Lecture 34: Climate Change

Question 1

Climate change vs global warming

Answer 1

Climate change: changes to the average weather conditions of a particular location

Global warming: century-scale increase in the average temp across the entire planet

Question 2

What is the distribution of earth’s energy budget?

Answer 2

22% is reflected back into space
48% is absorbed by the earth’s surface

Question 3

Define back radiation

Answer 3

Energy of a natural greenhouse effect returning to the surface

Question 4

What are the top 3 natural greenhouse gases?

Answer 4

Water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane

Question 5

What are the top greenhouse gases gases emitted by humans?

Answer 5

carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons

Question 7

What are some of the economic sectors responsible for ghg emissions?

Answer 7

• electricity and heat production
• agriculture and forestry
• industry

Question 9

If the rate at which ghg emission continues to increase, in less than 100 years there will be…

Answer 9

• further increases in global warming
• major disruptions to ecosystems
• risks for food security and human livelihoods
• social disruption

Question 10

Solutions to climate change

Answer 10

• rewilding animals and vegetation
• paris agreement (limit to +2C)