3 factors affecting climate correct answers sun, atmosphere, oceans
albedo correct answers the reflectivity of a surface
water vapour correct answers most abundant greenhouse gas and contributes most greenhouse
effect
positive feedback cycle correct answers warming leads to water vapour which leads to further
warming
negative feedback cycle correct answers warming leads to evaporation which leads to water
vapour causing increased cloudiness slowing global warming
radiative forcing correct answers the amount of change in E that a given factor causes
positive forcing correct answers warms the surface
Ocean absorption correct answers the ocean holds 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere and
absorbs it from the atmosphere
ocean circulation correct answers ocean water exchanges tremendous amounts of heat with the
atmosphere, and ocean currents move E from place to place
proxy indicators correct answers types of indirect evidence that serve as substitutes for direct
measurements - holding clues to past climate (ice sheets/caps, glaciers, stable isotopes)
climate change exerts societal impacts correct answers agriculture, forestry, health, economic
RCP correct answers representative concentrations pathways
mitigation correct answers pursue actions that reduce GHG emmisions
adaptation correct answers accept CC is happening and pursue strategies to minimize
intervention correct answers set of possible large-scale technological modifications to global
climate system
FCCC (Framework Convention on Climate Change) correct answers outlines a plan for reducing
GHG to 1990 levels by 2000
Kyoto Protocol correct answers by 2012 nations must reduce emissions of 6 GHG to levels
below those of 1990
, carbon offset correct answers voluntary payment to another entity intended to enable that entity
to reduce the GH emissions that one is unable to reduce - to achieve carbon neutrality
carbon neutrality correct answers no net carbon is emitted
global potential correct answers the relative ability of one molecule of a given GHG to contribute
to warming
Technically recoverable oil correct answers oil that could be extracted with current technology
Economically recoverable oil correct answers recognizes the balance between the costs of
extraction, transportation and current price of oil
proven recoverable reserve correct answers oil that is technologically and economically feasible
to remove under current conditions
oil shale correct answers sedimentary rock filled w kerogen (oragnics) that can be processed into
liquid petroleum
low E returned on E invested (EROI) correct answers 2:1 to 3:1 compared to 15:1 for crude oil
non-point sources correct answers
point sources correct answers
coal correct answers most abundant E source and dirtiest to extract
geologic isolation correct answers using the absorptive capacity and impermeability of naturally
occurring rock to block contaminants
co-firing correct answers biomass combined w coal
passive solar E correct answers most common way to harness solar E - using materials that
absorb, store, release heat
active solar E correct answers uses technology to focus/move/store E
photovoltaic (PV) cells correct answers collect & convert sun into electrical E
tailings correct answers ore left over after metals have been extracted
solution mining (in-situ recovery) correct answers resources in deep deposit are dissolved in a
liquid then siphoned out
strip mining correct answers the removal of strips of soil and rock to expose ore