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🌦️ Weather & Climate Basics

Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions (e.g., temperature, wind, moisture).

Climate: Long-term average weather patterns in a specific area.

Climate Prediction Difficulty: Complex due to long-term patterns and Earth system interactions.

Atmosphere: The layer of gases surrounding Earth.

Troposphere: Lowest atmospheric layer; where weather occurs.

Stratosphere: Above troposphere; contains ozone layer.

🌧️ Precipitation & Solar Energy

Types of Rainfall: Convectional, frontal, orographic.

Rain Shadow: Dry area on leeward side of mountains.

Albedo: Reflectivity of a surface (ice = high; water = low).

Solar Reflection: 25% reflected by clouds/atmosphere.

Solar Absorption: 45% absorbed by Earth’s surface.

Energy Loss: Through infrared radiation into space.

🌍 Climate Change & Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse Effect: Trapping of heat by gases like CO₂, CH₄.

Major GHGs: Water vapor, CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, CFCs.

CO₂ Rise Cause: Burning fossil fuels, deforestation.

Methane Sources: Ruminants, landfills, gas leaks.

Nitrous Oxide: Mainly from nitrogen fertilizers.

Orbital Variations: Not responsible for recent warming.

Future GHG Emissions: Rising unless mitigated.

🧬 Ecosystem Impacts

Impacts: Migration, extinction risk, food chain disruption, ocean acidification.

Ocean Acidity: Increased due to higher CO₂ levels.

Ice Loss: Greenland, mountain glaciers (e.g., Muir Glacier), Arctic sea ice.

Sea Level Rise: From melting ice + ocean expansion.

Heavy Precipitation: Increasing in many regions.

Phenological Changes: Early springs, range shifts.

Positive Feedback Loop: Melting ice lowers albedo → more warming.

❄️ Polar Regions & Wildlife

Arctic Warming: Over twice global average.

Sea Ice Decline: Ongoing and projected.

Polar Bears: Dependent on sea ice.

Arctic Projections: More warming than lower latitudes.

⚡ Energy Sources

Oil Uses: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, plastics.

Coal: Fossilized plants; dirtiest fossil fuel.

Natural Gas: Mostly methane; cleaner than coal.

Fracking: Fluid injection to extract gas → causes groundwater, seismic issues.

Sustainable Energy: Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass.

⚙️ U.S. Energy & Climate Policy

CAFE Standards: Fuel economy regulations (since 1978).

Clean Power Plan (2014): Cut power plant emissions (Obama).

Affordable Clean Energy Rule (2019): Replaced CPP (Trump).

Inflation Reduction Act (2022): $391B for clean energy/climate.

Rhodium Estimate: IRA = 32–42% GHG reduction by 2030.

Dane County Goals: 1/3 solar, 1/2 wind by 2030; 50% emission cut.

🚗 Sustainable Practices

Energy Conservation: Efficiency + behavior change (e.g., LED).

Passive Solar: Natural light/heat.

Active Solar: Devices to capture energy.

Photovoltaic: Converts sunlight to electricity.

Wind Turbine Output: ~3 MW (~600 homes).