Climate Change Final

Front 1

By how much have temperatures increased over the past century?

Back 1

.7 degrees C or 1.3 degrees F

Front 2

What pattern of warming have we seen: compare temperature increase at different latitudes; compare temperature increase over Northern High latitudes to the rest of the world

Back 2

It is warming in Greenland and the Antarctica Ice Sheet, the Northern High Latitudes have a longer growing season because of the warming--it has warmed the most

Front 3

By how much will future temperatures increase?

Back 3

Temperature changes are uncertain for different regions

Front 4

What is the ice-albedo feedback? positive or negative?

Back 4

warming=ice/snow melt=albedo decreases causing more energy to absorb=more warming=positive feedback

Front 5

How much has the CO2 concentration increased since pre-industrial times (since 150 years ago)?

Back 5

270-280 ppmv

Front 6

How much of the carbon dioxide that we are presently emitting as a result of the fossil fuel combustion stays in the atmosphere?

Back 6

CO2 has increased by 40% and is now at 390 ppmv

Front 7

What is the cloud feedback? Is it positive or negative?

Back 7

Cloud feedback can be positive or negative
Atmospheric warming=increased evaporation=increase in high clouds absorbing

Front 8

List the natural forcings of climate change

Back 8

Volcanic Eruptions; large eruptions can throw so much dust in the sky that it acts as a shield to solar radiation
Sunspots: changes int he Earth's solar radiation can cause short-terming warming cycles
The Wobbly Earth: as the earth spins it wobbles causing certain regions to become warmer after a certain point in time

Front 9

Could the climate change have natural causes? Can natural causes explain the observed changes?

Back 9

The changes might have been caused by natural causes, but they are so slight that they cannot explain the observed changes

Front 10

True or False: Over the past century, some regions have warmed faster than other regions.

Back 10

True

Front 11

True or False: Over the past century the surface air temperature of the Earth has uniformly increased by approx. .7 degrees C

Back 11

False

Front 12

True of False: Global warming increases the risk of earthquakes.

Back 12

False

Front 13

What is the range of global average temperature changes expected in the 21st century?

Back 13

1.1-6.4 Degrees C

Front 14

Under the Copenhagen Accords the U.S. must reduce its CO2 emissions to 2.64 Gt (2.64 * 10^9 tons) by 2020. The population of the U.S. is expected to increase to 330 million people in 2020. Under these scenarios, what is the emissions per-capita the U.S. must achieve to comply with the Copenhagen Accord?

Back 14

8 tons CO2/person

Front 15

In 2008 the U.S. emitted 4.3 Gt (=4.3X10^9 tons) of CO2 by burning fossil fuels. The population of the U.S. was 307 million people. What was the emissions per-capita of the U.S. in 2008?

Back 15

approx. 14 tons CO2/person

Front 16

What was the global average temperature change measured in the 20th century?

Back 16

.7 degrees C

Front 17

T or F: Population change affects global warming

Back 17

True

Front 18

T or F: Global CO2 emissions are increasing with time.

Back 18

True

Front 19

T or F: Most of the annually emitted greenhouse gases are absorbed by the ocean and land ecosystems.

Back 19

True

Front 20

T or F: For the same incoming daily solar radiation a decrease in Earth surface albedo would have a cooling effect.

Back 20

False

Front 21

T or F: The observed overall increase in temperature during the past century cannot be explained only natural causes.

Back 21

True

Front 22

Fill in the blank: CO2 concentration peaks in _____ because at this time the growing season starts in the ________ Hemisphere.

Back 22

May; Northern

Front 23

Which of the following are not a consequence of global warming? a. Sea Level Rise b. Glacier retreat c. volcanic eruptions d. increase in length of the growing season in the Northern Hemisphere. e. birds change of habitat.

Back 23

C. Even if CO2 concentration will remain constant after the year 2000, the year blobal temperature

Front 24

T or F: The greenhouse effect is mainly die to CO2.

Back 24

False

Front 25

T or F: After a fire, the albedo of a vegetated area changes.

Back 25

True

Front 26

T or F: Ozone in the troposphere absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation and protects the Earth's surface from the ultraviolet radiation.

Back 26

False

Front 27

T or F: In the last few decades we have been adding the same amount of CO2 to the atmosphere every year.

Back 27

False

Front 28

T or F: To keep the earth's temperature constant, the amount of incoming short-wave radiation absorbed must be in balance with the amount of outgoing long-wave radiation.

Back 28

True

Front 29

T or F: The stratospheric ozone hold is caused by the increased CO2 emissions.

Back 29

False

Front 30

T or F: A major component of the atmospheric mass composition is CO2.

