APES Unit 6- Weather and Climate pt. 2
What is "Flex-fuel"? What do we use in the U.S. to make it?
Flex Fuel is alternative fuel made of a combination of gasoline and methanol or ethanol.
Greatest areas of consumption by category
Food Goods Mobility Services Shelter
Burning of fuel releases ____ oxides, which form acid rain, and are also a greenhouse gas.
Nitrous
Did the US sign the Kyoto Protocol? Did the US sign the Paris Climate Agreement?
No and Yes
Three Main things that affect the climate of an area.
1. The proximity to water. 2. Latitude - farthest away from equator is cooler. 3. Geography and elevation Lands heats up faster than water.
For about how many years of geologic time have humans existed on Earth?
100,000 (Total for Homo Sapiens) ___________________________ x 100 = 0.002% of the time of earth Homo Sapiens 4.6 Billion years (Total Since Earth Formation) lived on Earth
How many US Naval bases are at risk from sea level rise?
128
For what percentage of time has life existed on Earth? (Show your work and round to the nearest whole number.)
3.5 Billion Years (Total for Bacteria) _____________ x 100 = 76% of the time since the formation of 4.6 Billion Years (Total Since Earth Formation) earth, there has been bacteria
During the last ice age, what % of the Earth's land area was covered with ice?
30%
How old is the Earth?
4.6 billion years old
How much lower was sea level compared to now, due to water being locked up in ice?
400 ft
What is a convection cell as it relates to weather?
A convection cell is where the sun warms the air and causes some of it to rise, while cooler air sinks in a cyclical pattern.
The liquid form of acid deposition.
Acid Rain
Discuss any trends you see regionally in the U.S. Which regions of the continental U.S. are most affected by climate change, and which are least affected? Use data in your discussion. Be sure to discuss both temperature and precipitation.
All of the nine regions show a steady increase in overall linear mean temperature with the midwest regions showing the greatest fluctuations in temperature throughout various years. Studying the regional graphs, the entire U.S. has shown a steady increase in temperature in the last 50 years with the Southwest (+2.5 degrees F) and Southeast (+2.1 degrees F) showing the greatest increase. The midwestern and eastern regions show a steady upward trend of precipitation with the East Coast showing the greatest increase of precipitation. The Mideastern region showed the greatest increase at approximately (+6.0"), followed by the Southeast region (+5.5") and the Northeast region (+5.0") The three western regions show the lowest changes in precipitation with the midwest (+2.0) showing the only increase. The Northwest region showed a decrease of (-1.0") and the Southwest region shows a decrease of (-0.2") of precipitation. It is clear from the graphs presented that the entire U.S. is experiencing climate change with the East Coast showing the greatest increase in precipitation and the west coast and east coast showing similar changes and increases in temperature. The West coast is showing the greatest decrease in precipitation. The central regions show an increase in both temperature and precipitation
Earth's Climate always changes
Alligator fossils have been found in Greenland and Palm trees in Chicago 55 million years ago, the average earth temp was 69 degrees F (no ice at all) Today average earth temperature is 59 degrees F In the past 1 million years, there was mostly ice ages Global temperature 5 degrees lower Sea levels 300 ft lower Last 10,000 years= warm interglacial period
What happens to air at a warm front vs. a cold front?
At a warm front, the warm air is less dense than cool air, and rises up over the cool air. As the warm air rises, the moisture in it condenses into droplets, creating layers of clouds at different altitudes. Eventually, the clouds get thicker and move to a lower altitude, releasing the moisture as rainfall. During a cold front, the denser cold air stays closer to the ground and goes beneath the less dense warmer air, pushing the warmer air up, producing quickly moving, towering clouds called thunderheads. This can cause high surface winds and thunderstorms, then cooler temperatures and a clear sky.
How can we tell that current CO2 levels are from the burning of fossil fuels rather than from burning forests/plants?
Because the amount of Carbon 14 has not risen, scientists know that the CO2 did not come from the burning of recently living plants. Instead, they found the type of carbon that is found when plants and animals that were dead for a long time are burned.
Does our lab provide us with a clear picture of climate change? Why or why not? Explain which other areas of the world would have been valuable to analyze and why
By looking at the changes in mean average temperature, the majority of red lines (lines where the temperature is above the median), are after the year 2000. This is a clear indication of climate change where the average temperature in Alaska is increasing. It would also be valuable to analyze other continents and cities in the Northern and Southern hemisphere. By sampling different points on the globe and having multiple data points, we should be able to fully analyze and confirm the extent of global climate change. It would be helpful to know if climate change is mostly affecting the United States, or if it affects other places on the globe more so we can see what is causing the change and what we can do to stop it. With just the lab we did, we are unable to see a clear picture of climate change, as we only see how temperatures in the continental United States are changing, and climate change is an international problem. It would have also been helpful to use graphs like these to see how the climate has been deviating from the norm in the cities we selected
Short for Chlorofluorocarbons.
CFCs
The hole in the ozone layer caused an increase in the amount of this disease - especially of the skin variety.
Cancer
Acid that's formed in rain due to CO2 reacting with the water. Keeps normal rain pH around 5.6.
Carbonic
Device in your car that limits nitrogen emissions.
Catalytic Converter
What Causes Climate Change?
