climate change

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