climate change

weather

weather

-short-term condition of Earth's atmosphere at a certain time and place -reported as a temporary forecast -occurs differently in smaller regions -precipitation and temperature

climate

-avg. weather conditions in an area over a long period of time -occurs similarly over a large region -precipitation and temperature

six major climate zones

-polar -temperate -arid -tropical -tundra -mediterranean

global climate

-Earth's avg. temperature -a small change can upset Earth's systems (climate) -Changes to Earth's climate causes challenges for life

greenhouse effect

-the warming of Earth's surface & lower atmosphere -caused by the absorption & reemission of infrared radiation

greenhouse gases

-gases that trap & reemit infrared radiation as heat into the atmosphere -maintains a comfortable temperature on Earth -too few gases, too cold -too many gases, too warm

steps of rising global temperatures

1. infrared radiation (solar energy) enters Earth's atmosphere

2. Earth's surface absorbs & reflects it back into the atmosphere

3. some energy is released into space

4. remaining energy is trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

-most abundant greenhouse gas -traps heat & excessive carbon emissions -50% higher than the pre-industrial era

examples of CO2 emissions

-fossil fuel combustion -deforestation -cement production

examples of greenhouse gas emissions

-combustion -deforestation -decomposition -agriculture -industrial products -volcanic eruptions

combustion

-burning of fossil fuels/organic matter -releases greenhouse gases

examples of combustion

-burning forests -landfills -biomass

fossil fuel uses

-electricity -industry -transportation

deforestation

-removal of forests -causes less CO2 to be taken out of the atmosphere

Decomposition

-the state or process of rotting -releases methane (greenhouse gases)

agriculture

releases methane (greenhouse gases) as a byproduct

industrial products

releases HFCs (powerful greenhouse gases)

examples of industrial products

-refrigerants -foam-blowing agents -aerosol propellants -fire suppressants

carbon cycle

cycling of carbon through oceans, air, organisms, and rocks

carbon sinks

stores or removes CO2 from the atmosphere

examples of carbon sinks

-oceans -atmosphere -soil/sediments -forests -organisms

ocean

-world's largest carbon sink -cannot handle the increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere

ocean acidification

-process by which dissolved CO2 in the ocean undergoes chemical reactions to produce carbonic acid -lowers the pH level of the ocean water -acidic conditions affect health of marine ecosystems (life)

global warming

-long-term warming of Earth's climate -observed since the pre-industrial era (1850-1900) -leads to climate change

climate change

-long-term changes in Earth's weather patterns (climate) -defines Earth's regional & global temperatures -scientists use observations from ground, air, space, & models to study the past, present, & future of climate change

causes of global warming/climate change

-human activities (fossil fuels) -increased greenhouse gas emissions -natural processes

examples of natural processes (climate change)

-El Nino -La Nina -Volcanic activity -changes in Earth's orbit -changes in solar energy output

evidence of climate change

-increase in land & ocean temperature -sea level rise -sea ice loss -ocean acidification -more severe & frequent weather

climate change increases

-avg. air temperature -avg. land/sea surface temperature -avg. sea level -amount of heat contained in ocean

climate change decreases

-amount of ice in glaciers -amount of snow in northern hemisphere -extent of Arctic sea ice

astronomical changes

-changes in shape of Earth's orbit -changes in Earth's tilt on its axis

changes in Earth's surface

-materials that absorb/reflect solar energy -materials that absorb greenhouse gases

changes in Earth's atmosphere

-increased concentration of greenhouse gases -increased avg. global temperature -can be manmade or natural (volcanoes)

increased evaporation

-warmer bodies of water evaporate more water vapor than cooler bodies -causes increased precipitation & irregular weather patterns

Permafrost

Ground that is permanently frozen

permafrost melting

-soil (ground) becomes vulnerable to erosion -cannot support biological plant life -releases methane -methane increases temperature of atmosphere & thawing of permafrost

changes in biosphere

-plants grow earlier in the year -affects organisms that depend on those plants -organisms need to adapt/migrate in order to survive

sea ice/glaciers

-warms twice as fast as anywhere on Earth -maintains Earth's temperature -stabilizes weather and ocean patterns

effects of melting sea ice

-warmer air/ocean temperatures -disrupted ocean circulation patterns -more frequent/severe weather -sea level rise -shoreline erosion -coastal flooding

albedo effect

-the ability of a surface to reflect sunlight -fewer light surfaces remain to reflect sunlight back into the atmosphere -magnifies rate of melting & global temperatures

heat/drought (severe weather)

-intensified drought -wildfires more likely to occur in drier & warmer conditions

storms/floods (severe weather)

-higher frequency/strength of storms & floods -increased precipitation -destruction of ecosystems

snow/frigid weather (severe weather)

-more moisture in a warmer atmosphere -snowfall can break records -weakened jet stream causes frigid polar air to travel farther south

perennial ice cover

-minimum extent of Arctic sea ice cover -decreases

human population growth

-consumption of resources & release of waste contribute to climate change -more humans, more greenhouse gas emissions -more humans, more impact on the climate

carbon footprint

the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere by an individual's energy consumption

factors of carbon footprint

-transportation -electricity -food -clothing -purchased goods

Methane (CH4)

greenhouse gas

examples of CH4 emissions

-fossil fuel production -agriculture -landfills

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

greenhouse gas

examples of N2O emissions

-fertilizers -fossil fuel/biomass combustion -industrial processes

water vapor

-greenhouse gas -magnifies the effects of other greenhouse gases

examples of decomposition

-landfills -organisms/organic waste

examples of agriculture

-livestock (cows) -manure -fertilizers

excessive CO2 in in the ocean

-warms the ocean to fuel extreme droughts & storms -causes ocean acidification