Changes in the intensity of the sun due to solar flares- cause slow, long-term effects over many thousands of years. Periodic changes to the shape of the Earth's orbit around the sun. Also causes very slow changes over many thousands of years. "Wobbling" of the axis and tilt of the Earth- called Milankovitch Cycles (41,00 years) Volcanic eruptions- short-term. Ash blocks the sun causing cooling. Release of methane and CO2 trap heat in the atmosphere. Meteor impacts. Changes in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations- such as CO2 (which is definitely increasing!)
This country is known for having some of the worst smog in the world.
China
The element in CFC's that breaks apart ozone.
Chlorine
Explain several ways that cities can have microclimates different than surrounding biomes.
Cities can have different microclimates based on their average weather over three decades or more. Building materials such as bricks, concrete, and asphalt can absorb and hold heat, and buildings block the wind. Cars and motor vehicles, and heating and cooling systems of buildings release large amounts of heat and pollutants. This leads to cities tending to have more haze and smog, higher temperatures, and lower winds speeds than countrysides. These factors make cities heat islands.
Burning this fossil fuel releases the most sulfur, although the nitrogen can be "washed" out of it before burning.
Coal
What are condensation nuclei and how are they related to dew point?
Condensation nuclei are tiny suspended particle of dust, smoke, sea slats, or volcanic ash in the air around which water droplets can form. The dew point is the temperature level the air has to drop to in order for moisture in the air to condense and form clouds. This condensation process also requires condensation nuclei.
CFC's were extensively used as a propellant and a _______.
Coolant
Why are our summer days longer than our winter days?
During the summer, the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. This results in longer days because the sun's rays are directly on the northern hemisphere, giving it more light for longer.
What causes El Nino?
El Nino is caused by winds that would usually blow constantly from east to west weakening or reversing direction. A thermocline is a horizontal zone of gradual temperature change that separates warm and cold waters. This thermocline sinks in the eastern Pacific, causes changes in weather.
What is El Nino? What are its effects?
El Nino is where, every few years, the wind pattern in the Pacfic Ocean get disrupted, affecting weather around the globe. The winds that blow from east to west weaken or reverse direction, allowing the warmer water of the western Pacific to move toward the South American coast. The line of gradual temperature change called the thermocline that speartes warm and cold waters, sinks in the eastern Pacific. This results in drier weather in some areas and wetter weather in others. It can also increase the wath's temperature.
Climate is not only affected by latitudes. Choose two cities (they do not have to be the ones you graphed individually) that have differences in their proximity to geographical features that might impact their climates. Explain how these differences are shown in the 50 year climate data graphs
Eureka, CA is located on the west coast along the Pacific Ocean. The proximity to the Pacific Ocean should temper the fluctuation in temperatures, however, there is a steady increase in the temperature in the last 50 years which is an indication of climate change. This shows that there is an increase in ocean temperature which is heating the coastal region since water retains the heat longer than land. A city like New York is located near the Atlantic Ocean which should also temper the fluctuation in temperatures but there is still a steady increase in temperature. Again, this is most likely due to an increase in water temperature. The increase in water temperature also can lead to an increase in tropical storms like typhoons, which can increase precipitation. The 50 year climate data shows a steady increase in precipitation for the East Coast which impacts numerous cities from the North to the South. The West Coast however, is showing less precipitation increase with two regions actually showing a decrease in precipitation. Being near the water should also increase the precipitation because when warm water meets land, water evaporates into the clouds and is precipitated into the nearby region. This is the most evident in the midwest and all three eastern regions. Also, cities located on the leeward sides of mountains in the midwest will see less precipitation because the moisture is deposited on the windward side and the dry air on the leeward side absorbs the remaining moisture as part of the rainshadow effect.
In aquatic environments, acid rain can prevent the eggs of _____ and amphibians from hatching.
Fish
Name four greenhouse gases
Four greenhouse gases include water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).
Why is the earth warm?
Greenhouse Effect Light comes through the atmosphere, hits earth, and turns to heat. The heat radiates upward, Some heat is trapped by gases in the atmosphere, and the heat stays in it. With it, the earth would be 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Too much CO2 from burning fuels warms up the atmosphere too much
What type of weather occurs when a high pressure system moves into an area, and why?
High pressure systems contain cooler, dense air that moves slowly toward the surface of the earth and becomes warmer. This warming does not allow water molecules in the air to form droplets, so clouds, which are made of droplets, do not form during a high pressure system. This means that fair weather and clear sky usually comes after a high pressure system.
How is a hurricane different from a typhoon?
Hurricanes are tropical cyclones that form in the Atlantic Ocean, while typhoons are formed in the Pacific Ocean. They take long to form and gain strength.
How can scientists determine the CO2 concentration in the air from thousands of years ago?
Ice cores have trapped air bubbles in them, and scientists can take these ice cores and analyze them in a vacuum chamber to find the concentration of CO2 in them.
Why do you suppose climate change causes tropical cyclones to get stronger & more frequent? Relate it to the conditions needed for cyclones to form.
In order for a tropical cyclone to form, the temperature of the ocean water has to be at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Low pressure areas of the warm ocean water draws in air from higher-pressure areas, and moist air that was warmed by the ocean, rises in a vortex through the center of the storm until it becomes a tropical cyclone. With climate change and greenhouse gases often raising the temperature of the earth in places, the ocean is more likely to be warmer more often, creating an environment for tropical cyclones to be created.
