SUS 103- Climate Change
When did numerical modeling of the Earth-Atmosphere system start?
1950s.
. When was the danger of climate change first reported to the U.S. Congress?
1980s
Which part of the water cycle do glaciers be categorized?
Runoff
What is a global climate model?
Simulation of Earth's climate system using mathematics
What is the most intense weather phenomena in the climate system?
Tornadoes
How does the temperature of air change as it rises? Falls?
As a parcel rises, it expands and cools. As it sinks, it is compressed and warms.
List the segments of the electromagnetic spectrum from smallest to largest wavelength.
gamma, X-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwave, radio.
Trace gases
gases that have much smaller concentrations
What is model coupling?
Modeling each sub-system separately from each other and then pairing them together so the exchanges between them are accurately represented.
The increasing heavy precipitation instances have been most prevalent in the __________ U.S. 1. central 2. Southwest 3. Northwest 4. Southeast 5. Northeast
Northeast
How do salinity changes in the ocean allow scientists to indirectly monitor heat content in the ocean?
Oceans typically become saltier when there is greater evaporation of ocean water than precipitation, and development of sea ice as ice formation excludes salt. Conversely, fresh water from rivers, precipitation and melting ice decrease salinity. Salinity is generally lowest where precipitation is greater than evaporation, mainly along coastal zones or equatorial regions; it is highest under sub-tropical high pressure systems. When the ocean warms, there is generally a greater rate of evaporation in those areas not dominated by convection or cyclonic storm systems. The instructor is referred to Topic In Depth 7.13 for further discussion on NASA's Aquarius instrument array, which monitors ocean salinity.
Give an example of something that might serve as a tipping point for climate.
West Antarctic Ice Sheet melt
Why is global mean temperature often reported as an average?
When dealing with such a large quantity of measurements, uncertainty is inevitable.
What is the purpose of a peer review?
Work that is of a poor quality does not make it to the public, and is not widely disseminated.
Ecosystem
a collection of living organisms within the nonliving substances they depend on or near the surface of the Earth.
Why does it rain so much at the equator? a. The Trade Winds cause the moisture to fall out of the air. b. The equator receives the most direct incoming solar radiation as anywhere on Earth. The resulting warm, humid air rises, cools, forms clouds, and then rains c. The frigid humid air at the equator turns warm, which causes it to rain.
b. The equator receives the most direct incoming solar radiation as anywhere on Earth. The resulting warm, humid air rises, cools, forms clouds, and then rains
Although China's total emissions rose substantially from 2000 - 2010 (Fig. 2a and Fig. 10), their per capita emissions have just reached the level of ______ and are still roughly only half that of ______
the EU / the US
What is energy?
the ability to do work
1:100 = 0.01
%
How long is a sun spot cycle?
11 years
What is a time step?
Interval between one set of solutions and the next.
What are the components of the Earth Climate System?
The atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the lithosphere and the biosphere, and the interactions amongst them
Why is climate considered the state of a system?
Climate contains many parts that are changeable, yet are interdependent on each other.
What is a blackbody?
both a perfect absorber and emitter. A blackbody will emit the max amount of radiation and absorbs all radiation reaching it at a given temperature.
The occurrence of weather or climate events above the threshold value of the upper range or below the lower range threshold of observed values is a(n) __________. 1. climate extreme 2. tipping point 3. anomaly 4. disaster
climate extreme
Fossil fuels
coal, oil, and natural gas are collectively known as fossil fuels
The warming of the Earth
The greenhosue effect
What is wind?
Local motion of air measured relative to the surface of the Earth, essentially the horizontal component of moving air.
Where is most of the world's ice found?
Antarctica (East Antarctic Ice Sheet)
projection is
probablistic
Go to the price on carbon.org website (image above) and see that _____ US states have Cap & Trade system in place, _____ states are considering Cap & Trade, and ______ states are considering a C Tax.
14 / 3 /5
States began adopting and implementing RPSs as early as _____ in Nevada and ______ in Texas. Yet the first RPS was adopted in Iowa in 1983 (https://www.ncsl.org/research/energy/renewable-portfolio-standards.aspx) and Iowa is now the third-largest US producer of renewable energy at the state level, producing 36% of its electricity from renewable sources.
1997 / 1999
How much more carbon is found in the ocean than the atmosphere?
50 times more
What is a singularity?
A weather episode that tends to occur on or about a certain date more frequently than chance would dictate
What signals the beginning of the El Niño episode?
Air pressure gradient across the tropical Pacific starts to weaken, heralding the slackening of the trade winds
Which of the following items from Fig. 1 would be free to implement?
All of the below: 1. Join a climate action or sustainability group 2. Vote & get others to Vote 3. Get the word out to people you know and meet
What has GRACE told us about sea ice?
Antarctica has been losing more than 100 cubic kilometers of ice each year since 2002 and the rate of ice loss has accelerated in recent years.
How are winds over the ocean measured?
By instruments, called scatterometers, that are located on satellites in orbit.
What is the role of nuclei in cloud formation processes?
Cloud droplets and ice crystals form on tiny solid and liquid particles, known as nuclei or cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). They promote condensation of water vapor at temperatures both above and below the freezing point of water. Hygroscopic nuclei are CCN that possess a chemical attraction for water molecules. Clouds form more efficiently where hygroscopic nuclei are abundant.
Why are atmospheric rivers of importance for climatologists to study?
Due to the vast amount of moisture contained in atmospheric rivers, they have incredible potential for producing extreme flooding and flooding.
How is snow cover self-sustaining in the context of feedback mechanisms?
Fresh snow reflects 80% of radiation which reduces the amount of heating that occurs, and lowers the max daily air temp. Snow also radiates heat energy back into space, which lowers daily minimum temp and increases air stability which limits mixing.
No ozone depletion potential but strongest global warming potential (12000x that of CO)
HFCs
No ozone depletion potential and global warming potential < 1
HFOs
How does having a broader record of climate help with the analysis of climate change?
Improves our understanding of the environmental response to variability and encompasses a broader range of fluctuations in Earth's climate
A food web essentially describes what?
It describes "What eats what".
What is the relationship between air density and both temperature and humidity?
It is inversely proportional
Why is water so unique?
It is one of the few substances found in all three states at the temperatures and pressures found near earth's surface
Where is the majority of the surplus of global energy being stored?
Oceans
Where is a majority of Earth's water found? What if only freshwater is concerned?
Oceans; glaciers and ice caps
Mesosphere
On an ascent upwards from the stratosphere, maximum warming from the formation and dissociation of ozone lessens due to the lessening concentration of ozone. This is the next layer where temperatures decrease with height
How is reflection different from scattering?
Reflection is a special case of scattering that occurs at the interface between two different media, such as air and water surface.
What climate variables can coral reef provide insight to?
SST, ENSO
What is a physical model?
Small-scale portrayal of a system
What three things help to enhance monsoon regularity?
Solar radiation, land and water distribution, and topography
Lapse rates
Temperature changes with increase in altitude
What is the rain shadow effect? a. Where the rain follows the Sun like a shadow b. The increased rain on the far side of a mountain as the air mass descends, picking up moisture from the landscape. c. The increased rain on the windward side of a mountain as warm, humid air rises, cools, condenses to form clouds, then rains, leaving no water for the lee side of the mountain.
The increased rain on the windward side of a mountain as warm, humid air rises, cools, condenses to form clouds, then rains, leaving no water for the lee side of the mountain.
How is the climate like a natural resource?
Things done now in the present, may alter forever the climate for the future, not unlike using natural resources in the present.
Where is a large amount of the biomass in a forest found?
Underground in the roots of trees and decomposing plant material.
What is the difference between upwelling and downwelling?
Upwelling is the upward motion of water, whereas downwelling is the downward motion of water
Cooling of the Earth for several years
Volcanic eruptions
The most abundant greenhouse gas but humans have no control over it.
Water vapor (H2O)
Climate change may alter precipitation patterns and amounts impacting water supplies for __________. 1. drinking water sources 2. irrigation 3. all of these 4. regional ecosystems
all of these
Which factors are needed for temperatures to fluctuate so dramatically during the Pleistocene Ice Ages? a. The Milankovitch cycles are the sole factor that accounts for the temperature fluctuations. b. The higher CO concentrations were the sole factor to account for the temperature fluctuations. c. The Milankovitch cycles and the higher CO concentrations were both need to account for the temperature fluctuations.
c. The Milankovitch cycles and the higher CO concentrations were both need to account for the temperature fluctuations.
Food web
consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem
In the Video above you can watch as the Trade Winds go
east to west
One area to efficiently decrease CO2 emissions without having a lifestyle impact is __________.
increase vehicle gas mileage
For marginally dry regions of the U.S., a warmer climate would likely lead to __________ droughts. 1. no change in 2. more 3. fewer
more
A warming climate may produce __________ hurricanes. 1. both more weak and more strong 2. more strong but fewer weak 3. both fewer weak and fewer strong 4. more weak but fewer strong
more strong but fewer weak
Photosynthesis has a
negative feedback loop that helps to keep CO out of the atmosphere so long as we don't exceed the photosynthetic temperature optimum for each species.
Fossil fuels are so called because natural geologic processes bury, compress and heat __________.
organic plant and animal materials from the carboniferous epoch
reduced photosynthesis in the ocean
reduces the concentration differential between atmospheric and ocean CO concentrations
increased warming of the ocean
reduces the vapor pressure leading to reduced dissolution of CO in the ocean
as expected due to
the Coriolis force
Stratosphere
the region above the tropopause where ozone is concentrated
and the Jet Stream goes
west to east
Match the Tipping Points on the right with the type of change on the left. 1. Melting 2. Biome Shift 3. Circulation Change
1. Melting- Permafrost loss / Greenland and West Antarctic Ice Sheet disintegration 2. Biome Shift- Boreal forest shift / Amazon forest dieback / Coral Reef die-off 3. Circulation Change- Great Ocean Conveyor Belt slow down / Monsoon shifts
Higher CO concentrations have direct detrimental impacts on: a. Warming the climate system b. Ocean acidification which impacts coral reefs, shelled organisms and phytoplankton which are the primary producers at the base of the ocean food web. c. A and B are both correct.
