Podcast
Questions and Answers
What percentage of the greenhouse effect is attributed to the absorption by greenhouse gases?
What percentage of the greenhouse effect is attributed to the absorption by greenhouse gases?
Which of the following gases significantly contributes to the greenhouse effect and has doubled in levels since 1700?
Which of the following gases significantly contributes to the greenhouse effect and has doubled in levels since 1700?
What is the primary natural source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
What is the primary natural source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Which human activity has significantly contributed to the recent increase in carbon dioxide levels since the Industrial Revolution?
Which human activity has significantly contributed to the recent increase in carbon dioxide levels since the Industrial Revolution?
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What process primarily leads to the destruction of the ozone shield?
What process primarily leads to the destruction of the ozone shield?
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Which of the following statements is true regarding aerosols and their effects?
Which of the following statements is true regarding aerosols and their effects?
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What role does ozone play in the atmosphere?
What role does ozone play in the atmosphere?
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What is the purpose of paleoclimatology?
What is the purpose of paleoclimatology?
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What is one of the main factors contributing to climate change on short term scales?
What is one of the main factors contributing to climate change on short term scales?
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How long does the wobble of Earth's axis of rotation occur?
How long does the wobble of Earth's axis of rotation occur?
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What was the effect of the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora?
What was the effect of the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora?
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What do the assessments published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change primarily focus on?
What do the assessments published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change primarily focus on?
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What range of temperature increase does the mean surface temperature of Earth potentially foresee this century?
What range of temperature increase does the mean surface temperature of Earth potentially foresee this century?
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What is a significant consequence of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels?
What is a significant consequence of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels?
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Which organisms are specifically threatened by ocean acidification?
Which organisms are specifically threatened by ocean acidification?
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What environmental change may exacerbate drought conditions in Canada?
What environmental change may exacerbate drought conditions in Canada?
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How does human-induced degradation of land impact productivity?
How does human-induced degradation of land impact productivity?
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What type of ecological change is expected to occur due to increased wildfires?
What type of ecological change is expected to occur due to increased wildfires?
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What was the goal of the 1997 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change?
What was the goal of the 1997 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change?
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Which agreement aimed to limit the depletion of the ozone layer?
Which agreement aimed to limit the depletion of the ozone layer?
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What trend is expected in drought severity as temperatures rise?
What trend is expected in drought severity as temperatures rise?
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What was one of the focuses of the 2000 conference in The Hague regarding climate change?
What was one of the focuses of the 2000 conference in The Hague regarding climate change?
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Which action is NOT a method of carbon sequestration?
Which action is NOT a method of carbon sequestration?
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What was a significant outcome of the agreements made at the conference that ended without a resolution?
What was a significant outcome of the agreements made at the conference that ended without a resolution?
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In Scenario 1 regarding climate change and sea level rise, what is the projected average temperature increase?
In Scenario 1 regarding climate change and sea level rise, what is the projected average temperature increase?
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What is a central component of Scenario 2 for climate change prediction?
What is a central component of Scenario 2 for climate change prediction?
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What does carbon sequestration primarily aim to achieve?
What does carbon sequestration primarily aim to achieve?
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What is projected to be the sea level rise in Scenario 2?
What is projected to be the sea level rise in Scenario 2?
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Emission trading allows countries that meet their targets to do what?
Emission trading allows countries that meet their targets to do what?
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What is the primary reason for the increase in severity of Atlantic hurricanes in recent years?
What is the primary reason for the increase in severity of Atlantic hurricanes in recent years?
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Which phenomenon is responsible for keeping Northern Europe warmer than it would be otherwise?
Which phenomenon is responsible for keeping Northern Europe warmer than it would be otherwise?
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Which method provides climate data using the growth patterns of trees?
Which method provides climate data using the growth patterns of trees?
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What is one significant contributor to rising sea levels due to climate change?
What is one significant contributor to rising sea levels due to climate change?
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How has the frequency of violent storms changed as a result of climate change?
How has the frequency of violent storms changed as a result of climate change?
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What does ice core drilling reveal about the atmosphere?
What does ice core drilling reveal about the atmosphere?
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Which factor is NOT contributing to Arctic amplification?