Back 30

False

Front 31

T or F: Among the greenhouse gases, CO2 is the one that absorbed the most infrared energy.

Back 31

False

Front 32

Which of the greenhouse gases does not mix well with the Earth's troposphere?

Back 32

water vapor

Front 33

What can we do to not increase the risk of flooding?

Back 33

control wildfires

Front 34

The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere varies seasonally and falls during the _______________ Hemisphere spring and summer, and rises during the ____________________ Hemisphere autumn and winter.

Back 34

Northern; Northern

Front 35

T or F: CFC concentrations in the atmosphere have been decreasing in the last decade.

Back 35

True

Front 36

T or F: Human activities have caused thickening of the stratospheric ozone layer.

Back 36

False

Front 37

T or F: The ozone hold is increasing the average temperature of the Earth.

Back 37

False

Front 38

T or F: CFC's have increased the thickness of the stratospheric ozone layer.

Back 38

False

Front 39

T or F: Human activities have caused a thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer only at the poles.

Back 39

False

Front 40

Which of the following cannot be considered climate forcing? a. change in solar radiation b. change in the amount of reflected solar radiation c. change in greenhouse gas concentrations d. change in precipitation intensity

Back 40

D: change in precipitation intensity.

Front 41

T or F: Global warming causes the weakening of the trade winds, which causes an El Nino event.

Back 41

False

Front 42

T or F: Global warming causes the strengthening of the trade winds, which causes an El Nino event.

Back 42

False

Front 43

T or F: Natural strengthening of the trade winds causes an El Nino event

Back 43

False

Front 44

T or F: Natural weakening of the trade winds causes and El Nino event.

Back 44

True

Front 45

T or F: El Nino events are the result of natural negative feedbacks between the ocean and atmosphere.

Back 45

False

Front 46

Order these items by albedo from highest to lowest:
Fresh snow, sea ice, ocean.

Back 46

Sea Ice>Fresh snow> ocean

Front 47

T or F: Arctic atmosphere is thinner, and it takes less heat to warm by a given amount.

Back 47

True

Front 48

T or F: Reductions in sea ice extent have been increasing the Arctic albedo

Back 48

False

Front 49

T or F: Melting land ice and uncovering the darker land surface will result in additional warming

Back 49

True

Front 50

T or F: Global warming has caused changes in atmospheric circulation that are amplifying Arctic warming.

Back 50

True

Front 51

T or F: Ice-albedo feedback is always a positive feedback.

Back 51

True

Front 52

T or F: It is difficult to predict precipitation and drought because natural variability and climate warming effects must both be considered.

Back 52

True

Front 53

T or F: El Nino and La Nina are both part of a naturally occurring oscillation.

Back 53

True

Front 54

T or F: Higher atmospheric concentrations of CO2 can potentially increase flooding by reducing plant transpiration and therefore increase water flow into rivers.

Back 54

True

Front 55

T or F: The arctic warms faster than any other region of the planet because of a series of negative feedbacks that amplify the initial increase in temperature.

Back 55

False

Front 56

T or F: Rivers, lakes, and groundwater levels are substantially lower; this is an example of a hydrological drought.

Back 56

True

Front 57

T or F: Agricultural droughts are affected by water use practices, such as irrigation.

Back 57

True

Front 58

T or F: Agricultural droughts are typically seen after both meteorological and hydrological droughts.

Back 58

False

Front 59

What things increase the risk of flooding and droughts?

Back 59

Deforestation, melting of the ice sheets, city development, higher precipitation intensity, seasonal timing of precipitation events, city development, higher atmospheric CO2 levels

Front 60

Does an increase of CFC concentrations in the atmosphere increase the risk of flooding?

Back 60

No

Front 61

Given the same amount of precipitation, where is a flood most likely to happen?

Back 61

paved road in a basin

Front 62

T or F: The change in the frequency of flooding is easier to predict on a regional scale than a global scale.

Back 62

True

Front 63

T or F: Replacing forests with crops decreases the risk of flooding.

Back 63

False

Front 64

T or F: The number of floods observed globally has increased mostly due to the construction of dams and reservoirs.

Back 64

False

Front 65

Plants can increase the risk of flooding due to reduced growth rates in response to an increase in atmospheric CO2.

Back 65

False

Front 66

Which of the following does not increase Arctic warming?
a. ice-albedo feedback b. formation of the arctic stratospheric ozone hole c. increase in air pollution d. thinner arctic troposphere e. shift of land vegetation from tundra to forests

Back 66

B: formation of the arctic stratospheric ozone hole not increase arctic warming

Front 67

In general, the term ozone hole refers to the depletion of the ___________ ozone layer in _______________ during ________________ hemisphere ___________________.