A and B are both correct.
What is a blocking pattern?
A cutoff low or a cutoff high that prevents the usual west-to-east movement of weather systems
What must also be considered in terms of the impact climate change and extreme events have?
Consideration of the soci-economic and social conditions
What is the study of tree ring growth known as?
Dendrochronology. The study of tree growth rings for climate studies is called dendroclimatology.
What do global climate models have the ability to do?
Describe the physical interactions among the various components of the climate system; simulate the circulation of the atmosphere, plus numerous processes that control energy transference and exchange.
With respect to pressure, which direction does the wind blow?
From areas of high pressure to low pressure
What is teleconnection?
Linkage between changes in atmospheric circulation occurring in widely separated regions of the globe, often over distances of thousands of kilometers
In which of the phase changes is heat absorbed from the environment?
Melting, evaporation, sublimation
Why is it important to monitor the planet from a variety of realms and from as many different geographic locations as possible?
Not all regions respond similarly to climate change
What is specific heat?
The amount of heat that will raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 Celsius degree
What does it mean for something to be statistically significant?
The event did not happen by random chance
In North America, do ENSO teleconnections have greater impacts in the summer or winter? a. Summer B. Winter
Winter
prediction is
deterministic
weather is a
prediction
True or false: Earth's climate system is considered a closed system
True- Earth's climate system is considered a closed system because there is practically no exchange of mass between Earth and space.
Matching: Temperatures that are were one degree Celsius warmer in 2001 - 2011 compared to the 1951 - 1980 mean temperatures indicate that ____________________. 1. Average temperatures 2. Extreme hot temperatures 3. Record breaking temperatures that have never happened before
1. Average temperatures- happen 1/2 as often 2. Extreme hot temperatures- happen once in every 3 days 3. Record breaking temperatures that have never happened before- are no common
The average over 5 years was therefore __________.
2.5 ppm
How long do trends in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation tend to last?
20-30 years
What percent of the atmosphere is oxygen?
21%
What are the three goals of the Climate Action Plan?
Cutting carbon pollution in the United States, preparing the nation for the impacts of climate change, and leading international efforts to address climate change
What does it mean to cherry pick data in time?
Only looking at data from a short time period (say 5 years) when 100 or more years of data are available.
Which human activity has the highest likelihood of influencing climate?
The burning of fossil fuels.
What is wavelength?
The measured distance between either a wave ridge (top) or trough (bottom) to the next succeeding ridge or trough respectively. It is used to break electromagnetic radiation into the electromagnetic spectrum.
What drives the surface ocean currents?
Wind
Carbon cycle
a biogeochemical cycle- Carbon is either physically or chemically transformed within or between the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and atmosphere, existing in many different forms in this process
Making communities more resistant to harmful impacts of climate change involves ________.
adaption
Evapotranspiration refers to _____________. -vapor loss from plant leaves -evaporation from soil and water surfaces -both of these sources
both of these sources
Asthenosphere
layers of rock below the lithosphere
1:1000000 = 0.000001
ppm
Renewable energy sources include __________.
solar power, geothermal, tidal power, wind
What is frequency?
The number of wavelengths passing a point in a unit of time.
Cryosphere
A portion of the hydrosphere in solid form that includes glaciers, snow cover, ice on bodies of water (sea, lake and river), ice caps/sheets, ice layers within ocean sediments, and permafrost
The scientific method is a process that entails ________. -systematic observation -measurement and experimentation -formation, testing and modification of hypotheses -All of these
All of these
The El Nino and La Nina years in the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle contribute to: a. Variation in temperature between years b. Global warming
Variation in temperature between years
Why does irrigation require a tremendous amount of water?
Vast amounts of water are needed to maintain productive agriculture.
Most of the energy in fossil fuels comes from the C-H bonds, which are the only chemical bonds in natural gas (Fig. 3b). By comparison, a much lower proportion of coal is made up of C-H bonds, so more coal has to be burned to generate the same energy, and more CO is released. Ultimately, as shown in Fig. 3b, natural gas emits _________ less CO than coal as a result of these differences. Coal also contains sulfur atoms, so sulfate aerosol (SO) pollution is also reduced when we reduce the burning of coal.
43%
Direct impacts of the warmer temperatures can impact: a. Agricultural production and forest productivity as temperatures exceed the photosynthetic temperature optimum b. Melting land ice which impacts sea level rise and where people can live on Earth c. Melting land and sea ice which impact the Earth's albedo which lead to Arctic amplification and altered atmospheric and ocean circulation d. Coral reefs e. A, B, C, and D are all correct
A, B, C, and D are all correct
How does a speleothem form?
Calcite or aragonite precipitates from groundwater that seeps into a cave and can either build downward from the roof of the cave creating a stalactite, or grow upward from the floor of the cave to form a stalagmite
As of 2009, the greatest single emitter of CO2 was __________.
China
What climatic phenomena are tree ring analysis most useful reconstructing?
Dendroclimatic reconstruction and primarily record conditions during the warm season in subpolar terrestrial regions where trees are growing at the limits of their range.
Ozone Hole / Depletion of UV rays warms this layer / Commercial airplane cruising height when not in a jet stream
Stratosphere
If there are green house gases that absorb the outgoing radiation, how does the Earth emit radiation into space?
There are three atmospheric "windows" where the gases that comprise the atmosphere are transparent to radiation
What makes the Kelvin scale different than other temperature scales?
There is no negative end to the scale. Zero K is where all molecular movement stops, and is therefore called absolute zero.
1:1000000000000 = 0.000000000001
ppt
An ethical dimension is embedded in the definition of sustainability as those "developments that meet the needs of the __________ without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
present
Sustainability is the capacity to meet needs of the ________ without compromising needs of future generations. -developed countries -present -majority
present
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) concluded at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 proposed "__________ of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system."
stabilization
Biosphere
The entire collection of Earth's ecosystems worldwide
Ocean gyres of the North Pacific and North Atlantic rotate in a ____________ direction. -clockwise -counterclockwise
clockwise
adaptation
the adjustment in natural or human systems to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.1
Synergistic
the many different local activities we all individually engage in connect to the larger scope of Earth's climate system.
Match the climate region with the correct description. -Subtropics -Frigid Zone -Tropics -Temperate Region
-Subtropics: region covered mainly in deserts -Frigid Zone: region where there are at least 24 consecutive hours in the year with no incoming solar radiation -Tropics: region where there are at least 24 consecutive hours in the year where the Sun's rays have a direct perpendicular angle to the Earth's surface -Temperate Region: regions covered mainly in grasslands and forests
Large-scale intervention to produce forcings in the climate system to offset climate change consequences is a goal of __________.
geoengineering
After the ocean, the largest reservoir of water in the Earth system is ___________. -ice sheets and glaciers -the atmosphere -ground water
ice sheets and glaciers
A climate tipping point is the change of the climate system from one relatively __________ state to another, very different one. 1. unstable 2. stable
stable
The global average temperatures get ________
warmer
Carbon neutral is ______________ 100% energy from renewable sources (or Zero carbon emissions from fossil fuels). If there are zero carbon emissions from fossil fuels, the natural solutions of storing more carbon in soils and trees can act to Drawdown CO to the 350 ppm needed for a stable climate system.
weaker than
How can proxy data be verified?
Comparing the data with the instrument record or other proxies for overlapping periods.
How do scientists propose the concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases changed between the Paleocene and Eocene Epoch?
Gases were released to ocean waters during massive intrusions of basaltic magma into carbonaceous marine sediments during tectonic events related to the opening of the North Atlantic Ocean. Some scientists propose that methane was released from gas hydrates. The gases escaped the ocean waters to the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect, and causing an already warm planet to become even warmer
In the video for item 1, the dog on a leash is representative of the __________ whereas the owner is representative of the _________.
Weather/Climate
What causes the seasons? a. The moon pulling on the tides b. The fact that the Earth is round c. The tilt of the Earth on its axis
c. The tilt of the Earth on its axis
Human fingerprints on the warming of the Earth include: -less heat escaping to space -measurement of more infrared heat energy returning to Earth -All of these are correct -measurements of the cooling of the stratosphere while the troposphere is warming
All of these are correct
Given that we just mandated a new refrigerant gas be used that has a GWP <1 as of January 2019 (HFOs), which of the following are locations where you would find HFC's in products produced before 2019?
All of these are correct: -Refrigerators and mini-fridges -Air conditioners, whether in your home or your car -Electric heat pumps, whether for hot water or home heating
Human-made gas used as a refrigerant.
Chlorofluorocarbons/ Hydrofluorocarbons (CFCs/HCFCs/HFCs)
In addition to providing information about temperature, what other variable are ice cores helpful in defining?
Concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
.What is the vector for Lyme disease?
Deer ticks.
The greatest intensity of incoming solar radiation on the surface of the Earth is at the Equator and the lowest is at the poles. This is because: -The ocean is deeper at the poles -The greater angle of incidence at the poles spreads the same incoming solar radiation over a larger area.
The greater angle of incidence at the poles spreads the same incoming solar radiation over a larger area.
How does latent heat help to exchange energy over long distances?
The latent heat supplied from one area, can be transported by the wind through a series of phase changes before "ending up" in a different location.
Where is cyclogensis most likely to occur?
The lee of mountain chains and along the east coasts of middle and high latitude continents
Pedosphere
The pedosphere is the portion of the lithosphere which, through various geochemical processes, forms the world's soils. The pedosphere includes all the organisms in the soils and water and air therein.
Allows UV radiation in which causes skin cancer
The stratospheric ozone hole
The law of energy conservation implies that the solar radiation received by Earth can be ___________ . -created -destroyed -converted to other forms
converted to other forms
Why do sulfurous aerosols have a shorter-term impact on climate than CO2?
