Climate

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Climate is the long-term average of daily weather conditions.

What are Koppen Climate Zones?

A climate classification system that divides the Earth into different climate regions based on temperature, precipitation, and vegetation patterns.

What are three recently observed climate-related trends?

Glacial melting, surface temperature increase, and sea level rise.

What are sediment cores and what do they reveal?

Sediment cores are samples taken from ocean floors or lake beds that contain evidence of past climate conditions, including elements and isotopes that help reconstruct historical climate patterns.

What are natural causes of climate change?

Changes in positions/shapes of landmasses, blocking of incoming solar radiation, changes in solar energy (sun spots), and Milankovitch cycles.

What is the Milankovitch Theory?

Theory stating that climate variations are predicted by cyclical changes in Earth's orbital geometry, including eccentricity (~100,000 year cycle), obliquity (~41,000 year cycle), and precession (~23,000 year cycle).

What is insolation?

Solar radiation energy received on a given surface in a given time.

What is anthropogenic climate change?

Climate change caused by human activities, particularly greenhouse gas emissions.

What are the four main components of the Earth system?

Geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

What is the carbon cycle?

The process by which carbon moves between different Earth system components (atmosphere, oceans, land, organisms).

What is the greenhouse effect?

The process where short wavelength solar radiation reaches Earth, while long wavelength terrestrial radiation is absorbed and reemitted by greenhouse gases, warming the planet.

Why is the greenhouse effect necessary?

It's necessary for life on Earth as we know it by maintaining temperatures suitable for life.

What are examples of greenhouse gases?

Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor.

What is a Global Climate Model/General Circulation Model?

Mathematical models that use equations to represent Earth processes (atmosphere, ocean, land, organisms) to predict changes that may occur with changing inputs.

What are Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) in IPCC reports?

Different greenhouse gas concentration scenarios used to model possible climate futures, including RCP 8.5, RCP 4.5, and RCP 2.6.

What changes in precipitation are projected due to climate change?

Overall precipitation increase, changing precipitation patterns, and more droughts and flooding.

What is projected to happen with sea levels according to climate models?

Sea levels are projected to rise relative to 1985-2005 baseline, with different amounts depending on the RCP scenario.

What are the main goals of the Paris Agreement (2016)?

Keep global temperature rise this century below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels through nationally determined contributions and financial/technological support for developing countries.

What are examples of proposals to minimize carbon emissions?

Raising taxes on electricity/gasoline, tax breaks for nuclear power, and tax breaks for renewable energy.

What are examples of actions that can reduce an individual's carbon footprint?

Replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient ones, adjusting home temperature settings, and recycling.

What is geoengineering?

Large-scale technological interventions in Earth's climate system to counteract climate change.

What are examples of geoengineering possibilities?

Ocean fertilization, carbon dioxide removal methods, and solar radiation management.

What did statistician George E.P. Box say about models?

"All models are wrong, but some are useful."