APEX APES 9.2.1 Climate Change

global warming

The increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

global climate change

The long-term change in the Earth's climate.

greenhouse effect

The trapping of warmth from solar radiation in the lower atmosphere.

climate model

A quantitative mathematical method used to simulate the important drivers of climate change, including the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere.

food secure

Chronically adequately supplied with food.

Milankovitch cycles

The cyclical variations in Earth's eccentricity, axial tilt, and precession.

positive feedback loop

A process through which an initial change will bring about an additional change in the same direction.

negative feedback loop

A process through which an initial change will bring about an additional change in the opposite direction.

precession

A relatively slow 'wobble' of the rotational axis of a spinning body such as Earth, the pattern of which describes a cone.

obliquity

The angle between the plane of Earth's equator and the plane in which it orbits around the sun.

eccentricity

The degree to which an orbit varies from a perfect circle.

effect of climate change

Climate change may make animals migrate to higher latitudes or higher altitudes to get away from the different climate in their previous environment.

How are ice cores used to collect evidence of climate change?

It is sliced into thin discs to compare the different layers and even climates. They can also be used to identify the timing of events like volcanic eruptions.

How are boreholes used to collect evidence of climate change?

At specific depths, certain temps are expected. These can measure what the actual temps were from past climates.

How are satellites used to collect evidence of climate change?

They orbit Earth and can collect data related to climate change.

What are some types of major evidence of climate change?

Melting ice sheets, sea-level rise, changing precipitation patterns, global temperature rise, and change in atmospheric composition.

List the processes resulting in the greenhouse effect in the correct order:

1. Solar radiation travels from the sun to Earth. 2. Some solar radiation passes through Earth's atmosphere. 3. Solar radiation is absorbed by Earth's surface, warming it. 4. Earth's surface emits radiation with less energy than solar radiation. 5. Radiation emitted from Earth is absorbed by greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere. 6. Greenhouse gases emit energy, warming the atmosphere and Earth's surface.

Can the Milankovitch cycles potentially cause an Earth's present climate change?

Yes, but the effects are slow to concur because the cycles take tens of thousands of years to complete.

What two consequences of climate change might affect the thermohaline circulation?

They may slow down thermohaline circulation and cause a loss in nutrients in the ocean.

positive feedback loop example

An example of a positive feedback loop affecting climate change would be global warming. Because of global warming, the Earth's cryosphere is shrinking. This shrinkage lowers albedo, causing the Earth's surface to absorb more radiation. This radiation then contributes to more of the cryosphere melting.

negative feedback loop example

An example of a negative feedback loop is the amount of carbon dioxide being released and absorbed. Currently, humans are creating carbon dioxide at a manageable rate. The plants absorb the carbon dioxide and use it to produce oxygen. This cycle continues and will keep itself at an equilibrium.

What are two ways in which increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is related to the melting of permafrost?

Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide from other sources makes Earth's temperature warmer. Warmer temperatures melt the permafrost. After it melts, bacteria start to act on the plants in the permafrost, decomposing them and producing even more carbon dioxide.