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Questions and Answers
What is radiative forcing?
What is radiative forcing?
What is the greenhouse effect?
What is the greenhouse effect?
What does the Paris Agreement aim to ensure?
What does the Paris Agreement aim to ensure?
What are some greenhouse gases?
What are some greenhouse gases?
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What two general components of human activity most affect global warming?
What two general components of human activity most affect global warming?
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What effects does increasing CO2 in the atmosphere have on the ocean?
What effects does increasing CO2 in the atmosphere have on the ocean?
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What is the method used to obtain CO2 values for the atmosphere thousands of years ago?
What is the method used to obtain CO2 values for the atmosphere thousands of years ago?
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Who first predicted that adding CO2 into the atmosphere would cause climate change?
Who first predicted that adding CO2 into the atmosphere would cause climate change?
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What is the Paris Agreement trying to achieve?
What is the Paris Agreement trying to achieve?
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What are some of the physical evidences that prove humans are causing global warming?
What are some of the physical evidences that prove humans are causing global warming?
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What are the two main causes of sea level rise due to global warming?
What are the two main causes of sea level rise due to global warming?
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What effects does increasing CO2 in the atmosphere have on the ocean?
What effects does increasing CO2 in the atmosphere have on the ocean?
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Study Notes
Radiative Forcing
- Radiative forcing is the difference between the energy the Earth receives from the sun and the energy it loses to space
- Positive radiative forcing occurs when the Earth absorbs more energy from the sun than it loses to space, warming the planet
- Negative radiative forcing occurs when the Earth loses more energy to space than it receives from the sun, cooling the planet
Climate Models
- Climate models have uncertainties associated with them
Human Activities
- The two general components of human activity that most affect global warming are:
- Burning of fossil fuels (releases CO2)
- Deforestation (releases stored carbon into the atmosphere)
Greenhouse Effect
- The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun, warming the planet
- Greenhouse gases include:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Water vapor (H2O)
- The greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1827
- Svante Arrhenius predicted in 1896 that adding CO2 to the atmosphere would cause climate change
Paris Agreement
- The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels
Physical Evidence of Global Warming
- Multiple lines of evidence show that the Earth is warming, including:
- Rising global temperatures
- Shrinking ice sheets
- Glacier retreat
- Rise in sea level
- Shift in seasons
Physical Evidence of Human-Caused Global Warming
- Multiple lines of evidence show that humans are causing global warming, including:
- Increase in global temperatures
- Shrinking of Arctic sea ice
- Shift in the timing of seasons
Effects of Increasing CO2 on the Ocean
- Increasing CO2 in the atmosphere leads to ocean acidification, harming marine life
Obtaining CO2 Values
- CO2 values for the atmosphere thousands of years ago can be obtained through ice cores and other natural archives
Human Responsibility for Added CO2
- The physical evidence that proves humans are responsible for the added CO2 in the atmosphere includes:
- Isotopic signature of CO2
- Increase in CO2 levels coinciding with human industrial activity
Dealing with Climate Change
- Humans will be forced to deal with global climate change in two basic ways:
- Mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions)
- Adaptation (adapting to the changing climate)
Causes of Sea Level Rise
- The two main causes of sea level rise due to global warming are:
- Thermal expansion of seawater
- Melting of glaciers and ice sheets
Fossil Fuel Use
- Fossil fuel use goes mainly toward producing energy
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Description
Test your knowledge on radiative forcing, climate models, human activities affecting global warming, greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, historical discoveries, and the Paris Agreement.