Why is it warmer at the equator (0° latitude) than near the poles (say 75° latitude)?
It is warmer at the equator because air is heated much more at the equator where the sun's rays stroke it directly. At the poles, sunlight stikes at an angle, spreading out over a greater area, so solar heating changes with latitude.
Which way do jet streams flow and why?
Jet streams are powerful winds that flow from west to east near the top of the troposphere. There is one in each hemisphere somewhere above and below the equator. Jet streams are forms because of the difference in temperature between the equator and the poles, causing the air to move. As the air moves away from the equator, north and south, it gets deflected by rotation of the earth and flows west to east. The greater the temperature difference, the faster the wind flows.
What is La Nina? What are its effects?
La Nina is the reverse of El Nino and cools some coastal surface waters. It occurs every few years and usually leads to more Atlantic Ocean hurricanes, colder winter in Canada and the northeastern US, and warmer and drier winters in the southeastern and wouthwestern US. It also leads to wetter winters in the Pacific Northwest, heavy rains in Southeast Asia, and even more wildfires in Florida.
What type of weather occurs when a low pressure system moves into an area, and why?
Low pressure systems have low-density, warm air at their center. The warm air rises, expands, and cools, and when its temperature drops below the dew point, moisture in the air condenses and forms clouds. The condensations usually requires that tiny suspended particles be in the air, around which water droplets can form. The droplets can combine into larger drops or snowflakes that are heavy enough to fall from the sky. So, low pressure systems tend to produce cloudy and sometimes stormy weather.
Possible consequences of a warmer climate?
Melting glacier and polar ice caps causing rising sea levels and coastal flooding Last Ice Age: 400 ft drop in sea levels. Greenland ice melt would =23 ft rise Total Antarctic ice melt would = 200+ ft rise Currently monitored by NASA's Sea Level Project. Loss of farmland due to drought and/or flooding. Loss of dependable, regular water supplies. An increase in frequency and intensity of severe weather such as hurricanes. The spread of infectious diseases such as malaria. Loss of biodiversity and natural ecosystems worldwide. Ex: Coral Reef failure by 2030. Ex: mass species extinction. Oceans becoming warmer and more acidic. Could we actually cause Global Cooling (mini ice age)?
Use of CFC's were limited by the _____ Protocol in 1987.
Montreal
One of the two forms of acid that are formed in the cloud and create acid rain.
Nitric
Acid rain can wash ____ out of the soil, causing a deficiency in some plants.
Nutrients
What drives the ocean currents?
Ocean currents are driven by prevailing winds and the rotation of the Earth, and continental coastlines change their directions. So, between the continents, the currents flow in roughly circular patterns called gyres that move clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere.
How do ocean currents affect regional climates?
Ocean currents are mass movements of ocean water. The ocean currents distribute heat and precipitation unevenly between the tropics and other parts of the world.
What group is the #1 energy consumer in the U.S.?
Oil and Natural gas???
The evolution of life must logically have predated the rise of atmospheric oxygen. Why must this be the case?
Originally, there was anerobic bacteria which did not require oxygen to live which developed on Earth. Scientists believe there was manganese-oxidizing photosynthesis first before Cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria then performed photo synthesis released oxygen into the atmosphere. Life first had to be on the planet before atmospheric oxygen because the plants are what put the oxygen in the atmosphere. The atmosphere was originally made up of mostly nitrogen and carbon dioxide. When plant life began developing, they used up much of the carbon dioxide and released oxygen. Once enough oxygen is released animals and humans can breathe on Earth
The molecule that blocks UV rays from hitting the planet.
Ozone
Why is Climate change so difficult to accurately predict?
Positive Feedback Loops (accelerate the system) Like a snowball effect Ex: more babies born, more people interact, and the population grows faster. Negative Feedback Loops (slow down the system) Positive Feedback Loops: When ice caps melt, more light is absorbed instead of reflected = more heat. Melting permafrost could release more methane. Warmer water = more evaporation = more Greenhouse gases Negative Feedback Loops: More cloud cover = less light penetrates = less heat. Warmer temps could lead to more plant growth = less CO2 Sea levels are rising, oceans
How is Human Activity affecting the world's climate?
Releasing large amounts of CO2 by burning fossil fuels. More than 35 billion metric tons per year! CO2= 85% of Global Warming. Human-produced CO2 lasts 100 years on average! Releasing other greenhouse gases like CFCs, methane (15% Global Warming), NOx, etc. DEFORESTATION and OCEAN ACIDIFICATION: reducing the world's great CO2 consumers (trees and phytoplankton). Ocean carbon store diffuses into the atmosphere, it can also get stored in the rocks All Fossil Fuels and Energy Sectors Contribute CO2 Emissions
Devices placed on smokestacks to remove acid-rain-causing emissions.
Scrubbers
Is the Greenhouse Effect a good thing or a bad thing and why?
Some heat from solar energy escapes into space, but some is absorbed by the molecules of greenhouse gases and released into the lower atmosphere. Some of the released energy radiates into space, and some adds to the warming of the lower atmosphere and the earth's surface. This results in the natural warming of the troposphere, called the greenhouse effect. This is good because without it,the earth would be very cold and mostly lifeless. However, human activities have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and they are put into the atmosphere faster than they can be removed by the carbon and nitrogen cycles. The greenhouse effect then leads to the increase of the earth temperature and changing of its climate, making it harder for some organisms to live on.
