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.