Climate Change Factors Quiz

Ocean circulation

Cooling

Rapid release of methane

Stabilizing climate

Water vapor

Increased precipitation in some regions, decreased in others

Runaway heating

Ocean circulation

Drawdown of CO2

Increased wave action at shore

Threaten structures such as roads and pipelines

Increasing albedo

CO2 increase

Climate change

Drawdown of CO2

Sea-level rise

Increased snowfall

warming

greenhouse

irreversible

vapor

water vapor

heating

cooling

climate

wave

albedo

evidence for warming climate

evidence for warming climate

shore

structures

policy makers

The main role of the oceanic biological pump during glacial periods is to draw down CO2 and contribute to further cooling through the stronger biological pump.

Some potential impacts of climate change on Canada mentioned in the text are increased snowfall, erosion due to loss of sea ice causing more wave action at shore, the need for costly all-weather roads to support mines and communities due to the disappearance of ice roads, threats to infrastructure and remote microwave towers from wildfires below the tree line, and the melting of permafrost which threatens structures such as roads, runways, pipelines, and fuel storage.

Some evidence for a warming climate mentioned in the text are CO2 increase, temperature increase, sea-surface temperature increase, sea-level rise, loss of sea ice and ice sheets, retreat of glaciers, and more weather-related disasters.

The potential impact of melting permafrost on infrastructure is the threat it poses to structures such as roads, runways, pipelines, and fuel storage.

The potential impact of loss of sea ice on wave action at the shore is that it causes more wave action at shore.

The main focus of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report mentioned in the text is to provide assessments and recommendations about climate change to policy makers.

The potential impact of the retreat of glaciers mentioned in the text is sea-level rise.

The potential impact of loss of sea ice on infrastructure is the need for costly all-weather roads to support mines and communities.

The main focus of climate engineering mentioned in the text is adjusting climate by increasing albedo and removing CO2.

Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Geosphere

Greenhouse gases, Aerosols, Changes in solar radiation

Climate feedbacks amplify or reduce the effects of forcing. Examples: Positive feedback - clouds, Negative feedback - precipitation, forests, ice albedo, water vapor

Abrupt shifts, irreversible changes, ocean circulation, ice loss, rapid release of methane

The oceanic biological pump affects carbon sequestration and the global carbon cycle during glacial periods.

Thawing of permafrost will release methane, a potent greenhouse gas, contributing to further climate change.

Warmer atmosphere leads to increased precipitation overall, but some regions may experience drier conditions.

The loss of sea ice can lead to increased absorption of heat by the land surface, contributing to further warming of the planet.

Climate engineering refers to deliberate and large-scale intervention in the Earth’s climate system to counteract climate change. Two methods mentioned in the text are increasing albedo and removing CO2.

Melting permafrost can threaten infrastructure such as roads, runways, pipelines, fuel storage, and buildings. The text mentions threatened structures including roads, runways, pipelines, and fuel storage.

The IPCC, established in 1988 by the UN, provides assessments and recommendations about climate change to policymakers. It completed its sixth report in March 2023.

The loss of sea ice and ice sheets leads to sea-level rise, which can have significant impacts on global climate and temperature. Additionally, it can contribute to the loss of albedo, further exacerbating climate change.

Climate forcing refers to the drivers of climate change that can cause the climate to deviate from its normal state. Examples of climate forcing drivers mentioned in the text include greenhouse gases, aerosols, changes in solar radiation, and burning of fossil fuels.

Climate tipping points refer to abrupt and irreversible shifts in the climate system. Examples mentioned in the text include ocean circulation changes leading to cooling in Europe and warming in North America, ice loss causing runaway heating, and rapid release of methane from thawing permafrost.

Forests act as a carbon sink by removing CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, thus helping to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases. This process contributes to a negative climate feedback, stabilizing the climate by reducing the effects of forcing.

Ice albedo refers to the reflective properties of ice, and its loss leads to increased absorption of heat by the Earth's surface, contributing to warming. Water vapor, as the most abundant greenhouse gas, can amplify the greenhouse effect when its concentration increases due to a warmer atmosphere, leading to further warming of the climate system.