Planet Earth Climate Test

Terestrial Radiation

Radiation that is reemitted by earth.

Climate

The overall weather patterns of an area over a long period of time (30-100 years).

Biome

Large areas characterized by wildlife, vegetation, and soil that have formed in response to a shared physical climate.

Adaptation

Many plants and animals have developed specific features like white fur or shallow roots to survive in harsh conditions.

Climographs

Used to describe climate in locations (average temp is plotted as a line and rainfall by a bar).

Insolation

Incoming solar radiation

4 climate zones

Polar and subpolar, temperate, subtropical, tropical.

Ocean currents

Gain temperature from where they originated and will bring it to other places.

Carbon Cycle

Movement of carbon through different versions of resivours on earth (Atmosphere: Burning fossil fuels: Co2/Geosphere: Creation of fossil fuels: Limestone/Biosphere: Photosynthesis: Co2 to O2/Hydrosphere: Co2 dissolves into water)

Carbon Cycle

Fossil Fuels

Layers of organic carbon that were compressed by heat and pressure faster than they could decay (Coal, oil , natural gas).

Anthropogenic Carbon

Refers to pollutants originally from human activities (Power plants burning fossil fuels for electricity/Transportation using fossil fuels/Deforestation taking away plants that photosynthesize)

Natural Cycles

Ocean currents, solar variations, volcanic eruptions, orbital variations (24.5%-22.5% tilt every 41,000 years/Orbit change: ecentricity every 100,000 years/Vega, north star precession every 26,000 years)

Ph Scale

1-14 (lower ph means higher acidification)

Ocean Water

absorbs 30% of Co2 and reacts with it to make carbonic acid.

Greenhouse Effect

Co2 and other gases trap heat keeping the earth warm (sunlight reflected back at earth.

Conduction

Transfer of heat from one molecule to the next through molecular collisions.

Convection

Transfer of heat by mass movement or circulation within a substance (therefore the hotter the less dense).

Radiation

Tranfer of heat by electromagnetic waves.

EM Waves

Vibration of particles (magnetic & electrical/dist between crests = wavelength/waves per second = Hz).

Insolation

50% absorbed by earth, 20% absorbed by atmosphere, and 30% reflected or scattered

Radiation vs. Reradiation

Radiation is shorter wavelengths, reradiation is infared longer wavelengths.

Selective absorbers

Gases that absorb only specific wavelengths of radiation (Visible light not absorbed by gases/Gases like carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane). Without natural greenhouse earth would be 60 degrees colder.

Climate change long term effects

Increased natural disasters, increase ocean acidification, increase ocean sea levels, increase melting sea ice, food crisis, flooding, economic and educational stress, and more.

COP 21 Paris Agreement Outcomes

Every 8 years countries strengthen climate actions, adaptation (help most vulnerable), long term goal (net 0 emissions), more transparency with climate actions, and climate financial support for developing countries.

Paris Agreement

Adopted by 196 countries, is a legally binding treaty on climate change action created by the UNFCC. Was put into effect on 11/4/16.

How to reduce anthropogenic carbon emissions

use less electricity, renewable/nuclear energy not fossil fuels, plant more trees, more efficient or energy efficient transportation, and more insulation in homes/businesses.