FUCK

Weather

measure of the physical conditions of atmosphere including moisture, temperature, and wind

Climate

description of long-term patterns of weather

Atmosphere

layer of gases surrounding Earth

Incoming solar energy

part of this (25%) reflected by clouds and atmosphere; part (25%) is absorbed by atmosphere and clouds; part (45%) is absorbed by the surface of Earth (dark surfaces absorb more light energy than lighter surfaces; i.e. they have lower albedo)

Energy returns to the atmosphere

from the earth's surface as infrared radiation (heat)

Greenhouse effect

heat-trapping greenhouse gases cause an increase in the air temperature

Energy balance for the earth

major greenhouse gases: water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Carbon dioxide (CO₂)

released naturally by plants, microbes and other organisms during respiration

Methane (CH₄)

is released from ruminant animals (e.g. cows), landfills, coal mines, leaky natural gas pipes and wells, and natural sources

Nitrous oxide (N₂O)

is produced during various transformations of nitrogen (e.g., denitrification); global increases are largely due to increased use of nitrogen-based fertilizer

IPCC

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Mountain Top Removal for Coal

Natural Gas consists mainly of methane (CH₄); natural gas forms when organic matter decomposes when O₂ is absent

Natural Gas

when burned, CO₂ is produced, but only about 1/2 as much CO₂ compared to an equivalent amount of coal; less air pollution

Hydrological fracturing (fracking)

a method used to extract natural gas

Troposphere

lowest layer in atmosphere, 5 to 10 miles thick; most weather events occur here

Stratosphere

layer on top of the troposphere, extends up to about 30 miles

Clean Air Act of 1963

first national legislation in U.S. focused on air pollution control

1970 amendments to Clean Air Act

established national air quality standards for a variety of pollutants; reduced SO₂ emissions

1990 amendments to Clean Air Act

further reduced SO₂ emissions and also reduced NO and NO₂ emissions

Ecological Economics

focus is on sustainability; recognizes economies and nature are linked in larger systems; considers both internal costs and external costs

External costs

examples include societal (subsidies, health) and environmental (climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution)

Ecosystem services

benefits provided to people by ecosystems

Clean Power Plan

proposed by June 2014 EPA (Obama)

Executive Order (March 2017)

issued by President Trump requiring the EPA to review the Clean Power Plan

Inflation Reduction Act

passed by Congress in 2022 under President Biden