Climate Change 1
List four things that are evidence of global climate change?
1. rising global temperatures
2. melting ice caps and sea level rise
3. More severe storms
4. Ocean acidification
These regions of the Earth that are experiencing the most dramatic changes due to climate change.
the arctic
Oil, coal and gas
3 examples of fossil fuels
What process naturally removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
photosynthesis
All of the radiation from the sun is absorbed by the Earth.
True or False
False
Name three of the five greenhouse gases.
Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide, Ozone, Water Vapour
This "feedback loop" occurs when melting ice reveals darker ocean water, which absorbs more heat and melts more ice.
The Albedo Effect
This gas, released by burning fossil fuels, is the primary driver of modern global warming.
Carbon Dioxide
The average weather for a region over a long period of time is. _______________.
Climate
The measure of how much sunlight a surface bounces back into space versus how much it "drinks up" as heat.
Albedo
A layer of soil which remains frozen. If thawed, causes houses to sink, and possibly rivers to soak up and run dry.
Permafrost
While a lush tropical rainforest is vibrant and full of life, its dark green canopy gives it this type of albedo, causing it to absorb roughly 85% of incoming solar radiation
Low Albedo
This phenomenon, caused by the ocean absorbing CO2, threatens coral reefs and shellfish.
Ocean Acidification
These are natural systems, like oceans and massive forests, that "breathe in" and store more carbon dioxide than they release, helping to slow down global warming.
Carbon Sinks
This effect occurs when high temperatures cause water to evaporate from the ground faster than it can be replaced by rain, leading to cracked earth and failed crops.
Drought
Because the sun is incredibly hot, it sends energy to Earth in this high-energy, "packed together" form that passes right through greenhouse gases without getting caught.
Shortwave Radiation
Because spring is arriving earlier each year, many birds and insects are struggling with this "timing" problem, where they arrive at their destination before their food source has bloomed. Both words start with an M.
Mismatched Migration
This process involves clearing large areas of trees, which removes the 'carbon sinks' that soak up CO2 and lowers the land's albedo by replacing green leaves with dark, heat-absorbing soil.
Deforestation
Because it is made of three or more atoms, this type of molecule is able to bend and vibrate, which is the exact physical action that allows it to 'catch' and trap infrared heat.
Greenhouse Gas
In a warming climate, the ocean doesn't just get deeper from melting ice; it also rises because of this law of physics where water molecules move faster and spread further apart as they soak up heat. The first word starts with "TH"and the second word an "E."
Thermal Expansion