What is climate change (1)

Page 1: Climate vs. Weather

• Definition of Weather: Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind, occurring at a particular time and place.

• Definition of Climate: Climate is the long-term average of weather patterns over extended periods (typically 30 years or more). It encompasses variations and trends in weather phenomena across seasons, years, and geographical areas.

• Key Differences:

  • Duration: Weather is short-term; climate is long-term.

  • Variability: Weather can change rapidly; climate changes gradually over decades.

Page 2: The Atmosphere

• What is the Atmosphere?: The atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding the planet, held in place by gravity.

• How does Earth have an Atmosphere?: Earth's atmosphere is maintained by gravitational attraction, allowing gases to be held close to the surface.

• Contribution to Weather and Climate:

  • The atmosphere plays a crucial role in weather patterns, as it contains water vapor that forms clouds and precipitation.

  • It regulates climate by distributing solar energy across the planet through convection currents, influencing temperature and weather systems.

Page 3: The Greenhouse Effect

• Incoming Solar Radiation: The Earth receives varying amounts of solar energy, approximately 343 Watts/m², which is partially reflected by the atmosphere and Earth's surface.

• Outgoing Solar Radiation: After absorption, the Earth emits infrared radiation, averaging about 210 Watts/m², some of which escapes into space.

• Greenhouse Gases:

  • Some infrared radiation is absorbed and re-emitted by greenhouse gases, resulting in warming of the Earth's surface and troposphere.

  • This mechanism is essential for maintaining a habitable temperature on Earth.

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Page 5: Atmospheric Layers and Greenhouse Effect

• Bottom Two Layers of the Atmosphere:

  • Troposphere: The lowest layer, where weather occurs and temperature decreases with altitude.

  • Stratosphere: Above the troposphere, contains the ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters ultraviolet solar radiation.

• Greenhouse Gases and Temperature Regulation:

  • Greenhouse gases trap heat, preventing extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night.

• Seasons:

  • Caused by Earth's tilt and orbit around the sun, leading to varying sunlight distribution throughout the year.

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Page 7: Convection Currents

• Role of Convection Currents: Convection currents move energy through the atmosphere via warm air rising and cooler air descending, creating wind.

• Impact of Axis Tilt:

  • If Earth were not tilted, there would be minimal seasonal variation, impacting climate patterns.

Page 8: Flashlight Lab

• Objective: To explore how the angle of insolation affects energy per unit area:

  • Insolation: Refers to solar radiation energy received on a given surface area during a specific time.

Page 9: Convection Currents Explained

• Definition: Convection currents are fluid movements caused by temperature differences, resulting in warm, moist air rising from the equator and cooler, denser air sinking toward the poles.

• Temperature Imbalance: Heating leads to a movement of warmer air, contributing to global wind patterns.

Page 10: Heat Movement in the Earth System

• Temperature vs. Heat: Temperature measures how hot or cold something is; heat refers to the transfer of thermal energy.

• Heat Distribution: Heat moves throughout the Earth system via conduction, convection, and radiation processes.

Page 11: Convection Currents Movement

• Key Water Flows: Discusses the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation:

  • Factors Involved: Sea ice, Gulf Stream, and varying water temperatures contribute to this flow and overall climate.

Page 12: Surface Color and Insolation

• Reflectivity: Different surfaces absorb or reflect solar energy differently:

  • Thick clouds: 70-80%

  • Grass: 5-25%

  • Dark roof: 10-15%

  • Snow: 50-90%

• This absorption affects local temperatures and climate.

Page 13: Flashlight Activity and Convection Cells

• Convection Cell Diagram: Diagrams should show the cycle of warm air rising and cool air sinking.

• Latitudinal Air Motion: Expect rising air near the equator (tropics) and sinking air near poles (subtropics) due to temperature differences.

Page 14: Deserts Between Ferrel and Hadley Cells

• High-Pressure areas: Regions where descending dry air creates desert conditions.

• Connection: This pattern explains arid zones found in these transitions.

Page 15: Energy Distribution by Ocean and Air Currents

• Mechanism: Ocean and air currents are critical in distributing heat.

• Matter's Role: Water plays a significant role in energy transfer due to its heat capacity and movement.

Page 16: El Niño vs La Niña

• El Niño: Characterized by warmer ocean currents, leading to increased rainfall in certain regions.

• La Niña: Features cooler ocean currents, often resulting in drought conditions.

Page 17: Polar Vortex Changes during El Niño

• Impact of Rising Air: Affects the size of the polar vortex and climate patterns in the U.S., potentially leading to diverse weather phenomena.

