Bio 1114; Unit 14 - Global warming foundations

Global climate change

the global alteration of Earth’s climate system due to human activity resulting in globally increased temperatures

Greenhouse effect (GHGs)

gases in the atmosphere that absorb long-wave radiation reflected off Earth’s surface and then re-radiate that heat back towards Earth

Carbon cycle

Describes the movement of C through biotic and abiotic components of Earth’s system

Carbon pools

reservoirs of C

Turnover rates

how quickly C moves from one pool to another

Residence times

how long C remains in a pool before moving to another

Atmospheric pool

C in the air

biospheric pool

C shared in living tissues (mostly photosynthetic organisms)

fossil fuels

C stored in geological deposits formed from organic matter

Carbon sinks

reservoirs that accumulate C

carbon fixation

the conversation of CO2 into an inorganic compound

Positive feedback loops

cycles that reinforce/strengthen the initial change as the cycle progresses

What initiated the feedback loop

Change in solar radiation

Carbon fluxes

movement of C from one component of the cycle to another

Obliquity

changes in how tilted the Earth’s axis is - cycle lasts 40,000 years

eccentricity

changes in how circular our orbit around the sun is - cycles last around 100,000 years

precession

changes in the direction of Earth’s tilt - cycles last 19,000 to 23,000 years

What are the 3 types or orbital cycles

obliquity, eccentricity, precession

weather

short-term variation in temperature and precipitation - varies hourly, daily, weekly, and seasonally

weather systems

chaotic and unpredictable long-term

climate

long term average weather conditions - predictable based on known factors that drive climatic patterns

climate change

persistent changes in average weather conditions