Chp 13 Global Climate Change Flashcards
What is Anthropogenic Climate Change?
It is climate change related to human activity.
What gases is the atmosphere composed of?
The following:
- Nitrogen
- Oxygen
- Water Vapour
- Helium
- Neon
To how many layers is the atmosphere divided to?
It is divided into the following layers:
- Troposhphere
- Stratosphere
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere
What is the primary source of Earth’s Energy?
Energy from the sun
What is Albedo?
It is the percentage of radiation reflected from the surface. (Snow has high Albedo).
What are the impacts and consequences of Climate Change?
- Biodiversity could be reduced as habitats become more limited
- Agriculture: Crops become vulnerable to
- The ocean becomes more acidic as more is CO2 is dissolved by it.
- Aquifers will be flooded with seawater.
What is Geoengineering?
It is large-scale intentional modification efforts to modify Earth;s climate.
Solar Radiation Management?
It refers to reflecting more back into space.
Carbon Management?
Accelerating the reduction of CO2 concentrations.
What is Climate Feedback?
The conversion of high albedo surfaces to lower albedo surfaces.
What are Greenhouse gases?
They are gases that trap the heat from the sun and prevent it from escaping back into space.
What is atmospheric lifetime?
it refers to the lifetime if green house gases.
What is the relative warming poetential?
It refers to the different abilities of each greenhouse gas to trap heat. Certain gases trap more heat.
What are Aerosols?
They are small particles suspended in the atmosphere that reflect solar radiation.
Summarize the causes of climate change:
- Energy balance and solar variability.
- Variation in the Earth’s Albedo
- Greenhouse gases
- Aerosols
