Climate Change Exam Notes

Energy Variation & Climate Change (HS-ESS2-4)

Use a model to describe how variations in the flow of energy into and out of Earth’s systems result in changes in climate (Cause and Effect).
Skills:
- I can interpret and create models of energy flow (incoming solar radiation, reflection, absorption, greenhouse effect).
- I can explain how imbalances in energy input and output cause changes in Earth's climate.
- I understand and can apply cause and effect reasoning to climate systems.
Key Vocabulary:
- Energy Budget – Balance between incoming energy from the sun and outgoing energy from Earth.
- Greenhouse Effect – The trapping of heat in Earth’s atmosphere by greenhouse gases.
- Albedo – The reflectivity of Earth's surface; affects how much solar energy is absorbed or reflected.
- Solar Radiation – Energy emitted by the sun, a major driver of Earth's climate.
- Infrared Radiation – Heat energy re-emitted from Earth’s surface.
- Climate System – The complex interaction between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and cryosphere.
- Positive Feedback – A process that amplifies change (e.g., ice melting reduces albedo, causing more warming).
- Negative Feedback – A process that reduces change (e.g., increased cloud cover reflecting sunlight).

Key Ideas

Earth’s climate is driven by the balance of energy entering and leaving the system.
Energy inputs and outputs are affected by factors like atmospheric composition, surface reflectivity, and human activities.
Climate Variables:
- Ocean currents: Warm currents will cause a region's climate to increase in temperature, cold currents will cause the climate to decrease in temperature (seen on page 20 of the ESSRT).
- Altitude: Altitude is how high above sea level you are. The higher you go in the troposphere, the colder it gets.
- Latitude: This is how north or south you are of the equator. When you are near the equator it is warmer; as you increase your latitude and move towards the poles, it gets colder because there is less direct sunlight throughout the year.
- Winds: Throughout the world, there are different wind belts; these are our global winds. Winds can bring warm or cold air to different regions. We experience these wind belts because of the Coriolis effect (seen on page 19 of the ESSRT).
- Distance from the ocean: Water takes a really long time to heat up and a long time to cool down. If you live close to the ocean, it acts like a regulator, keeping temperatures more mild.
- Topography: Landscapes like mountains, hills, and valleys can change a region's climate. Mountains can block clouds and cause desert-like conditions on one side of the mountain and rainy, wet conditions on the other.

Processes Involved

Incoming Solar Radiation: Main source of Earth's energy.
Reflection (Albedo Effect): Clouds, ice, and snow reflect sunlight; darker surfaces absorb more energy.
Absorption: Land and oceans absorb solar radiation and heat up.
Infrared Emission: Earth emits energy back into space as infrared radiation.
Greenhouse Effect:
- Natural: Keeps Earth warm enough for life.
- Enhanced by Humans: Extra $CO2$ , $CH4$ , and $N_2O$ emissions increase heat trapping.
Radiative Forcing Changes:
- Positive Forcing: Leads to warming (e.g., more greenhouse gases).
- Negative Forcing: Leads to cooling (e.g., volcanic ash blocking sunlight).

Climate Change and Future Impacts (HS-ESS3-5)

Analyze geoscience data and the results from global climate models to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rate of global or regional climate change and associated future impacts to Earth systems (Stability and Change).
Skills:
- I can analyze geoscience data and outputs from climate models (graphs, maps, datasets).
- I can make evidence-based forecasts about future climate conditions and impacts.
- I can explain regional and global differences in the effects of climate change.
- I can support claims with scientific evidence from data.
Key Vocabulary:
- Geoscience Data – Data related to Earth sciences like temperature records, ice cores, sea levels, etc.
- Climate Models – Computer simulations that project climate changes based on current trends and variables.
- Anthropogenic – Human-caused, often referring to sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Carbon Dioxide ( $CO_2$ ) – Major greenhouse gas driving climate change.
- Methane ( $CH4$ ) – Potent greenhouse gas with a stronger but shorter-lived effect than $CO2$ .
- Sea Level Rise – An impact of melting ice caps and warming oceans.
- Ocean Acidification – Decrease in ocean pH due to increased $CO_2$ absorption.
- Extreme Weather Events – More frequent/intense events like hurricanes, heatwaves, and floods.

Key Ideas

Current climate trends can be projected into the future using geoscience data and climate models.
Climate change is occurring at a rate and scale influenced strongly by human activities.
Data Interpretation:
- Temperature Records: Global temperatures have steadily increased over the past century.
- Atmospheric $CO2$ Measurements: Shows sharp rise in $CO2$ levels since the Industrial Revolution.
- Ice Cores: Reveal past atmospheric conditions and temperature history.
- Sea Level Rise: Documented through tide gauges and satellite altimetry.
Global Climate Models (GCMs):
- Simulate interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, ice sheets, and land surfaces.
- Predict future scenarios based on greenhouse gas emission levels ("business-as-usual" vs. mitigation pathways).
Predicted Future Impacts:
- Global Warming: Increase of 1.5°C–4.5°C by 2100, depending on emissions.
- Sea Level Rise: Inundation of coastal areas, loss of habitats.
- Extreme Weather: More intense hurricanes, droughts, and heat waves.
- Ecosystem Shifts: Changes in species ranges, biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse.
- Human Health and Agriculture: New disease patterns, reduced crop yields.

Response Strategies:

Mitigation: Renewable energy, carbon capture, forest preservation.
Adaptation: Flood barriers, changing agricultural practices, disaster preparedness.

Feedback in Earth’s Systems (HS-ESS2-2)

Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth's surface can create feedbacks that causes changes to other Earth systems (Stability and Change).
Skills:
- I can identify examples of how changes in Earth's surface (like deforestation, glacier melting, urbanization) trigger feedbacks affecting other systems (atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere).
- I can analyze and interpret geoscience data showing these feedback relationships.
- I can apply the concepts of stability and change to explain environmental impacts.
Key Terms:
- Earth Systems – The interacting physical, chemical, and biological components: atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere.
- Feedback Loop – A process where an output of a system acts as an input, influencing the system further.
- Erosion – The movement of sediment that can lead to changes in landforms and ecosystems.
- Deforestation – Removal of forests that can alter climate, water cycles, and increase erosion.
- Permafrost Thawing – Melting frozen ground that can release greenhouse gases, enhancing climate change.
- System Interactions – How changes in one system (like land use) impact others (like climate or ecosystems).

Key Ideas

One change to Earth's surface can trigger feedback in other Earth systems.
Feedback loops can either amplify (positive) or stabilize (negative) environmental changes.
Examples of Positive Feedbacks:
- Melting Ice and Albedo Feedback: As ice melts, less sunlight is reflected and more is absorbed, leading to more warming.
- Deforestation and Carbon Feedback: Cutting down forests reduces $CO_2$ absorption, leading to more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
- Warming Oceans and Methane Release: Warming oceans may release methane from ocean floor sediments, a potent greenhouse gas.
Examples of Negative Feedbacks:
- Increased $CO2$ and Plant Growth Feedback: As atmospheric $CO2$ increases, some plants grow faster and larger, leading to greater $CO2$ absorption through photosynthesis, which reduces $CO2$ levels in the atmosphere.
Data Analysis:
- Interpretation of satellite imagery, temperature trends, forest loss/gain, and ice sheet mass balance.