Untitled Flashcard Set

Global Temperature Variation

Global temperature does not exhibit the same smooth increase over time as seen in the CO2 record.

Internal Variability

The oceans and atmosphere have a large amount of internal variability over annual to decadal time scales.

Modes of Variability

Understanding the major modes of variability, such as the El Niño system, is key in distinguishing the climate change signal from the background climate noise.

Impact of Climate Change

Climate change is expected to disrupt the normal patterns of ocean and atmosphere circulation, likely having a greater impact than warming temperatures.

Last three warmest years

2024 was the warmest year on record, 2023 was the second warmest, and 2025 was the third warmest.

Net Radiation

Higher at the equator because sunlight hits more directly, passing through less atmosphere.

Thermohaline Circulation

Also known as the 'Conveyor Belt,' driven by density differences, this movement circulates water and nutrients in the ocean.

Upwelling

Occurs where strong winds and the Coriolis effect push surface water away from coastlines, causing cold, nutrient-rich water to rise.

Teleconnections

Recurring large-scale patterns of pressure and circulation anomalies that span vast geographical areas, also called Ocean-Atmosphere Oscillations.

El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

A climate pattern that affects weather across the globe, characterized by trade winds and warm surface water patterns in the Pacific.

La Niña

Characterized by stronger normal trade winds, pushing warm water to the west of the tropical Pacific and resulting in cooler ocean temperatures.

El Niño year characteristics

During El Niño, the ocean releases heat, greenhouse gases trap this heat, leading to some of the hottest years on record.

Relative Oceanic Niño Index (RONI)

A three-month running average of the relative Niño 3.4 index used to identify El Niño and La Niña events.

Southern Oscillation Index

Calculated by the normalized pressure difference between Tahiti and Darwin, with sustained negative values indicating El Niño and positive values indicating La Niña.