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36 Cards in this Set
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an area's long term atmospheric condidtions |
climate: I.E. temperature, moisture, wind, precipitation |
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describes trends and variations in earth's climate |
Global climate change |
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an increase in Earth's average temperature |
Global warming |
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what gases is the atmosphere comprised of? |
Nitrogen (78%) Oxygen (21%) Argon (0.9) Carbon Dioxide (0.03) Water Vapor Trace amounts of other gases/pollutants |
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What are the separate layers of the atmosphere? |
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The three factors the influence climate |
1. Sun: w/o the earth would be dark and cold 2. Atmosphere: W/O earth would be much cooler 3. Oceans: Stores and transfers heat and moisture |
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What are the major greenhouse gases |
water vapor carbon dioxide methane some oxides of nitrogen CFC's (Halocarbon gases) |
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The Green house effect |
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the relative ability of one molecule of a greenhouse gas to contribute to warming |
global warming potential. * Expressedin relation to carbon dioxide (potential = 1) * Methaneis 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide * Nitrousoxide is 298 times more potent than carbon dioxide |
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how much has methane levels increased since 1750. Released by tapping into fossil fuel deposits and from livestock, landfills and crops |
2.5 fold - highest in over 800,000 |
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nitrous oxide has increased nearly ______% since 1750. Produced by feedlots, chemical manufacturing plants, auto emissions and synthetic nitrogen fertilizers |
20% |
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Troposheric ozone levels have risen __________% |
36 |
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the amount of change in thermal energy that a given factor causes. Positive feedback warms the surface while negative cools it |
rediative forcing |
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Climate caries naturally for 4 reasons |
1. Milankovitch cycles 2. Solar output 3. ocean absorption 4. ocean circulation |
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Periodic changes in earth's rotation and orbit around the sun |
milankovitch cycles: alter the way solar radiation is distributed over earth |
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Milankovitch cycles vary in three ways |
1. axial wobble 2. variation of tilt 3. variation of orbit |
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Theocean’s thermohaline circulation |
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climate of the geological past |
Paleoclimate |
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indirect evidence that serve as substitutes for direct measurements. Shed light on past climate |
Proxy indicators Ex. ice caps, ice sheets and glaciers, trapped bubbles, tree rings |
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programs that simulate climate processes by combining what is known about atmospherics and ocean circulation, atmosphere-ocean interactions and feedback mechanisms |
climate models |
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Established in 1988 by the U.N. and theWorld Meteorological Organization Composedof hundreds of international scientists and government representatives Publishesperiodic assessments of climate change’s impacts on the world as a whole |
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) |
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the capacity to reflect light |
albedo |
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thetemporary and localized rise in sea level from high tides and winds from storms |
Storm surge |
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what percentage of species will be threatened with extinction due to climate change |
20-30% |
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What are the consequences for warming the atmophere |
1. increased air temp 2. increased ocean temp 3. altered rainfall and ENSO patterns |
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strategy of cushioning ourselves from the impacts of climate change |
adaptation: Ex. seawalls, leaving the areas, restricting coastal development, adjust farming practices |
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strategy of pursuing actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions to lessen severity of future climate change |
mitigation |
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electricity is the largest source of U.S. CO2 emissions by _________% |
40% |
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technologies that remove CO2 from emissions |
Carbon Capture |
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storing carbon underground where it will not seep out |
Carbon Sequestration (storage) |
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industries and utilities compete to reduce emissions for financial gain |
Cap-and-trade |
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Between2008 and 2012, signatory nations must reduce emissions of six greenhouse gasesto levels below those of 1990 []&card_back_html[]&card_hint_html[] |
Kyoto Protocol |
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market mechanisms used to address climate change |
Cap and trade Emissions Trading System Carbon Tax Carbon offsets |
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governments charge polluters a fee for each unit of greenhouse gases they emit |
carbon tax |
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a voluntary payment intended to enable another entity to reduce the greenhouse emissions that one is unable to reduce oneself |
carbon offset |
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expresses the amount of carbon we are responsible for emitting |
carbon footprint |
