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73 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Millankovitch Orbit Variations |
1. Orbital eccentricity with a periodicity of 100,000 years 2. Axial tilt or obliquity with a periodicity of 41,000 years 3. Precession of the equinoxes with a periodicity of about 21,000 years |
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Stratospheric Ozone layer |
Capacity to absorb incoming solar ultraviolet radiation. (Warms stratosphere maintains steep inversion of temperature between 15&50km above surface, affecting connective processes & circulation in the troposphere below. |
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Chlorofluorocarbons |
Compounds mainly responsible for stratospheric ozone depletions. |
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"most important" green house gasses |
Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour & nitrous oxide. (Those occur naturally) |
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Radiative Forcing |
A measure of how the energy balance in the earth-atmosphere system is influenced when factors that affect climate are changed. (The effectiveness of these gases in causing climate change) |
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Positive radiative forcing |
Energy of the earth's atmosphere increases, leading to warming |
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Negative radiative forcing |
Energy decrease = cooling |
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2 types of responses to climate change |
Migration & adaptation |
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Migration (climate change) |
The reduction of the rate of climatic change via the management of its drivers (the emission of GHGs from fossil fuel combustion, agriculture, land use changes, cement production etc.) |
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Adaptation (to climate change) |
The process of adjustment to actual or expected climate & its effects, in order to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. |
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Mesophere |
Highest "sphere" 50-85km. |
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Stratosphere |
Middle "sphere" 17-50km. Ozone depletion |
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Tropsphere |
Lowest "sphere" (0-9/17km) Most exchange /w Earth's surface. Pollutants accumulated |
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Terrestrial radiation |
Emitted from the surface of the earth. *Primarily due to warming of the Earth (excess). LONG WAVELENGTH |
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Solar radiation |
Large amount produced from the sun, not all of it reaches the earth. SHORT WAVELENGTH |
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Albedo |
Reflection of solar radiation. (Ex. Snow! Stays cold high albedo) Decrease of albedo (dirt) more absorption and more warming. |
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GHG |
Absorb longwave radiation (terrestrial) absorbs energy = warms up. Increased GHG levels = increased longwave absorbtion. |
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Sulphur dioxide |
Not ghg. Reflects longwave radiation. Acid rain tho. Comes from volcanoes, can cool atmosphere |
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Tectonic plates |
Have moved landforms around into different biomes (tropical forest in norway) |
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Nitrous oxide |
Fertilizers, combustion |
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Classic water - greenhouse effect feedback |
Higher atmospheric temperature > increased water evaporation > increased water vapour (GHG) absorbs more longwave radiation > rising temperatures = POSITIVE FEEDBACK |
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Cloud cover feedback |
Increased atmospheric water vapour cools & condenses (condensation-occurs when temperature cools) > forms clouds (air rising & cooling = clouds) > increased cloud cover = can be positive or negative (depends on time and cloud type) |
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High Cirrus clouds |
Minimal reflection of incoming short wave radiation (low albedo). Absorbtion of outgoing longwave radiation (water vapour is a GHG) = warming effect POSITIVE FEEDBACK |
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Lower stratocumulus clouds |
Much thicker (dark & cool under them) Highly reflective of incoming shortwave radiation (high albedo) Absorbtion of outgoing longwave = emission of longwave > neutral. Overall cooling effect (NEGATIVE FEEDBACK) |
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Carbon dioxide feedback |
Increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations>increased plant growth (more abundant biomass: terrestrial, marine: carbon sinks) > decreased atmospheric CO2 concentrations = NEGATIVE FEEDBACK (offsetting global warming) |
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Ice & snow albedo feedback |
Increased temperature > increased melting of ice & snow>lowers albedo (less reflection) > warming = positive feedback *Main reasons why polar regions are warming to a greater degree |
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Dark snow cycle |
Increased pollution (dust), wildfires & soot can make snow surface darker > lower albedo > warming = positive feedback |
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Methane storage feedback |
Thawing permafrost & deep sea ice releases methane stored in it (as temperature rises) as bubbles > increased absorbtion of longwave radiation in atmosphere = positive feedback |
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Pango |
Mass of frozen ground as water freezes it expands. Dirt accumulates on it, decomposing **** rel were methane which gets trapped in the frozen soil. (Methane storage feedback) |
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Methane hydrate |
Water molecules freeze around molecule of methane (water melts & freezes) sediments in permafrost + ocean sediments deeper than 450m. |
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Global dimming |
Reduction in light getting through to earth (from polluted dark clouds) |
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Suspended particulate matter |
Tiny particles that stay in the air. Ex. Smoky air from fires |
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Sulphur dioxide |
Burning of fossil fuels & forests (organic material has lots of sulphur) |
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Biodiversity |
The variability among living organisms from all sources including interalia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part: this includes diversity within a species, between species and of ecosystems. |
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Genetic Diversity |
Variation between individuals & between population of a species |
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Species Diversity |
Different types of animals,plants & other life forms within a region |
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Ecosystem diversity |
