ESS Flashcards

Greenhouse effect

The process through which heat is trapped near Earth’s surface by substances known as 'greenhouse gases.'

Climate

The average weather patterns over a long period of time for a particular location on Earth.

Factors that impact projected population

Different trends such as war and disease can shift population projections.

Human contribution to climate change

Actions such as deforestation, burning fossil fuels, increasing methane levels through agriculture, and using fertilizers that elevate nitrous oxides.

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Human activities that increase greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect and raising global temperatures.

Weather and climate are affected by…

Ocean and atmospheric circulatory systems, clouds, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, and human activities releasing GHGs.

Climate change

Long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns influenced by various factors including solar insolation and greenhouse gases.

Increasing levels of GHGs leads to…

An increase in global temperature, extreme weather events, potential long-term climate changes, and rising sea levels.

Advantages of IGOs in climate change

Global cooperation, shared resources, research and data, standard setting, and raising awareness.

Climate resilience

The ability to adapt and recover from the impacts of climate change while maintaining essential functions.

Mitigation

Actions taken to reduce emissions that cause climate change by tackling the cause and minimizing impacts.

Similarities of Climate and Weather

Both depend on the atmosphere, are predictable, and involve abiotic factors.

Adaptation strategies

Methods such as flood defense, economic diversification, vaccination programs, desalination plants, and using GMOs in agriculture.

Disadvantages of IGOs in climate change

Challenges such as political disagreements, limited power, funding issues, equity concerns, and compromises over impact.

Mitigation strategies

Methods including enhancing photosynthesis, public transportation, carbon capture and storage, renewable energy use, and sustainable agriculture.

Weather

The daily result of changes in temperature, pressure, and precipitation in the atmosphere.

Impact of climate change

Effects such as biomass shifting, location changes for crop areas, inundation, health impacts, and species extinction.

Negative feedback cycle

A process that counters the change in the system, helping to stabilize it.

Positive feedback cycle

A process that amplifies changes in the system.

Adaptation

Actions to manage the impacts of climate change by reducing negative effects and capitalizing on new opportunities.

Malthusian prediction

The theory that natural population growth will eventually outpace agricultural output, leading to famine.

Influences on population dynamics

Factors that increase population include high infant mortality and low contraceptive access; factors that decrease include education and improved health.

Disadvantages of transition model

Its patterns are based primarily on Western countries and may not apply accurately to lower-income or non-white populations.

Complexity of climate models

The inherent uncertainty in predicting climate behavior due to unpredictable human actions and non-linear interactions.

Carrying capacity

The maximum population that an area can sustain.

Population density

The number of people per unit area of land.

Demographic transition

The stages of population change defined by birth rates and death rates over time.

Doubling time

The number of years required to double a population at a constant natural growth rate.

Climate models

Tools that calculate interactions between the atmosphere, land, ocean, and sea ice.

Total fertility rate

An estimate of the average number of children a female has during her childbearing years.

Advantages of Demographic Transition Model

It models how population size may respond to economic changes.

Natural increase rate

The percentage by which a population grows in a year, excluding migration.

Zero population growth

A condition where the population number neither grows nor declines.