Global Climate Change - GEOL 1330

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to global climate change as discussed in the lecture.

Climate

Weather patterns averaged over long periods of time.

Weather

Short term conditions of the atmosphere; usually focused on what is happening close to ground (Troposphere).

Milankovitch Cycles

Changes in Earth's orbit which include Eccentricity, Obliquity, and Precession.

Eccentricity

100,000 year cycles related to the shape of Earth's orbit.

Obliquity

41,000 year cycles related to the tilt of Earth on its axis.

Precession

26,000 year cycles related to the wobble of Earth's axis.

Greenhouse Effect

The trapping of energy (heat) by a planet's atmosphere to warm its surface.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that retain heat in the atmosphere including CO2, CH4, CFCs, and N2O.

CO2 emissions sources

Sources of CO2 include burning of fossil fuels (75%), land clearing (15%), manufacturing (7%), and fuel wood (3%).

Sea Level Rise

Increase in the level of the world's oceans due to thermal expansion and melting ice sheets.

Thermal Expansion

Increase in volume of water as it warms, contributing to sea level rise.

Ice Cap Mass Loss

Reduction in mass of ice in Greenland and Antarctica affecting global sea levels.

Atmospheric CO2

Current concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere are the highest in more than 800,000 years.

Temperature Anomaly

Difference between the current average temperature and a baseline average temperature.

Natural Drivers of Climate Change

Factors such as Earth’s orbital patterns, volcanoes, solar variability, plate tectonics, and ocean currents.

Little Ice Age

A period of cooler climate in the Northern Hemisphere, influenced by solar variability.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Concentration

Current levels are about 400 ppm, which have increased due to human activities.

Methane (CH4) Concentration

Levels of methane in the atmosphere exceed historical data, significantly impacting greenhouse effects.

CFCs

Chlorofluorocarbons, greenhouse gases contributing to ozone depletion and climate change.

Nitrous Oxides (N2O)

Greenhouse gases that contribute to warming, accounting for about 6% of total greenhouse gases.

Ocean Acidity

Increased CO2 levels lead to ocean acidification, negatively impacting marine life.

Arctic Sea Ice Volume Anomaly

Changes in the volume of Arctic sea ice as related to climate change.

Geologic Time Scale

A system of chronological dating that relates geological strata to time.