How has climate change affected living species?
Species adapt to climate change or go extinct If the climate changes slowly, species have more time to adapt: ex: 1-2 degree change over a thousand years Ice cores in Greenland suggest that some of the earth's past climate changes have occurred violently fast: ex: +10 degrees over 50 years or -25 degrees over 100 years.
These can be worn away and destroyed by acid rain over time, especially if carved from marble or limestone.
Statues
Layer of the atmosphere where the hole in the ozone layer exists.
Stratosphere
Coal-burning power plants emit ____ dioxide which reacts to form acid rain.
Sulfur
One of the two types of acid that are formed in the clouds and are a component of acid rain.
Sulfuric
Increased exposure to UV radiation causes more people to get _____.
Sunburn
What absorbs heat and transfer it around the planet.
The Ocean absorbs heat and transfers it around the planet by the ocean currents.
What is the engine which drives the climate
The Ocean, 100 billion tons of seawater evaporate at the climate each day.
In the winter in the Northern Hemisphere the earth tilts what direction.
The earth tilts away from the sun in the northern hemisphere in the winter
In the summer in the Northern Hemisphere the earth tilts what direction
The earth tilts towards the sun in the summer
What three factors (known as Melankovich Cycles) affect Earth's climate as a whole?
The first factor is slight changes in the shape of the Earth's orbit around the sun from mostly round to more elliptical over a 100,00 year cycle. The second is slight changes in the tilt of the Earth's axis over a 41,000 year cycle, and the third is slight changes in the Earth's wobbly orbit around the sun over a 20,000 year cycle. These three factors, the Milankovitch cycles, affect Earth's climate as a whole.
Look back at the PRISM website, at the DATA EXPLORER page. Choose at least two other types of data settings on this page (ex. Minimum temp, or monthly values), and explain why they might have been valuable to graph and analyze
The minimum temperature may be valuable because if it also shows a steady increase that means the nightly temperature or winter temperature is also increasing. The monthly maximum temperature may be useful if it shows a trend of hotter summers or winters. It would show if all seasons have an increase in temperature or just some seasons. Also, the minimum and maximum VPD (vapor pressure deficit) could be valuable to analyze because it shows how saturated the air is getting and if the amount of moisture in the air is getting to the saturation point. If the moisture in the air is at the saturation point, that would lead to more precipitation and humidity.
Analyze the data you have collected and type your conclusions into the boxes following each prompt. Discuss whether or not you see any overall trends regarding the climate in the U.S. Be sure to clearly reference YOUR specific graphs in your analysis, and compare them to other cities around the country.
The overall linear mean annual temperature trend from Louisville, KY and Eureka, CA show a steady increase from 1970 to 2019. The linear mean average temperature increased approximately 1.5 degrees for Louisville, KY and approximately 2.0 degrees for Eureka, CA. Both of these individual city graphs are aligned with their regional graphs which also show a steady linear mean temperature increase. Eureka, CA is located in Northern California on the West Coast which is the midwest region which shows approximately a 2.0 degree increase in annual temperature. Louisville, KY is located in the Midcentral region which shows approximately a 1.8 degree increase in annual temperature. Overall, all regions in the U.S. have shown a steady increase in linear mean temperatures with the southwest region showing the greatest increase in temperature. These changes in temperature are an indication of climate change. Next, the overall linear mean precipitation for Louisville, KY increased approximately 9 in. in 50 years. The overall linear mean precipitation remained more steady and only increased approximately 4 inches in Eureka, CA. However, the precipitation changes of these cities are higher than the precipitation increases shown in their respective regional graphs. Overall, most regions showed an increase in precipitation, but there were two regions which showed an average decrease in precipitation, the northwest and southwest. The decrease in precipitation is also an indication of climate change, as it shows some regions are getting drier.
Explain how the Rainshadow Effect can have a major impact on the climate conditions surrounding mountain ranges.
The rain shadow effect is where drier air masses pass over mountaintops, flows down the slopes and warms up. The warmer air can hold more moisture, but doesn't release much of it. This dries out plants and soil below. Over many decades, this results in semiarid or arid conditions of the side of a high mountain range that is facing away from the wind (leeward). This effects can sometimes lead to the formation of deserts like Death Valley.
What causes the wind patterns?
The rotation of the earth on its axis pushes the air east to west, causes large scale movements of air, this reacts with other air masses to move moisture around
For how long has there been life on Earth?
There has been life on Earth for 3.5 billion years, starting with bacteria.
Why is it warmer at the equator than at the poles?
There is a higher solar angle, therefore this place receives more intense solar radiation. lattitude.
How can scientists determine how much CO2 came from volcanoes vs. humans burning things?
They measure how much CO2 comes from volcanoes and how much CO2 comes from humans burning fossil fuels. Volcanoes don't use oxygen, but burning fossil fuels does. Scientists have seen that the amount of O2 went down as the amount of CO2 went up, so it came mostly from burning fossil fuels.
How can scientists determine the temperature from past years using ice cores?
They measure the chemistry of the oxygen in the air bubbles in the ice and analyze the isotopes to get a temperature reading.
which of the following things have changed over the past several million years to affect climate?
Tilt of the Earth and Shape of Earth's orbit
How is a tornado different from a tropical cyclone?