Back 67

stratospheric; Antarctica; Southern; spring

Front 68

T or F: The cryosphere exists all over the globe, at high and low elevation and latitudes.

Back 68

True

Front 69

T or F: The occurrence and severity of droughts and floods are affect by land use changes.

Back 69

True

Front 70

T or F: Droughts and floods never occur at the same location.

Back 70

False

Front 71

T or F: Precipitation is the only factor controlling the occurrence and severity of droughts and floods.

Back 71

False

Front 72

T or F: An increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration DIRECTLY influences flooding.

Back 72

False

Front 73

T or F: Global warming is the sole driver of all modern regional droughts.

Back 73

False

Front 74

Which of the following human activities does not increase flood risk?
a. building cities in wild areas b. planting trees in cities c. burning forests for other land usage d. increasing greenhouse gas emissions e. constructing major dams

Back 74

b. planting trees in cities

Front 75

El Nino events _________ precipitation in the Western Pacific, and _____________ precipitation in the Eastern Pacific, which induces ___________ in Indonesia.

Back 75

decrease; increase; droughts; Indonesia

Front 76

T or F: positive feedbacks always cause climate warming

Back 76

False

Front 77

T or F: Feedbacks amplify climate changes in the Arctic

Back 77

True

Front 78

T or F: Glacial periods are initiated by strong negative feedbacks leading to global cooling

Back 78

False

Front 79

T or F: The Earth's surface absorbs the largest percentage of incoming solar radiation.

Back 79

True

Front 80

T or F: The clouds reflect into space only a very small amount of the incoming solar radiation

Back 80

False

Front 81

T or F: Albedo is the amount of light absorbed by an object

Back 81

False

Front 82

Which of the following induces a cooling of the climate?
a. increase in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere b. decrease in albedo c. pollution aerosols d. increase in sun activity e. increase in tropospheric ozone concentrations

Back 82

c. pollution aerosols

Front 83

T or F: Greenhouse gases are relatively transparent to incoming solar radiation, but they absorb outgoing long wave radiation from the Earth

Back 83

True

Front 84

Which of the following is not a symptom of climate change? a. extreme heat b. increase in floods and droughts intensity c. melting of the cryosphere d. increasing population e. sea level rise

Back 84

d. increasing population

Front 85

As albedo decreases, Earth will ________.

Back 85

warm

Front 86

_________________ radiation absorbed by greenhouse gases allows the Earth to stay warm.

Back 86

Long-wave

Front 87

Globally averaged temperature rose by ________ C in the past century.

Back 87

.7 degrees

Front 88

T or F: Globally averaged land temperature rose by .7 degrees C in the past century.

Back 88

False (average temperature overall)

Front 89

T or F: cloud feedbacks always result in warming.

Back 89

False

Front 90

T or F: albedo of desert areas > albedo of vegetated areas

Back 90

True

Front 91

T or F: Evaporation is a key process at the origin of droughts by not floods.

Back 91

False

Front 92

T or F: the heat island effect triggers global warming.

Back 92

False

Front 93

T or F: at many locations, precipitation increases with respect to 100 years ago are statistically significant.

Back 93

True

Front 94

T or F: In the last few decades, ocean-areas have warmed more than land-areas.

Back 94

False

Front 95

T or F: population increase contributes to global warming.

Back 95

True

Front 96

T or F: Most of the increase in CO2 atmospheric concentration is due to burning fossil fuel.

Back 96

True

Front 97

T or F: CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere have been increasing with time over the past 100 years.

Back 97

True

Front 98

T or F: The ozone hold increases global warming.

Back 98

False

Front 99

T or F: Ozone depletion occurs only at the poles.

Back 99

False

Front 100

T or F: The ozone hole can only occur in Antarctica.

Back 100

False

Front 101

T or F: Ozone depletion occurs globally.

Back 101

True

Front 102

T or F: In the past century, changes in water vapor concentrations in the atmosphere cannot explain the observed global temperature increase.

Back 102

True

Front 103

T or F: Volcanic eruptions significantly contribute to increasing CO2 emissions.

Back 103

False

Front 104

T or F: Changes in solar radiation can explain only a small portion of the observed increase in the global average temperature in the past 150 years.

Back 104

True

Front 105

T or F: Variations in the Earth's rotation cannot explain the observed increase the global average temperature in the past 150 years.

Back 105

True

Front 106

Order these from highest in albedo to lowest:
Fresh snow, grassland, desert, ocean

Back 106

Fresh snow> desert> grassland> ocean

Front 107

T or F: Most of the annually emitted greenhouse gases are absorbed by the ocean and land ecosystems.

