Which of the following is the closest to todays CO2 concentration?
Which of the following is the closest to todays NO2 concentration?
Which one is not a greenhouse gas?
Before 1850, which of the following was the main energy source?
The rate which sea levels are rising is
Which of the following accounts for the most heating in the climate system in reasent years?
As temperature rises, specific humidty
As temperature rises, relative humidity
Specific humidity vs Relative humidity
Specific humidity – the mass of water vapor in a unit mass of moist air,usually expressed as grams of vapor per kilogram of air
Cube
Relative humidity – a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air relative to the total amount of water vapor that the air could “hold” at that specific temperature
Ballon
Which of the following is not one of the top 6 CO2 emmiters?
In Iowa, roughly 1/5 of the energy produced comes from coal.
T
China has the highest CO2/capital in the world
F
Human influence has warmed the climate at a rate that is unprecedented in at least the last 2000 years.
Earths athmosphere is transparent to infrared radiation
Earths athmosphere is warming
Earths troposphere is warming
The AR6 ECS is 2°C
In the US, roughly one fith of the energy produced comes from coal
___ feedback loops tend to amplify (verstärken) changes, and ___ feedback loops tend to diminish (verringern) changes.
Positive
negative
The differences between observed values and climatological means are called ____.
anomalies
Earths for spheres are the ___, ___, ___, and ___.
Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Athmosphere, Biosphere
After the industrial revolution, the Big Three (___, ___, and ____) gradually became the main energy sources.
Coal, Oil, Gas
Earth’s axis has a tilt of ____ degrees.
23,5
A ___ radiactive forcing leads to a decrease in temperature, while a ___ radioative forcing leads to an increase in temperature.
positive
_____ are solid or liquid particles suspended in air.
Aerosols
The country/group of countries with the highest per capita emissions is ____.
USA
Top CO2 emitters:
China, USA, India, EU, Russia, Japan
Compared to 1850-1900, global surface temperature averaged over 2081-2100 is very likely to be the highest under which scenario?
Under which scenario is it more likely than not that global surface temperature would decline back to below 1.5°C towards the end of the 21st centry?
According to the IPCC AR6, there is a high confidence that all of the following will occur exapt for:
In the Northern Hemisphere, ____ processes dominate as carbon sink. In the Southern Hemisphere, ____ processes dominate.
Which of the following is not projected to increase over the rest of the 21st Century?
The land warms faster than the ocean.
The Arctic will warm slower than the tropics.
On average, Antarctica is cooler than the Arctic.
Permafrost thaw is associated with relase of CO2, CH4 and N2O.
Glaciers are static.
The ____ is the frozen part of the Earth system.
cryosphere
____ is the process where carbon is moved from the atmosphere.
Carbon sequestion
The ___ area is where a glacier gains mss, and the ____ area is where a glacier loses mass.
accumulation
ablation
____ is the phenomen of the Artic warmng faster than the global average.
Arctic amplification
The differences between observed climate change and simulated or projected climate changes are often refered as ___.
biases
_____ is any type of ground that has been frozen continuosly for a minimum of two and as many as hundreds of thousands of years.
Permafrost
ENSO is the oscillation between three phases: neutral, ___ and ____.
El Niño
La Niña
_____ are seasonally reversing wind systems.
Monsoons
A ___ is a reservoir in the earth system that takes in more carbon that it gives off, while a ____ is a reservoir in the earth sstem that gives off more carbon than it takes in.
carbon sink
carbon source
____ is an excessive amount if nutrients that causes a dense groth f plant life and death of animal life from a lack of oxygen.
Eutrification
COP 3
COP 18
COP 21
COP 26
Doha Amendment
Glasgow climate pact
Kyoto Protocol
Paris Agreement
COP 3 —> Kyoto
COP 18 —> Doha Amendment
COP 21 —> Paris Agreement
COP 26 —> Glasgow Climate Pact
The term “drought” may refer to which of the following? Choose all that apply.
Urbanisation intentifies or increases which of the following?
The IPCC reports devide the worls into ___ major regions.
The most vulnerable continent is ____
Vulnerablility is exacerbated (verschärft) or increased by all of the following except ____.
CID impacts are all detrimental (schädlich).
Clmate impact drivers
Climate impact drivers are factors or mechanisms that contribute to the changes and impacts observed in the Earth's climate system. These drivers can influence various aspects of the climate, including temperature, precipitation patterns, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events.
Almost all (96%) regions are projected to experience changes in at least 10 CIDs
Cities intensify human-induced warming locally, and further urbanization together with more frequent hot extremes will increase the severity of heatwaves.
The NCA4 divides the world into 10 major regions.
There are five reasons for concern in the IPC AR6 WGII documents.
Physical climate system conditions that can be directly conneted with having impacts on human or ecological systems are described as ___.
Climate impact dricers (CIDs)
A total of ___ CIDs are grouped into ___ categories.
