Ozone and UV Radation
What type of UV radiation(s) is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer?
UV-B and UV-C
What is the greenhouse effect?
👉 Trapping of heat by gases in the atmosphere
Why does CO₂ decrease in summer?
👉 Photosynthesis increases
What happens when permafrost melts?
👉 Releases CO₂ and methane
What is an infant whale called?
Calf
What human-made chemicals are responsible for ozone depletion?
👉 CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
Which gas has ~25x the warming potential of CO₂?
👉 Methane (CH₄)
Why aren’t Milankovitch cycles causing current warming?
👉 They act over thousands of years
Why is the Arctic warming faster than other regions?
👉 Positive feedback loops (like albedo loss)
How many dots are there on a pair of dice?
42
CFCs destroy Ozone molecules faster than they can be built.
What is the role of albedo in climate?
👉 Reflectivity affects how much heat is absorbed
What happens to ocean pH as CO₂ increases?
👉 It decreases (becomes more acidic)
What is thermohaline circulation?
👉 Global ocean conveyor belt driven by temperature & salinity
In the film "Home Alone," what nickname for Harry and himself did Marv want to use?
The Wet Bandits
Why will ozone recovery take decades even after banning CFCs?
👉 Long half-lives of CFCs
What is Global Warming Potential (GWP)?
👉 Measure of heat-trapping ability over time relative to CO₂
Explain the difference between natural CO₂ cycles and current trends
👉 Natural = slow cycles; Current = rapid human-driven increase
How can climate change disrupt the jet stream?
👉 Weakens temperature gradients → more extreme weather
How long does it take the moon to revolve around the Earth, to the nearest day?
27
Explain why ozone is beneficial in the stratosphere but harmful in the troposphere
👉 Stratosphere: blocks UV; Troposphere: pollutant causing smog and respiratory issues
Explain how increasing GHGs affects Earth’s energy balance
👉 More heat is trapped → less escapes → warming increases
Why might cold oceans experience acidification faster?
👉 Cold water absorbs more CO₂
Describe how a weakening thermohaline circulation could impact regional climates (ex: Europe)
Which land mammal has the most teeth?
Giant Armidillo