Which factor is NOT contributing to Arctic amplification?
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How can coral skeletons be used to understand climate?
How can coral skeletons be used to understand climate?
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What do sediment layers containing pollen indicate?
What do sediment layers containing pollen indicate?
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What impact does the melting of Arctic ice have on marine species?
What impact does the melting of Arctic ice have on marine species?
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What role does the decay of organic sediments play in climate change?
What role does the decay of organic sediments play in climate change?
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Which source has been used for climate data dating back to the late 17th century?
Which source has been used for climate data dating back to the late 17th century?
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What is one of the factors mentioned that affects solar energy over time?
What is one of the factors mentioned that affects solar energy over time?
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Why are climate change models unable to accurately mimic modern conditions without human emissions?
Why are climate change models unable to accurately mimic modern conditions without human emissions?
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Which statement accurately reflects solar activity's relationship with Earth’s temperature?
Which statement accurately reflects solar activity's relationship with Earth’s temperature?
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Which of the following methods is NOT used to recover climate data?
Which of the following methods is NOT used to recover climate data?
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Study Notes
Climate Change Overview
- The lecture material is the intellectual property of Dr. Neil J. Porter. Distribution or publication of this material is illegal under Canadian Copyright law.
- The lecture covers climate change, natural hazards, and disasters, part of the ESCI-1000 course.
Climate Change: Overview
- The current climate is warming.
- Warming is based on decades of atmospheric warming.
- Global temperature and sea levels are increasing.
- Snow, glaciers, ice sheets, and permafrost are melting.
- Earth's climate systems interact: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Geosphere, Cryosphere, and Biosphere.
Climate Change: 9.0 Climate, Weather, and the Atmosphere
- The climate is currently warming.
- Warming is attributed to decades of atmospheric warming.
- Also, there is a global increase in sea temperatures with widespread melting of snow, glaciers, ice sheets, and permafrost.
- The earth's climate encompasses the interactions of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere.
Climate Change: Global Warming
- A 99% probability exists that human activity is responsible for global warming.
- Ecosystems can adapt, but changes occur too quickly.
- Global air temperatures have increased by 0.8°C (1.4°F) since 1865.
Climate Change: Weather and Climate
- Weather is the short-term state of the atmosphere.
- Climate is the long-term average weather pattern.
- Earth's temperature depends on the amount of sunlight received, the amount of sunlight reflected, and how much heat the atmosphere retains.
Climate Change: Greenhouse Effect
- The greenhouse effect is a natural and necessary process.
- Without it, all surface water would be frozen, and little life would exist.
- Water vapor accounts for 66-85% of the greenhouse effect.
- Greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, CFCs, and ozone) enhance the greenhouse effect.
Climate Change: Atmospheric Composition
- Atmospheric gas concentrations that do not change include nitrogen (78.08%) and oxygen (20.95%).
- Other atmospheric gases, such as water vapor (0.2-4%), carbon dioxide (0.038%), and methane (0.00017%), vary over time and space.
- Nitrogen is relatively unimportant to atmospheric dynamics.
Climate Change: Carbon Dioxide
- Carbon dioxide is a small percentage of the atmosphere.
- It occurs naturally through volcanic activity, plant and animal respiration, wildfires, and organic material decay.
- It is removed by photosynthesis, chemical weathering, and absorption by seawater.
- Burning fossil fuels by humans greatly increased CO2 levels since the Industrial Revolution.
Climate Change: Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased significantly in recent times.
- Temperature variations and atmospheric CO2 concentration show a high correlation, implying strong connections.
- Recent changes in climate likely result from human activities more than from natural causes.
Climate Change: Methane
- Methane is a major constituent of natural gas.
- It occurs naturally through bacterial decay, termite, cow, and sheep intestinal tracts.
- Human sources include coal mines, oil wells, leaking natural gas pipelines, rice cultivation, landfills, and livestock.
- Methane levels have doubled since 1700 and are a significant contributor to warming.
Climate Change: Ozone
- Ozone forms when atomic oxygen collides with oxygen molecules.
- Mostly found in the stratosphere, it acts as a shield for ultraviolet light.
- Ozone depletion increases skin cancer, cataracts, and could cause localized crop failures..