Page 18: Comparative Patterns of El Niño and La Niña

• Jet Stream Effects: El Niño and La Niña cause significant shifts in the jet stream patterns, influencing weather conditions across continents.

Page 19: Sea Surface Temperature Trends

• Niño Index values: Analysis of temperature changes provides insights into the health of ocean systems and predictions for climatic events.

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Page 21: Temperature Variations

• Correlation Analysis: Evaluating the relationship between El Niño conditions and temperature changes on a global scale.

Page 22: Climate Change Questions

• Core Questions:

  • What is climate change?

  • What evidence indicates climate change?

  • What causes these changes and possible implications for the future?

Page 23: Understanding Climate Change

• Definition: Climate change refers to significant changes in temperature and weather patterns over extended periods, specifically the recent rise in Earth's average temperature.

Page 24: IPCC Temperature Variations

• Projection Models: Data indicates expected changes in global temperatures based on various scenarios, showcasing the impact of both observed and modeled changes.

Page 25: Temperature Change Projections

• Various Models: Present data on anticipated temperature variations through different greenhouse gas emission scenarios.

Page 26: Temperature Anomaly Data

• Representation: Indicates fluctuations in temperature over decades, showing clear trends toward warming.

Page 27: Temperature Reconstruction

• Data Analysis: Comparing surface temperature records aids in understanding historical climate patterns.

Page 28: Temperature Trends

• Indicators of Change: Use of colored scales to visualize warming and cooling trends over time.

Page 29: Global Averages

• Interpreting Data: The blue line represents average temperatures, while red bars represent anomalies, indicating significant temperature increases.

Page 30: Questions of Climate Science

• Key Concepts:

  • The importance of accurately defining climate change versus global warming.

  • Understanding proxies and their usefulness in climate science.

Page 31: Evidence of Climate Change

• Possible Indicators:

  • Glacial retreat

  • Changes in plant and animal habits

  • Ocean temperature increases

• Expectations: Explanation of what these changes indicate in light of rising temperatures.

Page 32: Indicators of Warming

• Factors:

  • Glacial melting, snow cover reduction, sea-level rise, and temperature changes in oceans and air.

Page 33: Climate Change in Yellowstone

• Conclusion: The impact of climate change on ecosystems and wildlife observed in regions like Yellowstone.

Page 34: Changing Temperatures Map

• Data Visualization: Interpretation of geographical temperature changes and what these suggest for regional climate impacts.

Page 35: Ocean Heat Content

• Trends: Analysis showing increased ocean heat content over decades and its implications for global weather patterns.

Page 36: Projected Precipitation Changes

• Predictions: Expected shifts in rainfall patterns in various months as a result of climate scenarios projected for the future.

Page 37: Hypotheses of Climate Change

• Various Explanations:

  • Changes due to solar radiation

  • Natural variability influences

  • Anthropogenic causes linked to emissions.

Page 38: Climate Data Comparison

• Simulation Insights: Examination of climate models and their results regarding natural and anthropogenic factors.

Page 39: Earth's Movement Effects

• Milankovitch Cycles: Explain how these cycles affect seasonal and temperature changes on Earth's surface.

Page 40: Graphical Relationship

• Data Correlation: Understanding how graphs show the interplay between CO2 levels and temperature over time.

Page 41: Simulations Comparison

• Assessment of Forces: Comparison of models showing natural versus human-induced climate changes.

Page 42: Radiative Forcing

• Impact Measurement: Indicating the changes due to human activity and natural phenomena from 1750-2011.

Page 43: Greenhouse Effect

• Mechanism: Understanding how increased gas emissions contribute to climate change and the dual nature of the greenhouse effect.

Page 44: Major Greenhouse Gases

• Contribution: Identification of key contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and their potential effects on global warming.

Page 45: Greenhouse Gas Emission Sources

• Breakdown: Overview of GHG emissions broken down by economic sectors and types of gases.

Page 46: GHG Concentrations

• Key Gases: Identifying dominant greenhouse gases affected by human activity, especially CO₂, and their impact on temperature.

Page 47: Evidence of Climate Change

• Supportive Evidence: Outlining sources of evidence supporting climate change and potential global actions to mitigate its impact.

Page 48: Earth's Energy Storage

• Thermal Reservoirs: Analysis of energy storage across different Earth's components – oceans, atmosphere, and land forms.

Page 49: Albedo Effect

• Reflection and Absorption: Discussing the implications of decreasing ice cover on heat absorption and its role in climate feedback loops.