Tornadoes form over land, while tropical cyclones form over warm ocean water and sometimes pass over coastal land areas. Tornadoes occur when large, dry, cold fronts run into large masses of warm humid air. The warm air move quickly over the the cold air, rises rapidly and forming strong vertical convection currents that such air upward. Tropical cyclones are created by the formation of low-pressure cells of air over warm tropical seas.
Layer of the atmosphere where acid rain and smog occur.
Troposphere
What creates climate?
Warm water (and fresh water) is lighter so it floats. Cold water (and saltier water) is more dense so it sinks. This creates a conveyor belt transporting water, air masses and around the planet in predictable patterns.
what is the atmospheric structure
Weather and greenhouse gases in the troposphere
What is weather? What is climate? How are they different?
Weather is the short-term atmospheric conditions over a period of time from hours to days to years, while climate is the general pattern of atmospheric conditions in a certain area over a period of time from three decades to thousands of years. Weather changes daily, during seasonal changes, and over a few years, while climate changes slowly because it is the average atmospheric conditions over a long period of time.
What is lake effect snow?
snow falling on the leeward side of a lake, generated by cold dry air passing over warmer water, especially in the Great Lakes region.
What is the rain shadow effect?
the windward side of a mountain has a lot of moisture and there is an area of low rainfall found on the leeward (downwind) side of a mountain range
What is the average amount of CO2 emitted per person each year in Ethiopia?
0.15 tonnes
The largest ozone hole is over this continent.
Antarctica
How could a ratification of a climate change global warming treaty affect us in the long term next 10 to 50 years.
1. A decrease in troposphere air pollution, acid rain, and smog. 2. A reduced potential of a global energy war. 3. The use of energy-efficient technologies would reduce costs and help the economy in the long run. It could decrease the US dependence on foreign energy sources such as oil.
What are the three countries who have the largest emissions?
1. China 2. USA 3. EU
Name three countries that have done a lot to change their emissions?
1. China 2. United States 3. India
How could a ratification of a climate change global warming treaty affect us in the next 5 to 10 years.
1. Could slow down the economy due to higher energy and installation costs. 2. Could product unfair economic competition from LDC )lower developed countries3. It would be cheaper to switch to cleaner more energy-efficient technologies. 4.Could provide economic opportunities.
List 10 ways that you could reduce your carbon footprint.
1. Drive less- use more public transportation, carpool, use a fuel-efficient vehicle to reduce emissions from vehicles. 2. Eat less or no meat because the production of meat uses lots of resources and give off greenhouse gases. 3. Eat local so that food doesn't have to be transported as far and release pollution gases. 4. Produce less waste- check dates on products and take inventory. 5. Don't buy things I won't need or eat. Plan out meals to make sure I use all the food I have. Freeze food to extend its life. Compost food waste. 6. Reduce Energy used by turning off lights and appliances when not in use, turn down the heat, use LED lights instead of incandescent bulbs. 7. Recycle more and put recyclables in the right bin. Reuse and repair items instead of disposing of them. 8. Clothing- wear used clothes or buy ones that will last a long time. Donate old clothes instead of throwing them away. 9. Shopping- use a reusable bag instead of plastic ones and buy products with less packaging to reduce waste. Water and CO2 reduction- use a low-flow showerhead and take shorter showers. 10. When buying new appliances, choose energy efficient ones. When buying a car, choose a hybrid or electric one. When buying a computer, buy a laptop instead of a desktop.
List some current effects of climate change
1. Melting sea ice causing loss of habitat for polar bears. 2. Melting glaciers exposing land where there once was snow and ice. 3. Increased drought in some areas causing dried up lake beds. 4. Water levels rising causing flooding and increased severity of the storms. 5. Coral reefs dying due to increased carbon dioxide in the water. 6. Warming waters is causing an increased number of storms. 7. Increased heavy precipitation. 8. An increase in wild fires as the increased temperature evaporates moisture quicker drying out the plants. 9. Loss of Antarctic Ice. 10. Rising sea levels causing property damage 11. Negative health effects due to increased smog and pollution.
What was discussed at the world economic summit
1000 CEOs agree global warming is the number 1 threat to the environment. US companies want the government to provide clear guidelines on carbon emissions.
What is the average amount of CO2 emitted per person (per capita) each year in the United States?
16.06 tonnes
How many countries were involved in the Kyoto Protocol? How many countries involved in the Paris Climate Agreement?
192 and 195
What year was the Kyoto Protoco signed? Year the Paris Climate Accord was signed?
1997 and 2016
What is the average amount of CO2 emitted per person each year in Brazil?
2.21 tonnes
What are the two warmest years ever on record?
2016 and 2020 are tied for the warmest year on record
What is the average amount of CO2 emitted per person each year in China?
7.1 tonnes
Your ecological footprint: How many hectares would your lifestyle take
7.2 hectares = 18 acres (1 hectare = 2.5 acres) Your Carbon footprint is 52% ,10.8 tonnes CO2
What is the average amount of CO2 emitted per person each year in Germany?
8.4 tonnes
What % of the heat from global warming is being absorbed by the oceans?
80 to 90%
What is a mass extinction event?
A mass extinction event is an event where more than 75% of the species goes extinct.
How much has Earth's sea level risen since 1993?
About 97 millimeters
How do scientists determine when an era begins and when it ends?
