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Questions and Answers
What is the definition of climate?
What is the definition of climate?
Climate is the average or typical state of the weather at a particular location and time of year. It is the average of variables such as temperature, humidity, windiness, cloudiness, precipitation, visibility, etc.
Which of the following is NOT a component of the Earth's habitable environment?
Which of the following is NOT a component of the Earth's habitable environment?
What is the primary source of moisture for precipitation?
What is the primary source of moisture for precipitation?
The hydrosphere, including oceans and all other reservoirs of water in liquid form.
The term 'greenhouse effect' describes the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
The term 'greenhouse effect' describes the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
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What is the primary cause of global warming?
What is the primary cause of global warming?
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Which of the following is NOT a predicted impact of global warming?
Which of the following is NOT a predicted impact of global warming?
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What is the difference between climate change mitigation and adaptation?
What is the difference between climate change mitigation and adaptation?
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Climate change adaptation is a long-term process that addresses current vulnerability while preparing for future climatic changes.
Climate change adaptation is a long-term process that addresses current vulnerability while preparing for future climatic changes.
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What is NOT a key characteristic of effective adaptation?
What is NOT a key characteristic of effective adaptation?
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What are the three main benefits of integrating adaptation into development work?
What are the three main benefits of integrating adaptation into development work?
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Flashcards
Climate
Climate
The average weather conditions in a particular location over a long time.
Weather
Weather
The state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place.
Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse Effect
Trapping of heat in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse Gases
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Global Warming
Global Warming
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Climate Change Mitigation
Climate Change Mitigation
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Climate Change Adaptation
Climate Change Adaptation
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Carbon Dioxide ($CO_2$)
Carbon Dioxide ($CO_2$)
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Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels
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Biodiversity
Biodiversity
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Climate Change
Climate Change
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Mitigation
Mitigation
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Adaptation
Adaptation
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Maladaptation
Maladaptation
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Radiative Forcing
Radiative Forcing
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Sinks
Sinks
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UNFCCC
UNFCCC
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Hydrosphere
Hydrosphere
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Biota
Biota
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Cryosphere
Cryosphere
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Land Masses
Land Masses
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Atmosphere
Atmosphere
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Study Notes
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
- Learning Outcomes: Students should be able to understand the interaction between science and technology throughout history.
Solar Radiation and Climate
- Climate: The typical weather conditions at a location over a long period. Includes averages for temperature, humidity, wind, cloudiness and precipitation.
- Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place; includes temperature, pressure and humidity.
- Components of Earth's Habitable Environment:
- Atmosphere: The air surrounding the Earth, significantly impacting conditions.
- Hydrosphere: Oceans and other bodies of liquid water, crucial for moisture and gas exchange.
- Landmasses: Impacting atmospheric and ocean flow via morphology, hydrology and radiative properties.
- Cryosphere: Ice (on land and in oceans). Plays a role in Earth's radiation balance.
- Biota: All living organisms. Through biological processes, affects atmospheric and water composition
Greenhouse Effect
- Mechanism: Short-wavelength visible light from the sun passes through a transparent medium, is absorbed and re-emitted as longer-wavelength infrared radiation, but the infrared radiation is trapped, leading to higher temperatures.
- Examples: Heating of automobiles by sunlight, greenhouses.
- Greenhouse Gases: Gases with three or more atoms (water vapor, ozone, carbon dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons) absorb outgoing infrared radiation, warming the planet.
Increase in Greenhouse Gases
- Observation: Continuous increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration at the Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii.
- Causes: Fossil fuel combustion and deforestation.
- Consequences: Global warming.
Global Warming
- Definition: Gradual increase in Earth's average temperature and ocean temperature.
- Current Consensus: Scientists agree the planet is warming, effects to date are substantial and increasing rapidly, and human activity is a major driver.
- Observed Impacts: More frequent and intense heat waves, costly health impacts, heavier precipitation and flooding.
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
- Mitigation: Reducing the intensity of climate change by reducing sources of greenhouse gasses or increasing sinks that store them.
- Examples: Using fossil fuels more efficiently, switching to renewable energy, replanting forests.
- Adaptation: Adjusting to the effects of climate change, reducing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and preparing for future climate changes.
- Examples: Planting mangroves for coastal protection, diversifying livelihoods, developing drought-resistant crops
Evidence of Rapid Climate Change
- Global Temperature Rise: Significant warming since 1880, particularly since the 1970s.
- Warming Oceans: Ocean temperatures are rising; a significant portion of the excess heat is absorbed by the oceans.
- Sea Level Rise: Significant increase in the last century with accelerated rate in the last decades.
- Ocean Acidification: Increased acidity of ocean surface waters due to absorption of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide.
- Shrinking Ice Sheets: Loss of mass in both Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets.
- Declining Arctic Sea Ice: Dramatic loss of Arctic sea ice, both in extent and thickness.
- Glacial Retreat: Retreating glaciers around the globe.
- Extreme Events: Increased numbers of extreme heat and rainfall events.
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Description
This quiz explores the concepts of climate change adaptation and mitigation, focusing on solar radiation and its relationship with the Earth's climate systems. Students will learn about the interaction between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, landmasses, cryosphere, and biota in the context of climate. Understand the long-term weather patterns and their implications on technology and science.