Page 50: Global CO2 Emissions

• Trends and Cities: Exploring global emissions trends from various regions and their implications for climate policy.

Page 51: CO2 Projections

• Future Indicators: Climate model predictions regarding CO2 emissions and their expected surface temperature rise.

Page 52: Negative Consequences of Climate Change

• Anticipated Impacts:

  • Rising sea levels

  • Increased frequency and intensity of weather events

  • Ecosystem disruptions

  • Food security issues

  • Loss of biodiversity.

Page 53: Confidence Levels in Predictions

• Assessing Certainty: The reliability of climate change predictions based on varying confidence levels.

Page 54: Projected Surface Temperature Changes

• Temperature Changes Analysis: Investigating temperature predictions for regions under multiple scenarios to understand potential impacts.

Page 55: Projected Climate Change Effects

• Analysis of Extremes: Identifying areas most vulnerable to significant temperature changes as a result of climate change.

Page 56: Future Climate Predictions

• Long-Term Climate Changes: Examining trends showing predicted increases in temperature averages over time.

Page 57: Critical Review of Climate Data Trends

• Long-Term Evaluation: Importance of reviewing comprehensive data sets for proper understanding of climate trends.

Page 58: Natural Climate Variations

• Interruptions in Trends: Discussing periods without temperature rises coinciding with increased emissions, emphasizing variability.

Page 59: Temperature Anomaly Insights

• Understanding Fluctuations: Evaluation of global temperature anomalies and their implications for climate studies.

Page 60: Short-term Climatic Effects

• External Influences: Discussing how volcanic activity and El Niño events can abruptly alter temperature patterns.

Page 61: Climate Change Observations

• Regional Effectiveness: Noting specific impacts of climate change in the Pacific Northwest, including warming temperatures and changing precipitation patterns.

Page 62: Trend Analysis and Interpretation

• Data Evaluation: Emphasizing the importance of accurate data representation and avoiding selective data interpretation.

Page 63: Climate Change Evidence

• Misconceptions: Debunking fallacies regarding periods of no warming amid increasing greenhouse gas concentrations.

Page 64: Long-term Temperature Trends

• Trend Stability: Analysing current trends confirming ongoing consistent warming despite temporary fluctuations.

Page 65: Climate Impact Analysis

• Regional Climate Changes: Understanding how different regions respond to broader climate phenomena—including warming and alterations in precipitation.

Page 66: Projected Changes

• Future Climate Impacts: Discussing potential future climate scenarios focusing on extreme weather events and ecological changes.

Page 67: Inference from Data Collection

• Long-term Observations: Analyzing shifts in weather patterns and their implications for climate science.

Page 68: Ecosystem Change Evidence

• Significant Variations: Noting the impacts of climate change on ecosystems—including shifts in species distribution and agricultural productivity.

Page 69: Data Trends Across Centuries

• Understanding Long-term Trends: Use of comprehensive historical data to understand current climatic trends and future projections.

Page 70: Research Outcomes on Snowpack Trends

• Evaluating Yearly Stabilities: Investigating long-term fluctuations and their implications for winter sports, water supplies, and ecosystems.

Page 71: Potential Influences of Snowpack Trends

• Climate Sensitivity: Evaluating the stability of snowpack levels over lengthy periods and identifying influencing factors.

Page 72: Temperature Changes Over Decades

• Longitudinal Data: Evaluation of varying temperature changes, accentuating the need for comprehensive analysis to understand climate trajectory.

Page 73: Projected Future Temperature Scenarios

• Impacts Across Decades: Analyzing expected impacts of warming in future decades, focusing on mid-century and late-century scenarios.

Page 74: Effects on Climate Variables

• Forecasting Changes: Discussing changes in temperature expectations reaching further into the 21st century.

Page 75: Future Climate Predictions

• Temperature Changes: Continued predictions of changes throughout various timeframes and the anticipated impact on global conditions.

Page 76: Hydrological Modelling

• Weather Data Evaluation: Using hydrological data models to gauge water vapor changes and implications for weather prediction accuracy.

Page 77: Environmental, Economic, and Social Implications

• Global Warming Effects: Potential consequences on environment, economy, and social structures, including shifting agricultural zones and resource availabilities.

Page 78: Impact of Climate Change

• Anticipated Changes: Discussing notable impacts, including extreme weather events and agricultural shifts affecting food security.

Page 79: Comprehensive Climate Review

• Essential Questions: A summary of critical questions regarding atmospheric understanding, greenhouse effects, and the importance of recognizing various sources of climate change evidence.