According to scientists, an Era begins or ends with a significant event such as mass extinction. If drastic changes are found in fossil records which show a massive change, then scientists can use that as a basis to determine the beginning or end of an era
What is the difference between an Epoch, an Era, and a Period?
An Era is a period of time which starts from a specific date or from a specific event. A period of time is a smaller part or parts of an Era. An Epoch ia a time or an event which begins a new or memorable period or development. According to geological time, an Epoch is a division of a Period, which is a division of an Era, which is a division of an Eon
Why do you think animals moved onto land after plants moved onto land?
Animals probably moved onto land after plants because the animals followed the plants to eat them for food and breathe the oxygen they give off.
Acid deposition can cause aggravation of people with lung disorders like _____ and emphysema.
Asthma
Could some parts of the world benefit from global warming? Canada and Heating Bills, Russia and Farming?
Atmospheric CO2 Concentration Levels Ice Age 20,000 Years Ago: 180 ppm Pre-Industrial 1800: 280 ppm 2021: 415 ppm Projected 2050: 500 ppm Projected 2100: 1,000 ppm
What country relies on sugarcane as biofuel.
Brazil today is home to the world's largest fleet of cars that use ethanol derived from sugarcane as an alternative fuel to fossil fuel based petroleum. Twenty-seven million cars, 73% of the total, can use a mix of ethanol and gasoline
Is the average amount of CO2 released higher or lower than the number you calculated on the previous website?
CO2 is Higher by 5.26 tonnes
What state has its own greenhouse emissions guidelines
California has its own carbon emission guidelines. 9 northeast states planning to do the same. New Jersey pledged 80% reduction by 2050.
Which country is the world's largest energy consumer?
China
What is the end date of the Kyoto treaty? What is the end date of the Paris Climate Agreement Treaty?
December 31, 2012 and 2025
What way can you help with climate change?
Food- I can try to buy foods with less packaging and eat more vegetarian and vegan meals.Planet- Recycle more, conserve land, make animal habitats.Energy- I live pretty far from places I need to go, so I can't ride my bike places.
Look at the factors that caused Mass Extinctions in the past. Many scientists believe we are in the midst of a sixth. What factors do we see today that occurred to cause previous mass extinctions
For the End Ordovician extinction, scientists believe it was caused by a short and severe ice age that lowered sea levels and froze the land. For the Late Devonian extinction scientists believe the land plants which covered the planet released nutrients into the ocean which triggered algae blooms. The algae blooms depleted the oxygen from the water which suffocated bottom dwellers. For the End Permian extinction, scientists believe it was a combination of an eruption releasing CO2 into the atmosphere. Bacteria responded by releasing methane causing temperatures to rise and the oceans became acidified. For the End Cretaceous Extinction, scientists believe a combination of volcanic activity on top of climate change with an asteroid impact caused this event. Factors we have today that can lead to another mass extinction are increasing CO2 levels and rising temperatures due to increases in pollution and greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. More storms and natural disasters are being caused by this climate change and global warming, and glaciers are melting, causing sea levels to rise. Some of things that caused the previous mass extinction could be triggered by climate change and global warming and lead to another mass extinction.
evidence of climate change
Fossil records- sea shells in deserts Ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica Ocean floor sediment cores Coral Reef Growth Records . seafloor sediments, oxygen isotope analysis, tree rings, palynology, geology, historical records
Summarize the three reasons why global warming cannot be attributed to changes in the energy coming from the sun.
Global warming cannot be attributed to changes in the energy coming from the sun because since 1750, the average amount of energy coming from the sun hasn't increased much. Also, only the surface of the earth and lower parts of the atmosphere have been warming. If the sun was warming it, all the layers would be warmer. This means that the warming is coming from excess greenhouse gases being trapped. Also, climate models show that solar irradiance can't caused the type of temperature trend that has been occurring without a rise in greenhouse gases.
What happened to Greenland and Iceland since 1994?
Greenland and Iceland have lost about 294 billion metric tons of ice per year. Greenland's ice sheet is 1.7 square km in area, is 2.3 km (1.4 mi) thick, and contains 7% of the world's freshwater. Glaciers on the coast of Greenland move ice from the middle of the island to the North Atlantic, where they break off as icebergs and melt into the ocean. If Greenland melts completely, which could take thousands of years, global sea level would rise by up to 7 m or 23 ft.
How is Human Activity affecting the world's climate?
Humans are Releasing large amounts of CO2 by burning fossil fuels. More than 35 billion metric tons per year! CO2= 85% of Global Warming. Human-produced CO2 lasts 100 years on average! Releasing other greenhouse gases like CFCs, methane (15% Global Warming), NOx, etc. DEFORESTATION and OCEAN ACIDIFICATION: reducing the world's great CO2 consumers (trees and phytoplankton). Ocean carbon store diffuses into the atmosphere, it can also get stored in the rocks All Fossil Fuels and Energy Sectors Contribute CO2 Emissions
What do we need to do to stop climate change_
In order to slow or stop climate change, we need to increase energy efficiency, use more sources of renewable energy, conserve water resource, eliminate waste, prevent pollution, and increase the amount of recycling done. We also need to use more sustainable materials, follow regulations by the government and scientists, and raise awareness about climate change and what people can do to help
What has been done so far for climate change?
