ENV 305 GLobal Climate change
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Apr 3, 2024
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docx
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Destiny Mangini 01-29-2024
ENV 305 Global Climate Change
Milestone Two The Earth’s Climate System
a.
What are some basic
details
of how the earth’s climate system
functions
that your audience will need to know?
Energy transfers within and between the different parts of the climate cycle within the natural climate. Solar radiation, oceanic circulation patterns, greenhouse gas concentrations, and volcanic activity. Years to even decades impact the global environment. Primary climate cycles are the movement of energy and mass with the oceans and atmosphere. Whether day-to-day occurs within the troposphere atmosphere in constant motion, direct contact with the earth's surface transfers energy from low to high latitudes. The stratosphere is relatively stable from the ozone that increases air temperature—a layer of the earth’s atmosphere.
b.
What role do the
sun and orbital cycles
play in controlling Earth’s climate?
It takes “11 years to complete one solar cycle for the sun to orbit the earth” (NASA, 2019), during which time lots of changes and effects happen to the atmosphere and on the
earth's surface. “For more than 40 years, satellites have observed the energy of the sun's output, and with that data, according to NASA, the climate has only gone up or down by less than 0.1 percent during that period” (NASA, 2019). They are telling us that solar activity plays only a minimal role in Earth’s climate. And humans might play a more significant role in climate change after all. “Since 1750, the warming driven by greenhouse gases coming from human burning of fossil fuels is over 270 times greater than the slight extra warming coming from the sun itself over the same time interval, (NASA, 2019).
c.
How is
energy cycled
through the Earth’s climate system?
The thermal infrared energy image above shows the relationship between Earth's and solar energy. The atmosphere takes on the solar energy from the sun, and the earth’s surface reacts to the extra direct solar heating energy by increasing the temperature. “Most solar energy is absorbed at the surface, while most heat is radiated back to space by the atmosphere”( Lindsey, 2009).
d.
Discuss some possible
causes of recent changes
in global temperature: energy consumption, greenhouse effect, and radiative forcing.
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The image above shows the increase in greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution, which began about 1750. This explains that gas emissions have increased
the effect on the Earth's surface, causing temperatures to increase. (CO2) carbon dioxide directly emitted by humans, methane(CH4) nitrous oxide (N20)
According to the EPA, “Human activities currently release over 30 million tons of C02
into the atmosphere every year” (EPA 2016).
Climatic Impact From Atmospheric Energy and Geologic Events
e.
How is
energy transported
horizontally in the atmosphere?
Conduction, convection, and radiation transport horizontally in the atmosphere.
f.
What are the significant
features of ocean circulation
? How is
energy exchanged between the atmosphere and
oceans
? What roles do icecaps and glaciers play in the climate system?
Ocean circulation features the transfer of tropical heat to the polar oceans. This
journey is essential for the energy stored in the deep-ocean currents, which, in return, controls, and transports heat from the deficits to the poles. This is from wind pushing on the surface of the ocean. Icecaps and glaciers play a massive part in the climate system. The ability to store vast amounts of water for an extended period, like when water capsizes. Secondly, it reflects extensive solar
radiation into space, which increases ocean levels and temperatures by growing and shirking. g.
How do
geologic events
like volcanism and tectonism affect the atmosphere and oceans? Sulfate aerosols can deplete the earth's ozone layer and cause significant climate impacts from volcanoes. h.
What processes drive short-period
climate oscillation
?
An important example is El Nino and La Nina conditions. The El Nino southern oscillation cycle
drives changes in climate. Reference: NASA, 2019. What is the sun’s role in climate change? https://climate.nasa.gov/explore/ask-nasa-
climate/2910/what-is-the-suns-role-in-climate-change/#:~:text=It%20also%20influences
%20Earth%27s%20climate,be%20caused%20by%20solar%20activity
.
Rebecca Lindsey. 2019. Climate and Earth’s energy budget. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/EnergyBalance#:~:text=Earth%20returns%20an
%20equal%20amount,to%20space%20by%20the%20atmosphere
.
Clare Fleseler. 2023. How to talk to your family about climate change. https://www.postandcourier.com/news/how-to-talk-to-your-family-about-climate-change/
article_f8c5a192-74ea-11ed-9dae-7ff4a7e0d599.html
NASA 2022. sensors to help detect methane emitted by landfills. https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3241/nasa-sensors-to-help-detect-methane-emitted-by-
landfills/
NASA Global climate change. Why does the temperature record show on your vital signs page at 1880
? https://climate.nasa.gov/faq/21/why-does-the-temperature-record-shown-on-your-vital-
signs-page-begin-at-1880/#:~:text=The%20oldest%20continuous%20temperature
%20record,temperatures%20for%20the%20entire%20planet
.
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