Definitions 1
Define 'Climate Change'
Long term shifts in global or regional climate patterns, including temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns
What are the impacts of climate change in Australia?
More heatwaves, Heavier rainfall, Rising sea levels, Impacts on marine habitats, species and ecosystem health, Increasing risk of inundation and damage to coastal infrastructure and communities
What is 'Hydrosphere'?
All the waters on the earth's surface, such as lakes and seas, and sometimes including water over the earth's surface, such as clouds.
how does albedo affect climate?
Albedo determines how much solar energy is reflected back into space, affecting global temperatures and climate patterns.
What are the 3 primary causes of climate change?
burning fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture
Define 'Carbon cycle'
the process by which carbon atoms are recycled through the Earth's systems, including the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms.
Is the albedo affect the measure of how much sunlight a surface absorbs or reflects?
reflects
what is 'Biophysical processes'?
the physical interactions that occur within living organisms and between organisms and their environment, governing the movement of energy and matter essential for life.
what is causing sea levels to rise?
An increase in water volume caused by melting glaciers and ice sheets, thermal expansion of water as oceans and seas absorb heat.
Melting ice leads to rising sea levels, freshwater shortages, and increased flooding risks.
Define 'Biomes'
A biome is a large geographical area characterized by specific climate conditions
Why is the melting of land and sea ice a significant issue for global warming and overall climate change?
When ice caps and glaciers melt, and snow cover decreases. Snow and ice have high Albedo so we lose reflective surfaces. Sea levels rise. Ocean and weather systems disrupted. Ecosystems impacted.
what is 'Lithosphere'?
the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle
what are the impacts of loss of Biodiversity
Loss of animals habitats, extinction up to 40% of species and wildlife, losses of biodiversity in coral reefs
how does the atmosphere affect weather patterns?
The atmosphere interacts with solar energy, the dynamics of air movement, and the influence of humidity.
Define 'Anthropogenic'
Anthropogenic describes any effect, process, or material that is the direct or indirect result of human action, rather than natural causes.
Where is deforestation occurring?
Deforestation occurs in Brazil, Americas, Africa, Indonesia, Asia and Pacific, Mexico and India.
what is 'thermal expansion'?
The tendency of a material to change its size, length, area, or volume. Thermal expansion occurs because heating increases the kinetic energy of atoms and molecules.
True or False?
La nina, winds are even stronger than usual, pushing more warm water toward Asia. Off the west coast of the Americas, upwelling increases, bringing cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface.
True
What threats do rainforests biome face?
deforestation, habit loss, climate change, pollution
Define 'Photosynthesis'
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and certain bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy, producing glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water.
A floating sheet of ice permanently attached to a land mass is called what?
An ice shelf
what is carbon 'sequestration'?
The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide to reduce its concentration in the atmosphere and mitigate climate change.
What percent of Antarctica is ice?
90%
fill in the blanks!
Climate change refers to long term shifts in earths average _ and _ patterns
Temperature and weather