Nelson Science Grade 10 [ONTARIO, CANADA]

Front: Climate System

A complex system consisting of a combination of parts that function as a whole, similar to the digestive system in the human body.

Front: Open System (in the context of climate)

Allows both energy and matter to cross its boundaries, like the human body.

Front: Closed System (Earth's Climate)

Allows energy but not matter to cross its boundaries. Earth behaves generally as a closed system where energy from the Sun flows in and returns to space, while matter remains constant within its boundary.

Front: Feedback Loop

A process in which part of a system's output is returned (fed back) to the input, influencing further outputs.

Front: Positive Feedback Loop (Climate)

Acts to increase the effects of the interacting parts. For example, melting ice reduces albedo, leading to more heat absorption and further ice melt. This can amplify changes in climate.

Front: Negative Feedback Loop (Climate)

Decreases the effects of the interacting parts and helps maintain equilibrium. For instance, global warming increases evaporation, creating more clouds that reflect sunlight and cool the planet. These help stabilize temperatures.

Front: Albedo

The reflectivity of the Earth's surface. Clouds, snow, and ice are the biggest influences. Changes in these can alter the amount of energy in the atmosphere.

Front: Radiation (in Earth's climate)

Solar energy travels 150 million kilometers through space as electromagnetic radiation. This energy is absorbed by the Earth's surface, warming it.

Front: Conduction (in Earth's climate)

Land and water gain thermal energy by absorbing the Sun's short-wave radiation. When the ground warms, it transfers thermal energy to the air by conduction.

Front: Convection (in Earth's climate)

As warm air rises, cooler air descends to replace it, creating a continuous cycle. This process transfers thermal energy throughout the atmosphere.

Front: Thermohaline Circulation

A global ocean current driven by differences in water temperature and salinity. Cold, dense water sinks in polar regions, while warmer, less dense water rises in tropical regions. It redistributes thermal energy globally and plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate by transferring heat between the equator and polar regions.

Front: Earth's Energy Budget

The balance between incoming solar energy and outgoing energy. It is crucial for maintaining a stable average global temperature.

Front: Solar Energy Absorption (by Earth)

Approximately 70% of the solar energy that reaches Earth is absorbed, warming the planet.

Front: Solar Energy Reflection (by Earth)

Nearly a third (around 30%) of the solar energy that reaches Earth is reflected back into space by aerosols, clouds, and Earth's surface.

Front: Significance of Energy Balance (Earth)

To prevent continuous warming, incoming energy must balance outgoing energy. This balance is essential for sustaining life and regulating climate.

Front: Impact of Global Warming on Thermohaline Circulation

Warming temperatures increase ice melt (lowering salinity in northern oceans) and evaporation (increasing salinity in tropical oceans). These salinity shifts can prevent polar water from sinking, weakening the thermohaline circulation. Disruptions can impact weather patterns and marine life.

Source: 8.2 Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change.pdf

Front: Greenhouse Effect

An important part of Earth's energy budget. Without it, Earth would be too cold to support life as we know it. An increase in greenhouse gases will produce a warmer Earth.

Front: Greenhouse Gases

Gases that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, producing a warming effect on Earth. Their molecules have three or more atoms, allowing them to interact with radiation of different wavelengths.

Front: Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Levels (Historical)

Average concentration in 1958 was about 315 parts per million (ppm), increased to about 370 ppm by 2000, and surpassed 400 ppm by 2020.

Front: Nitrogen (N2) and Oxygen (O2) - Greenhouse Effect

Ninety-nine percent of the atmosphere is made up of nitrogen and oxygen. Neither of these gases absorb infrared radiation and do not contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Front: Water Vapor - Role in Greenhouse Effect

The most abundant greenhouse gas in Earth's atmosphere, responsible for between 65 and 85 percent of the greenhouse effect. Its concentration is directly related to temperature, creating a positive feedback loop.

Front: Positive Feedback Loop (Water Vapor)

A warmer atmosphere increases evaporation, leading to more water vapor, which in turn absorbs more thermal energy, further warming the atmosphere.

Front: Sources of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Main natural source is animal respiration. Primary human source is the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas).

Front: Carbon Sinks (Plants)

Plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, acting as vital carbon sinks.

Front: Impact of Deforestation on CO2

Deforestation raises atmospheric CO2 levels by removing trees that absorb CO2, worsening climate change.

Front: Methane (CH4) - Sources

Natural sources include wetlands. Human sources include decomposing garbage in landfills, processing of coal and natural gas, and livestock manure.

Front: Nitrous Oxide (N2O) - Sources

Natural production comes from damp tropical soils and the oceans. Human sources include chemical fertilizers, manure and sewage treatment, vehicle exhausts, and industrial processes.

Front: Ozone (O3) - Dual Role

Occurs naturally in the stratosphere, blocking harmful ultraviolet radiation. Ground-level ozone, produced by reactions with vehicle exhaust, is a pollutant that can damage lungs and the heart.

