GEOS2115 Oceans, Coasts & Climate Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminologies from the lecture notes on global climate change, coral reef systems, and geological processes.

Global Climate Change Projections

Predictions of how climate change will affect the Earth in the future, taking into account factors like greenhouse gas emissions and climate sensitivity.

Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs)

Scenarios that describe different greenhouse gas concentration trajectories used for climate change projections.

Atmospheric General Circulation Models (A-GCMs)

Computer models that simulate the behavior of the atmosphere to forecast climate phenomena.

Ice Sheets

Large masses of glacial ice that cover vast areas of land, which play a critical role in global sea level changes.

Holocene

The current geological epoch, which began approximately 11,700 years ago and is characterized by the development of human civilization.

Last Interglacial (LIG)

The last warm period prior to the current ice age, around 125,000 years ago, when sea levels were significantly higher.

Climate Sensitivity

The measure of how responsive the Earth’s climate is to changes in carbon dioxide concentrations.

Ocean Acidification

The process by which the ocean becomes more acidic due to increased levels of CO2, affecting marine life.

Coral Growth Window

The specific environmental conditions under which coral reefs can grow healthily.

Deltas

Sedimentary landforms created at the mouth of rivers where they meet oceans, formed by the deposition of sediment carried by the river.

Tidal Regimes

Patterns of tidal movement that influence coastal ecosystems and sedimentary processes.

Sedimentary Regimes

Conditions affecting the type and rate of sediment deposition in coastal and marine environments.

Substrate Availability

The availability of solid surfaces for organisms to settle on, crucial for coral and other marine life.

Resilience

The capacity of an ecosystem, such as a coral reef, to recover from disturbances.

Geological Time Scales

The vast period of time over which geological processes occur, influencing the evolution of landscapes and ecosystems.

Microbial Carbonate

Carbonate deposits formed by the metabolic activity of microbes, playing a significant role in reef formation.