International Climate Treaties: Kyoto Protocol- 1997: Stop global warming and limit emissions of greenhouse gases worldwide. 192 countries Paris Climate Agreement- 2015: 196 countries. The Kyoto Treaty was largely a failure. The US didn't sign it because it would have brought economic hardship. Most countries did poorly at cutting emissions except Russia. Carbon Trading/Emissions Trading Countries that do not exceed their emissions "cap" get credits for future years, or they can sell their "extra" emissions to other countries. Instead of reducing their own emissions, countries can pay to help lower emissions in other countries. Favorable because there are no direct penalties. Carbon Tax If countries don't meet their emissions targets, they must pay a "tax", or penalty based on how far off they were.
2015 International Climate Treaty
International Climate Treaty An international agreement between 196 Nations for worldwide CO2 and Greenhouse Gas Emissions cuts. Overarching Goal: Limit Global Temperature Increases to 2 degrees C or 3.6 degrees F. 2050: Greenhouse Gas emissions should be reduced to levels that forests, plants, and oceans can absorb naturally. What are the conditions of the 2015 Climate Treaty? Emissions Targets are set by all countries of the world. MDCs are expected to begin to reduce emissions starting now. Ex: USA 26% cut in emissions below 2005 levels by 2025. LDCs are expected to cap emissions until they can begin to actually cut emissions. Ex: China 20% cut in emissions by 2030. Reviewing Targets All countries will review their targets every 5 years in hopes that emissions cuts may be modified and increased. Transparency There are no penalties but all countries must report their emissions cuts progress on a regular basis Money Wealthier countries may offer financial support to the poorer countries to help them switch to a non-carbon economy. Loss and Damage Smaller Coastal or Island Nations may claim "Loss and Damage" due to rising sea levels or severe storm damage, but Loss and Damage does not involve liability and compensation for damages.
Who discovered that CO2 and water vapor trap heat, how and why?
It was discovered during the Cold War by the US Air Force because they could not see missiles that used heat and gases that were absorbed by CO2.
For the Paris Agreement, How were LDC's (Less developed countries) handled differently?
LDCs can appeal to damages from climate change. Funds can help the LDCs deal with climate change
This rock helps to buffer the effects of acid rain if found naturally in the environment.
Limestone
This is what acid deposition does to the pH level of lakes and streams.
Lower
What is causing the oceans to become more acidic?
Oceans are becoming more acidic because humans are emitting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere leading to more being absorbed into the ocean. The Oceans absorb carbon dioxide.
Why do oceans absorb more heat than land
Oceans can absorb 1,000 times the amount of heat as the atmosphere because water has a higher heat capacity than air.
Summarize the four bullet points found under "consequences of changing the atmospheric gases" paragraph.
Overall, the earth will become warmer, and some regions may not be able to handle the warmer weather. Warmer weather leads to more evaporation and precipitation, but some regions may become wetter while other become drier. The higher temperatures will melt glaciers, leading to increased sea levels and flooding. Warming ocean water also expands, making sea levels rise farther. While carbon dioxide can help plant growth, too much can also hurt plant growth through the changing temperatures, ozone, and decreased water and nutrients. Extreme weather conditions caused by climate change like droughts and floods also hurt crops, and rising CO2 could reduce the nutritional value of crops. Climate change can also lead to new diseases and pests being introduced that hurt plants, animals, and people.
Both acid rain and increased UV exposure can damage the ____ on cars.
Paint
Smog is a combination of tropospheric ozone and fine _____ matter in the atmosphere.
Particulate
Richard Allie is a geology professor from which university?
Penn State
How were greenhouse gas limits determined for MDC's (More developed countries)? For Kyoto
Percentages of reduction of CO2 were set for each MDC.
What has increased since 1950 in the climate
Since 1950, the number of record high temperature events and numbers of intense rainfall events in the United States have been increasing. Conversely, the number of record low temperature events has been decreasing. The 2020 season had a record-breaking 30 named storms.
How do you think this fact impacts the amount of attention paid to climate change by the developed countries of the world?
Since most people do not live at or near the poles, they will most likely not pay as much attention to climate change since they have not seen its effects firsthand as much. Since they don't live there, they do not know about how much climate change is affecting the poles, or they don't care because they don't think it affects them.
Percentages of reduction of CO2 were set for each MDC? for Paris
The Agreement helps countries deal with climate change and stop it. Countries can set and work towards their own climate goals.
What did the inter government panel of scientists agree on regarding the climate
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of 1,300 scientists from countries all over the world concluded that there's a greater than 95% possibility that human activities over the past 50 years have warmed the planet in its Fifth Assessment Report. Industrial activities have raised atmospheric CO2 levels from 280 parts per million to 414 ppm. The panel also concluded that there is a 95% possibility that human-produced greenhouse gases have caused much of the increases in the Earth's temperatures over the past 50
Which large area of the globe showed the most drastic temperature increase?
The Poles
What happened to Arctic Ice since 1994?
The annual Arctic minimum has decreased by about 13.1% per decade. Sea ice is formed from frozen seawater, with the area of sea ice covering the Artic Ocean increasing in the winter and decreasing in the summer. Over the last 30 years, the area covered by the ice has dramatically declined, especially in the summer. Arctic sea ice reflects sunlight and keeps the polar regions cool, and is important because it moderates the global climate.
What happened to Antarctic Ice since 1994?
