atmosphere

proxy data

information serving as an indirect measure for one factor that can’t be measured or estimated

difficulty in predicting gcc

time scales

spatial scales

interconnected systems

natural fluctuations

time delay

three geoengineering examples

painting rooftops white

adding nutrients to ocean

solar shades in orbit

what does adding nutrients to the sea in geoengineering achieve

stimulate plankton growth

negative impact definition

environmental change causes other factors to change which reduce the rate of the original changehtw

what do jet streams control

example

movements of air bodies that create rain

cyclonic storms carried across Atlantic to ukfcc

cfcs relative effects per molecule

25000

cfcs uses

aerosol propellants

fire extinguishers

fridges

solvents

expanded in foam plastics

geoengineering

largely untried technologies that might control natural processes to reduce the anthropogenic greenhouse effectegatin

negative impact loop- water vapour

increased temperature

increased evaporation

warm air holds more water vapour

more warmingh

how may uk bats be positively affected by climate change 

warmer shorter winter

increased survival in hibernation

increased food species populations 

negative impact release of methane hydrate

dead organic matter in deep sea sediment

produces ch4

high pressure and low temperature= solid ch4 hydrate

increased deep seawater temp= ch4 hydrate melts and releases ch4

how do argo floats work

programmed to sink to particular depth and specific time

return to surface and transmit data

sequence of position plots direction and speed of current

computer models as proxy data

allows interconnections and predictions of consequences

fed in data of particular year and see if later outcome is predictedn

negative impact

increased forest and peat fires

waterlogged soils where dead organic matter builds up to form peat

warm up and dry out = more fires, co2 released

drier conditions = forest fires increased, more co2 released

how is ice core data used

air bubbles trapped in ice show gas composition of time and temp of atmosphere eg co2

ch4 relative effects pre molecule 

25

ch4 uses/releases

anaerobic microbial respiration - padi and livestock

formation of fossil fuels

coal mine ventilation

leaks- natural gas fields and pipelines

how are jet streams formed

difference in temperature and density between 2 air masses

winds blow to equalise pressure but not in straight line- rotation of earth creates Coriolis effect

jet stream definition

strong winds that blow west to east along a meandering path in the upper troposphere

negative feedback ocean acidification

½ of co2 released is stored in oceans

produces carbonic acid and reduces ocean ph

reduced coral survival and carbon sequestration as less carbon stored

positive feedback definition

environmental change causes other changes which increase rate of initial change or its level of impact

co2 relative effects per molecule

1

co2 releases

combustion of fossil fuels and wood

ploughing soil

drainage of marsh and bogs

soil decomposition positive feedback

rate of decomposition largely controlled by temperature

increased temperature = increased decay= release more co2

tropospheric ozone relative effects per molecule 

2000

tropospheric ozone formation

photochemical breakdown of no2 and subsequent reaction with o2

nitrous oxides relative effects per molecule

160

nitrous oxides releases

o2 and n2 react at high temperature and pressure in vehicle engines and power stations to be released as exhaust gases

fertiliser use

3 tipping point examples

soil decomposition

release of co2 by increased forest and peat fires

snow on land melting

tipping point definition

human actions that cause c change may cause changes in natural processes that then cause c change to the extent that the original human actions arent needed for c change to increase

how are pollen grains used as proxy data

preserved in lake sediment

presence of species indicates climate

how is satellite data used

sensors 

how may uk bats be negatively affected by climate change

wetter stormier weather

reduced time to feed

reduced survival