Increases in the Greenhouse Gases (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Flashcards
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Define climate change.
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Define climate change.
Climate change is a long-term change in average temperatures and weather patterns that define local, regional, and global climates, usually measured over a 30-year period.
What is the goal of the IPCC?
The goal of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), formed in 1988, is to determine the potential environmental, social, and economic impact of climate change.
Define global warming.
Global warming is the rise in Earth's average surface temperatures caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases from human activities such as burning fossil fuels.
True or False?
A positive feedback loop helps to stabilize the climate system.
False.
A positive feedback loop amplifies a change and pushes a system toward a tipping point; for example, melting Arctic sea ice exposes darker ocean water that absorbs more sunlight, causing further warming.
Why do oceans expand as they warm?
Oceans expand because warmer water takes up more space than colder water, as its water molecules move and vibrate more.
As temperatures rise, disease such as mosquitoes and ticks can survive and breed in regions that were previously too cool.
As temperatures rise, disease vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks can survive and breed in regions that were previously too cool.
Define ocean acidification.
Ocean acidification is the process in which oceans absorb excess CO₂ released by burning fossil fuels, making seawater more acidic.
How does ocean acidification harm corals and shellfish?
More acidic seawater makes it harder for corals and shellfish to build and maintain their calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) shells and skeletons.
True or False?
Any single extreme weather event can be directly linked to global warming.
False.
It is difficult to link any single event directly to global warming, although droughts, heatwaves, flooding, and hurricanes are becoming more frequent and intense.
How do higher temperatures make droughts worse?
Higher temperatures increase the rate of evaporation, which worsens droughts.
How does more water vapor in the atmosphere affect storms?
Increased water vapor alters precipitation patterns and intensifies storms, rainfall, and hurricanes.
Why might some species become extinct as temperatures rise?
Species may become extinct if suitable habitats are unavailable or they cannot migrate or adapt fast enough.
Name two ways climate change can worsen air quality.
Climate change can worsen air quality by increasing the formation of ground-level ozone, causing more wildfires that release smoke and particulate matter, and creating more stagnant air that stops pollutants dispersing.
Heatwaves are especially dangerous for the young, the elderly, and people with diseases.
Heatwaves are especially dangerous for the young, the elderly, and people with cardiopulmonary diseases.
True or False?
Climate change affects all societies in the same way.
False.
The impacts of climate change differ between societies depending on their economic status, resources, and social conditions.
How does glacier melt affect water supply?
Melting glaciers reduce freshwater availability for downstream communities.
Name two impacts of climate change on agriculture.
Climate change alters crop production through changes in temperature and rainfall, increases agricultural pests, causes heat stress in livestock, and makes food supply less reliable and more expensive.
Why may settlements in low-lying areas have to be abandoned?
Sea level rise and more frequent, severe storms increase flooding in low-lying areas, and building extra defenses or moving settlements is costly.
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