Front: Halocarbons (e.g., CFCs)

A large group of industrial chemicals containing carbon and halogens. They are potent greenhouse gases, more efficient than CO2 at absorbing infrared radiation and can last for thousands of years. CFCs also deplete the ozone layer.

Front: Anthropogenic Greenhouse Effect

The increase in the greenhouse effect due to human activities, which have significantly increased the quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution (around 1750).

Front: Impact of Industrial Revolution on Greenhouse Gases

Human activities since about 1750, primarily due to the Industrial Revolution, have significantly increased the quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Front: CFC Ban

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) has been banned in most developed nations since 1987. This is due to studies finding that CFCs destroy ozone molecules in the atmosphere and increase the amount of ultraviolet radiation coming to Earth.

Front: Continued Rise of Greenhouse Gases

Despite bans on certain gases, levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases continue to rise due to ongoing human activities, leading to further global warming.

Front: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Examples)

Using energy-efficient appliances, turning off unused electronics, improving home insulation, using public transportation, supporting renewable energy, and reducing waste.

Source: 8.3 Matter Cycling and Climate Impact.pdf

Front: Earth as a Closed System (Matter Cycling)

Earth and its atmosphere contain a fixed amount of matter that cannot increase or decrease.

Front: Biogeochemical Cycle

Natural cycles that continuously transfer matter among the atmosphere, land, water, and living things, maintaining balance within the system.

Front: Reservoirs (in Matter Cycling)

Places where matter is stored for longer periods. The cycle typically remains in balance when the amount flowing into a store is nearly equal to the amount flowing out.

Front: Impact of Human Activities on Biogeochemical Cycles

Human activities rapidly release large amounts of materials from stores, contributing to climate change. For example, burning fossil fuels releases carbon and nitrogen from underground stores into the atmosphere.

Front: Carbon Cycle

The continuous transfer of carbon among the atmosphere, land, water, and living organisms, with carbon existing in solid, liquid, and gaseous forms.

Front: Global Carbon Budget

Describes the exchanges of carbon in different parts of the carbon cycle. In a balanced budget, the rate at which CO2 enters the atmosphere equals the rate at which it leaves.

Front: Photosynthesis (Carbon Cycle Role)

A process by which carbon moves from the atmosphere into other stores (plants).

Front: Respiration (Carbon Cycle Role)

A process by which carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere by living organisms.

Front: Decomposition (Carbon Cycle Role)

A process by which carbon is released from vegetation and soil into the atmosphere.

Front: Combustion of Fossil Fuels (Carbon Cycle Impact)

Human activity that significantly increases atmospheric carbon levels by releasing carbon compounds stored for millions of years.

Front: Ocean Absorption of CO2

As atmospheric carbon dioxide increases, the oceans absorb additional CO2, acting as a natural negative feedback loop. However, this makes oceans warmer and more acidic, potentially reducing their capacity to absorb CO2 (positive feedback).

Front: Nitrogen Cycle

The biogeochemical cycle that describes the transformations of nitrogen in nature, including its conversion into usable forms by living organisms.

Front: Nitrogen Fixation

The process that converts nitrogen gas into compounds that contain nitrate or ammonium, transferring nitrogen from the atmosphere to the land, water, and organisms.

Front: Haber-Bosch Process

A human-made process using high temperatures and pressures to combine nitrogen from the atmosphere with hydrogen to make ammonia for fertilizers, significantly impacting agriculture.

Front: Impact of Agriculture on Nitrogen Cycle

Overuse of artificial fertilizers, produced via the Haber-Bosch process, contributes to environmental problems, including climate change and water pollution.

Front: Excess Nitrogen Runoff

When farmers add more fertilizer than crops can use, the excess nitrogen builds up in the soil and is washed into waterways by rain and melting snow.

Front: Algal Blooms (Nitrogen Pollution)

Rapid growth of algae in waterways caused by excess nitrogen runoff. These blooms clog waterways and deprive other aquatic organisms of oxygen, creating dead zones.

Front: Nitrates in Drinking Water (Nitrogen Pollution)

Excess nitrogen can contaminate drinking water with nitrates, which may lead to health issues, including cancer.

Front: Nitrous Oxide (N2O) from Agriculture

A significant greenhouse gas released from agricultural practices.

Front: Air Pollution and Nitrogen Cycle

Ammonia from livestock farms, nitrous oxide from agriculture, and nitrogen from fossil fuel combustion contribute to air pollution.

Front: Smog and Ground-Level Ozone (from Nitrogen)

Reactive nitrogen forms from air pollution can contribute to the formation of smog and ground-level ozone.

Front: Acid Rain (from Nitrogen)

Dissolved reactive nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere can lead to acid rain, damaging ecosystems and infrastructure.

Front: Reducing Nitrogen's Impact (Agriculture)

Includes education on fertilizer use, precision farming techniques, and practices that help decrease the size of dead zones.