Back 107

True

Front 108

T or F: For the same incoming daily solar radiation a decrease in Earth's surface albedo would have a cooling effect.

Back 108

False

Front 109

T or F: An increase in ocean heat does not affect precipitation.

Back 109

False

Front 110

T or F: Water vapor in the atmosphere increases linearly with increases in temperature.

Back 110

False

Front 111

T or F: Satellite observations of atmospheric water vapor show larger increases over the ocean than over the land

Back 111

False

Front 112

T or F: Floods can occur even without the occurrence of intense precipitation

Back 112

True

Front 113

T or F: There is no evidence to support the notion that extreme weather events that occurred in recent years are related to climate warming.

Back 113

False

Front 114

T or F: We are CERTAIN that ALL the extreme weather events that occurred in recent years are related to climate warming.

Back 114

False

Front 115

T or F: There is evidence that current climate change disturbs the pattern of atmospheric circulation (Rossby waves) of the Jet stream, which in turn induces extreme weather events.

Back 115

True

Front 116

T or F: Cloud variability has a limited impact on our ability to predict future climate changes.

Back 116

False

Front 117

T or F: Satellite observations show that water vapor concentrations in the atmosphere have increased 5 times more on land than over the ocean.

Back 117

True

Front 118

T or F: The increase in atmospheric water vapor concentration is smaller for a temperature increase from 15C to 16C than for a temperature increase from 17C to 18C.

Back 118

True

Front 119

T or F: At every location where an increase in evaporation induces an increase in water vapor concentration in the atmosphere, we observer an increase in precipitation.

Back 119

False

Front 120

T or F: We are not able to determine if extreme precipitation events have increased globally since 1900.

Back 120

True

Front 121

T or F: Changes in speed of the Rossby waves of the Jet stream have an impact on weather and climate.

Back 121

True

Front 122

T or F: Climate warming causes an increase in speed of the atmospheric Rossby waves, this forces cold air to move faster, which in turn causes extreme weather events.

Back 122

False

Front 123

T or F: The slow down of the atmospheric Rossby waves together with the increase of their amplitude toward the northern latitudes blocks the transfer of cold air from the Arctic to northern Europe.

Back 123

False

Front 124

T or F: There is no observational evidence linking the observed rapid ARctic warming to the occurrence of extreme weather events.

Back 124

False

Front 125

T or F: Evaporation is a key process at the origin of droughts but not floods.

Back 125

False

Front 126

T or F: Changes in albedo always have a warming effect.

Back 126

False

Front 127

T or F: The head island effect triggers global warming.

Back 127

False

Front 128

T or F: The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere increases by a larger amount every year.

Back 128

True

Front 129

T or F: Water vapor is the dominant greenhouse gas forcing.

Back 129

False

Front 130

T or F: The greenhouse effect is mainly due to CO2.

Back 130

False

Front 131

T or F: After a fire the albedo of a vegetated area changes.

Back 131

True

Front 132

T or F: Ozone in the troposphere absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation and protects the Earth's surface from the ultraviolet radiation.

Back 132

False

Front 133

T or F: The ocean retains most of the CO2 added yearly to the atmosphere.

Back 133

False

Front 134

T or F: At present, CO2 is the dominant greenhouse gas forcing.

Back 134

True

Front 135

T or F: At present, water vapor is the dominant greenhouse gas forcing.

Back 135

False

Front 136

Which one of the following could generate climate warming? a. increase in solar activity b. increase in the number of volcanic eruptions c. increase in the size of the ozone hold d. increase in the frequency of floods

Back 136

a. increase in solar activity

Front 137

Name the greenhouse gases.

Back 137

Carbon Dioxide, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and ozone

Front 138

Greenhouse gases make up a _________ portion of the atmosphere, and they have the ability to absorb ______________ radiation, due to their molecular structure.

Back 138

small; long-wave

Front 139

T or F: Each year more than half of the CO2 generated by human activities is absorbed by ocean and land based ecosystems, and the rest is retained in the atmosphere.

Back 139

True

Front 140

The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere varies seasonally by _________ during the _______________ Hemisphere spring and summer, and ____________ during the ____________ Hemisphere autumn and winter.

Back 140

falling; Northern; rises; Northern

Front 141

T or F: In general, the term ozone hold refers to the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer in Antarctica during Southern hemisphere spring.

Back 141

True

Front 142

T or F: CFC concentrations in the atmosphere have been decreasing in the last decade.

Back 142

True

Front 143

T or F: The ozone hold is increasing the average temperature of the Earth.

Back 143

False

Front 144

T or F: Most of the incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the Earth's system.

