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