Chapter 18 - Global Climate Change
warms, cools
Positive forcing ______ the surface; negative cooling ______ it.
Atmospheric Gasses
3 or more atoms in their molecules tend to absorb infrared radiation given off by the earth surface then re-emit back downward
150 million
According to Climate Central estimates _____ ______ or more people are currently living on a land that will either be submerged or exposed to chronic flooding by 2100
Climate
Describes an area's long-term atmospheric conditions
Milankovitch Cycles
Earth wobbles on its axis, varies in tilt, and experiences changes in the shape of its orbit in regular long term cycles
sulfur
aerosol that reflect solar energy and have a cooling effect
greenhouse gas
atmospheric gases having 3 or more atoms in their molecules tend to absorb infrared radiation given off by the earths surface then re-emit it back downward
26
by 2050, how many emerging U.S. cities will face an "emerging flooding crisis"
Soot particles (Black carbon aerosols)
cause warming by absorbing solar energy
soot particles "black carbon aerosols
causes warming by absorbing solar energy
Global climate change
changes in temperature, precipitation and frequency and intensity of storms across the world
wildlife, ecosystems and society
climate change predicts future changes as well as impacts on what 3 things
70%
clouds ice soil and water absorb about _______% of solar energy impacting the earth
East Antarctic Ice sheet
could raise sea level globally by 170 feet. Virtually the entire state of Florida would be Underwater
Global Climate Change
describes the changes in temp. precipitation, and the frequency and intensity of storms across the world
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
established in 1988 by United Nations to review and summarize all available data in climate studies for policymakers and general public
50-100 inches inland
every vertical inch of sea-level rise moves the ocean ________________________.
West Antarctic ice sheet
holds enough ice to raise sea level globally by 19 feet. Costal and south Florida would be flooded
drill into ice caps/sheets to analyze the tiny bubbles of atmosphere that collected as the ice formed
how do scientists gather information about the past in ice sheets
enter past climate data and running the model toward the present
how is the efficiency of climate models tested
at least 6
how many times a year will salt water intrusion bubble up from the ground causing floods
1.1 degrees C
how much have average surface temperatures risen in the past 100 years
the target number for current climate negotiations. the sea levels may still rise at least 6 meters, reshaping coastline
if the world manages to limit global warming to 2 degrees C
Aerosols
microscopic droplets that can have either a warming or cooling effect when present in the atmosphere
aerosols
microscopic droplets that can have either a warming or cooling effect when present in the atmosphere
negative feedback loop
more atmospheric water vapor could enhance cloudiness, reflecting sunlight back into space and slow warming in a _______ _________ ________
positive feedback loop
more atmospheric water vapor could lead to more warming causing more evaporation in a _______ _______ ______
Carbon Dioxide
most significant greenhouse gas releasaded by human activity mostly through burning of fossil fuels. main contributor to climate change.
Thermohaline circulation
moves warm, tropical water north, where the heat is released near Western Europe
climate change
phenomenon that most shapes the near future for young people
methane
produced when vegetation is burned, digested, or rotted with no oxygen present
climate models
programs that combine what is known about atmospheric circulation, ocean circulation, atmosphere-ocean interactions and feedback cycles to simulate climate dynamics
Climate Models
programs that combine what is known about atmospheric/ocean circulation and feedback cycles to simulate climate dynamics
Greenhouse Effect
re-warming of the lower atmosphere by the emitting of inferred energy by gas
Global warming
refers specifically to an increase in Earth's average temperature and is only one aspect of climate change
Global warming
refers specifically to an increase in earths average temperature and is only one aspect of climate change
sulfer aerosols
reflect solar energy causing a cooling effect
Milankovitch Cycles
regular long term cycles where earth wobbles on its axis, varies in its tilt and experiences changes in the shape of its orbit
Global warming potential
relative ability of a greenhouse gas molecule to contribute to warming
absorbed and re-emitted
some of infrared radiation is _____ and _______ in all direction say greenhouse gas molecules
El Nino - Southern oscillation
systematic shifts in the atmospheric pressure, sea surface temperature, and ocean circulation in the tropical Pacific Ocean
warm
the Greenhouse Effect is to _____ the earths surface
Radiative forcing
the amount of change in thermal energy that a given factor exerts on the earths temp.
Paleoclimate
the climate in the ancient past
Greenland Ice Sheet
the equivalent of 24 feet of global sea level. Flooding in Florida would be similar to the West Antarctic case
the atmosphere absorbs or reflects most of it
the sun supplies most of our planets energy which ____ ___________________ before it even reaches the surface
The sun The Atmosphere The Oceans
three factors that exert the most influence on the Earths climate
proxy indicators
types of indirect measurements that serve as substitutes for direct measurements
temp. precipitation wind humidity barometric pressure solar radiation
what 6 factors are used to describe climate
grenhouse gases. water vapor, ozone, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and halocarbons
what are atmospheric gases called and what does it include
water vapor ozone carbon dioxide nitrous oxide methane halocarbons
what are considered Greenhouse gases
warming temp. It expanded seawater and caused glaciers and ice sheets to melt
what caused ice sheets to melt in the 20th century? why?
Hong Kong to Dhaka to New York. trillions of dollars
what cities could be effected by the "emerging flooding crisis" and how much would it cost
Mami, with Mami Beach
what city is most affected by floods
Co2 concentrations had increased from 315pp, in 1958 to 400pp, today
what did Charles Keeling notice about Mauna Loa Observatory in 1958
Oxygen, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, water vapor
what does dry air contain
Prevents major temperature shifts from night to day
what does the atmosphere have to do with climate
transfers carbon from one reservoir(underground deposits) to another
what does the combustion of fossil fuels do
store and transport heat and moisture
what does the ocean have todo with climate
contamination of water used for drinking and irrigation
what effects does the sea-level rising cause
become less soluble creating a positive feedback loop that accelerates warming
what happens to gases like CO2 as oceans warm
more water should evaporate and enter the atmosphere
what happens when tropospheric temps increase
kept the planet warm enough to support life
what has the greenhouse effect done for the earth
human activities
what is accelerating the earths climate change
2.3 watts/m^2
what is the Earths radiative force
100km
what is the boundary between our atmosphere and outer space
~200 years or more of warming
what is the estimated times for the impacts of melting Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets to show a difference
summarized trends in surface temperature, precipitation patterns, snow and ice cover, sea levels and storm intensity
what is the firth assessment report the IPCC released in 2013 and 2014
release of carbon in fossil fuels during combustion
what is the primary cause of greenhouse gasses being released into the atmosphere
ozone concentration in the troposphere has grown
what is the result of photochemical smog
floods
what is the result of rising sea levels caused by global climate change
freshwater input from Greenlands melting ice sheets
what may disrupt the flow of thermohaline circulation
garbage dumps, rice paddies and grazing cows or other livestock
what relates methane
sea levels would rise about 60 meters
what would happen if the Antarctic ice sheet completely melted
sea levels would rise by about 6 meters (20 feet)
what would happen if the Greenland ice sheet completely melted
the earths climate system is complex and many feedback systems are not known
why are current models imperfect
auto emissions, feedlots, and the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers
why has the amount of Nitrous oxide in the atmosphere increased?
lies on flat, porous limestone
why is South Florida especially vulnerable to flooding from the ocean
provides a baseline against which we can measure changes to the climate
why is paleoclimate vital