Climate Change Flashcards

Flashcards about Climate Change Causes and Consequences

Global Warming

An overall warming of the planet, based on average temperature over the entire surface.

Climate Change

Changes in global or regional climate characteristics, including temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind, and severe weather events.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.

Methane Radiative Effect

~72 times stronger than the same mass of carbon dioxide over a 20-year time frame, but it is present in much smaller concentrations

Keeling Curve

Shows the general increase of pCO2 over time and the annual cycle.

Ice Cores

Provide data on pCO2 levels from up to 800,000 years ago.

Ocean Acidification

Results from the ocean absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, affecting pH.

Marine Carbonate System

The largest carbon pool in atmosphere, biosphere, and ocean.

Calcification

The process by which marine organisms produce calcium carbonate shells or skeletons.

Pteropods

Marine calcifiers that are highly vulnerable to ocean acidification due to their aragonite shells.

Acclimation

An individual's short-term, reversible physiological adjustments to a new environment.

Adaptation

Involves long-term, genetically based changes within a population over multiple generations.

Primary Production

The synthesis of organic compounds from atmospheric or aqueous carbon dioxide.

Thermal Reaction Norm

Describes the range of phenotypes a single genotype can produce in different temperatures.

Movement/Migration

A possible response to climate change stressors where organisms shift their geographic range.

Extinction

A possible response to climate change stressors where a species ceases to exist.

Salinity Changes

Projected environmental change due to climate change.

Sea Level Rise

Projected environmental change due to climate change.

Decrease in Sea Ice

Projected environmental change due to climate change.

Community Structure Modifications

Adverse effects on microbial community due to climate change.

Biogeographic Range Shifts

Adverse effects on microbial community due to climate change.

Adaptive Evolution

Adverse effects on microbial community due to climate change.

Net Air-to-Sea Transfer of Carbon

Gases concentrations in the oceans and atmosphere are linked

Shell Corrosion

A consequence for Pteropods of pH changes.

Diatoms

A type of non-calcifying phytoplankton that may benefit from future ocean acidification.

Calcifying Phytoplankton

May have a difficult time producing calcified shells and tests under future Ocean Acidification.

Topt

Optimal Temperature

Tmin

Minimum Temperature

Tmax

Maximum Temperature

µmax

Maximum Specific Growth Rate