Hurricanes
What is a large, rapidly rotating storm system that forms over the Atlantic or Northeast Pacific ocean called?
a hurricane (tropical cyclone)
Virginia generally has hot humid summers with moderate rainfall and relatively mild winters. Is this statement an example of climate or weather?
Climate.
Climate = long-term average of weather patterns in a given region
Weather = short-term atmospheric conditions in a particular region
Define fossil fuels.
Which greenhouse gas is emitted the most?
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Today's high temperature is 92° F, with the low being 60° F. Is this statement an example of climate or weather.
Climate = long-term average of weather patterns in a given region
Attention = short-term atmospheric conditions in a particular location
What is a hurricane's source of energy?
Evaporation of water from the ocean's surface
Which of the following is affected by sea ice loss?
A. salinity of the ocean
B. ocean currents
C. polar habitats
D. all of the above
D. all of above
Define greenhouse gasses.
The PRODUCTS of burning fossil fuels, primarily CO2 and CH4.
What are the two main greenhouse gasses?
CO2 (carbon dioxide) and CH4 (methane)
Define climate change.
When extremes of weather add up to change the long-term average, a change in the climate has occurred.
What is a hurricane that forms in the Northwest Pacific Ocean called?
typhoon
Remember hurricanes and typhoons are the same storms, different locations.
Describe how ice cores are used to find past CO2 levels.
- Over billions of years, as snow compounds on glacier ice, air pockets remain within the sheets of ice.
- The air pockets are from the time the sheets formed in, and they still contain CO2 from that time period.
- Scientists extract ice cores and measure the amount of CO2 in the air pockets.
Loss of sea ice allows less heat to be absorbed. True or false?
False.
Loss of sea ice allows more heat to be absorbed.
Which industry contributes the most to carbon emissions?
A. Agriculture
B. Transportation
C. Industry
D. Electric power
Electric power (25%), Industry (23%), Agriculture (13%).
Write down five effects of climate change.
- Climate refugees
- Mass extinctions
- Severe weather events
- Infectious disease
- Droughts
- Wildfires
Answer the following questions:
- What conditions (depth, temperature, and wind speed) are required for a hurricane to form?
160 ft deep, 80 degrees Celsius, 74 mph
heat waves + drought = ???
Fires
Clearly write out the connection between fossil fuels, greenhouse gasses, and the greenhouse effect.
Fossil fuels are burned and release high amounts of carbon through the greenhouse gasses.
The greenhouse effect refers to the process of greenhouse gasses trapping the Sun's heat in the atmosphere, thereby warming the Earth's surface.
fossil fuels --> greenhouse gasses --> greenhouse effect
What are some ways humans can reduce our carbon footprint?
- eat less meat
- choose walking, biking, public transportation, over driving
- reducing electricity usage
- reduce and reuse
What is an SSP?
Shared socio-economic pathway: projections of several different climate scenarios based on greenhouse gas emissions.
Write down a clear connection between global warming and storm surge.
Global warming warms the ocean and the air. A warmer atmosphere promotes evaporation and holds more moisture. Evaporation fuels hurricanes. This causes more INTENSE hurricanes, which then creates more intense storm surges.
In addition, global warming also contributes to rising sea levels which exacerbates storm surge.
What were the key elements (conditions and goals) of the Paris Climate Agreement?
- Every five years, countries reconvene to assess contributions and progress.
- Developed countries must provide aid to developing countries to help further their climate efforts.
- Nort a binding agreement! There are technically no consequences if a country does not fulfill their responsibilities.
Goals:
- Ideally keep global temperature rise under 1.5°C.
- Realistically, keep global warming under 2°C celcius.
- to reach net zero greenhouse emissions (long term)
Draw out an illustration of the greenhouse effect.
1. Solar radiation beams down onto Earth.
2. Some solar radiation is reflected by the atmosphere away from the Earth, but most of it is absorbed by the Earth's surface.
3. Under normal circumstances, the Earth would bounce off enough of the sun's rays to maintain a balanced state.
4. Excessive greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere trap MORE of the sun's radiation than normal.
5. This is what causes global warming.
Write or draw out the steps of the carbon cycle.
1. Carbon is emitted from human activities, volcanoes, plants, etc. into the atmosphere.
2. From the atmosphere, the ocean absorbs the excess carbon.
3. Marine organisms use the carbon, the die and sink to the bottom.
4. The carbon then becomes a part of the sediment (the ground).
5. From the ground, the carbon is used and emitted by humans, plants, etc.
Describe how global warming creates a higher risk of disease.
Hint: mosquitoes.
Global warming creates an expanded habitat for malaria-carrying mosquitoes.