unit 2 book notes

Adaption: Initiatives to reduce vulnerability of human and natural systems to climate change.
Albedo: Amount of incoming solar energy reflected by the Earth's surface.
Anthropogenic: Processes and impacts related to human activity.
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect: Increased greenhouse gases from human activities, affecting atmospheric systems.
Global Warming: Increase in global temperatures noticeable since the 1960s, especially from the 1980s.
Greenhouse Effect: Process by which gases like CO2 and methane allow solar radiation to enter but trap outgoing long-wave radiation, leading to atmospheric warming.
Mitigation: Efforts to reduce the causes of climate change.
Resilience: A system's ability to absorb change without needing fundamental change.
Vulnerability: Susceptibility of human or natural systems to adverse impacts of climate change.

Mixture of solids, liquids, and gases held by gravitational force, including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, trace gases like CO2, helium, and ozone.
Atmospheric energy balance is achieved through solar energy (insolation).
Most energy is absorbed in tropical regions; redistribution occurs through wind and ocean currents.

Earth receives solar energy, maintaining a balance between inputs (insolation) and outputs (re-radiation).
Recent global warming linked to human activities; three main natural processes maintain balance:
1. Radiation - Emission of various electromagnetic waves.
2. Convection - Heat transfer through movement of gases or liquids.
3. Conduction - Heat transfer by contact.

Planetary albedo refers to reflection from Earth's surface.
Atmospheric processes include absorption and re-radiation of energy, with greenhouse gases trapping heat (greenhouse principle).
Types of Greenhouse Gases: Water vapor, CO2, methane, chlorofluorocarbons.

Variations in solar radiation affect Earth's temperatures due to cycles and solar output changes, leading to potential ice ages.
Global Dimming: Air pollution contributes to a cooling effect, potentially masking global warming effects, with variations on short and long-term cycles.
Feedback Loops: Key roles in maintaining stable climate; can be positive (e.g., ice cap melting) or negative (e.g., increased polar snow).

Result of increasing greenhouse gases from human activities; leads to global climate changes affecting rainfall, temperature, floods, etc.
Linked to industrialization, trade, and globalization, especially in low-income countries (LICs) and newly industrialized countries (NICs).

Expected effects include rising sea levels, increased storm activity, changes in agriculture, and altered hydrosphere.
Impact on Hydrosphere: Example - sea level rise in Bangladesh.
Consequences of sea ice decline affecting methane emissions and weather patterns in Europe.
Carbon Cycle Changes: Human actions have led to an imbalance, with some carbon sinks converting to carbon sources.

Climate change impacts lead to potential shifts in biomes, including north-south movements, reduced biodiversity, and altered agriculture due to droughts.

The effects can lead to severe social implications, including hunger, migration (environmental refugees), and shifts in tourism due to changing weather patterns.
Economic stresses are likely to affect LICs more severely due to weaker infrastructure and resources.

Climate change may lead to more extreme weather patterns, increasing vulnerability to floods, droughts, hurricanes, and water shortages.
Rising global temperatures could cause severe impacts within varying temperature increases.

Vulnerability to climate change is influenced by location, wealth, and social differences.
Special populations are disproportionately affected, e.g., children, elderly, disabled.

Overcoming obstacles to achieving a low carbon future involves addressing multiple political and economic challenges.
International efforts included in conferences like UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement to stabilize greenhouse gas levels.

Mitigation involves reducing and stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions through various strategies.
Adaptive capacity varies by region, contingent on available resources, with a focus on technological and financial support for LICs.
Specific adaptation measures include flood defenses, agricultural adjustments, and the development of resilient crops.

The intricate relationships between climate systems, human impacts, and socioeconomic vulnerabilities require effective governance, global cooperation, and targeted strategies to mitigate and adapt to ongoing climate changes.