Back 144

True

Front 145

T or F: Each methane molecule contributes to the greenhouse effect less than each CO2 molecule.

Back 145

False

Front 146

T or F: All greenhouse gas emissions are increasing with time.

Back 146

False

Front 147

T or F: A heat wave is characterized by a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, usually accompanied by high humidity.

Back 147

True

Front 148

T or F: The increase in heat wave intensity appears to be associated with climate warming.

Back 148

True

Front 149

T or F: Better warming systems would help reduce the occurrence of heat waves.

Back 149

False

Front 150

T or F: Heat waves are expected to occur more frequently as the climate continues to warm.

Back 150

True

Front 151

T or F: An increase in the strength and occurrence of heat waves appear to be related to climate warming, based on climate modeling predictions and on our knowledge of the greenhouse effect.

Back 151

True

Front 152

T or F: An increase in the strength and occurrence of heat wave events is proof that climate warming is real.

Back 152

False

Front 153

T or F: Climate modelers have proven that increases in the strength and occurrence of heat wave events are related to climate warming.

Back 153

False

Front 154

T or F: Heat waves are nothing new and not related to climate warming.

Back 154

False

Front 155

T or F: It is difficult to have global observations of rainfall.

Back 155

True

Front 156

T or F: It is not possible to measure water vapor concentrations in the atmosphere.

Back 156

False

Front 157

T or F: Precipitation over the global land area increased by 1% with respect to 100 years ago.

Back 157

True

Front 158

T or F: Satellite observations over the ocean show a 1% increase in atmospheric water vapor concentrations for the last decade.

Back 158

True

Front 159

T or F: Increases atmospheric water vapor concentration impact precipitation.

Back 159

True

Front 160

T or F: Increased air temperature increases evaporation, which decreases the occurrence of floods and droughts.

Back 160

False

Front 161

T or F: Precipitation over the global ocean increased by 1% with respect to 100 years ago.

Back 161

False

Front 162

T or F: In the last few decades, the average amount of precipitation over the entire land-covered portion of our planet shows a statistically significant increase with respect to 100 years ago.

Back 162

False

Front 163

T or F: Floods can occur even without the occurrence of intense precipitation.

Back 163

True

Front 164

T or F: Greenhouse gases are concentrated in the stratosphere.

Back 164

False

Front 165

T or F: The observed increase in precipitation over the United States is statistically significant.

Back 165

True

Front 166

T or F: The observed increase in average global precipitation on land compared to 100 years ago is not statistically significant.

Back 166

True

Front 167

T or F: Average global precipitation over the ocean has increased since 100 years ago.

Back 167

False

Front 168

T or F: Decrease in atmospheric water vapor concentrations due to increased global precipitation is not expected to occur in the next century with climate change.

Back 168

True

Front 169

T or F: There is evidence that current climate change disturbs the pattern of atmospheric circulation (Rossby waves) of the Jet stream which in turn induces extreme weather events.

Back 169

True

Front 170

T or F: "Change over time of the maximum temperature observed for a single day of the year" is not a method of defining a heat wave.

Back 170

True

Front 171

T or F: Precipitation has increased more in the Northern Hemisphere MID/HIGH latitudes than in the tropics and Northern subtropics.

Back 171

True

Front 172

T or F: The US is not vulnerable to heat waves due to high use of air conditioning.

Back 172

False

Front 173

Which of the following does not contribute to the urban heat island effect: a. absorption of sunlight by concrete and asphalt b. reduction of shaded areas and reduced evaporative fooling due to a lack of vegetation c. heat from energy production, automobiles and heating systems d. airflow increases when forced in between buildings e. increased use of air conditioning

Back 173

d. airflow increases when forced in between buildings

Front 174

A temperature increase=increases evapotranspiration= _________ atmospheric water vapor= _______ ground water depletion in the region= causes ______________

Back 174

decreases; decreases; flooding

Front 175

T or F: Low clouds have a very high albedo and absorb only a very small amount of the long wave radiation emitted by the Earth's surface. For this reason at night low clouds have a cooling effect.

Back 175

False

Front 176

T or F: The stratospheric ozone hole in the Arctic is as large as the stratospheric ozone hole in the Antartic.

Back 176

False

Front 177

T or F: Climate forcings are external factors affecting the Earth's energy balance and can be natural or anthropogenic.

Back 177

True

Front 178

T or F: The Montreal Protocol of 1987 banned global ozone emissions.

Back 178

False

Front 179

Increase in global average temperature will cause global evaporation to ___________, causing atmospheric concentrations of water vapor to _____________, which causes global average temperature to ___________. This is an example of ___________ climate feedback.

