interannual climate variability Flashcards
what is el nino
El Nino, southern oscillation: warming sea temperature
how does el nino effect winds + oceans
ressure centers and trade wind weakens
- Thermocline is below surface, no upwelling
- Warm surface waters move eastward forming deep layers of warm
surface waters in eastern pacific
how does el nino effect climate
Less precipitation
- Droughts in Australia
- Warm and wet in North America
- Hot and dry in Amazon
what is la nina
La Nina, northern oscillation: cooling sea temperature
how does la nina effect winds + water
Easterly trade winds push warm surface water westward
- Warm surface water deeper in western pacific than east; associated
with high rain fall in the west
how does el nina effect oceans
- Stratification due to temperature and salinity differences
- Thermocline reaches surface, upwelling
- Warmer surface wateràhigher evaporationàmoist air risesàmore
rain
What happens when air-sea interactions couple?
Air-sea interaction, couples: atmospheric pressure changes and changes in ocean temperature
what pattern is seen across biomes?
Profound pattern of intersection between ecology and evolution is the convergence of forms
across biomes (i.e., The vegetation is similar across all seasons in the boreal forest b/c plants are
adaptative)
banding of biomes?
Banding pattern across biomes however it changes next to the coast because the ocean creates a
stable temperature in those areas. For example, the Savannahian countries are more north
however have less fluctuation in their temperature b/c of the ocean
convergent evolution of vegetation
Convergent evolution: Selection for particular traits even though evolution is different
Ex. cactus and euphore succulent
Looks the same b/c of environmental pressure
what is the IPCC
IPCC (Intranational Panel on Climate Change): leading international body for climate change
assessment established by UN Environment and World Meteorological Organization. They
review and assess recent scientific information produced relevant to climate change
why do atmospheric CO2 levels increase w/ time?
- Annual pattern b/c there is periods of high and low photosynthesis
- Annual variation pattern is that the earth is warmer
- Polar ice is decreasing as years increase (affecting polar bear hunting prey;
conservational concerns especially if it opens up open ocean; as ice melts, sea level
increases) - Increase of ocean water temperature as years increase (more energy in water)
how do models work?
Models have different representations that feed into them to display projections for different
scenarios which is important so we can apply them across the world and capture the estimated
impact representations have on the future
why are small changes in climate a big deal?
Small differences are not evenly distributed; however, it doesn’t show the amplification of the
differences overtime that are concerning.
how do we confirm model predictions?
ake the measures (or projections) that were predicated and run the model in the year that we are
in today, there is reason that the model might be accurate for data in the future =back testing
