Geog 235 Ch 18
what is true regarding the El Nino/La Nina Southern Oscillation (ENSO)?
ENSO events have linked to the reversal of trade winds in the equatorial Pacific Ocean
Costa Rica has halted deforestation and is currently reforesting many areas to support its growing ecotourism programs. it would be a prime candidate to get international financial rewards from the
REDD program
the 2014 Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that global climate change is
certain and that anthropogenic activities are a major factor
scientists use proxies to study climate to measure
climates hundreds and thousands of year ago
the Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) can be thought of as a giant, complex
conveyer belt
the developed countries of the world have contributed the most to global climate change. by applying the polluter pays and equity principles, we would expect that the
developed countries will provide funds for adaptations in the developing countries such as the Maldive Islands
radiated
emitted energy; spread; slow
what is not an example of geoengineering?
erecting large fields of wind turbines to generate electricity to power automobiles
to prevent the tipping point after which catastrophic environmental change will happen, what needs to be done?
global greenhouse gas levels must peak no higher than 450 ppm and start declining by 2015
a volcanic eruption increases the amount of sulfate aerosols in the atmosphere. if all other atmospheric variables remain stable, what would you expect to happen to temperatures?
global temperatures will decrease
what represents an alarming positive feedback loop of global warming?
increasing temperatures raise humidity, which further increases temperatures
the IPCC AR5 Synthesis Report states that human activities contributed to an increase in radiative forcing. which of the following have contributed to this net positive radiative forcing effect?
increasing use of nitrogen fertilizers and fossil fuels
What wavelength do cooler objects radiate?
longwave
what illustrates a risk assessment of climate system change?
measuring the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
climatologists warn of a tipping point when global temperatures trigger unavoidable catastrophic events and sea levels rise more than 50 feet. what single event would cause the sea level to rise so greatly?
melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet
conducted
molecule to molecule
at the 2009 Copenhagen climate conference
more than 180 nations signed non-binding GHG reduction pledges
what will increase planetary albedo?
more volcanic eruptions and more low clouds
convected
moving around; wind and water; fast
what is true regarding the Kyoto Protocol?
neither China, nor the United States is participating in the Kyoto Protocol
in general, temperatures along an ocean coastline vary less than temperatures 100 miles inland. this moderation of temperatures along coastlines is because
ocean temperatures do not change as quickly as air temperatures
what has been declining globally over the past several decades?
pH of the world's oceans
what provides proxy data for studying the earth's climate changes?
pollen deposits at the bottom of lakes
increasing levels of greenhouse gases have caused a
rise in ocean temperatures but a decrease in ocean pH
if the world cooperated and stabilized the atmospheric levels of GHGs...
sea levels would continue to rise for hundreds of years because of their long residence times
top five fossil fuel emissions
solid (coal and wood), liquid (gasoline and petroleum), gas (natural gas), cement, flaring (taking excess natural gas and burning it)
the global temperature patterns observed between 1880 and 2000
suggests that mitigation of carbon dioxide is urgently needed
what was a key observation made in the 2014 report Global Climate Change Impacts in the US?
the average temperature in the US has risen .07-1.1 degrees celsius
what is accurate regarding the ozone?
the ozone shield is in the stratosphere and has less vertical mixing than the troposphere
in the US, summer are warmer than winters because
the sun's rays shine more directly onto these regions in the summer
what is true regarding models of global climate change during the 21st century?
the various models show general agreement on global trends for projected carbon dioxide levels, sea levels, and temperatures
what radiation does ozone absorb?
ultraviolet
what best describes the precautionary principle?
we should reduce greenhouse gas emissions because the collapse of the Greenland Ice Sheet is possible, but has a low likelihood of occurring
what percent of sunlight is reflected by earth?
30%
what % of sunlight is absorbed by land and oceans?
51%; increases energy of surface, in turn increasing heat
