Climate Change And Ozone Notes

Question 1

Greenhouse effect

Answer 1

When the sun radiates heat, the earth tries to radiate it back, but greenhouse gases, like CO2 keep the heat, trapped in the atmosphere, causing increased warming of the earth.

Question 2

What would be the temperature of the Earth without the greenhouse effect?

Answer 2

-18°C

Because of the greenhouse effect, our average temperature is 15°C (much more habitable)

Question 3

Biotic

Answer 3

Refers to living things

(Humans, plants, animals)

Question 4

Abiotic

Answer 4

Refers to nonliving things

(Rocks, water, air)

Question 5

Biochemical cycle

Answer 5

Refers to following a path of an element through the environment (both biotic and abiotic factors effect the specific element in question)

Elements in abiotic reservoirs -> become nutrients available for producers -> producers take in nutrients -> consumers eat producers
(Producers and consumers eventually lead to decomposers)

Question 6

The carbon cycle

Answer 6

Natural:
1. CO2 in the atmosphere goes into plants via photosynthesis
2. Consumers eat the plants and release some of the CO2 back through respiration, waste product, or when they die and get decomposed
3. Decomposers release CO2 in atmosphere

Human made:
Burning of fossil fuels and wood release even an excess of CO2 in the atmosphere that plants can’t catch up with

Question 7

Anomaly

Answer 7

A number drastically which deviates from the mean (the average)

Question 8

Positive feedback loop

Answer 8

Ex.
When more ice melts in the Arctic, it reduces the amount of white reflective surface and allows for a greater absorption of the suns energy as heat.
So the less ice, the more heat absorbed, which further reduced the amount of ice.

Idea is just that the initial change is positively reinforced and continues to propel the change.

Question 9

Tipping points

Answer 9

When there is a certain amount of change in the system, the change causes feedback within the system that amplified the change, and may cause more rapid and dramatic effects.

Question 10

Disinformation campaigns

Answer 10

Campaigns funded by oil companies in order to cast out on science, saying that climate change either “isn’t real”, or “if it is real they aren’t responsible for it.”

Question 11

Ozone

Answer 11

O3

A very rare molecule only found in the stratosphere in the ozone layer (90%), or lower down in the troposphere (10%)

If it’s at ground surface it is toxic to the lungs since it is highly reactive with other molecules

Functions to filter out UV radiation and prevent it from reaching the ground

Question 12

What does the hole in the ozone layer refer to

Answer 12

A reduction/thinning of the ozone gas concentration. This tends to happen towards the poles of the planet (mainly the antarctic)

This allows for more UV to reach the ground which had many negative effects on living things

Question 13

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)

Answer 13

Used in aerosol sprays, producing styrofoam, and in refrigeration and AC equipment.

Evidence shows that accumulation of CFC’s in the atmosphere will cause damage to the ozone layer.

UV radiation will pinch off a chlorine molecule from CFC and that chlorine will break apart a molecule of ozone (O3) and attach itself to an oxygen.

Question 14

Since the industrial revolution, how much has average global temp increased by?

Answer 14

0.8°C

Question 15

When did James Hanson warn the senate about climate change effects?

Answer 15

1988

Question 16

When was the Montreal Protocol signed and by how many countries?

Answer 16

Signed in 1987 by 197 countries