Climate Change Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards on climate change topics.

Cyclic Melting/Freezing of Ice

The different hemispheres experience summer at different times due to the tilt of the Earth.

Salinity of Water During Ice Formation

When ice forms in the oceans, the salt is left behind causing salinity to increase.

Factors Resulting in Surface Ocean Currents

Wind, coriolis effect, and temperature.

Ekman Transport

The movement of water in the upper layers of the ocean; approximately 90 degrees to the wind direction in the Northern Hemisphere and 90 degrees to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Thermohaline Currents

Thermohaline currents (the Global Ocean Conveyor Belt) are driven by density differences in ocean water, which are influenced by temperature (thermo) and salinity (saline).

Upwelling

Cold water that is full of nutrients moving towards the surface because warm water has moved away.

Variables Tested in Ocean Currents Lab

Temperature (cold sinks) & Salinity (higher salinity sinks).

Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)

The section of the thermohaline current that dominates water circulation in the Atlantic Ocean.

El Niño

NE trade winds weaken.

La Niña

NE tradewinds strengthen.

El Niño Pressure System

Low pressure over the eastern boundary/South American Coast due to increased warm water mass along the coast.

La Niña Pressure System

High pressure system over the eastern boundary/South American Coast due to the increase in cold water upwelling along the coast.

Albedo

The percentage of incoming light that is reflected by a surface.

Range of Albedo Values

It ranges from 0 (reflects no sunlight, absorbs all sunlight), to 1 (reflects 100% of light, absorbs none)

Rough vs. Smooth Surfaces (Albedo)

Rough surfaces scatter light in many directions, which decreases albedo. Smooth surfaces evenly reflect light.

Milankovitch Cycles

Changes in Earth's orbit that influence the amount and distribution of solar radiation reaching Earth, impacting global temperatures and triggering periods of ice ages.

Real-World Events Increasing Albedo

Cloud formation because clouds have a higher albedo and Ice formation because white has a very high albedo.

Amount of Incident Light Absorbed

amount absorbed = 1 - (albedo value)

Cause of Seasons on Earth

The tilt of the Earth causes seasons on Earth.

Solar Intensity

The tilt of the Earth determines the solar intensity that an area of Earth receives.

Feedback Loop

A process where the output of a system is fed back into its input, creating a cyclical relationship.

Positive vs. Negative Feedback Loop

A positive feedback loop amplifies the stimulus, leading to an even bigger change. A negative feedback loop has an output that slows down the process.