They get washed out of the atmosphere by snow and rain
What are Heinrich layers most likely associated with?
Times of exceptionally low sea-surface temps
When was the Greenhouse Effect first described? -1800's -1920 -1970
1800s
The Montreal Protocol is an example of a highly successful international treaty that led to laws to prevent __ to protect human and environmental health.
CFC emissions to the atmosphere
The primary makeup of natural gas.
Methane (CH4)
How is precipitable water different from humidity measurements?
Precipitable water is the depth of water that would be produced if all water in a column of air from the surface to the top of the atmosphere were condensed to liquid water. Other humidity measurements are taken at a specific location in the atmosphere.
Cap-and-trade is a market-based approach to reduce CO2 emissions similar to U.S. EPA efforts to reduce __________ emissions two decades ago in the acid deposition situation.
SO2
What are the early signs of a developing El Niño in the tropical Pacific Ocean?
Satellites are a critical tool to uncover the potential onset of an ENSO event, like El Nino. Numerical models can simulate El Nino events and a network of instrumented buoys augment the existing satellite telemetry to provide advance warning of a developing El Niño. Signs of a developing El Niño are incorporated into long-range seasonal climate outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center (ENSO Diagnostic information). The spatial extent of expected anomalies in temperature and precipitation guide development of regional agricultural and water management strategies for these potential events prior to their onset.
What are the six variables taken into account when determining the ENSO index?
Sea-level air pressure, zonal (east-west) component of surface wind, meridional (north-south) component of surface wind, surface air temperature, sky cloud cover, and sea-surface temperature
Human-made gas is used in power transmission and silicon etching.
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
Where is upwelling most common?
West coast of continents (eastern sides of ocean basins) bordering the subtropical gyres.
How is climate change both local and global?
While one local area may be experiencing one climate extreme (e.g. flooding), on a global scale there may be another extreme (e.g. drought). Additionally, burning of fossil fuels in one area may have drastic impacts on another area.
How does absorption differ from scattering and reflection?
While scattering and reflection alter only the direction of solar radiation, absorption selectively converts it into heat energy.
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) targets for the states shown in Fig. 6 show that their RPSs have continued to rise ________ through time.
at the same or greater rate
The atmospheric concentration of a gas depends on its emission into the atmosphere and its rates of physical, chemical and biological removal. The time to lower the concentration of the gas to 37% of its original amount is its __________. Figure 10.13 shows that this is __________ for CO2. 1. recycling interval / 20 years 2. atmospheric lifetime / 200 years 3. half-life / 2000 years
atmospheric lifetime / 200 years
because there are fewer aerosols to ________
block
Which factors can lead to increased impacts of hurricanes? a. Warmer ocean temperatures leading to increased evaporation into warmer air b. Higher sea levels that increase the storm surge c. Arctic amplification can slow the movement of a storm out of the location resulting in intense inundation in one location d. A, B, and C are all correct.
d. A, B, and C are all correct.
Because climate change affects the entire Earth system through forcings and feedbacks, it is appropriate to apply a holistic perspective in considering actions. This approach __________ conflict with the political process where government actions favor public opinion, strong interest groups and value systems that are not necessarily scientific.
does
Based on existing and projected crude oil reserves, U.S. production of petroleum is expected to __________ over the next decade.
increase
Brine rejection during the freezing of seawater _____________ the salinity of underlying ocean waters. This makes the water heavier so the water sinks which starts the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt (also known as thermohyline circulation). Increase melting of Arctic ice with global warming reduces this salinity and slows ocean circulation which leads to greater heat build up in surface waters. -increases -has no effect on -decreases
increases
1:1000000000 = 0.000000001
ppb
The 2007 report, updated in 2014, on National Security and the Threat of Climate Change stated that climate change posed a __________ threat to international security.
present
The protective layer in the atmosphere formed by ozone is located in the ________. -troposphere -thermosphere -stratosphere -mesosphere
stratosphere
which is caused by
the spin of the Earth
What does the Eckman spiral show, with relation to water movement?
Direction changes with increasing depth
What is the role of the ocean in Earth's climate system?
The ocean influences radiational heating and cooling of the planet; it is the primary control of the amount of solar radiation absorbed (converted to heat) at Earth's surface. The ocean is the main source of the most important greenhouse gas, water vapor, and a major regulator of the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). The ocean influences the planetary energy budget not only by affecting radiational heating and cooling, but also by contributing to non-radiative latent heat and sensible heat fluxes at the air-sea interface
Clouds and Weather / The jet stream / the Greenhouse Effect / Human Life
Troposphere
Why is water so special in Earth's climate system?
Water is unique because it is the only naturally occurring substance that can exist in Earth's climate system in all three phases (solid, liquid, and vapor).
The albedo of a flat water surface as the Sun rises higher in the sky. _____________. -remains constant -decreases -increases
decreases
The total difference over the 5 years was __________.
12.5 ppm
How is wind direction always named?
As the direction from which the wind blows
What causes it to rain? a. When warm humid air turns cold b. When cold humid air turns warm c. When the air temperature is colder than the dewpoint temperature
Both A and C -When warm humid air turns cold -When the air temperature is colder than the dewpoint temperature
What was the purpose of the National Climate Assessment report?
Collect, integrate and assess observations and research so as to identify regional vulnerability and exposure to climate change in the US.
Why is abrupt change more of an issue for ecosystems?
Marine organisms can adapt to gradual change, whereas they cannot adapt to the abrupt change.
Why do hurricanes only form in specific locations?
The conditions necessary for hurricane development (high SST, sufficient coriolis, low vertical wind shear) only occur in certain locations, and at certain times of the year.
What is the global water budget?
The global water budget describes the ceaseless movement of water within the Earth system.
True or false: The deserts form as a result of the massive quantities of rain that falls in the tropics. The resulting dry air is shunted to the subtropics, where it pulls moisture out of the landscape. Select an answer and submit.
True
Climate science
focuses on the physical processes on Earth that can affect or force climate to change.
Mitigation
our actions that reduce sources of gases, which contribute to the warming of the climate system, or enhance the mechanisms that remove them from the atmosphere
Why must we study the past climate to understand current and future climate changes?
Climate variations are a recurring stresser that contributes greatly to the undoing of many well-structured societies. Quick changing climate catches societies off-guard
The difference between global (or regional) climate models and local weather models is that: 1. Weather models predict specific temperatures for a particular location on a given day. These are generally only accurate for up to 8 days because they are based on the fine details of predictions of atmospheric circulation patterns. 2. Global (or regional) climate models predict changes in the average temperature for the entire globe (or region) for an entire year. These can be accurate for many years into the future because they are based on boundary conditions for the planet including: incoming solar radiation, albedo, and greenhouse gas concentrations. 3. both of these answers are correct
both of these answers are correct
Why did the temperatures and CO concentrations vary in concert with the comings and goings of the Ice Ages? a. Warmer temperatures increased respiration which raised the CO concentrations b. Higher CO concentrations increased temperatures due to the greenhouse effect. c. Both A and B are correct, it is a positive feedback loop.
c. Both A and B are correct, it is a positive feedback loop.
How do the patterns of precipitation and evaporation over the ocean and continents discussed above set up the Global Water Cycle? a. There is more evaporation of free-standing water from the open ocean than from continents when considered per unit surface area. b. There is more rain as warm, humid air rises to cross mountain passes on continents. c. The rain then drains back to the ocean via streams and rivers to complete the Global Water Cycle. d. A and B are true e. A, B ,and C are all true
e. A, B ,and C are all true -There is more evaporation of free-standing water from the open ocean than from continents when considered per unit surface area. -There is more rain as warm, humid air rises to cross mountain passes on continents. -The rain then drains back to the ocean via streams and rivers to complete the Global Water Cycle.
A constraint on politicians for policy creation is the issue that climate timescales are longer than __________.
term and election scales
Sustainability
the "capacity to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Match the location on the left with the factors from the right that are related to that location. 1. North pole 2. South Pole 3. Greenland
1. North pole- Arctic Amplification / No Landmass 2. South Pole- Arctic Amplification and Sea Level Rise and diluted thermohaline circulation / Continental landmass 3. Greenland- Arctic Amplification and Sea Level Rise and diluted thermohaline circulation / Island landmass
What time period for Fig. 1 in the article by SkepticalScience.com appears to show cooling?
1973 - 1982
Fig. 8a shows that the cost of battery back-up (green line) for wind and solar has dropped to only approximately _______ of their price in 2012.Hint: compare the price for batteries in 2012 (the start of the line) to that in 2019.
25%
Why are there so many measures for quantifying water vapor?
Because water can exist as liquid, solid and vapor in conditions found at or near Earth's surface, and it can change phase. Regardless of how water vapor is quantified, the amount in air at a specified temperature has an upper limit. That amount increases as temperature increases. Air containing water vapor, if cooled, will eventually become saturated and can lead to condensation. As temperature increases, the capacity of a region to hold water vapor increases, thereby enhancing evaporation from liquid surfaces. Water vapor can be measured a number of ways, including in terms of its vapor pressure, in terms of the mass of water vapor in a unit mass of air, in terms the mass of water vapor in a unit volume, in terms of the temperature to which it has to be cooled at constant pressure until saturation is achieved, in terms of the vapor pressure of water vapor in the air compared to the vapor pressure if the air were saturated, etc. These different measures are employed as appropriate to more describe atmospheric conditions and processes.
What is one of the main reasons for resistance to climate change adaptation?
Belief that the change will jeopardize the economy
How does Coriolis force relate to latitude?
Coriolis force increases with increased latitude. There is no Coriolis deflection at the equator. It increases with increasing latitude, and reaches its maximum effect at the poles.
Oregon coastal waters undergo __________ in the winter, so surface waters remain at the top and these water are ______________ than in summer. a. Upwelling / Colder b. Downwelling / Warmer c. Upwelling / Warmer d. Downwelling / Colder
Downwelling / Warmer
Name a specific weather-related impact of El Niño?
