Term
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Definition
Maintain the average temperature by trapping a fraction of the outgoing heat radiation
Water vapour, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, nitrous oxide |
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Term
| Factors affecting CO2 concentration |
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Definition
Anthropogenic factors:
Industrialization, burning fossil fuels
Deforestation
oil and petrol
Non-anthropogenic factors:
Volcanic activity |
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Term
| Environmental effects of global warming |
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Definition
Retreat of polar icecaps
Increase in sea level and coastal flooding
Change in biome and species distribution |
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Term
| The role of greenhouse gases in maintaining mean global temperature |
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Definition
Only 55% of solar energy is reaches the surface of the earth. 45% is absorbed or reflected by the gases in the atmosphere.
Out of the 55%, 4% is reflected back to space.
51% is used for photosynthesis, heat, and evaporation. |
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Term
| What are the main greenhouse gases? How do human activities add to them? |
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Definition
Carbon dioxide (54.7%) - biggest contributor is the burning of fossil fuels
Methane (30%) - increasing by 1% per year due to human activities, cattle. Many developed countries capture methane and use it as a source of energy
Nitrous oxide (4.9%)
Water vapour - largest effect in trapping heat energy
Chlorofluorocarbons - very high global warming potential GWP |
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Term
| chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) |
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Definition
| chemicals made by humans which destroy the ozone layer when they reach the stratosphere, but acts as greenhouse gases in the troposphere. |
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Term
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Definition
thermosphere
mesosphere
stratosphere (ozone layer)
troposphere |
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Term
| Potential effects of increased mean global temperature |
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Definition
Rising sea levels - ice melting and water expanding - potential flooding - warm water absorbs less CO2, which misbalances the pH
The melting of glaciers could open up new trade routes
Methane clathrate - a form of ice under the Artic ocean floor that traps methane. If it were to melt and reach the surface, the release of methane might trigger a rapid increase in temperatures. Methane can also be stored in tundra's permafrost.
A small increase in temperature can kill plankton, the basis of many marine food webs.
Could decrease biodiversity in plants - unlike animals, plants may take too long to move to a cooler area. Possible extinction of polar species.
Spread of tropical diseases.
Reduced heating bills for households.
Possibly - increased human migration
Drought may have a negative effect on national economies
If rivers don't freeze, hydroelectric power can be generated in higher altitudes
Agricultural production may increase in higher altitudes but fall in the tropics |
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Term
| Pollution management strategies |
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Definition
| International agreements, national actions, personal lifestyle changes |
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