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HL Geography > unit 2 LO1 causes of GCC > Flashcards

unit 2 LO1 causes of GCC Flashcards

1
Q

definition climate vs weather

A

Climate = long term behaviour (>30y) of the atmosphere in an area

Weather = state of atmosphere at a given time and place

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2
Q

gas comp in atmos

A

nitrogen (78)
oxygen (21)
argon (0.9)
+ trace (CO2, helium, ozone)

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3
Q

why co2 affects gcc more than nitrogen and o2 even tho it is way more minute

A

it is an efficient absorber of energy (emitted by earth) = influences heating of atmosphere. GH gas
(N and O little influence)

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4
Q

how is the atmophere arranged

A

a series of imperfectly shaped cocentric layers or spheres - grade into each other
BOUND TO EARTH BY GRAVITY

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5
Q

vertical structure of atmosphere 4

A

Thermosphere - vacuum (incr absorbed e due to energised sw rad)

Mesosphere - temp decr (decr density)

Stratosphere - stable, thin (no dust and water v) incr in temp with height (solar rad)

Troposphere - most weather processes (temp fall as atmos thins)

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6
Q

what are the inbetweens of the atmosphereic structure (4) called

A

(part before) -pause
eg
mesopause , tropopause

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7
Q

which layer does weather occur in

A

trophosphere (temp decr as height incr)
- rate of temp decr = environmental lapse rate

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8
Q

what is environmental lapse rate

A

rate of temp decr as height incr in the troposphere

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9
Q

whatis the tropopause

A

an isothermal layer (constant temp)
- upper limit to troposphere + earth climate and weather

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10
Q

system of atmosphere

A

a balance betw –> incoming and outgoing rad
annual balance = earth’s energy budget

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11
Q

how is atmospheric energy balance maintained 2

A

energy from the sun + heat transfers

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12
Q

how does nenergy from the sun conttribute to energy balance

A
  • atmos is open e system
  • e from sun - shortwave
  • lost from earth - longwave
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13
Q

how does heat transfers contribute to the BALANCE of energy in the atmosphere

A
  • earth absorbes solar energy in tropical regions (loss of e from poles)
    = redistribution of e from lower latitudes to higher latitudes (wind circulation, ocean currents)
    – horizontal heat transfer
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14
Q

how are wind and ocean currents responsible for balance of e in atmos

A

heat transfers
wind 80%
ocean currents 20%

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15
Q

define atmospheric energy budget

A

the annual balance of incoming and outgoing radiation

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16
Q

energy balance in the energy budget is

A

the amt of e ABSORBED must be = amt RELEASED

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17
Q

atmospheric budget numberssss

A

only 46% gets thru to earth surface
- 31% reflected back into space
- 19% absorbed by atmos gases
- 8% scattering
- 17% clouds and water droplets (clouds can reflect up to 80%)
- 6% reflection from earth surface (planetary albedo)

18
Q

3 ways balance is acheived

A
  1. radiation (no need for medium - can travel thru space)
  2. convection - movement of gas or liquid (most heat from lowest area in atmos is transported this way)
  3. conduction - transfer by contact (air near surface)
19
Q

define greenhouse effect

A

process by which certain gases allow sw rad from sun to pass thru, but TRAP incr proportion of lw rad
– leads to warming of atmosphere
- NATURALLY OCCURING

20
Q

define counter radiation

A

reflection of lw rad back to earth bc greenhouse effect

21
Q

main gases in global warming

A

CO2
methane
CFCs

22
Q

encahnced gh effect

A

acceleration of eh effect due to human activities
- harmful to climate
- more lw rad trapped
= greater amt of warming

23
Q

gh effect: co2

A

co2 levels risen from 315ppm in 1950 to >400ppm in 2012
- due to human activities – fossil fuel burning, deforestation

24
Q

gh effect: methane

A
  • 2nd largest contributor
  • incr 1% per annim
  • cattle – 100 mil tonnes / year
25
Q

gh effect CFCs

A

chlorofluorocarbons
- destroy ozone, absorb lw rad
- incr 6% per annim
10k times more efficient at trapping heat that co2

26
Q

variations in solar rad – long term 2

A
  • change in sun energy output (11 year solar cycle) – tabulation of sunspot numbers to indicate solar activity
  • changes in movement of earth (milankovitch cycles) – changes to orbit and rotation, changing climate (amt of e reaching diff parts varies)
27
Q

variations in solar rad – short term

A
  • changes in atmospheric comp – disrupts earths energy budget in terms of AMT and TYPE of rad
    eg albedo
    ice melts, replaced by vegetation – incr heat absorbed
28
Q

what is global dimming

A

substantial declines in amt of suns energy reaching earth
- cooling effect

29
Q

causes of global dimming short term

A

volcanic eruptiosn
- release CO2 but also ash and so2 (aerosols)
- block sunlight
1816 “year w/o a summer” eruption of indonesia’s mount tmbora
- NE USA + Canada – snow in june (crop loss, mortality)

30
Q

how pollution affects global temps 2

A
  1. condensation nuclei
    natural particles in clean air – condensation nuclei for water (polluted air more particles)
  2. albedo (reflectivity)
    polluted clouds reflect more energy from space – prevent heat from surface
31
Q

feedback loop in climate change, pos vs neg

A

a cycle – something that accelerates or deccelerates a warming trend

pos feedback – accelerates
neg feedback – decelerates/stabilises

32
Q

examples of positve feedback loops (3)

A
  • melting of ice caps – planetary albedo
  • incr biomass decomposition – co2 release
  • incr forest cover at high lats (temp incr) – decr albedo
33
Q

more albedo vs less albedo

A

whiter
darker

34
Q

negative feedback loop example 2

A
  • incr evap at low lats = incr precipitation levels = incr snowfall on ice caps
  • incr co2 in atmos = incr plant growth = incr photosyn = less co2
35
Q

imagine the energy budget image

A

betcha cant

36
Q

what is global climate change

A

changes in the global patterns of rainfall and temp, sea lvl, habitats, incidence of extreme weather

37
Q

impact of industrialisation on environment (LICs industrialising)

A
  • air emissions from pollutnats
  • wastewater from effluents
  • land pollution
  • marine and coastal pollution
  • hazardous mats
  • radiation
  • resource extraction
38
Q

impact of trade on enviro

A
  • govt trade policies – intro/lack of regulatory measures, econ incentives to address GCC
  • scale of econ activity – transport = GHG
39
Q

impact of globalisation on environment

A
  • long dist transport of goods, rampant consumerism, energy intensive tech use
  • altering earths system – loss of biodiversity, rising temps, decr rainfall
40
Q

natural orocesses affecting global e balance are…

A
  • gh effect
  • global dimming from volcanoes + feedback loops
41
Q

human processes affecting glocal e balance are

A
  • enchanced gh effect – human activities
  • global dimming from pollution

HL Geography (11 decks)

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