Drier than average/droughts in India, eastern Australia, northeastern Brazil, and southern Africa. heavy rainfall along the normally arid coastal plain, causing flash flooding. Wetter conditions tend to occur in southern Brazil, Uruguay, and equatorial East Africa
How does climate vary from maritime to continental climate?
Due to the characteristics of land and water, a maritime climate will be cooler in the summer and milder in the winter (at the same latitude) in a maritime climate when compared to continental climates.
Geostrophic wind patterns make what assumptions?
Horizontal pressure gradient force and horizontal Coriolis are balanced. It also assumes that isobars are straight and parallel.
What did the IPC note in its conclusions in 2013 regarding climate change?
Human activities are a major factor causing global warming
What is a thermokarst lake?
Ice-rich permafrost melts and the resulting water occupies the depression in the ground formed from the melting. Organic sediments degenerate and relase methane gas, which flows as bubbles to the lake surface where it is released into the atmosphere.
What is necessary to get hail to form?
Intense thunderstorm characterized by vigorous updrafts and great vertical cloud development
The IPCC stands for: -International People for Climate Change -Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Name a group of people significantly impacted by changes in the Arctic environment.
Inuit peoples of Canada.
How does aerosol size relate to residence time in the atmosphere?
Larger particles settle out faster, thereby leading to shorter residence times.
What disease pathogens are often carried by mosquitos?
Malaria and yellow fever.
On what time scale can coral data be resolved?
Months, but in rare cases weeks
What does a conceptual model do?
Organizes data or describes the interactions among components of a system
Which element and its isotopes are helpful in identifying climate change?
Oxygen
The deflection of anything moving freely over the planet's surface due to the rotation of the Earth is known as what?
The Coriolis Effect.
Lithosphere
The relatively cool, crusty, outer layer encompassing Earth's surface to the deeper, hotter portions where rocks become more elastic and melt
Why is there no significant sub-polar gyre in the Southern hemisphere?
The sub-polar ocean circulation in the Souther Hemisphere is subjected to the Antarctic Circumpolar Current in the Southern Ocean that extends continuously around Antarctica.
What is parameterization?
The technique of using estimates for small processes on a larger scale in modeling. Convection and cloud feedback are examples of processes which occur at small scales.
What is the general consensus in the scientific community with regards to the current climate change trend?
Warming trend has prevailed since the end of the Little Ice Age
How does evaporation and condensation purify water?
When water evaporates, all suspended solids like salt crystals and particulate matter are left behind. When that water vapor condenses, it is free of these substances. The final product is fresh water.
Loss of mountain glaciers and ice fields would have a disastrous impact on __________. 1. rapid local warming 2. planetary albedo 3. all of these 4. local water supplies from runoff
all of these
While not directly caused by climate change, human-caused deforestation in the Amazon would impact the climate system by __________. 1. decreasing oxygen production 2. increasing droughts 3. all of these factors 4. decreasing carbon dioxide removal
all of these factors
A change in the state of the climate system that persists for at least 30 years due to natural and/or anthropogenic processes and forcings is climate________.
change
Public policy is usually formulated through __________ decision making where small changes are made to existing policies. This approach can direct policy toward change that is politically acceptable.
incremental
the incoming solar radiation thereby _______ global warming.
offsetting
Conservation of matter
states that matter can be neither created nor destroyed, but can change in chemical or physical form
Countries were supposed to state their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) by __________ and report on their progress towards these goals by ______. -2020/2024 -2018/2025
2020/2024
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has collated ten variables that all show that the Earth has been warming over the past century. What factors in addition to temperature also indicate that the Earth has been warming over the past century? -Sea ice has been melting -Ocean heat content is rising -Growing seasons are longer -Sea level is rising -More water vapor in the air -Snow cover is decreasing -All of these
All of these
Hydrosphere
Earth's climate system that includes all water, in all forms on, under and over Earth's surface
What does it mean to be Carbon neutral? -Fossil fuels my be burned but they are offset by the amount of CO2 taken out of the air - generally by forests. -It is a way of driving your car in neutral to save gas. -It means you are not for or against CO2 emissions
Fossil fuels my be burned but they are offset by the amount of CO2 taken out of the air - generally by forests.
Why is ozone important to human life?
Its formation and dissociation reduces the amount of harmful UV radiation reaching Earth's surface.
The primary natural factor that pulls CO2 out of the air is ___________.
Photosynthesis
Rivers contain a ________ percentage of Earth's freshwater. -Small -Major
Small
What is sustainability?
The capacity to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Climate variability
as a change in the average state of the climate on all spatial and temporal scales separate from singular weather events.
On a global scale, precipitation is greater than evaporation from __________surfaces while evaporation exceeds precipitation from __________surfaces. This pattern forms the basis for the global water cycle. If there is more evaporation with global warming then there will necessarily be _________ water to precipitate out of the atmosphere in rain and snow storms. -ocean/ocean/less -land/land/less -ocean/land/more -land/ocean/more
land/ocean/more
The Coriolis Effect deflects objects to the _________in the Southern Hemisphere. -right -left
left
The specific heat (or the amount of energy it takes to heat the substance) of water is __________ the specific heat of other common substances. -about the same as -much less than -much greater than
much greater than
Trends of many climate variables are increasing while trends of ________ are down. -sea level and sea surface temperature -mean heat content and water vapor -sea ice area and snow cover
sea ice area and snow cover
Troposphere
the lowest layer of the atmosphere which interacts with other sub-systems of climate
Climatology
the scientific discipline that investigates Earth's climate system, focusing on how it functions, what drives its changes, and how it varies in both space and time.
List the following radiation types in order of increasing energy: 1. X-rays, ultraviolet, gamma rays 2. ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays 3. ultraviolet, gamma rays, X-rays
ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays
More precipitation occurs on the ______________sides of mountain ranges. This is because the air rises and ________ as the air mass passes over the mountain. -windward/cools -leeward/warms
windward/cools
Which of the following are considered to be greenhouse gases?
-Carbon dioxide (CO2) -Methane (CH4) -Nitrous oxide (N2O) -Chlorofluorocarbons/ Hydrofluorocarbons (CFCs/HCFCs/HFCs) -Sulfur hexafluoride (SF) -Water vapor (HO)
According to Figure 11.20 in your eText, climate change is expected to make the US, Central America, the Amazon, the Mediterranean, and Australia drier by 2100. This would increase the total land area subjected to drought by _____.
12 - 30%
Go to the update on the US Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) website and see that _______ states have adopted these standards in their entirety.
19
What is a snow pillow?
A device that is filled with antifreeze solution and fitted with a manometer (an instrument that measures pressure changes) that is calibrated to give the water equivalent from the weight of the overlying snow cover.
What is the result as the tilt of Earth's axis changes?
As the tilt increases, winters become colder and summers warmer in both hemispheres.
Where does a majority of evaporation on Earth take place?
At the interface of seawater/air
Which is true about the Jet Streams? a. They travel from west to east at the equator b. They travel from west to east at ~30˚N and ~30˚S latitude c. They travel in the same direction as the Earth but faster d. A and C are both correct e. B and C are both correct
B and C are both correct: -They travel from west to east at ~30˚N and ~30˚S latitude -They travel in the same direction as the Earth but faster
Climate change is projected to threaten species' biodiversity through loss of __________. 1. Both of these issues 2. natural habitat 3. mix of existing species
Both of these issues
What three variables are included in the orbital parameters of the Earth that impact climate?
Eccentricity of orbit, tilt of the axis and precession of the axis.
When the Southeastern US is in the midst of a drought, should they hope for La Nina or El Nino conditions? a. La Nina b. El Nino
El nino
Why is energy such a significant consideration when relating the phase changes of water?
Energy is absorbed or released in every phase change of water. And as water cycles through the global climate system, it is frequently changes phase due to various dynamic processes. Therefore energy is highly relevant in every discussion or concern regarding the global water budget.
How are geostrophic wind and gradient wind different?
Geostrophic wind blows in a straight path, whereas the path of the gradient wind is curved. Forces are not balanced in the gradient wind because a net centripetal force constrains air parcels to a curved trajectory.
What is the difference between a glacial climate and interglacial climate?
Glacial climate promotes a positive mass balance and glaciers form or advance. An interglacial climate favors a negative mass balance and glaciers fail to form or existing glaciers recede.
The NAO takes into account a pressure swing between which two locations?
Iceland and the Azores
How does sea level rise effect coral reefs?
If the sea level rises too quickly, coral can't grow fast enough and become too deeply submerged for photosynthesis.
How does the jet stream move with the seasons?
Its average location is at lower latitudes in winter and in higher latitudes in summer. It strengthens in winter (when the north-south air temperature contrast is greatest), and weakens in summer (when temperature contrasts are less).
In what types of systems would geostrophic wind develop?
Large-scale weather systems
Why do temperate glaciers tend to move faster than polar ice sheets?
Meltwater is more rapidly generated.
The thermohaline circulation is driven by sinking waters in the _____________ Ocean. -North Atlantic -Southern Indian -North Pacific
North Atlantic
What does it mean to cherry pick data by location?
Only looking at data from one location - say only the US East Coast, or only Portland or Corvallis Oregon which could be due to an anomalous weather pattern in that area.
Match the amount of carbon that could be stored annually in Oregon, Washington and California agricultural soils by implementing renewable agricultural practices.
Oregon: 1.27 million tons of CO2 per year Washington: 3.05 million tons of CO2 per year California: 4.99 million tons of CO2 per year
Why is the Coriolis force less of an influence at deeper depths of the ocean?
Since the Coriolis force is dependent upon the velocity component of a moving substance, any reduction in speed, reduces the Coriolis force. At the interface between the surface winds and ocean surface, frictional coupling between the moving air and the ocean surface would move a thin layer of water in the same direction as the wind. This surface ocean layer in turn would drag the layer beneath it, putting it into motion. This interaction would propagate downward through successive ocean layers, like cards in a deck, each moving forward at a slower speed than the layer above. Because the lower layers move at a slower speed (e.g., lesser velocity), the Coriolis force is diminished.