Back 179

decrease, decrease, decrease, positive

Front 180

T or F: High clouds and low clouds have different impacts on climate.

Back 180

False

Front 181

T or F: High clouds will reflect less short wave radiation than low clouds.

Back 181

True

Front 182

T or F: High clouds and low clouds have different impacts on climate.

Back 182

True

Front 183

T or F: The greenhouse effect is the dominant effect for low clouds.

Back 183

False

Front 184

T or F: High clouds absorb less long wave radiation than low clouds.

Back 184

True

Front 185

T or F: The atmosphere absorbs 20% of the incoming solar radiation.

Back 185

True

Front 186

T or F: Polar regions receive less direct solar radiation than the equatorial regions.

Back 186

True

Front 187

T or F: The Earth's surface albedo is highest in the equatorial regions.

Back 187

False

Front 188

T or F: Clouds are the largest contributor to the Earth's albedo.

Back 188

True

Front 189

T or F: Ozone concentrations in the troposphere have decreased over time.

Back 189

False

Front 190

T or F: Ozone loss in the stratosphere is uniform across the globe.

Back 190

False

Front 191

T or F: Stratospheric ozone is deplete over Africa.

Back 191

True

Front 192

T or F: It is too cold in the Arctic for the ozone hole to get as large as it is in the Antarctic.

Back 192

False

Front 193

Which of the following does not contribute to the formation of the Antarctic stratospheric ozone hole? a. the presence of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) b. The formation of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) c. The presence of sunlight in spring. d. Only few days of very cold temperature

Back 193

d. Only a few days of very cold temperature

Front 194

The Earth's surface absorbs an average of 240 W/m^2 of energy every day. If the entire Earth is 5*10^14 m^2, what is the average amount of energy the entire Earth's surface absorbs in one day?

Back 194

1.2*10^17 W

Front 195

T or F: Thicker, low clouds have a higher albedo than thinner, high clouds

Back 195

True

Front 196

T or F: High, thin clouds trap the same amount of long wave radiation as low, thick clouds

Back 196

False

Front 197

T or F: Higher thin clouds generally have a cooling effect

Back 197

False

Front 198

T or F: The albedo effect dominates in high, thin clouds

Back 198

False

Front 199

Which of the following in NOT a example of a natural climate forcing: a. increased solar activity b. change in inclination (or Tilt) of the Earth's rotational axis c. Increase in snow cover across the planet d. large volcanic eruption

Back 199

C. increase in snow cover across the planet

Front 200

T or F: At night, clouds have mainly a warming effect.

Back 200

True

Front 201

T or F: A positive feedback amplifies the effect of the initial forcing and a negative feedback decreases the effect of the initial forcing.

Back 201

True

Front 202

T or F: A positive feedback always causes an increase in global temperature.

Back 202

False

Front 203

T or F: At night, clouds have mainly a warming effect.

Back 203

True

Front 204

T or F: The cloud feedback can be either positive or negative.

Back 204

True

Front 205

T or F: All climate forcings are anthropogenic.

Back 205

False

Front 206

Volcanic eruptions have an overal temporary __________ effect because they cause an increase in the Earth's ______________.

Back 206

cooling; albedo

Front 207

T or F: In winter the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth smaller because the sun emits less energy.

Back 207

False

Front 208

T or F: The amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth is not the same year-round.

Back 208

True

Front 209

T or F: 30% of incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space by clouds, the Earth's surface, and the atmosphere.

Back 209

True

Front 210

T or F: The surface will cool more quickly on a cloudy night than on a clear night.

Back 210

False

Front 211

T or F: The Earth could not achieve the energy balance without the presence of the greenhouse gasses.

Back 211

False

Front 212

T or F: Stratospheric ozone depletion is a global phenomenon.

Back 212

True

Front 213

T or F: Changes in the Earth's orbit occur on a very long time scales and therefore and not the cause of the observed global temperature increase in the past century.

Back 213

True

Front 214

T or F: Pollution aerosols have mainly a cooling effect.

Back 214

True

Front 215

T or F: Cloud feedbacks can be easily modeled.

Back 215

False

Front 216

T or F: Only 45% of the yearly anthropogenic CO2 emissions remain the atmosphere. The other 55% is absorbed by land ecosystems, and by the ocean.

Back 216

True

Front 217

T or F: Water vapor is the largest contributor to the greenhouse effect.

Back 217

True

Front 218

T or F: Greenhouse gases absorb long-wave radiation and have a simple molecular structure.

Back 218

False

Front 219

Which of the following in NOT a natural cause of climate variations? a. volcanic activities b. stratospheric ozone depletion c. sun spots d. wobbly earth

Back 219

b. stratospheric ozone depletion

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If 342 W/m^2 of energy reaches a region covered by snow, and the snow has an albedo of 85% how much energy per unit area (W/m^2) is absorbed in that region?

