Climate Change

What are Greenhouse Gases?

Greenhouse Gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere They are groups of compounds such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and nitric oxide. These compounds trap heat in the atmosphere, making it warmer.

How do Greenhouse gases affect Earth's radiation balance?

Greenhouse gases affect the Earth's radiation balance when they absorb most of the longwave infrared radiation when it tries to exit back out into space. It then heats the lower atmosphere.

How the ocean works as a heat sink

"'We can compare the ocean to a cold compress that a parent applies to the forehead of a child with a fever,'" says Yavor Kostov, a graduate student in the Program in Atmospheres, Oceans, and Climate (PAOC) within MIT's Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS). '"In that this wet towel can absorb some of the heat, giving partial relief until the towel itself becomes saturated with heat."' Similarly, the ocean's enormous capacity to store heat temporarily slows down global warming. This example means that the ocean absorbs heat, but only until it gets warm enough to where it can't absorb anymore

2. What effects do the oceans have on climate? What is a "heat sink" and how does the ocean work as one?

A heat sink is an environment or in this case the ocean that is capable of absorbing heat from the sun through thermal contact.

Positive Feedback loop

Accelerates temperature rise. In a positive feedback loop, the output of the system serves to reinforce or make bigger or stronger of the initial disturbance. In this way, A produces B which creates more of A. Examples Thermal expansion Glacial and ice caps melting Greening of forests Precipitations

Albedo (positive feedback)

Albedo is the amount of light reflected by a surface, which is very important in climate science. A surface with a high albedo, such as snow or sand, will reflect more sunlight back out to space. The lower the albedo, the more energy and heat is absorbed. Global warming is causing ice and snow to melt, revealing the land or ocean underneath. Ice and snow reflect a lot of sunlight - certainly more than land and the oceans. So as the ice melts, more of the sun's energy is absorbed and so the planet gets warmer still - which in turn melts even more snow and ice.

Albedo

But what happens when Earth's temperature warms? Snow and ice melt, less energy is reflected and more is absorbed by the ground and water, warming the Earth and causing more snow and ice to melt.

What is climate change and what is causing it?

Climate change is the overall change in climate in a specific or broad region. The climate change that we are experiencing right now is that the average temperature of our planet has raised by about 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

What is climate change and what is causing it?

Climate change would eventually happen on it's own in nature but humans are currently the main cause of this problem When we burn fossil fuels (gasoline ,natural gas, coal, and oil) it releases CO2 into the atmosphere which traps heat into our atmosphere

What is climate change and what is causing it?

Climate change, also called global warming, refers to the rise in average surface temperatures on Earth. An overwhelming scientific consensus maintains that climate change is due primarily to the human use of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air. The gases trap heat within the atmosphere, which can have a range of effects on ecosystems, including rising sea levels, severe weather events, and droughts that render landscapes more susceptible to wildfires.

How is climate different than weather

Climate is the long term temperature and precipitation for an area, and weather is the short term temperature and precipitation Climate is what you expect to happen, and weather is what you get.

Negative Feedback loop

Decelerates temperatures rise. In a negative feedback loop, the output of the system acts to restrict the effects of the initial disturbance. In this case, A produces B which reduces the amount of A. Examples Clouds (Reflect ⅓ amount of sunlight.)

1st thing happening because of climate change

Deforestation Trees have a harder time growing in the heat, as the global temperature rises, trees can stop growing and this can cause deforestation. Deforestation can be disastrous to the local species and communities that rely on them.

5th thing happening because of climate change

Ocean Acidification Oceans absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide preventing it from reaching the upper atmosphere increased water temperatures and higher carbon dioxide concentrations means the oceans are more acidic. This can cause plants in the ocean to die which can ultimately cut off animals food source, causing them to die as well

1. What effects do the oceans have on climate? What is a "heat sink" and how does the ocean work as one?

Oceans absorb heat for long periods of time, then release the heat quickly causing aggressive storms like El Ninos and El Ninas. From 1998 to 2013 there was a cooling period where the oceans absorbed heat. Then in 2013 the heat was released and the climate got warmer causing storms.

3. What effects do the oceans have on climate? What is a "heat sink" and how does the ocean work as one?

Oceans can act as heat sinks that can absorb excess heat for periods of time before releasing that heat back into the atmosphere causing weather phenomenons.

3rd thing happening because of climate change

People Climate Change is having an impact on people as well, the most people who are affected are the people that grow food that we eat everyday. Farming countries especially developing countries are facing higher temperatures, increased rain, floods, and droughts. Climate Change can cause temperature related death and illness. For example, can cause hypothermia and frostbite and high temperatures can cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hyperthermia.

How do we describe climate

The average temperature and type/amount of precipitation in an area over time Climate is a long term weather pattern Climate also include the type of timing of predictions, the amount of sunshine, wind speed and direction, how many day above freezing temperature

4. What effects do the oceans have on climate? What is a "heat sink" and how does the ocean work as one?

The ocean stores radiation from the sun that goes from the tropics to the polar regions of the earth by winds and ocean currents. When the ocean waters are heated by the sun, the water evaporates and turns into water vapor that increases the temperature and humidity of the air. This causes rain and storms to form. Ocean currents carry warm water and rain from the equator to the poles. They also carry cold water from the poles toward the equator. The currents help to prevent higher temperatures at the equator and increase the warmth at the poles. The planet would be less inhabitable if we did not have these currents.

Albedo

The term albedo refers to the amount of solar energy that gets reflected off of the Earth and lands back in space. Albedo is part of the energy from the sunlight that casts back into the atmosphere. These rays have a significant effect on our climate. When the albedo rises, the universe reflects light more and consequently, higher levels of radiation are sent back to space so the Earth cools down. Albedo determines the level of heat on the Earth. It is now well known that most of the light from the sun moves up once it hits the Earth. Research has shown that water absorbs light more thereby reflecting less light. If there is more water compared to a hard surface, then there is less solar emission.

What is Climate

The weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.

Many factors, both natural and human, can cause changes in Earth's energy balance, including:

Variations in the sun's energy reaching Earth Changes in the reflectivity of Earth's atmosphere and surface Changes in the greenhouse effect, which affects the amount of heat retained by Earth's atmosphere

4th thing happening because of climate change

Water Systems/Sea Levels Climate change is having a serious impact on the world's water systems Glaciers and land based ice sheets melt and that can make sea levels rise Increase the flood risks for people who live along the coast Since 1870 sea levels have risen about 8 inches

2nd thing happening because of climate change

Wildlife Climate change is already affecting wildlife all over the world, but certain species are suffering For example, polar bears. Their natural habitat is melting in the warmer temperatures are particularly at risk. Experts believe that the Arctic Sea Ice is melting at a shaking rate -9% per decade. Polar animals need ice to be able to hunt for food as well as raise their young and find places to rest after a long swim.