Variety of habitats found in an area |
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Biggest threat of species loss |
Habitat loss/degradation |
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Direct drivers on biodiversity |
Habitat loss & degradation Climate change Excessive nutrient load & other forms of pollution Over-exploitation & unsustainable use Invasive alien species |
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Endemic species |
Species that occur in only one or few specialized locations |
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Extinction Debt |
Time lag between cause & effect |
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High biodiversity areas |
Tropical rain forests, coral reefs, wet lands & mangroves. |
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Keystone species |
Species whose impact on its community is disproportionately large relative to its abundance. Hence, removal of a keystone species from its ecosystem can lead to a series of extinctions in that ecosystem. |
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Dead zones |
Decomposing algae use up oxygen in the water, to leave large areas virtually devoid of marine life. |
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Conservation methods on biodiversity |
Control or exterminate "pests" Give spiritual or religious significance Regulate trade in endangered species & their products |
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How much of earth's land and sea are protected? |
Earth 13% Sea 0.65% |
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Hot spots |
25 biodiversity hotspots exist 44% of vascular plants 35% of all species in 4 vertebrate groups Only 1.4% of earth's land surface *Human population growth rate higher in these areas |
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Main human impacts on biodiversity |
Domestication, dispersal, expansion, species' population decline |
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Domestication (impacts) |
Selective breeding (people figured out how animals & plants reproduce and how to control it) > changes (enhances or suppresses) characteristics Various drivers: attitudes, values, technology, economy |
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6 main obstacles of domesticating certain wild species |
Diet not easily supplied by humans (anteaters) Slow growth rate and long birth spacing (elephants & gorillas) Nasty disposition (bear) Reluctance to breed in captivity (panda) Lack of follow-the-leader dominance hierarchies (antelope) Tendency to panic in enclosures or when faced /w predators (gazelle) **Undomesticated species often related with endangerment |
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Dispersal (species) |
Improvement of transportation technology (bring new species all over the world) Migration and globalization |
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Expansion (population increase and distribution) |
Habitat changes may be favourable to particular species Introduced species direct & indirect effects Affects species already there |
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Species population decline |
Refers to numbers & distribution of animals May ultimately lead to extinction |
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Threated species |
Abundant in some places (may not be declining everywhere) Declined significantly Extirpation (some places that used to home the species no longer do) |
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Endangered species |
In imminent danger of extinction (conservation not attempted or not working) Ex. Costa Rican golden frog |
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Greater risk of decline |
Large body size >Bigger=lower population Predator >Dependent on lower trophic levels >Bioaccumulation Narrow habitat tolerance Valuable products Hunted w/o effective management Diurnal Endemic Reproduce in few, large groups |
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Lower risk of decline |
Small body size Smaller=higher population Scavenger, grazer, herbivores >More flexible diet Wide habitat tolerance No valued products Hunted in managed areas Nocturnal Widely distributed Reproduce in pairs, small groups |
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K selected species |
Long gestation, small litter Prolonged maternal care, late maturity Reproduce once per year or longer Usually close to carrying capacity Low genetic diversity (=low fertility) |
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R selected species |
Short gestation, 2+ per litter Young become independent early Rapid maturity, >1 breed per year Can exploit many environments High genetic diversity |
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Dams have been used for...(time) |
5k years. For water & energy |
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Hydroelectricity |
Using reservoirs: allowing the impoundment & regulation of river flow |
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Large dam |
Above 15m |
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Major dam |
Above 150m |
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Top 5 dam building countries |
China, USA, India, Spain & Japan =80% of all large dams China=50% of all major dams |
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How much of the world's irrigated cropland depends on dams? |
1/3 |
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Broad spatial regions associated with dams |
The dam & its reservoir Upstream area Downstream area |
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Hydrological impacts of dams |
Water quality, temperature, discharge volumes. Deep down in reservoir = cold. Pressured water that goes through dam to downstream comes from the bottom so it's cold>impacts? |
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Water quality (dam effects) |
Oxygen levels. Upstream/reservoir low in oxygen because it's very still. Higher temperatures = less oxygen |
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Water discharge (dam effects) |
How much water in river. Dams: electricity generated instantly as water runs through. > Peak frequency times, suddenly lots of water goes through. |
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Pedologic (soil) (dam effects) |
Salinization, silt deprivation. Stop a river from flooding. Old flood plain doesn't get fresh fuel deposit. Soil erosion can occur. Silt & sediment drops to bottom of reservoir>water going through is clear>doesn't deposit good soils. **Environmental justice |
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Salinization (dam effects) |
On rock that contains lots of salt. (Canadian prairies) Dams built for irrigation. Reservoir sits on salt soil>soil erodes into water>farmers use salt irrigated water>hurts plants & soils. |
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Most widespread contamination of water |
Pathogens from human waste (spreads disease) |
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Leading non-point source of pollutants in water |
Agriculture: sediments, pesticides & nutrients especially nitrogen and phosphorus. |