Potential tipping points include all except __________. 1. Amazon rainforest disappearance 2. The Rain Shadow Effect 3. Arctic sea-ice loss 4. West Antarctic ice sheet instability 5. Atlantic deep water formation
The Rain Shadow Effect
What is essential in constructing a model?
The incorporation of representative, observational data
Why is there a difference in meteorological seasons and astronomical seasons?
The lag time required for the change in solar radiation to change the temperature
Why does wind speed increase with altitude?
There are less obstacles as height increases that would slow wind; i.e. less sources of friction once you move base the boundary layer.
Why is it important to use sources that verify their projections?
This ensures that the information has been vetted by professionals working in the profession, and helps to eliminate "bad information". Verifying projects leads to better data and stronger conclusions.
How does the specific heat of water compare to the specific heat of other substances?
Water has a much higher specific heat
It rains so much in the Oregon winters because the land is ___________ than the ocean. The warm ocean air comes on the _________ land. The ____________ air in Corvallis cannot hold as much water so it rains. a. colder / warmer / warmer b. warmer / warmer /warmer c. colder / colder / colder d. warmer /colder /colder
colder / colder / colder
The Video shows that the small temperature changes over the past 10,000 years while humans have had agrarian culture, _____________.Note that during these 10,000 years, humans have been able to subside on agricultural crops due to the relatively constant temperature (Fig. 4b), CO (Fig. 5) and sea level during this period.
contributed to the comings and going of entire civilizations including the Grecian and Roman Empires.
The Hockey Stick graph in Fig. 3a shows _____________. a. Changes in temperature of the Earth over the past 1,000 years b. The Little Ice Age 1,000 years ago followed by the Ice ages since then c. The Medieval Warm Period 1,000 years ago followed by the Little Ice age. d. A and C are both correct
d. A and C are both correct
Carbon capture and storage can be considered a __________ strategy where energy producers would inject their liquid CO2 into geologic storage locations.
geoengineering
Sulfurous haze produced by volcanic eruptions has lowered Earth's temperature for a year or so. Proposals to inject such aerosols into the stratosphere in an on-going basis for this effect is one example of __________.
geoengineering
A principle for international policy development such as with climate change, adopted by the 1992 Rio UN Conference on Environment and Development was: "When an action causes a threat to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not fully established scientifically." This is called the __________ principle.
precautionary
In Fig. 1, climate change is shown as _______________, whereas random variation shows up as__________. Make sure to examine the information in Fig. 2 when considering your answer!
the difference in average temperatures between A and B (over more then 30 years!) / the year to year differences within either A or B
Earth's climate
the state of a complex system consisting of five major components, the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the lithosphere and the biosphere, and the interactions amongst them.
Oregon coast waters are _______ in the winter while the air is ________. When the __________ air hits the ___________ water this prevents condensation so no fog is formed. a. warm / warm / warm / warm b. warm / cold / cold / warm c. cold / cold / cold / cold d. cold / warm / warm / cold
warm / cold / cold / warm
How quickly can current generation supercomputers process calculations?
Nanoseconds
What is climate variability?
Change in the average state of the climate on all spatial and temporal scales separate from singular weather events. Variability may be due to natural internal processes within the climate system, or to variations in natural or anthropogenic (human), external forcing.
How does climatology follow the scientific method?
Climate scientists propose a hypothesis (or supposition) as an explanation for climate events and variations, collect observations of climate and design experiments to assess those hypotheses. Ultimately, predictions can be made from tested hypotheses, and the process must be repeated for verification. Repeating the process with the same methods and achieving the same results validates them. The climate system is inherently chaotic with many interlaced sub-systems on multiple spatial (space) and temporal (time) scales. The scientific method allows us to investigate this web of interconnections to identify the reasons for climate variability and change.
The average global CO concentration in 2014 was __________.
397.2 ppm
What is the Green Revolution?
Collection of advancements in research and technology that amplified agricultural productions globally, beginning in the 1960s.
Considering everything you have learned about methane production, what do you think would be the best thing to do with food waste?Food waste should go into the ______________ so it undergoes ______________ respiration and emits ______________?
Compost (aerated) / aerobic respiration / CO
What are the known causes of sea-level rise in the past century? How significant are the increases?
During interglacial climatic episodes, like the current time period, glaciers on land thin and retreat and melt. Thus, the volume of water in the ocean basins increase (i.e., sea level rose). Water also expands when its temperature rises, as it has dramatically this past century. Another way sea level rises is when glacial ice flows from land to sea, the less dense ice floats on the sea surface and sea level rises. When glacial ice leaves the land and enters the ocean, it begins to float, displacing a volume of seawater equal to its own weight and causing a rise in sea level. The latest IPCC report (AR5) noted with high confidence that the rate of sea level rise since the mid-19th century has been larger than the mean rate during the previous two millennia.
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a carbon trading arrangement between developing nations and the __________ to offset conventional energy projects with carbon-free sources.
European Union
What type of weather does a high pressure system bring?
Fair weather
Name two crops, utilized as a food staple for humans that are impacted by global climate change.
Maize and wheat.
What is skill in relation to numerical modeling?
Measure of how much greater the accuracy of a prediction is, compared to the accuracy of some typically simple prediction.
Formed primarily from combustion processes that mix N and O.
Nitrous oxide (N2O)
What are water rights?
Right of a farmer, or general user to use water from a river, stream, lake or source of groundwater for their own purpose.
What is the role of the biosphere in the changing climate?
Shifts in vegetation contribute to a reduction in land-surface albedo
What is bioclimatology?
Study of the connection between the biosphere and Earth's atmosphere.
What satellites or instrument arrays are used to monitor ENSO?
TAO/TRITON and TRMM
What is the dew point temperature?
Temperature to which air must be cooled at constant pressure to reach saturation without the addition or removal of water vapor.
What can happen to the direction of the trade winds during a particularly strong El Niño?
They can reverse
Why is it so essential to study ice cores?
Very few other proxy records allow climate scientists such a comprehensive and long record of climate as ice cores
How does the proportion of water affect the specific heat of various substances? Why?
Water has the greatest specific heat of any naturally occurring substance. The specific heat of all substances is measured relative to that of liquid water. The variation in specific heat from one substance to another implies that each have different capacities for storing internal energy. In response to the same addition of heat energy, a substance with a low specific heat undergoes a greater rise in temperature than an equivalent mass of a substance with a high specific heat. If water is mixed with another substance, such as filling the spaces between sand particles, the specific heat of a unit mass of the mixture will be higher than that of a unit mass of sand alone and lower than that of a unit mass of water alone.
forecast is the
best prediction
What mechanisms are thought to account for the warming and cooling of the Earth during the Pleistocene Ice Ages? a. Changes in the distance of the Earth from the Sun b. Changes in the orientation of the Earth from the Sun c. Changes in the concentrations of greenhouse gases d. A, B, and C are all correct
d. A, B, and C are all correct
If emissions of CO2 could be held at current levels, the atmospheric concentration would __________. 1. immediately decline 2. increase through the century 3. remain steady
increase through the century
In the HS-ESS3-5 Evidence Statements for Cross-cutting Concepts (green), the Next Generation Science Standards state: "Change and rates of change can be quantified and modeled over very short or very long periods of time. Some system changes can be ___________."
irreversible
climate is a
projection
More precipitation is expected at high latitudes but temperatures are also expected to be warmer there which would __________ stored carbon that is currently held in the frozen soils called _______.
release / permafrost
Fig. 6 shows that temperature changes over the geologic history of the Earth have __________________
resulted in the mass extinctions of more than 75% of all species.
Fig. 7 shows that the RPS standards in Oregon vary depending on the ____________
size of the utility company
Thermosphere
where the average temperature again increases with altitude
__________ is the temperature and precipitation that you __________ find in a particular season or location on the globe. Choose the correct answer to fill in the second blank, given that: a) Weather is entered in the first blank, and again if b) Climate is entered in the first blank.
Weather- actually Climate- expect to
Open or closed systems
Both closed and open systems exchange energy with their environment, however, only an open system can exchange mass.
What types of surfaces have a high albedo? Low albedo?
Those that are light in color have a high albedo and those that are dark in color have a low albedo.
The title for Fig. 1 in the article by SkepticalScience.com, above, could be ____________ , which is shorthand for saying ____________
"Down the Up Escalator", periods of time can look like they are cooling even though a broader view of all the data shows the pattern of global warming.
What is the best order for the following explanations to account for why the US East Coast had a cold winter in 2014? 1. Overall, the 2014 was the warmest year on instrument record by that time when averaged across all locations on Earth's surface. 2. The wavy Jet Stream also leads to warmer temperatures at the North Pole. 3. Arctic Amplification leads to reduced pressure differential across the Jet Stream which makes the Jet Stream more wavy. 4. The wavy Jet Stream leads to Arctic air mass moving over the US East Coast. 5. The Ice-Albedo feedback loop at the poles leads to Arctic Amplification.
5, 3, 4, 2, 1
CO2 dissolution into the oceans causes ocean acidification which will impact ocean fisheries. The IPCC notes that __________ percent of people engaged in fishing are small-scale fisheries, often in developing countries.
90
How much of the world's glacial ice is found in Antarctica?
90%
How does the IPCC define climate extremes?
A climate extreme is the occurrence of weather or climate events above the threshold value for the upper range, or below the lower range, of observed values.
What is meant by a teleconnection and what is its significance in forecasting the impact of ENSO?
A teleconnection is a linkage between changes in atmospheric circulation occurring in widely separated regions of the globe, often over distances of thousands of kilometers. ENSO events cause changes in the location of heat sources at the interface between ocean and atmosphere, which may alter wind and weather patterns worldwide. For example, higher than usual SST over the central and eastern tropical Pacific during El Niño heats and destabilizes the troposphere. Deep convection generates towering thunderstorms that help drive atmospheric circulation, governing the course of jet streams, storm tracks and moisture transport by winds at higher latitudes due to the teleconnective linkages.
