Cheat Sheet
5 sections
•
25 key points
1
Understanding Climate Change
Definition: Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.
Natural causes: Volcanic eruptions, solar radiation, Earth's orbit variations.
Anthropogenic causes: Human activities, primarily burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
Greenhouse Effect: Gases (CO2, CH4, N2O) trap heat in the atmosphere.
Global Warming: The long-term heating of Earth's climate system observed since the pre-industrial period.
2
Key Greenhouse Gases
Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Most significant contributor from fossil fuel combustion.
Methane (CH4): Potent but shorter-lived, from livestock and natural gas leaks.
Nitrous Oxide (N2O): From agricultural activities and industrial processes.
Fluorinated Gases: Synthetic, high global warming potential, used in refrigeration.
Water Vapor: Most abundant greenhouse gas, increases with warming temperatures.
3
The Carbon Cycle
Definition: The biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth.
Sources: Respiration, decomposition, combustion of fossil fuels, volcanic eruptions.
Sinks: Photosynthesis by plants and oceans, formation of fossil fuels.
Human Impact: Excess CO2 from burning fossil fuels disrupts the balance.
Ocean Acidification: Increased CO2 absorbed by oceans leads to lower pH.
4
Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Ecosystem: A community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment.
Biodiversity: The variety of life on Earth (genetic, species, ecosystem diversity).
Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, climate change, overexploitation.
Ecosystem Services: Benefits humans receive from ecosystems (e.g., clean air, water, pollination).
Conservation: Efforts to protect and preserve natural environments and species.
5
Mitigation & Adaptation Strategies
Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., renewable energy, energy efficiency).
Adaptation: Adjusting to actual or expected future climate (e.g., sea walls, drought-resistant crops).
Renewable Energy: Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal – alternatives to fossil fuels.
Carbon Capture: Technologies that capture CO2 from industrial sources.
International Agreements: Efforts like the Paris Agreement to address climate change globally.
Sample Flashcards
Card 1 of 6
Question
What atmospheric process traps heat?
Answer
Greenhouse Effect
Click the card to flip
Quick Quiz
1. Which of these is NOT a major greenhouse gas?
2. What is the primary human activity contributing to increased atmospheric CO2?
3. Which term describes a community of living organisms and their nonliving environment?
4. Which of these is an example of a renewable energy source?
5. What happens to the pH of ocean water as it absorbs more carbon dioxide?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is the process where certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat, warming the planet. While natural and necessary for life, human activities have enhanced it, leading to global warming.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, and the ecological and evolutionary processes that sustain it.
How do human activities contribute to climate change?
Human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes release large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, intensifying the greenhouse effect.
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