Studied by 6 peopleGlobal Change
Change that occurs in the chemical, biological, and physical properties of the planet
Global Climate Change
Changes in the average weather that occurs in an area over a period of years or decades
Global warming
The warming of the oceans, land masses, and atmosphere of Earth
The concentration of gases, distribution of clouds, atmospheric currents, and ocean currents
What are the physical and biogeochemical systems that regulate temperature at the surface of Earth?
Visible radiation and UV radiation
In what two forms does the sun radiate energy?
Greenhouse effect
Absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases and reradiation of the energy back toward Earth
H2O, CO2, CH4, N2O, CFCs
What are the major greenhouse gases
Volcanic eruptions, decomposition, wildfires
What are the natural sources of carbon dioxide?
Industrial processes, Combustion of fossil fuels, deforestation
What are the anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide?
Anaerobic decomposition (esp in Wetlands), digestion (cows and termites esp)
What are the natural sources of methane?
Agricultural practices (raising livestock and overirrigated fields), melting icecaps, landfills, energy production and combustion
What are the anthropogenic sources of methane?
Denitrification
What are the natural sources of nitrogen?
Agricultural soils, Car emissions (combustion)
What are the anthropogenic sources of nitrogen?
None
What are the natural sources of Chlorofluorocarbons?
Hairspray (The 80s killed the ozone), aerosol cans, refrigerants
What are the anthropogenic sources of Chlorofluorocarbons?
Evaporation, transpiration, evapotranspiration
What are the natural sources of water vapor?
Assess climate change
What is the goal of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Ocean acidification
The process by which an increase in ocean CO2 causes more CO2 to be converted to carbonic acid, which lowers the pH of the water
Kyoto Protocol
An international agreement that sets a goal for global emissions of greenhouse gases from all industrialized countries to be reduced by 5.2 percent below their 1990 levels by 2012
Carbon sequestration
An approach to stabilizing greenhouse gases by removing CO2 from the atmosphere
Ice Age
A period of time where the Earth's overall surface temperature is lowered enough that glaciers form at the poles.
Glacial periods
A period where the overall climate is cold and causes glaciers to grow and advance.
Interglacial periods
A period of time where the overall climate is warmer, leading the glaciers to retreat.
Interglacial
We are currently in an _________ period of an ice age.
Proxy
(n.) an agent, substitute; a written permission allowing one person to act in another's place
Proxies
We use _____________ to obtain temperature data prior to the 19th century. We do this by drilling ice holes into the glaciers in Antarctica and Greenland and the dissolved bubbles of atmosphere in each layer are analyzed.
Relative amounts of two oxygen isotopes, carbon dioxide, and methane
What is analyzed in each ice core layer that helps us determine atmospheric changes?
Plants wont take in carbon dioxide
Why is there more carbon dioxide in the winter?
.76
There has been a ______° C increase in air temperature since 1850.
.13
The current rate of climate change is ______° C per decade.
24 cubic miles
We are currently losing _____________ of ice per year in Antarctica
Inflow of water from melting sea ice and thermal expansion
Why are sea levels rising?
The great ocean conveyer belt
Is a constantly moving system of deep-ocean circulation driven by temperature and salinity. The great ocean conveyor moves water around the globe.
Thermohaline Circulation
Movement of ocean water caused by density difference brought about by variations in temperature and salinity. As ocean water freezes at the poles it concentrates salt, and the colder, denser water sinks.
Note
Flashcard