preserved for centuries.

__________ rings indicate age, precipitation, droughts, & fire history.

Tree.

True or False? As Earth's surface absorbs solar radiation, the surface increases in temperature and emits infrared radiation.

True.

True or False? Climate change is the fastest developing area of environmental science.

True.

True or False? The rising sea levels are having a huge impact on those who live in coastal areas.

True. Millions of people will be displaced from coastal areas.

How does climate change affect our agriculture?

Warmer temperatures and more carbon dioxide may initially boost crops.

What are the various greenhouse gases?

Water vapor, ozone, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, halocarbons (chlorofluorocarbons [CFCs]).