The antarctic has lost about 127 billion metric tons of ice per year. Ice shelves are thick slabs of ice attached to the shore, extending out over the ocean, making up 44% of Antarctica's coastline. Ice shelves are 200-2,500 meters (656-8,202 feet) thick and can last for thousands of years. They occasionally create icebergs, some the size of a small US state. Ice shelves respond faster to rising temperatures than ice sheets or glaciers because they are exposed to warming air above and warming ocean below. Ice shelves are thinning at a faster rate because of warming ocean water, not contributed to by geothermal heat underground.
List the 5 major greenhouse gases.
The five major greenhouse gases are water vapor, nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide, and Chlorofluorocarbons.
Analyze the graph that's shown at the top of the page. What is it showing? What's significant about it?
The graph is showing the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels from 800,000 years ago to today. This is significant because it shows how, from around 1950 to today, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has been increasing dramatically, not decreasing at all. It shows how from 1950 onward, the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have been higher than the levels have ever been for thousands of years.
What do you think the graphs are showing?
The graphs are showing how the amount of atmospheric CO2 fluctuates month to month, and increases over years and decades at the Mauna Loa, a volcano in Hawaii.
How much more carbon dioxide is being absorbed by the ocean's upper layer each year?
The ocean has absorbed 20%-30% of total anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions- 7.2 to 10.8 billion metric tons per year.
How much has the temperature rose in the last 100 years
The temperature of the Earth has increased about 2 degrees Fahrenheit during the 20th century. Tree rings, ice cores, and coral reefs show that the global average temperature is stable over long periods of time, and even small changes in temperature cause huge changes to the environment. At the end of the last ice age, when the US was covered in large amounts of ice, the temperatures were only 5-9 degrees cooler than they are today.
hat trend has been seen in the past 7 years regarding global temperatures?
The temperature of the Earth has risen since the late 19th century due mostly to increased carbon dioxide emissions. Most of the warming occurred in the last 40 years, and the last 7 years have been the warmest.
What causes the seasons?
The tilt of the earth's axis 23.5 degrees
For Paris Agreement, Are countries penalized if they do not reach their goal?
There are no penalties for not meeting the Paris Agreement. Countries can set their own goals, and there are no penalties. Countries may not set strict targets or follow through.
What happened to glaciers since 1994
There has been about 400 billion tons of total glacier loss per year since 1994. Glaciers contain ice that took centuries to develop and can melt in only a few years. Glaciers melt fast because once the ice begins to break down, the interaction between the meltwater and the glacier's structure can cause faster melting. Since glaciers are white, they reflect the Sun's rays, and if the glaciers melt, darker surfaces will be exposed, absorbing more heat and raising the earth's temperature even more.
For the Kyoto protocol, How were LDC's (Less developed countries) handled differently?
They were encouraged to stop the growth of use of CO2 and do what they can to reduce it.
Which of the following things have changed over the past several million years to affect climate?
Tilt of the Earth and Shape of Earth's orbit
The ozone layer blocks ____ radiation from entering Earth's atmosphere.
Ultraviolet
What can you infer from the graphs?
We can infer that the amount of CO2 in the air increases and decreases regularly each month, but overall, the amount of atmospheric CO2 is increasing.
If everyone lived and consumed like an American, home much resources would we need.
We would need 4.2 Earths to provide the worlds population resources
Now open the link called "How does climate change affect coral reefs". Read through the article and examine the diagrams. Explain how and why coral "bleaching" occurs.
When corals get stressed by changes in conditions like temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, which causes them to turn completely white. This does not kill the coral, but makes them mor susceptible to death. With climate change, the temperature of the water is increasing due to more greenhouse gases trapping heat in the atmosphere. Since water can absorb a large amount of heat, the coral reefs are under more stress because of the change in temperature and can be susceptible to bleaching.
Positive Feedback Loops:
When ice caps melt, more light is absorbed instead of reflected = more heat. Melting permafrost could release more methane. Warmer water = more evaporation = more Greenhouse gases
What questions do you have after looking at these graphs?
Why does the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere fluctuate so much? Why has the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere increased over decades? How significant are the changes in the CO2 levels? How can we stop the increase of CO2 released?
For Kyoto, Are countries penalized if they do not reach their goal?
Yes, they would get lower emissions limits the next year. Supposed to be a financial penalty, but there never was. Penalties were never enforced and it wasn't strict enough.
What is La Nina?
a cooling of the water in the equatorial Pacific that occurs at irregular intervals and is associated with widespread changes in weather patterns complementary to those of El Niño, but less extensive and damaging in their effects.
What are greenhouse gases?
carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, Water Vapor (most potent- traps most heat) Carbon dioxide (small amount, but increasing the most) Nitrous oxides Methane CFCs Tropospheric Ozone
long-term conditions of temperature and precipitation
climate
What causes convection currents?
convection creates moisture and wind patterns. As air is heated by the sun, it rises carrying moisture.
what causes temperature, wind, and precipitaton
location (latitude), closeness to geographical features, rotation of earth produces jet streams, convection currents create rising and falling air masses.
EPA 2013 climate change plans
reduce CO2 emissions from existing coal and natural gas plants. New power ṕlants would have to meet tougher emission standards. Expand permits for renewable energy sources. Increase fuel efficiency on homes, autos, appliances
What ocean currents bring warm air and moisture
warm ocean currents and
What is El Nino?
warmer than average water in the pacific ocean off South America
day to day conditions of temperature and precipitation
weather
