Chapter 18-Global Climate Change

The layer closest to the surface of the Earth. This layer extends from the Earth’s surface to 5-10 miles high (8-16 km). This layer contains practically all of the water vapor and clouds in the atmosphere and is the site and source of our weather. Temperature decreases as you go up in this layer

Caps the troposphere

Layer that extends from the top of the troposphere to about 40 miles high. This layer contains ozone (O3) which is a form of oxygen that absorbs high-energy radiation emitted by the sun. The temperature increases as you go up in this layer.

The day-to-day variations in temperature, air pressure, wind, humidity, and precipitation

The long-term weather patterns in an area

The study of weather and climate

This brings us the day-to-day changes in our weather as it moves in a general pattern from west to east. Vertical air currents caused by warmer air from the surface rising, expanding, cooling, and then sinking again

Rivers of air high in the troposphere that flow eastward at speeds of more than 300 mph

Air masses of different temperatures and pressures meet at boundaries; regions of rapid weather change

Major seasonal airflows which often represent a reversal of previous wind patterns; created by major differences in cooling and heating between oceans and continents

Established in 1988, by the United Nations Environment Program and the World Meteorological Society; this panel, which consists of more than 2,000 unpaid workers from a hundred countries, gathers and examines scientific data in an attempt to gain a better understanding of whether humans are inducing climate change

Climate shifts due to variations in Earth’s orbit

The effects that temperature and salinity have on the density of seawater

System that acts as a giant belt, moving water masses from the surface to deep oceans and back again, according to the density of the mass

A phenomenon of one of the most impressive demonstrations of the oceans’ impact on climate

Occurs when a major shift in atmospheric pressure over the central equatorial Pacific Ocean leads to a reversal of the trade winds that normally blow from an easterly direction. Warm water spreads to the east, the jet streams strengthen and shift from their normal courses, patterns in precipitation and evaporation are affected, and the system is usually sustained for more than a year

The easterly trade winds are reestablished with even greater intensity, upwelling of colder ocean water in the eastern Pacific from the depths replaces the surface water blown westward, the jet streams are weakened, and weather patterns are again affected; encourages cooling

The influence a particular factor has on the energy balance of the atmosphere- ocean-land system

Contribute to atmospheric warming; include water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases in the atmosphere

Contributes to global cooling; clouds reflect 23% of solar radiation back to space before it ever reaches the planet. Low-lying, fluffy clouds have a negative forcing effect, while High-lying clouds have a positive forcing effect. Snow and ice (the cryosphere) also reflect sunlight. Soot originating from anthropogenic sources darkens the snow and ice. Therefore, the soot promotes the absorption of radiant energy rather than reflection

Contribute to global cooling. Particles and aerosols enter into the atmosphere and spread around the world, causing solar radiation to be reflected back to space

From pollution can cause a haze to form in the atmosphere which reflects and scatters some sunlight and also contributes to the formation of clouds

(From fires) has an overall warming effect

Oceans are experiencing a decrease in pH