Warmer temperatures are expected to impact agriculture because ________________. a. increased drought b. reduced cold season to combat pests c. increased pest virulence, potentially due to multiple generations in a growing season d. A, B and C are all correct.
A, B and C are all correct.
The Great Ocean Conveyor Belt has slowed down by 15%. If this ocean circulation pattern slows down even more or stops, this could lead to: a. Warmer equatorial waters would intensify hurricanes b. Reduced transfer of warm ocean temperatures to Europe c. Reduced transfer of warm temperatures to the poles could lead to another ice age d. A, B, and C are all correct.
A, B, and C are all correct.
Match the historical period with the correct period in history when it occurred. A. Pleistocene Ice Ages B. Little Ice Age C. Medieval Warm Period D. Carboniferous period when Fossil Fuels were laid down 1. Ten thousand - 800 thousand years ago 2. One thousand years ago 3. 170-570 years ago 4. 350 million years ago
A. Pleistocene Ice Ages: Ten thousand - 800 thousand years ago B. Little ice age: 170-570 years ago C. Medieval Warm Period
Which continental regions have seen a greater increase in population than North America and Europe?
Africa, Asia and Oceania.
Aside from elevation, what other variables impact surface air pressure?
Air temperature, humidity and atmospheric circulation.
Which of the following items from Fig. 1 could confer a cost-saving?
All of the below: a. Fly less - Staycations are IN! b. Putting solar on your home if you own it - consider the long-term payback! c. Eating more beans instead of beef.
Considering everything you have learned about greenhouse gases, which of the following would help to mitigate human greenhouse gas emissions?
All of these would reduce greenhouse gas emissions: a. Stop deforestation - especially slash and burn b. Reduce the number of ruminant animals on the planet c. Divest funds from Fossil Fuel companies d. Travel less for vacations - go on staycations or start a staycation business! e. Travel less for meetings - use Zoom conferencing to join remotely
Considering everything you have learned about the different greenhouse gases, which of the following would help mitigate or even reuse the greenhouse gas emissions from landfills?
All of these: a. MUST extract refrigerant gases Pre-Landfill, or they will release these gases to the atmosphere (includes fridges, mini-fridges, AC units from home, office, or automobiles)!!! b. Best to have as little waste as possible in landfills since they are inundated with water, so produce methane. c. Since landfills produce methane, it is a good idea to capture this gas and use it to create electricity (this is currently happening in Corvallis but is not yet in place at OSU).
Why is black carbon sometimes argued as being the second most important greenhouse gas?
Although not a gas, black carbon are aerosols that strongly absorb solar radiation. When deposited back to the land surface, it tends to lower the surface albedo, causing absorbing of more solar radiation.
What is a model?
Approximate representation or simulation of a real system, incorporating the essential features, or variables, of a system.
Why will the ocean absorb less CO2 in the future?
As ocean temps increase, the solubility of carbon dioxide in the ocean water decreases, which leads to less CO2 being absorbed.
Explain how changes in patterns of sea-surface temperature (SST) can alter the circulation of the atmosphere.
As one example, changes in the location of the highest SSTs in the tropical Atlantic affect the north-south shifts of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). Displacement of the ITCZ over the tropical Atlantic Ocean affects the timing and amount of rainfall along the east coast of South America from Brazil northward into the Caribbean Sea from March to May and in the western part of sub-Saharan Africa in August and September. Another example is during a La Nina event where, across middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, winds tend to be more meridional. These winds steer cold air masses toward the southeast and warm air masses toward the northeast.
How is atmospheric stability related to water in the atmosphere? How might one affect the other?
Atmospheric stability is determined by comparing the temperature change of an ascending or descending air parcel with the temperature of the ambient (surrounding) air. Water in the atmosphere is related to atmospheric stability in the sense that it can impact the rate of warming or cooling of vertically moving air. The rate of temperature change of air is different depending on whether rising or sinking air is saturated or unsaturated. From TID5.5, it is noted that the cooling rate of a rising air parcel depends on whether the parcel is saturated (moist adiabatic lapse rate) or unsaturated (dry adiabatic lapse rate). As ascending currents of unsaturated (clear) air cool, the relative humidity increases and the air approaches saturation. At or near saturation, clouds usually form. On the other hand, in descending currents of air, temperature increases, the saturation vapor pressure increases, and existing clouds vaporize. Once the clouds have evaporated, the sinking air becomes unsaturated and the relative humidity drops as temperature rises. Whether or not a parcel rises or falls is dependent upon its density relative to the surrounding ambient air. Therefore, whether the air is saturated or unsaturated will affect its cooling or warming rate, which will affect its stability.
Strongest ozone depletion potential
CFCs
Which order is correct for greenhouse gases that have had the greatest overall impact on the warming of the Earth since the industrial revolution?
CO > CH > CFCs
How are we utilizing fuels today that were deposited on Earth millions of years ago?
Carbon is either physically or chemically transformed within or between the biosphere, pedosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, existing in many different forms in this process. Associated with these transformations are transfers of energy. Biogeochemical cycles conform to the law of conservation of matter, which states that matter can be neither created nor destroyed, but can change in chemical or physical form. Energy is not created or destroyed. Energy that is deposited at one time period, must eventually be used, though this process may take thousands and thousands of years to occur.
What is pressure gradient?
Change in air pressure over distance.
Identify and describe several ways whereby atmosphere-ocean interactions contribute to climate variability.
Climate variability is induced by both shorter term events, like El Niño and La Niña, as well as the longer-term NAO, AO, PDO and MJO events. Both short and long term events are superimposed on even longer period variations in climate with longer lasting impacts on the atmosphere-land-ocean system. The ocean plays a principal role in the long-term climate changes. As one example, associated changes in the horizontal air pressure gradient alter the speed of the band of winds aloft (e.g., the polar vortex) that blows counterclockwise (viewed from above) around the Arctic. Alternate strengthening and weakening of these polar winds impact winter weather in middle latitudes and contribute to climate variability and changes in ocean circulation. Another example is intensity and duration of monsoon rains which are typically not the same from one year to the next. Monsoon failure and drought are always possible in monsoon climates, exemplifying their variability.
How do clouds ultimately impact climate?
Clouds are important players in Earth's climate system because they affect the amount of incoming and outgoing solar radiation.
Why does the proximity to large bodies of water affect the general climate character of a location?
Compared to an adjacent landmass, a body of water warms more slowly during the day (or in summer) and cools more slowly at night (or in winter). Air temperature is regulated to a considerable extent by the temperature of the surface over which the air resides or travels via heat exchanges. When an air mass stagnates over a large body of water it tends to take on similar temperature characteristics as the surface water. When that air moves from an underlying water surface to land, it carries its modified condition with it. Hence, locations immediately downwind of the ocean typically experience considerably less contrast between average winter and summer temperatures.
What is the main difference between conduction and convection?
Conduction requires direct contact of molecules, whereas convection is driven by variations in density, generally due to differences in temperature in a fluid.
Why do gyres in the southern hemisphere rotate in the opposite direction as those in the northern hemisphere?
Coriolis force acts in opposite directions
How can clouds both warm and cool the atmosphere?
Depends on the height of the cloud and the particles that make up the cloud; radiation is either scattered back towards space before reaching the surface or is held in at the surface like a blanket.
What drives deep ocean circulation?
Differences in density caused by differences in temperature and salinity.
Why is vulnerability region specific?
Different ecosystems, different peoples in different parts of the world are affected differently.
Why is La Niña more likely to follow a strong El Niño than a weak one?
During an intense El Niño, the global water cycle conveys a great amount of heat out of the eastern tropical Pacific and into higher latitudes. Unusually cold water situated just below the warm surface water is poised to well up to the surface as soon as the trade winds strengthen again, which is a necessary ingredient for a La N Niña event.
What is the difference between perihelion and aphelion?
During perihelion, the Earth is closest to the Sun, whereas during aphelion, the Sun is furthest from the sun.
Can climate change affect the cycle of water on Earth and which portions of the global water budget might be most imperiled by these changes?
Freshwater can be considered the most important portion of the global water budget because of its importance to humans, but it represents a tiny portion of the overall global water budget as only about 2.5% of the global budget is usable to humans as freshwater. Changes in climate may affect this small portion quite dramatically. Some of the most vulnerable components of the freshwater portion are found in drainage basins of particularly arid regions. The "For Further Exploration" of this chapter outlines a specific case which is instructive in highlighting this question. Additionally, ice and snow represent a significant portion of the freshwater in the global water budget. Many populations are reliant on the seasonal melt of winter snow in their respective drainage basins. If changes in climate perpetuate current trends in lesser overall snowfall totals, the U.S., as an example, faces more challenging water rights issues in the immediate years ahead.
Why will large scale climate change not have the same impact everywhere?
Global and hemispheric trends are not duplicated in all locations. Temperature change tends to amplify with increasing latitude.
Why does gravity not directly impact horizontal winds?
Gravity acts vertically. It influences vertical air motion instead because it is always acting in a downward direction.
According to your findings in Lab on Human vs. Natural Factors, the primary factor thought to account for the warming of the Earth over the past century is:
Greenhouse gases released from human combustion of fossil fuels
Give examples of things that are commonly used as proxy data.
Historical documents, tree growth rings, pollen profiles, deep-sea sediment cores, speleothems, corals and glacial ice cores
How does hindcasting help to verify models?
In a hindcast, only events that occurred prior to an event are fed into the model. If the output of the model more closely matches what actually happened, the skill level is high. This helps to show that if models are run for timesteps in the future, they are likely to have a higher level of accuracy.
How does evaporation differ over an ice surface?
Instead of evaporating (changing from liquid to gas), water molecules go from solid directly to the gaseous phase in a process known as sublimation.
