GEOL115 Exam 3 - Final

JMU Dr. Lukens

What is a climate model?

A simulation tool that uses mathematical equations to represent Earth’s climate system and predict climate behavior.

Why do scientists use climate models?

To understand past climate, predict future climate, and test how different factors affect Earth systems.

How do scientists assess uncertainty in climate models?

By comparing multiple models, testing assumptions, and comparing model results with real-world observations.

What kinds of resolution exist in climate models?

Spatial, temporal, and vertical resolution.

Why does climate model resolution matter?

Higher resolution gives more detailed and accurate simulations of climate processes.

What kind of information is fed into a climate model?

Atmospheric composition, greenhouse gas levels, solar radiation, ocean data, land surface data, and ice cover.

Who assesses climate change globally?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

How is climate change assessment supposed to occur in the United States according to laws passed by Congress?

Through the National Climate Assessment conducted regularly by federal agencies.

What are climate analogs?

Past or present climates used to compare with projected future climates.

What kinds of climate analogs are useful for understanding climate change?

Past warm periods, regional analogs, and modern environments similar to future projections.

What do oxygen isotopes in foram shells tell scientists about climate?

Past temperatures and ice volume.

What does a high oxygen isotope value generally indicate?

Cooler climates and larger ice sheets.

What does a low oxygen isotope value generally indicate?

Warmer climates and smaller ice sheets.

What does the oxygen isotope curve reveal about climate during the Cenozoic Era?

An overall long-term cooling trend over the last 66 million years.

What climate conditions did humans evolve in?

Cooler Ice Age climates with fluctuating glacial and interglacial periods.

How were the Pliocene and Eocene climates different from today?

They were warmer with different rainfall patterns and less polar ice.

How were rainfall patterns different during the Pliocene and Eocene?

Wet regions were often wetter and dry regions shifted geographically.

When Earth warms, where does the greatest warming usually occur?

At high latitudes, especially near the poles.

What areas warm fastest during global warming?

The Arctic and continental interiors.

During events like the PETM, which occurs faster: warming or cooling?

Warming occurs faster than cooling.

How long can it take Earth to cool after an event like the PETM through silicate weathering alone?

Hundreds of thousands of years.

What was the PETM?

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a rapid global warming event about 56 million years ago.

How long did the PETM last?

Roughly 100,000 to 200,000 years.

Was warming and cooling symmetrical during the PETM?

No, warming happened rapidly while cooling was much slower.

What evidence shows climate changed during the PETM?

Oxygen isotope changes, carbon isotope shifts, fossil evidence, warming oceans, and species migration.

How does the PETM compare to 20th century warming?

Modern warming is happening much faster.

What evidence suggests humans impact the Earth System at a planetary scale?

Rising greenhouse gases, land-use changes, biodiversity loss, pollution, and global temperature increases.

What is the Great Acceleration?

A rapid increase in human population, energy use, industrialization, and environmental impact.

When did the Great Acceleration begin?

Around the mid-20th century after World War II.

What evidence shows increased human impact during the Great Acceleration?

Sharp increases in CO2, fossil fuel use, plastics, population, transportation, and resource consumption.

What foods tend to have the largest carbon footprints?

Beef, lamb, dairy products, and heavily processed foods.

Why do some foods have larger carbon footprints?

Because of methane emissions, land use, transportation, feed production, and energy-intensive farming.

What are SSPs?

Shared Socioeconomic Pathways used to model future societal development scenarios.

What are RCPs?

Representative Concentration Pathways that describe possible greenhouse gas concentration trajectories.

How do SSPs and RCPs differ from a single CO2 estimate?

They describe multiple possible future scenarios rather than one prediction.

What range of CO2 levels is projected for the year 2100?

Approximately 450 ppm to over 1000 ppm depending on emissions scenarios.

How do current warming patterns compare with past warming intervals?

Modern warming is occurring more rapidly than many past events.

How is climate expected to change over the next 50–100 years?

Higher temperatures, more extreme weather, sea level rise, shifting precipitation, and changing ecosystems.

What climate patterns are expected under higher-emission scenarios?

Greater warming, stronger extreme events, and larger environmental impacts.

How can people lower the carbon footprint of their diet?

Eat less red meat, reduce dairy consumption, waste less food, and choose plant-based foods.

Why do scientists think CO2 levels will continue rising?

Because fossil fuel use and energy demand are still increasing globally.

How are CO2 emissions related to population and quality of life?

Countries with higher consumption and industrial activity generally produce more emissions.

What kinds of countries use the most energy today?

Industrialized and high-income countries.

Have global CO2 emissions peaked yet?

Globally, emissions have generally continued increasing.

Which countries are increasing emissions the most?

Developing and rapidly industrializing countries.

Which countries have decreasing emissions?

Some developed countries due to efficiency improvements and renewable energy adoption.

Where does most of the world’s energy currently come from?

Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

What is the current trend of renewable energy use?

Renewable energy use is increasing.

What are the major arguments for assigning blame for anthropogenic climate change?

Historical emissions, current emissions, per-capita emissions, and economic benefits from fossil fuel use.

Who is often considered responsible for the CO2 currently in the atmosphere?

Industrialized countries with large historical emissions.

How can responsibility for climate change vary depending on the question asked?

Responsibility changes depending on whether historical, total, per-capita, or current emissions are considered.

What topics are at the forefront of climate science research today?

Extreme weather, climate adaptation, tipping points, sea level rise, carbon removal, and climate justice.

What is wet bulb temperature?

A measure combining heat and humidity that reflects how well humans can cool themselves by sweating.

How do temperature and humidity affect wet bulb temperature?

Higher humidity and temperature increase wet bulb temperature.

Why are high wet bulb temperatures dangerous?

They can prevent the human body from cooling itself, causing deadly heat stress.

How will human habitability patterns shift in the future?

Some regions may become too hot or dry for safe human living and agriculture.

What is extreme event attribution?

The scientific study of how climate change affects the likelihood or intensity of extreme weather events.

How does extreme event attribution work?

Scientists compare simulations with and without human-caused climate change.

What weather events are best studied with extreme event attribution?

Heat waves, heavy rainfall, droughts, and some storms.

What can individuals do personally about climate change?

Reduce energy use, lower carbon footprints, support sustainable policies, and advocate for climate action.

What did the Carbon Footprint of Food activity demonstrate?

Different foods produce very different amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.

What was the focus of the PETM homework assignment?

Understanding rapid ancient climate warming and its evidence.

What did the Richmond, VA redlining case study demonstrate?

Historical discrimination can influence modern climate vulnerability and environmental inequality.