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12 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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How is climate measured? |
Direct measurements - weather stations and weather balloons. Satellite and aircraft data. Onset of spring e.g., nesting dates. Animal and plant distributions. |
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Define radiosonde. |
Balloon-borne, battery powered, relays data to ground receiver station. Typically at altitudes of approximately 30km. Takes direct measurement of air temperature, humidity and pressure with height. |
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How are sea surface temperature measured? |
Ocean - atmosphere interactions important part of climate monitoring. Satellite measurements (since 1980s) - two or more infra-red wavelengths measured, can be empirically related to sea surface temps. Argo (2002) - 3,000 free-drifting floats, measure temperature and salinity of ocean's upper 2,000 meters, 10 day cycle. |
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How are surface and atmospheric features measured? |
What is used - Lockheed ER-2, flying at 20,000m e.g., edge of space. Multi spectral scanners, cameras, chromatograph for airborne trace elements and LIDAR. Sample/measure - atmospheric temperature, biological processes such as photosynthesis, water vapour, water levels, aerosols, track forest fires, profile the atmosphere, assess flood damage and scan shorelines. |
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Why does the climate change? |
Non-radiative forcing mechanisms - change in the climate involving redistribution, forcing agents which do not affect energy budget of the atmosphere are non -radiative. Radiative forcing mechanisms - alter the energy balance of the earth-atmosphere system. |
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What is the Mauna loa (Keeling) curve? |
-CO2 levels increasing over time. -Curve maxima in summer when plants are more active. -Amplitude is increasing, more CO2 leads to more plant biomass. -Amplitude lower in southern hemisphere - fewer plants. |
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What climate changes occurred in 2013? |
-Temperature increase of 0.85 degrees between 1880 - 2012. -Atmospheric CO2, CH4, and N2O at highest levels for 800,000 years. -CO2 levels increased by 40% since pre-industrial times (now 40ppmv) -Ocean absorbed about 30% of antroppogenic CO2. |
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What are the affects of climate change? |
Shrinkage of Arctic ice sheets - 2.7% per decade since 1978.7 Sea level - rise of 1.8mm per year, rise of over 40cm by 2080s, thermal expansion of oceans and melting of land ice. Flooding - 80 million more people at risk. 48 million in Southern Asia and 12 million in South East Asia. Climate - increased precipitation in Americas, northern Europe and north and central Asia. Hot days and nights more frequent, increases in tropical cyclone activity in North Atlantic. Severe water shortages in Northern Africa, the middle East and Indian subcontinent. worst affected. Ground water near coastal zones becomes salinated as sea levels rise. Altered ranges of plants and animals - loss of permafrost, earlier springs, more tree growth in the north. Reduction in tropical forests. |
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What will be the affects of climate change on the UK? |
-Average annual temps could increase between 2 - 3.5 degrees by 2080. -Greater warming in the south and east, less in the north and west. -High summer temps more frequent and very cold winters rare. -Wetter winters and drier summers. -Precipitation may decline by 50% in the south and east over summer. -Snow could decline by 60-90%. |
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What is the Kyoto Protocol? |
-In 2001, 180 countries agreed to a legal treaty the Kyoto Protocol. -Which stated that greenhouse gasses need to be cut by 5.2% of 1990 levels by 2012. -The USA refused to sign and also produces 25% of the worlds carbon dioxide. -Reduced targets were set in Japan, Canada and Australia. China and India were not included. Other aspects included - Clean development Mechanism (CDM) allows developed countries to invest in carbon schemes in developing countries rather than their own. International emission trading e.g., carbon credits. |
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What is the Doha Amendment? |
Aim - reduce GHG emissions by 18% of 1990 levels from 2013 - 2020. |
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What are some emission saving measures? |
Smart meters - see how much your using. Energy efficient measures - loans, tax allowances. Green deal - free/ow cost insulation, efficient boilers. CRC Energy effeciency scheme - large public and private sector organisations must buy large credits. Reduce emissions from transport and agriculture. |
