Term
| What are the three most important greenhouse gasses? |
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Definition
| Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Nitrous Oxide. |
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Term
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Definition
Electromagnetic radiation emitted by the Sun. Has a distinctive range of wavelengths (spectrum)
determined by the temperature of the Sun, peaking in visible wavelengths. |
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Term
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Definition
Aerosols may be of either natural or
anthropogenic origin. They tend to have a cooling effect. |
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Term
| What are some human activities contributing to climate change? |
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Definition
| Fossil fuel burning(transportation, heating, cooling, electricity), Deforestation and Cement manufacturing. |
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Term
| What powers the climate system? |
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Definition
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Term
| How much of the solar radiation is absorbed by the earth? |
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Definition
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Term
| What type of radiation is emitted from the Earth's surface? |
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Definition
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Term
| What effect do greenhouse gasses have on the infrared radiation emitted from the Earth's surface? |
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Definition
| The greenhouse gasses absorb most of the radiation, heating the atmosphere. |
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Term
| Is infrared radiation visible? |
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Definition
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Term
| What solar radiation is visible? |
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Definition
| Wavelengths from 400 nm to 700 nm. |
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Term
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Definition
Any process, activity or mechanism which removes a greenhouse gas, an
aerosol or a precursor of a greenhouse gas or aerosol from the atmosphere. |
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Term
| What is the average amount of carbon dioxide emmited for an American? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is a source.(sources and sinks) |
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Definition
Any process, activity or mechanism that releases a
greenhouse gas, an aerosol, or a precursor of a greenhouse gas or aerosol
into the atmosphere. |
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Term
| What are the most substantial aerosol? |
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Definition
|
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Term
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Definition
Carbon-based fuels from fossil hydrocarbon deposits, including coal, peat,
oil, and natural gas. |
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Term
| What is the energy balance? |
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Definition
The difference between the total incoming and total outgoing energy in the
climate system. If this balance is positive, warming occurs; if it is negative,
cooling occurs. |
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Term
| What is the carbon cycle? |
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Definition
The term used to describe the flow of carbon (in various forms, e.g. as
carbon dioxide) through the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial biosphere and
lithosphere. |
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Term
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Definition
The fraction of solar radiation reflected by a surface or object, often expressed
as a percentage. |
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Term
| What part of the Earth's surface has a high albedo? |
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Definition
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Term
| What part of the Earth's surface has a low Albedo? |
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Definition
Vegetation-covered surfaces and
oceans have a low albedo. |
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Term
| What are the anthropogenic sources of Aerosols? |
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Definition
| Fossil fuel and biomass burning. |
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Term
| What incident led scientists to beleive that Aerosols had a strong cooling effect? |
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Definition
| The erruption of the Pinatubo volcano. |
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Term
| What is the biggest carbon resevoir on Earth? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which atmospheric constituents/entities, may reflect incoming solar radiation? |
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Definition
| Clouds and other aerosols. |
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Term
| What are three ways to change the Earth's energy balance? |
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Definition
| Greenhouse gasses, aerosols and the reflective property of the Earth's surface. |
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Term
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Definition
| An organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon.(Crude Oil) |
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Term
| What is the Earth's largest known Oil feild? |
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Definition
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