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approx. 51 W/m^2

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T or F: Over the past century the surface air temperature of the Earth has uniformly increased by .7 degrees C.

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False

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Where have global temperatures changed the most since the 1950's-1970's?

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Arctic region

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T or F: In the past there were ice caps larger than the ice sheets.

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False

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T or F: In Antarctica there are more ice shelves than in Greenland.

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True

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T or F: Greenland's contribution to seal level rise has increased every year since 2002.

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True

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T or F: If there is no overall change in mass, the mass balance is zero.

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True

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T or F: Over the past two decades, clouds had an overall warming effect in the Arctic.

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False

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T or F: In the Arctic, the increase in evaporation of water into the atmosphere reduces the total portion of the incoming solar radiation that directly warms the air.

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True

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T or F: Sea level has never risen faster than at present.

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False

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T or F: There are currently only two ice sheets on Earth.

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True

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T or F: Ice flows faster at the edges of the ice sheet than in the interior.

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True

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T or F: Ice shelves calve into the ocean to form icebergs.

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True

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What pattern of warming have we seen: compare temperature increase at different latitudes; compare temperature increase over Northern high latitudes to the rest of the world.

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It is warming in Greenland and the Antarctica Ice Sheet, the northern high latitudes have longer growing seasons because of the warming, it has warmed the most

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By how much will future temperatures increase?

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Temperature changes are uncertain for different regions

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How much has CO2 concentration increased since pre-industrial times (150 years ago)?

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270-280 ppmv

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How much of the carbon dioxide that we are presently emitting as a result of fossil fuel combustion stays in the atmosphere?

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CO2 has increased by 40% and is now at 390 ppmv

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How much shortwave radiation is available at the top of the atmosphere?

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342 W/m2

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How much solar radiation is absorbed at Earth's surface? Atmosphere? Reflected back to space?

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50%; 20%; 30%

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What is albedo? What controls it?

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Albedo is the measure of the amount of light reflected by an object relative to the amount of light received

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How much short-wave radiation does Earth's surface and the clouds reflect?

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102 w/m^2

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How do greenhouse gases affect longwave radiation?

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Greenhouse gases block longwave radiation from escaping directly to space, the gases re-radiate up and down causing additional warming

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How does temperature respond to Earth's changing energy balance?

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More greenhouse gases=increase in temperature

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What are the 3 most abundance gases in the earth's atmosphere?

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Nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide (CO2 is a greenhouse gas)

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What are the 6 greenhouse gases?

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Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Ozone, Water Vapor, CFCs, Nitrous oxide

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How important a greenhouse gas is water vapor?

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extremely important as water vapor has a positive feedback and will only increase with time

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What is ozone?

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Ozone is a greenhouse gas and it is a pollutant at ground level (tropospheric level)

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What is ozone depletion? Where does it occur?

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Ozone depletion is caused by CFCs and is human induced; it occurs at the stratosphere

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What is the ozone layer?

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The ozone layer is in the stratosphere and helps absorb deadly ultraviolet rays

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What process drives the creation of ozone holes?

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The creation of the ozone hole needs CFC, very cold temperature, stable cold temperature, sunlight and energy; because CFCs stay in the atmosphere for so long, when the sun melts it releases CFCs that break apart the molecular bond in the ozone causing a hole

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Where are ozone holes created?

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particularly strong in Antarctica, less common in the Arctic; a hazard in the troposphere but not in the stratosphere

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What are the main anthropogenic and natural forcings in Earth's climate?

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anthropogenic forcings are increase in greenhouse gases, pollution aerosols, and changing albedo; natural forcings are sunspots, volcanic eruptions, and periodic variation of Earth's orbit

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How do air pollution particles affect climate?

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Air pollution blocks out sunlight so it has a cooling affect like pollution aerosol

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What is pollution aerosol?

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It is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas, it blocks out sunlight and cools

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How do human-induced changes in land-use affect climate?

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Because humans build on cities and are continuing with deforestation it has a warming affect; roads absorb more energy causing an anthropogenic change

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How does soot on snow affect climate?

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It causes less sunlight to reflect and absorbs more energy making it warmer

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What is a feedback?

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Feedback is a process in which changing one quantity changes a second quantity and the change in the second causes a change in the first.

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What is the water vapor feedback? is it positive or negative?

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Temperature increases=evaporation increases=water vapor in atmosphere increases=leading to temperature increases (positive feedback)

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What is the vegetation feedback?

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Vegetation absorbs more energy than ice and snow. more plants are being grown=more energy to absorb=positive feedback

Front 259

What is the greenhouse effect?

