Climate 5/5

atmosphere

a thin layer of gasses that surround the Earth

Greenhouse effect

The process by which certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat energy, leading to an increase in temperature.

Greenhouse gases

Gases in the Earth's atmosphere that absorb heat energy, contributing to the greenhouse effect.

The amount of water vapour in the atmosphere is variable so __________

__________ it is usually omitted from greenhosue gas estimates.

• Deserts have very little while tropical rainforests have lots

Natural greenhouse effect

The beneficial process by which greenhouse gases naturally trap heat energy, making the Earth warm enough for life.

Enhanced greenhouse effect

The negative impact caused by the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change.

• More greenhouse gasses trap more heat energy in the atmosphere, which makes the air temperature warmer

• More carbon compounds (CO₂ and CH₄) are entering the atmosphere than are exiting

Some gasses are more __________

__________ potent than others (they can hold more heat energy).

Excess greenhouse gases

The result of human activities that increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, intensifying the greenhouse effect.

Global warming

The rise in average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere, primarily caused by the enhanced greenhouse effect.

Sources of excess carbon dioxide:

• Burning fossil fuels for energy

• Forest fires and other burning

• Deforestation

Sources of excess greenhouse gasses

• Enhanced greenhouse effect, which causes global warming, which causes climate change

• The average temperature of the atmosphere has increased by 1.4 degrees celsius from 1880 to 2023

Effects of global warming

• Melting glaciers and ice caps

  • Damages habitats

  • Adds water to oceans which raises the sea level

Rising sea levels causes __________

__________ flooding of islands and coastal areas.

• Melting glaciers increase the volume of water

• Thermal expansion of water in warmer temperatures

Melting permafrost in tundra

• Houses, roads, and trees (drunken trees) sink

• Increased methane production with rotting vegetation and release of methane stores

Changes in climate:

• Changing weather patterns: some areas get more rain than usual while others get less

• More severe storms due to excess energy in the atmosphere

• Increased drought

• Increased flooding

• More severe weather

• More forest fires

• Changes in temperatures and precipitation cause the range of some biomes to shift

Living things are greatly affected by climate change

• Plants and animals are adapted to their climate of their biome

• When climate change is gradual, populations have time to adapt to the changing environment or move to another location

• When climate change is rapid, there is little time for evolution or relocation, therefore extirpation and extinction may occur

• Polar bears need ice to hunt for seals

  • Receding polar ice caps cause many to starve

Climate change

The long-term alteration of weather patterns and average temperatures, resulting from global warming and other factors.

Adaptation

The ability of populations to adjust to gradual climate change by evolving or relocating to more suitable environments.

Extirpation and extinction

The potential outcomes when climate change occurs rapidly, leaving little time for adaptation, leading to the local disappearance (extirpation) or complete loss (extinction) of species.

Evidence for global warming and climate change

Including analyzing ice cores, tree rings, fossil evidence, and data collected from measurement stations to understand past climate and detect changes in temperature and greenhouse gas concentrations.