According to wiki/NextGeneration_Science_Standards, the state of ____________tried to adopt the NGSS but with the following changes:· the 'rise in global temperatures' changed to 'temperature fluctuations,'· ' evolution' changed to the 'biodiversity of species', and· the specific timeline changed to 'geologic history.'However, significant protests by:· the state Academy of Science titled "_______ state people for Science and Reason,"· the state's Coalition for Excellence in Science and Engineering, and· scientists, educators, and faith leaders across the stateled to this state adopting the Next Generation Science Standards in their entirety.
New Mexico
What is La Niña?
Period of unusually strong trade winds and exceptionally vigorous upwelling in the eastern tropical Pacific
What are the four scales of atmospheric circulation?
Planetary, synoptic, mesoscale, microscale
What is a grounding line?
Point at which the glacier first loses contact with land as it drains into the sea.
Where are pollen sediments likely to collect?
Ponds, peat bogs, marshes and swamps
How are remote sensing methods of water content detection different than in situ measures at the surface?
Scientists detect and observe water content measurements made by instruments at discrete points on the ground (in situ). But both rainfall and snowfall exhibit considerable spatial variability. Thus, it does not always follow that moderate amounts of rain fell at a location halfway between two weather stations, one reporting heavy rainfall and the other reporting light rainfall. Furthermore, regular precipitation measurements are missing from vast stretches of the ocean where significant amounts of precipitation fall. Remote sensing attempts to compensate for these gaps in observation. Instead of being situated within the environment of the falling precipitation, remote sensing platforms are usually single points of observation which send out or receive information from sensed variations in radiative input/output. Thus, a greater spatial coverage can be achieved in detecting snowfall or rainfall amounts. These remote sensing platforms are not perfect, however, having their own limitations in detection. One example might be the sensing of virga, rain or snow that is detected in the atmosphere but does not reach the surface as precipitation.
How are sedimentary processes in geology useful in studies of past climate?
Sediments laid down, layer upon layer provide a chronological record of this deposition and may conserve elements from past conditions within the layers. The layers can often be dated through modern techniques and fossils provide further environmental clues
No two El Niño events are the same. Explain the significance of this statement.
Since El Niño events are predicated on anomalous SST patterns, each event may have differences in spatial location of those anomalies and magnitude thereof. Thus, one particular event may have very strong warming in the eastern Pacific ocean, whereas another event may have lesser warming anomaly but the warmed surface ocean water may extend over a much larger area. These differences have implications for the tele connective effects they might have downstream due to the coupling between ocean and atmosphere. Moreover, El Niño is only one of many factors that influence inter-annual climate variability.
How are ice cores like time machines?
Snow gets buried with each successive snowfall, and does not melt in the summers in between. The snow above provides enough force to compact the snow below. Snow is compacted into firn by the pressure of the layers above, eventually fitting together like a jigsaw puzzle. As the compaction occurs, properties like density change, but the ice retains the original chemical properties of the snow that fell.
What does the Keeling Curve show?
Sustained increase in annual atmospheric CO2 concentrations
What does TRMM do?
TRMM utilizes satellite technology primarily to measure tropical rainfall between 40N and 40S. Also helping to map out El Nino and La Nina and will allow for a better overall understanding of the heat exchange in this area.
Which period of few sunspots includes the 'year without a summer'?
The Dalton Minimum period
The Little Ice Age coincides with what historic events?
The Renaissance, the Age of Discovery, the Enlightenment, the American and French Revolutions, and the Industrial Revolution.
What is the difference between heat and temperature?
The average kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules of a substance defines temperature. Heat, however, is defined as the measure of energy that transfers from warm objects (atoms) to cooler objects (atoms), or thought of as total energy transferred between substances.
Climate Vulnerability
The degree to which physical, biological, and socio-economic systems are susceptible to, or are incapable of coping with, adverse impacts of a variation in climate
What is albedo?
The fraction of radiation redirected (reflected) by an interface
What is a glacier's mass balance?
The result when mass gain is compared to mass loss over the period of a year, usually measured at the end of the melt season.
What are the two largest contributions to sea level rise?
Thermal expansion and glacier mass loss.
Depletion of gamma rays warms this layer
Thermosphere
Why can radiation waves be referred to as electromagnetic?
They possess both magnetic and electric fields that together propagate as electromagnetic waves.
UNFCCC treaty representatives met in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, to conclude in principle to cut CO2 emissions by 5.2%. One chief emitter with 36% of annual global totals that did not ratify the treaty was the __________.
United States
What is transpiration?
Water taken up by a plant escapes as vapor through tiny pores (stomata) on the underside of leaves. It is essentially evaporation.
What impact does solar altitude have on the amount of energy received?
Whenever the Sun is directly overhead at its maximum angle of 90°, the solar rays are most concentrated on a horizontal surface. When the Sun appears lower in the sky, the solar altitude is lower and solar radiation is spread over Earth's surface with lesser intensity. The greater the solar altitude, the shorter the path solar radiation takes through the atmosphere. Longer paths, at the lower solar altitudes, increase the amount of atmosphere for solar radiation to pass through and interact with clouds, gases and aerosols. Greater interactions mean that the intensity of radiation is lessened by the time it reaches the surface. While solar altitude affects the intensity of solar radiation striking the Earth's surface, the length of daylight also affects the total daily solar radiational energy received at Earth's surface, and thus energy and heating builds at the surface. In addition to higher noon solar altitude in the summer, the days are warmer due to the greater length of daylight, increasing the relative amount of received solar radiation at the surface.
The primary explanation for the decline in US CO emissions despite the lack in policy at the national level is the shift from ______ to ________, as shown in Fig. 3a.
coal / natural gas
El Niño conditions have been ___________ to the Peruvian fishing industry. -harmful -helpful
harmful
If two objects of differing temperatures are in contact, the transfer of energy between them is in a form called __________________ -chemical energy -heat energy
heat energy
The Montreal Protocol of 1987 is viewed as a model of international cooperation to alleviate the destruction of stratospheric __________.
ozone
The transition from coal to natural gas has made an impact on US emissions from ___________(as shown in Fig. 4). However, electricity will ultimately need to come from ________ and then switch away from natural gas in our homes, businesses, and industry. Moreover, with the decline in emissions from power generation, transportation has become the largest US emissions source. We need to address this issue by converting to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles.
power generation / 100% renewable sources
World CO emissions are ____________when considered across the entire globe. However, the EU and US emissions have been ____________ since 2008 (Fig. 2a); these emissions reductions trends show up even more strongly when examined on a per capita basis (Fig. 2b).
still on the rise / declining
The potentially most devastating impact of tropical cyclones in the coastal zone is due to the __________. 1. heavy rainfall 2. wind damage 3. storm surge 4. accompanying tornadoes
storm surge
"Human activities, such as _______________, are major factors in the current rise in Earth's mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities."
the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels
It rains so little in the Oregon summers because the land is ___________ than the ocean. The cooler ocean air comes on the _________ land. The ____________ air in Corvallis can hold more water so it is very rare that it rains. a. colder / warmer / warmer b. warmer / warmer /warmer c. colder / colder / colder d. warmer /colder /colder
warmer / warmer /warmer
While higher CO concentrations can help plants to grow better and lose less water, it is the __________ that we are most concerned with for impacting agricultural production.
warmer temperatures and increased drought
Temperatures changed __________ during the comings and goings of the ice ages (Fig. 3), but have only changed ________ over the past 10,000 years since humans have had agrarian culture that depends on a stable climate (Fig. 5).
±5°C (range of 10°C) / ±0.5°C (range of 1°C)
What are the key differences between climate and weather?
Climate is more encompassing than weather and sets the boundaries of weather, occurring over a greater time scale.
How has the shaping of continental landmasses through plate tectonics lead to climate change?
Mountain forming, rock intrusions and weather of rocks has all lead to changes in the atmosphere. Additionally, changes in ocean basin location has led to changes in ocean circulation and therefore transport of heat from the equator to the poles.
Do drains spin different directions in the northern and southern hemispheres? Select an answer and submit. For keyboard navigation, use the up/down arrow keys to select an answer. a. Yes - drains follow the same principles as the hurricanes as discussed in Lab 3 on Atmospheric Circulation. b. No - the differential speed of the spin of the Earth between locations cannot have an impact unless it occurs across 100s of meters or more.
No - the differential speed of the spin of the Earth between locations cannot have an impact unless it occurs across 100s of meters or more.
What is a Milankovitch cycle?
Regular variation in the precession and tilt of the axis as well as the eccentricity of the orbit; caused by the gravitational influence of other large planets, the Moon and the Sun on the Earth.
Explain the similarities and differences between fog and cloud formation.
Simply put, fog is a cloud in contact with the ground. There are multiple mechanisms of fog formation, just as there are similarly several mechanisms that form clouds. Despite the diversity of formation processes, the commonality between fog and clouds relates to some sort of cooling of the air or addition of water vapor to the air such that the saturation point is reached. Further cooling or addition of water vapor allows for moisture to condense onto CCN and cloud or fog particles form. Whether it is the surface that chills the air above, forming fog, or cold air aloft promoting convection resulting in expansional cooling and cloud formation, the key similarity is some sort of cooling process or adding of vapor. The instructor is referred to TID5.7 for a more detailed description of fog formation (e.g., radiation fog).
What is thermohaline circulation?
The density of seawater increases with decreasing temperature and increasing salinity, so more dense water sinks while less dense water rises. The thermohaline circulation transports heat energy, salt and dissolved gases over great distances and depths. In the North Atlantic, a warm surface ocean current (the Gulf Stream) flows north and eastward from the Florida Strait. At high latitudes, surface waters cool, sink, and flow southward as cold bottom water.
How is pressure gradient force related to wind speed?
The magnitude of the pressure gradient force is inversely related to the spacing of isobars. The wind is relatively strong where the pressure gradient is steep (closely spaced isobars), and light where the pressure gradient is weak (widely spaced isobars).
