ESS_Energy and Climate

energy security

a country’s ability to secure all its energy needs

negative feedback

negative feedback loops neutralize deviation from an equilibrium and promote stability

positive feedback

positive feedback loops amplify changes and drive the system toward a tipping point where a new equilibrium is adopted

tipping point

the minimum amount of change within a system that will destabilize it causing it to reach a new equilibrium

resilience

a system’s tendency to avoid tipping points and maintain stability

steady-state equilibrium

the condition of an open system where there are no changes over the long term, but there may be oscillations in the very short term

example of energy source

coal, nuclear gas, hydropower, wind, wave, solar power (photovoltaic cells)

example of positive feedback that affects climate change

temperatures increase, oceans release co2

example of negative feedback that affects climate change

temperature increases, trees do more photosynthesis, more co2 is absorbed

example of tipping point

eutrophication

pros and cons of photovoltaic cells (solar panels)

pro: cost-efficient
con: limited to daytime

factors that affect the resilience of an ecosystem

diversity and the size of storages make a system more resilient because of the many negative feedback loops

climate vs weather

climate describes how the atmosphere behaves over long periods of time in a larger area whereas weather refers to the conditions in the atmosphere over a short period of time locally

climate consequences of increased concentrations of greenhouse gases

increased GHGs can lead to higher global temperatures. more infrared heat waves are reflected back to earth by the greenhouse layer, heating the earth

human and ecological impacts of climate change

ecological: rise in sea levels, glaciers melting
human: increased disease, displacement of coastal communities

challenges in making predictions about the global climate

natural influences on climate, like volcanic eruptions are unpredictable

role of the albedo effect from clouds in regulating global average temperature

negative feedback loop: more evaporation, more clouds reflect sunlight

why the greenhouse effect is essential for life on earth

greenhouse gases help warm the atmosphere and keep species alive. it also reduces exposure to extreme weather conditions like drought

factors that affect energy security

multiple suppliers, storage capacity, domestic production