Global Warming
What is the difference between global warming and climate change?
Global Warming is the long term heating of the earth that has been observed since the pre-industrial period
Climate Change is a boarder term that includes global warming but also accounts for changes in extreme weather, precipitation, wind patterns, and sea level.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is the daily atmospheric condition (snowy week in winter) while climate is the average weather pattern of a region collected over decades.
Weather- hours, weeks, days
Climate- years, decades (around 30 or more years)
What everyday activities contribute the most to greenhouse gas emissions?
What is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and what was it a response to?
The (EPA) is an independent U.S. federal agency established in 1970 to consolidate federal research, monitoring, and enforcement of environmental laws. This was in response to environmental concerns in the 1960s after events such as the Santa Barbara Oil Spill.
What causes global warming?
Human activities that release heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
What types of data is used by scientists to study climate? (minimum 2)
Scientists uses sources such as satellites, weather stations, ice cores, tree rings, sea level change measures, and ocean sediments.
What tells us various elements of weather?
Climate
How do we know the current warming trend is caused by human activities and not natural climate cycles?
Based off of physical "footprints" left in the atmosphere. Carbon footprints show where excess carbon is coming from, proving its from burned fossil fuels based off of atmospheric measurements.
Which US president passed the first Clean Air Act in 1963 and what did it mark?
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the original Clean Air Act of 1963, which was the first federal law to grant enforcement authority to regulate air pollution.
What is the greenhouse effect?
What are the 3 primary fossil fuels on Earth that release greenhouse gases and cause pollution?
Fossil, fuel, and gas.
Does weather or climate tell the state of the atmosphere in a region of the earth?
What are the 4 most common greenhouse gases?
Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide.
What was the Environmental Protection Movement? (1945-1980)
Between 1945 and 1980, the environmental movement transformed from a localized conservation effort into a massive, politically potent grassroots and legislative force. Driven by post-war industrialization, visible ecological disasters, and the 1970 Earth Day, the era established the foundations of modern environmental policy.
What can be consequences for humans as a result of global warming?
Global warming can make extreme weather more intense, such as longer droughts, severe heat waves, intenser storms, and wildfires.
What is the difference between climate change and climate variability?
Climate change happens over a long period of time, typically decades, while climate variability is happens in shorter timeframes like months or seasons. Climate variability is the natural variability in the system. One cold year followed by a warm year does not equate to being a cause from climate change.
Which is always changing, climate or weather
Weather
Can natural variations in climate contribute to today's climate change?
Yes it can in a very minimal way. An example would be a volcanic eruption or ocean cycle that cause year-to-year fluctuations which can temporarily "mask" the global warming issue.
When was the first Earth Day and what impact did it have?
April 22, 1970 and it lead to the creation of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).
What continent is the most vulnerable to climate change currently?
Africa
25 cm
How do weather observations become climate data?
Weather observations transition into climate data through averaging, quality control, and long-term statistical analysis.
What are three top strategies to tackle to climate change?
Transitioning to renewable energy, shifting to a sustainable diet, and protecting/restoring ecosystems.
How did the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill help pass environmental legislation?
The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill was a spark for the creation of US environmental law by creating public outrage, media attention, and political action, directly resulting in the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and landmark legislation like the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).