5.4.2 Causes of Climate Change

• What does climate change refer to?

  Long-term shifts in weather
• Changes in solar radiation are a natural cause of climate change.
• How do volcanic eruptions affect global temperatures?

  Release aerosols, block sunlight
• Greenhouse gas emissions are an anthropogenic cause of climate change.
• Key greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide
• What does the radiative forcing equation relate to?

  Change in temperature
• What is the greenhouse effect?

  Warms Earth by trapping radiation
• Water vapor is a primary greenhouse gas.
• Carbon dioxide is a long-lived greenhouse gas and a primary contributor to warming
• Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap outgoing infrared radiation, preventing it from escaping into space
• Match the primary greenhouse gas with its source:

  Carbon Dioxide ↔️ Fossil fuel combustion

  Methane ↔️ Agriculture

  Nitrous Oxide ↔️ Fertilizers

  Water Vapor ↔️ Evaporation
• Which greenhouse gas is more potent but shorter-lived than carbon dioxide?

  Methane
• Water vapor acts as a feedback mechanism in the climate system due to its short lifetime
• Radiative forcing from greenhouse gases is calculated using their radiative efficiency and change in concentration.
• Steps in the greenhouse effect process:

  1️⃣ Sunlight reaches Earth

  2️⃣ Heat is radiated from Earth's surface

  3️⃣ Greenhouse gases trap some heat

  4️⃣ Warmer atmosphere results
• What is climate change caused by?

  Natural and anthropogenic factors
• Changes in solar radiation are measured using Total Solar Irradiance (TSI) in units of W / m^{2}
• Volcanic eruptions release aerosols that temporarily cool the Earth by blocking sunlight.
• What does the climate sensitivity in the equation $\Delta T =$$\lambda \Delta F$ represent?


  Change in temperature
• What is the unit for measuring Total Solar Irradiance (TSI)?

  $W / m^{2}$
• Volcanic eruptions release aerosols that temporarily cool the Earth by blocking sunlight.
• Changes in solar radiation affect global temperature
• What are the primary anthropogenic causes of climate change?

  Greenhouse gas emissions
• Match the greenhouse gas with its source:

  Carbon Dioxide ↔️ Fossil fuel burning

  Methane ↔️ Livestock farming

  Nitrous Oxide ↔️ Agricultural fertilizers
• In the equation $\Delta T =$$\lambda \Delta F$, the term $\lambda$ represents climate sensitivity
• The transportation sector contributes approximately 14% to greenhouse gas emissions.
• What is the greenhouse effect?

  Warming of Earth's surface
• Steps in the greenhouse effect process:

  1️⃣ Sunlight reaches Earth

  2️⃣ Heat is radiated from Earth's surface

  3️⃣ Greenhouse gases trap some heat

  4️⃣ Warmer atmosphere results
• The major sources of greenhouse gas emissions are industry, transportation, and agriculture
• What does the $\alpha$ in the radiative forcing equation represent?


  Radiative efficiency
• Deforestation releases $CO_{2}$ into the atmosphere, reducing carbon sequestration.
• Burning felled trees during deforestation releases vast amounts of CO_{2}
• What is the definition of deforestation?

  Clearing forests for other uses
• Burning felled trees releases CO₂ into the atmosphere.
• Forests absorb CO₂ and act as carbon sinks
• How does deforestation affect local weather patterns?

  Decreases rainfall, increases temperature
• What is the definition of climate change?

  Long-term shifts in weather patterns
• Changes in solar radiation are a natural cause of climate change.
• Volcanic eruptions release aerosols that block sunlight
• What is the primary source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions?

  Industry, transportation, agriculture