In what ways are the ocean and atmosphere coupled during an El Niño event?
The ocean and atmosphere are coupled in many ways, including energy exchange (thermal conditions) and motion of air and water. An El Niño episode begins when the air pressure gradient across the tropical Pacific starts to weaken, heralding the slackening of the trade winds. The prevailing trade winds are coupled with ocean currents, SSTs and rainfall across the tropical Pacific. Prevailing winds blow from the south or southeast along the west coast of South America so that most of the time Ekman transport drives warm surface waters westward, away from the coast. This causes cold, nutrient-rich waters to well up from below the thermocline, which is normally only 50 to 100 m (165 to 325 ft.) deep along the coast, replacing the warm, nutrient-poor surface waters that are transported offshore. The trade winds drive a pool of relatively warm surface waters westward toward Indonesia and northern Australia. The wedge of warm water increases the depth of the thermocline and raises sea level in the western tropical Pacific. Water expands when heated (as well as being piled up by trans-Pacific trade winds) so that sea level is about 60 cm (2 ft.) higher in the west than in the east. The contrast in SSTs between the western and eastern tropical Pacific (averaging a difference of about 8 Celsius degrees or 14.4 Fahrenheit degrees) has important implications for precipitation across the tropical Pacific.
What was the order of events that led scientists to learn about the ice ages? (refer to the passages in section I to answer this question) I. Documentation of fluctuations in temperatures and greenhouse gases throughout the Pleistocene Epoch. II. Documentation of Milankovitch cycles that alter the distance and orientation of the Earth with respect to the Sun. III. Documentation of fossils of different types in different ages of sedimentary rocks that spanned wide ranges only in the northern regions of northern hemisphere continents. Select an answer and submit. For keyboard navigation, use the up/down arrow keys to select an answer. a. I, then II, then III b. III, then II, then I c. III, then I, then II
b. III, then II, then I
Why is there a sea-level rise when ice moves from land to sea, but not when it melts?
Water is displaced when the ice moves into the sea from the land. When the floating ice melts, the resulting melt water occupies the same volume as the seawater that was originally displaced by the ice.
List the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere.
Water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane and nitrous oxide
How are relative humidity and air temperature related?
Within the same parcel of water, as temperature increases, it s relative humidity drops. As a parcel of air cools, the relative humidity increases until 100% relative humidity is reached.
In order for the temperature of the planet to change (meaning a statistical difference for at least 30 years), which of the following would have had to be altered?Recall that Random year to year variation cannot result in altering a planets temperature. Rather - every planets temperature is controlled by:1. the amount if incoming solar ration,2. it's albedo - the amount that the incoming solar radiation is reflected away from Earth, and3. the concentration of greenhouse gases that slow down heat loss. a. The amount of incoming solar radiation b. The amount of solar radiation reflected from the Earth (Albedo) c. The amount of infrared radiation trapped in the troposphere by greenhouse gases. d. The amount of random variation e. a, b & c could all cause planetary climate change f. a, b, c & d could all cause planetary climate change
a, b & c could all cause planetary climate change
China is aware of its increased emissions and has taken bold steps to reduce emissions and change to renewable energy (Fig. 10). These reductions have leveled off both their total and their per-capita emissions (Fig. 1). Because emission reductions in China have primarily been in _______ (as shown in Fig. 10), this has not only expedited emissions reductions and but also reduced sulfate aerosol pollution
coal
The changes in Earth's temperature over the history of the Earth were not random! In order for a planet's temperature to change there has to be a change in: 1) Solar radiation, 2) Albedo, or 3) Greenhouse gasses. For the Ice Ages, all three factors ultimately played a role. Changes were initiated by the Milankovitch cycles which altered the amount, timing and angle of incoming solar radiation. The warmer temperatures then led to higher CO concentrations released from both land (via respiration) and ocean (via dissolution); CH emissions were also impacted via the melting of permafrost on land the dissolution from the ocean.Ultimately, changes in surface Albedo with the changing Ice coverage would also impact temperatures. In Fig. 3, climate change is shown as _______________, whereas random variation __________.
the difference in temperature within A or B (over more then 30 years!) / is not shown
Match the type of Milankovitch cycle with the impact that it has on planetary temperature or orbital variation: 1. Orbital eccentricity 2. Axial tilt 3. Axial precession A. Altered season length B. Altered average incoming solar radiation on to the Earth C. Altered magnitude of seasonal temperature differences between the northern and southern hemisphere
-Orbital eccentricity: Altered average incoming solar radiation on to the Earth -Axial tilt: Altered season length -Axial precession: Altered magnitude of seasonal temperature differences between the northern and southern hemisphere
The average global CO concentration in 2019 was __________.
409.7 ppm
system
an arbitrary portion of the universe with fixed or moveable boundaries or walls, which may contain matter, energy or both. Earth's climate system evolves over time under the influence of its own internal dynamics and because of forcings such as volcanic eruptions, solar variations and our own actions as we change the composition of the atmosphere and clear the land for agriculture, urbanization and industrialization.
Respiration has a
Positive feedback loop that helps account for the comings and going of the Ice Ages and tight relationship between temperature and CO concentrations in the Pleistocene.
Why is snow perhaps more challenging to measure at the surface relative to rainfall?
Snow, as a solid particle, usually in crystal form, relative to rain as a liquid is more prone to movement by wind currents near the surface. Thus, snow that precipitates might be moved around and accumulate in piles that might not represent the location in which it actually fell. New snowfall might fall on older piles of snow at the surface, making it more challenging to determine which amounts fell when. Moreover, the density of snow varies widely, thereby producing differing amounts of liquid water when melted. Finally, the instructor is referred to the NOAA link imbedded in Footnote 5 for further details regarding the siting of snow versus rainfall observational instruments.
Describe the manner by which increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere serve to threaten ecosystems in the ocean?
The ocean is the main source of the most important greenhouse gas, water vapor, and a major regulator of the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). As CO2 is taken up by the ocean, water chemistry changes that causes dramatic implications for life in the ocean. Algae, including phytoplankton and kelp, fix carbon in the ocean from uptake of CO2 and produce oxygen through photosynthesis. Other organisms can serve as a fixing agent for carbon as they construct shells and exoskeletons from this element. Of the carbon that isn't fixed by phytoplankton or deposited as sediment in the ocean floor, some of it remains dissolved in the water itself. The current input of CO2 into the atmosphere can't quickly cycle through the ocean, in essence back-loading the effects of CO2 for many generations, leading to ocean acidification, which has as a corrosive effect on marine organisms. Lowering the pH of ocean water, removes the essential "building blocks" for shell formation. Many species within the marine ecosystem require shells for survival. In order for these organisms to build a calcium carbonate shell, they draw carbonic elements from seawater. More acidic water would make this more difficult, forcing organisms to expend more energy in constructing their shells, leaving them less for reproduction or securing food sources. With lowered pH, shells may start to dissolve. Sensitive species cannot survive, disturbing the food webs and causing ripples into human food supplies. The instructor is referred to the 'For Further Exploration' section for a more detailed discussion related to coral reefs.
How does the vertical temperature profile affect the formation of precipitation?
The vertical temperature profile essentially relates to a measure of atmospheric stability. The greater the decrease of temperature with height, the more unstable it is likely to be. Greater instability leads to a greater chance for rising air parcels. A rising air parcel, if cooled by expansion sufficiently, will reach its saturation point and further cooling will result in water vapor condensing onto CCN. Even more cooling results in more condensation, which can lead to precipitation.
How do volcanoes influence climate change?
Volcanoes add solid particulates to the atm, in addition to adding sulfur dioxide, which when combined with water will yield sulfuric acid. Particulates of sulfur can remain suspended in the stratosphere for long periods of time and can impact the radiation balance.
How does the global water cycle interact with the other sub-systems of climate as noted in previous chapters?
Water is transferred between Earth's surface and atmosphere by phase changes (evaporation, condensation, transpiration, sublimation and deposition) and precipitation. At the interface between liquid water and air (e.g., lake or sea surface), water molecules continually change phase by crossing the interface between water and air. Water in the form of atmospheric precipitation strikes the ground directly, it may be intercepted by vegetation (biosphere) and then evaporate or drip to the ground, permeate the soil (pedosphere) or fall into the Ocean (hydrosphere). On the land surface, water may follow an indirect pathway to other sub-systems. Some water vaporizes directly back into the atmosphere while some is temporarily stored in lakes, snow, ice fields, or glaciers (cryosphere). The remainder either flows on the surface as rivers or streams (runoff component) or seeps into the ground as soil moisture or groundwater (infiltration component).
Climate change
a change in the state of the climate system, identified by changes in the average conditions and the variability of its properties, that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer, due to natural and/or anthropogenic processes and forcings.
A Carbon Tax to Fossil Fuel companies for the CO emissions ultimately released is _______ to implement at the federal level compared to a Cap & Trade system that monitors the CO as it is released from all smokestacks.By comparison, the Carbon Fee & Dividend system retains the cheaper and more efficient method of collecting the Carbon Tax to Fossil Fuel companies for the CO emissions ultimately released, but returns this revenue to the people via monthly checks to all taxpayers. Because return of this revenue is distributed evenly to all households, lower income families that consume fewer fossil fuels have the greatest benefit.Ultimately, the concept of returning the revenue generated from the Carbon Tax to Fossil Fuel Companies back to taxpayers so the funds do not grow the government, has given the Carbon Fee and Dividend _______ approval at the National level.
cheaper / bipartisan
The greatest energy source for electricity production in the U.S. in 2012 was from ___________ but is now from __________. This is helpful because _____________ produces about half the half the CO2 emissions.
coal / natural gas/ natural gas
Oregon coast waters are _______ in the summer while the air is ________. When the __________ air hits the ___________ water this causes condensation and the formation of fog. a. warm / warm / warm / warm b. warm / cold / cold / warm c. cold / cold / cold / cold d. cold / warm / warm / cold
cold / warm / warm / cold
