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Questions and Answers
What is radiative forcing?
What is the greenhouse effect?
What does the Paris Agreement aim to ensure?
What are some greenhouse gases?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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.