Climate Change: Aerosols
- Aerosols are microscopic liquid or solid particles.
- They act as nuclei for water condensation to form clouds by interacting with air pollution.
- Natural aerosols include dust, wildfires, sea spray, and volcanoes.
- Anthropogenic aerosols result from burning forests and fossil fuels.
- Aerosols have complex effects on climate.
Climate Change: Paleoclimatology
- Paleoclimatology is the study of past climates.
- Proxy data is used to reconstruct past climates.
- Natural recorders analyze climate variability.
Climate Change: Dendroclimatology
- Dendroclimatology uses tree rings to collect climate data.
- The growth of trees depends on rainfall and temperature.
- Tree ring records extend back by more than 10,000 years.
Climate Change: Sediment Records
- Sediment records reflect past climates.
- Pollen types found in sediment layers are preserved for analysis.
- Sediment layers can be independently dated to create chronological records.
Climate Change: Historical Records
- Historical records (books, newspapers, and records that have been maintained) can provide information on temperature and precipitation.
- Detailed records of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere date back to 1958.
Climate Change: Short-Term Scale Changes
- Solar energy from the sun varies over time.
- Luminosity, sunspots, and faculae are connected to short-term solar cycles.
- There is no strong correlation between solar activity and average Earth temperature.
- Milankovitch theories explain the cycles and variations in Earth's orbit that cause glacial and interglacial periods.
Climate Change: Volcanic Activity
- Volcanic eruptions affect climate by releasing ash into the atmosphere.
- The ash reflects sunlight, causing a cooling effect.
- The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora led to a cooling period in North America and Europe.
Climate Change: International Agreements
- The 1987 Montreal Protocol aimed to limit ozone depletion by CFCs.
- CFCs have decreased since the protocol was adopted.
- The 1997 Kyoto Protocol established targets for nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Nations like Canada have made international commitments, but the US withdrew, affecting the agreement's effectiveness.
- The 2000 Hague summit aimed to find new methods for balancing carbon emissions.
Climate Change: Carbon Sequestration
- Carbon sequestration captures and stores carbon dioxide to prevent atmospheric entry.
- Processes include planting more trees, injecting carbon deep into the ocean, or using power plants and industrial facilities with CO2 capture technology.
Climate Change: Future Scenarios
- Two climate change scenarios for the next 100 years are offered.
- Both scenarios anticipate population growth and economic expansion.
- Scenario 1 projects high fossil fuel use resulting in a 4.5°C temperature increase, while Scenario 2 projects a 2°C increase.
- The associated sea-level rise values differ accordingly.
Climate Change: Impacts and Hazards
- Sea surface temperatures have risen since the 1970s and deep ocean water has also increased.
- Ocean conveyor belt circulation keeps northern Europe warmer compared to areas without it.
- Warmer sea water fuels hurricanes and the intensity of storms.
- Recent Atlantic hurricanes reflect a severity increase; however, overall global tropical storm frequency hasn't changed.
- Climate patterns are changing, including frequency/intensity of violent storms, and El Niño/La Niña events.
- Ice melting (Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, glaciers, ice caps) and ocean expansion are significant contributors to rising sea levels.
- Arctic sea ice loss is observed, leading to amplified warming due to reduced albedo.
- Impacts include: Changes to polar bear survival, dwindling food sources for human Arctic dwellers, and marine species migration.
- Climate change models accurately represent conditions only if human emissions are considered.
- The concentration of atmospheric CO2 was about 280 ppm in 1750 and likely will reach at least 460 ppm by 2050.
- Dissolved atmospheric CO2 acidifies oceans making it unable for marine organisms to form their shells (Coccolithophores, Foraminifers, Sea urchins, and corals).
- Human-induced degradation precedes and accompanies vegetation loss and erosion, decreasing the land's productivity.
- Increased drought frequency and severity are projected.
- Increased wildfires in regions with ecosystems poorly adapted to warming.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the greenhouse effect, its contributing gases, and the impact of human activities on climate change. This quiz covers key concepts related to carbon dioxide, ozone, and paleoclimatology. Challenge yourself to understand the science behind climate dynamics and its implications for our planet.
