Module 5 Flashcards

1
Q

Coefficient of determination (r squared)

A

Determines how best fit data is to a line

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2
Q

When coefficient of determination is 0….

A

Data does not fit on a line

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3
Q

When coefficient of determination is 1….

A

Data perfectly fits to a line

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4
Q

Volcanic eruptions increases…

A

Greenhouse gases which result in warming

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5
Q

What 3 main gases come from a volcano?

A

Water vapor, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide

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6
Q

Equation for the speed of an object falling due to gravity

Hint: Think of y=mx+c

A

v=gt, c =0

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7
Q

Least Squares method

A

Determines line of best fit for a model of data which yields the minimum squared distance between the data and the straight line

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8
Q

Linear Regression Analysis

A

Using idea of least-squares straight fit line to explore whether or not two or more time series are related

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9
Q

In linear regression what are the variables x and y referred to as?

A

x- predictor

y- predictand

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10
Q

What has been the trend in temperature in the last 55 years?

A

Undeniably going upward with an increase of 25%

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11
Q

What are two things covered in this module which affect global average temperatures?

A

Greenhouse gases

Volcanic eruptions

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12
Q

Sulphate aerosols (from large volcanic eruptions)

A

Particles which act as a shield against incoming solar radiation, increasing effective albedo of the Earth and reducing the global average surface temperature

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13
Q

How long can sulphate aerosols stay in the stratosphere before settling in the troposphere?

A

Two years

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14
Q

Carbon dioxide concentration is related to…

A

The rising global average surface temperature

Remember! Correlation does not prove causation!

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15
Q

Radiative Equilibrium

A

Net radiation absorbed = net radiation emitted

Temperature is unchanged

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16
Q

If net radiation absorbed is more than net radiation emitted…

A

Temperature goes up

17
Q

If net radiation absorbed is less than net radiation emitted…

A

Temperature goes down

18
Q

Stefan-Boltzmann Law

A

A black body is a perfect absorber and emitter of energy

19
Q

Major Greenhouse Gases

Hint: There are 7

A

Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, freon-11, freon-12

20
Q

Which Greenhouse Gases have the most concentration?

A

Water vapor and carbon dioxide

21
Q

Where does most of water vapor reside?

A

The troposphere

22
Q

Greenhouse Effect

A

Greenhouse gases (and clouds) absorb the infrared radiation emitted by the Earth and re-emit it back to the surface, warming it more

23
Q

Albedo

A

Fraction of incident solar radiation that is reflected by clouds

24
Q

High albedo implies what kind of effect?

A

A cooling effect

25
Thick, low altitude clouds have...
A stronger albedo effect than greenhouse effect, which cools the Earth
26
Thin, high altitude clouds have...
A stronger greenhouse effect than albedo effect, which warms the Earth
27
All clouds are excellent absorbers of...
Infrared radiation
28
The net influence of all clouds...
Cools the Earth
29
The IR flux/temperature feedback
As temperature increases, so does outgoing energy which in turn decreases temperature
30
Water vapor feedback
As surface temperature increases, so does atmospheric water vapor and the greenhouse effect, which keeps the temperature increasing
31
Snow/Ice Albedo
As surface temperature decreases, snow and ice increase which results in a decrease in planetary albedo (works in both directions)
32
El Nino events result in...
Warmer than average surface temperatures
33
Brewer-Dobson Circulation
Circulation in stratosphere directed from the equator to the poles. Effective in transporting volcanic gases
34
Examples of natural forcing
Changes in solar radiation, orbital changes, volcanic activity
35
Examples of anthropogenic forcing
Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations (particularly carbon dioxide emissions)
36
Natural climate variability
Variability that is intrinsic to the climate system and independent of climate forcing (i.e. ENSO, PNA, NAO, etc)
37
Global Climate Models (GCMs)
Complicated mathematical representations of what we think we know about the planet
38
What is useful for running GCMs because of uncertainties?
Ensembles