Climate and Climate Change - atmosphere - Interactions

15 important questions on Climate and Climate Change - atmosphere - Interactions

What are the albedo effects?(5) positive/negative?

- Albedo (ice +/clouds -)
- Water vapour +
- Vegetation/carbon sinks -
- Permafrost +
- Ocean warming +

What is radiative forcing?

A balance between the energy received from the sun and the energy radiated back out to space.

What are primary/secondary aerosols?

Primary: from dust/sea spray salt/burning biomass
Secondary: formed by gas to particle conversion in the atmosphere.
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What happens during the neutral phase of enso?

Steady Tradewinds blow across the tropic pacific from east to west. These winds pile up warm water in the western pacific, in contrast water temp. In the east are lower as the trade winds cause cool water to be drawn up from the deep sea. The temp. Difference across the tropical Pacific Ocean causes air to rise to Australia and descend near South America. This creates a huge connected cycle called the walker circulation. (draught + floods can still happen in neutral phase).

What is the walker circulation?

The trade wind cycle that blow the warm water from the east to the west.

What is la Nina?

The trade winds blow harder than normal. Expending the warm water transport from east to west, and cooling the oceans towards south america. This increases the east to west temp. Difference and makes the walker circulation even stronger - trade winds blow harder - feedback loop.  Result: Higher ocean temp. -> greater evaporation - more clouds - more rain - high risk of floods, lower temp. And more cyclones.

Why is la Nina a feedback loop?

Because the walker circulation is accelerated, the trade winds blow even stronger, east to west temp. Difference is increasing, which causes the wind to blow harder - feedback loop.

What does high air pressure mean?

H=happy, H at surface, L in sky, less H2O vapour in sky to make clouds

What does low air pressure mean?

L=sad, L at surface, H in sky, lot of H2O vapour in the air to make clouds.

What is the definition of sustainability according to the Bruntland commission?

Meeting the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generation to meet theirs.

What is a trade off regarding poverty and the climate?

The poor regions need to pollute more in order to develop and end poverty. Eliminating poverty - income >2,97$ per day = +0,6 degrees.

What is the poverty trap? (natural disasters)

Extreme water events lead to greater mortality rate and greater damage in developing countries. Results in a loss of share in livelihood and wealth - disincentive to invest - loop. - most vulnerable and most affected by cc but least responsible.

What is an agricultural mitigation strategy?

Organic farming: lower yield, lower yield stability, requires animal production for fertilisation. Positive: Prevents soil, increases local biodiversity, reduces pollution in surface and groundwater.

Mitigation strategy renewable energy downsides/plus sides?

Positive: - Harvest freely available energy, enable de-centralized energy production, promise of sustainability and circularity.
Negative: - Produce large amounts of waste - requires large land surface.

What is the DPSIR framework?

Drivers, pressure, state, impacts, response.

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