Climate change - billion years of climate change

22 important questions on Climate change - billion years of climate change

Where is the highest value of w/m2 received on earth, and what is the correlation between this and tropical rainforests at the equator?

At the equator - more sunlight- more evaporation + convection (overgang van vloeibaar near gas) - rising air masses - they cool when elevated  and lead to higher rainfall rates (because cold air can hold less moist). This explains the band of tropical rainforests near the equator.

Where and when does the earth receive most sunlight?

Earth receives 240 W m-2 solar energy on average. On local scale not - the highest possible value of sunlight received is at the equator at noon.

Which is the most important greenhouse gas?

Water vapour (natural ghg)
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Why is water vapour a feedback and not a forcing?

We do not directly impact the concentration of water vapour, it is dependent on the temp. Of the troposphere and on moist availability, therefore it is a feedback and not a forcing. (it is not a cause of temp. Change but may amplify or dampen these changes.

What is the enhanced (versterkt) greenhouse effect?

Concentrations have risen due to humans.

What is the global warming potential? (GWP)

The strength of the ghg per molecule  (CH4 has a much stronger GWP than Co2 but its concentration is lower, so its radiative forcing is also lower.

What is the albedo of land? Snow, water, grass/crops and forest?

- snow areas: 100% albedo
- water: <10% albedo
- vegetation: little higher than water
- grass/cropland: little higher than forest

What is the effect of deforestation on albedo?

Has a cooling effect because it increases albedo because cropland has a higher albedo than forests.  (but also leads to a higher co2 concentration.

What is the effect of co2 in comparison to other forcings?

Co2 is the main forcing agent, other gig's combined give a somewhat similar effect.

What is climate sensitivity usually calculated for?

Doubling of co2 - how much will the temp on earth rise?

What is the most important parameter in climate science?

Climate sensitivity

Why does it takes a long time for incoming radiation to meet outgoing radiation?

Because it takes a lot of time for the oceans to warm up, are on average 4 km deep - only the upper part is heated + melting of ice is a slow process

What is the forcing in w m-2 if the co2 concentrations doubled?

3,7 W m-2

What is TCR used fore (transient climate response)?

For the estimation of anthropogenic climate change (in temp).

Where is most of the carbon stored?

In lithosphere (aardbodem) and oceans

What is the slow carbon cycle?

Interaction between atmosphere and lithosphere (aardbodem) with volcanism and weather being the main fluxes.

What are the key fluxes of the ocean?

Diffusion, photosynthesis and respiration

What are the key fluxes of the land?

Photosynthesis and respiration

Which fluxes are more harmful - anthropogenic or natural?

natural fluxes are much larger than anthropogenic (like fossil fuel burning and deforestation) but natural fluxes are balanced and anthropogenic ones are one way and lead to higher co2 concentrations in the atmosphere.

What is the respiration of an organism?

Oxygen intake (O2) and co2 output

What is meant by the 50% discount on climate change?

Only 50% of CO2 stays in the atmosphere, the rest is taken up by the ocean and land biosphere.

What are the downsides to co2 intake by the ocean?

Acidification + may become a positive feedback in the future

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