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the ability of certain gases to be relatively transparent to incoming visible light from the sun, yet opaque to the energy radiated from the earth

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What is the cloud feedback? is it positive or negative?

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Atmospheric warming triggers increase in evaporation=increase in high clouds absorbing radiation causing more warming (positive)

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What is the albedo effect?

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atmospheric warming triggers increase in evaporation=increase in low clouds reflect more sunlight back to space=decrease in warming (negative)

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What is the inversion layer feedback?

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An inversion is a thin layer that is much cooler than the air a few hundred meters higher. They are common in the winter. Reduction of snow and ice cover can cause breakup that will cause warming that will only get worse. Changes in atmospheric circulation can also break up inversion causing warming that will continue to warm more Warming=reduction of snow and ice cover=break up/decrease of inversions=additional warming (positive feedback)

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How much CO2 do we put in the atmosphere stays there? Where does the rest go?

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45% stays in atmosphere; 25% retained in ocean; 30% is retained in land

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What are the biggest emitting countries of CO2?

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U.S. and China

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Why are heat waves so much worse in terms of their impacts on people in cities than in rural areas?

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There is an enhanced air pollution in the city because of the amount of people and vehicles residing in urban areas

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The urban heat island effect: What is it?

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Cities can get up to 10 degrees warmer because concrete and asphalt in cities absorb and retain heat, tall buildings reduce air flow, lack of vegetation means less shade and evaporative cooling

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What do we know about changes in precipitation since 1950?

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It has increased 1%, which is not statistically significant and in certain regions it has increased by more than 1%

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How is precipitation expected to change in the future?

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wet areas will become wetter and dry areas will become drier

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How does the ocean influence drought?

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it is a primary heat source driving the atmospheric circulation, if it has a reduction in moisture then there is a higher change of a drought

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What is El Nino? How does it work? How does it impact climate?

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El Nino is a irregular warming in Sea Surface Temperature from the coasts of Peru and Ecuador to the equatorial central Pacific; trade winds become weaker and warm water piles up in the Eastern pacific causing Indonesia to be dry and Peru to be wet

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What is the cryosphere?

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Portion of Earth where water is in solid form; includes snow cover, floating ice, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, seasonally frozen ground and perennially frozen ground

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Why is the Arctic sensitive to warming?

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1. Arctic has several positive feedbacks 2. ice-albedo affect is always positive 3. atmosphere is thinner taking less energy to warm 4. there's a reduction in sea-ice extent caused by a decrease in albedo causing absorption of solar energy 5. changes in atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns caused by a global temperature change that causes more heat to transfer to the Arctic 6. vegetation feedback 7. inversion layer feedback

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How does sea ice change as a function of season?

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winter=thicker and more ice summer=thinner and it melts

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What is permafrost? Where do we find it? Which different kids of permafrost do we know about?

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Permafrost is soil at or below freezing point of water for more than 2 years; can be terrestrial or subsea; continuous--exists across landscapes as an unbroken layer, discontinuous--permafrost only in spots that are sheltered or isolated patches which are small island of frozen ground in unfrozen soil and sediments

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What is the permafrost active layer?

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the top layer of soil that thaws during the summer and freezes again during the autumn

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What is talik? Different types of tailk? Where does it form?

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Year-round unfrozen ground that lies in permafrost areas; forms under lakes because of its ability to store and vertically transfer heat energy; open talik: area of unfrozen ground that is open to the ground surface but otherwise enclosed in permafrost, Through talik: unfrozen ground that is exposed to the ground surface and to a larger mass ground beneath it, Closed talik: unfrozen ground that is found within a mass of permafrost

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Why do permafrost and active layer provide good records of global climate change?

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The more permafrost that melts shows that the climate is warming and changing

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How does thawing permafrost affect the ground, trees, roads, and buildings?

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Buildings collapse, dirt and rocks settle where the ice was causing the ground to be uneven

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What is the connected between methane and melting permafrost?

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methane was originally deposited in permafrost through decomposition of organic matter and stayed put because it was frozen and couldn't escape; now methane is escaping and bubbling up and out of sea beds

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What is ice discharge/calving?

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a process where slabs of ice at the glacier margin mechanically fracture and detach from the main ice masses

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What is paleoclimate studies?

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Studies about the past climate

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What is a paleoclimate proxy?

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tree rings, ice cores, corals, and ocean and lake sediments

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What can be measured through ice cores?

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Temperature, atmospheric chemistry, net accumulation, dustiness of atmosphere, vegetation changes, volcanic changes, volcanic history, anthropogenic emissions, entrapped microorganisms