35
7
____ is overlap of:
____ , the physical events, trends, or impacts related to climate cahnge;
____ , a measure of how susceptible a location or population is to the effects of climate change, and
____, the presence of people, livelihoods, ecosystems, etc. that could be affected.
Risk
Hazards
Vulnerability
Exposure
CDR methods vary in terms of all the following except their ___ .
Maladopation types include
The largest adaptation gap exists among
The only widely practiced CDR method is
Which SDM methods utilize athmospheric aerosols?
Adaptation is intrinsically (intrinistisch, eigentlich) global
Adaptation is reactive
In Reaktion auf Veränderung
Midigation is reactive
In reaktion auf Veränderung
Midigation is a global endevor
Geoengineering is already widely used to adress climate change
____ is the deliberate large-scale intervention in Eart’s natural system to counteract climate change.
Geoengeneering
___ seeks to improve our ability to cope with or take adavantage of unavoidable impacts of climate change, and ___ seeks to reduce the servity of climate change.
Adoptation
Midigation
____ refer to the point at which an actor’s objectives (or system needs) cannot be secured from intolerable risks through adaptive actions.
Tolerance thresholds
____ refers to current or potential (future) negative consequences of apadptaion-related responses that lead to an increase in the climate vulnerability of a system.
Maladaptation
What’s the difference between weather and climate?
Climate s what you expect, weather is what you get.
Weather refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions of a specific location, usually observed over hours or days. It includes factors such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation, and cloud cover. Weather conditions are highly variable and can change rapidly.
Climate, on the other hand, refers to the long-term patterns and averages of weather conditions in a particular region or over a specific period. It encompasses the average weather conditions, including temperature ranges, precipitation levels, and seasonal variations, observed over years, decades, or centuries. 30+ years
Why does Earth have seasons?
The Earth has seasons due to its axial tilt and its orbit around the Sun. The Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane. This means that as the Earth orbits the Sun, different parts of the Earth receive varying amounts of solar energy throughout the year.
During the summer months, one hemisphere (either the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere) is tilted towards the Sun. This tilt causes the Sun's rays to be more direct, leading to more concentrated solar energy reaching that hemisphere. The increased sunlight and longer daylight hours result in warmer temperatures, leading to summer.
Conversely, during the winter months, the tilted hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun. This causes the Sun's rays to be more oblique, resulting in less direct solar energy reaching that hemisphere. The reduced sunlight and shorter daylight hours lead to cooler temperatures and winter conditions.
The two equinoxes, which occur around March 20th and September 22nd each year, mark the transitions between the seasons. During these times, neither hemisphere is tilted towards or away from the Sun, resulting in approximately equal amounts of daylight and darkness across the Earth.
The combination of the Earth's axial tilt and its orbit around the Sun creates the changing seasons as different parts of the Earth receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.
What are RCPs and SSPs? How many of each are there? Where arethey used?
RCPs (Representative Concentration Pathways) and SSPs (Shared Socioeconomic Pathways) are scenarios and pathways used in climate change research to explore and assess potential future climate conditions and the associated socioeconomic factors.
RCPs: RCPs are a set of greenhouse gas concentration trajectories developed by the scientific community. They represent different plausible pathways of future emissions and concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The RCPs are named based on the approximate radiative forcing level they would cause by the year 2100. The four RCPs commonly used are:
RCP2.6: Represents a low greenhouse gas emissions scenario, with strong mitigation efforts to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.
RCP4.5: Represents a moderate greenhouse gas emissions scenario, with some mitigation efforts to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.
RCP6.0: Represents a medium-high greenhouse gas emissions scenario, where emissions peak around mid-century and then decline.
RCP8.5: Represents a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario, with no specific climate mitigation measures, resulting in a significant increase in radiative forcing and higher levels of warming.
SSPs: SSPs are a set of narratives developed by the Integrated Assessment Modeling community to describe alternative global development pathways and socioeconomic conditions that could lead to different greenhouse gas emissions and climate futures. They provide information on population growth, economic development, energy use, land use, and other key factors that influence greenhouse gas emissions. The SSPs are named as SSP1, SSP2, SSP3, SSP4, and SSP5.
Together, the RCPs and SSPs are often used in combination to explore a range of future climate scenarios. They are utilized in climate modeling and impact assessment studies to understand the potential outcomes of different greenhouse gas emissions trajectories and socioeconomic conditions. They help policymakers and researchers assess the potential impacts of climate change, develop adaptation and mitigation strategies, and evaluate the effectiveness of different policy options.
Know an IPCC region and one impact/risk for it.
Europe is part of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Region I, which includes Europe. One impact or risk associated with climate change in Europe is:
Increased heatwaves: Europe is experiencing an increase in the frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves as a result of climate change. Heatwaves can pose significant risks to human health, leading to heat-related illnesses and even fatalities, especially among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. Heatwaves also have implications for agriculture, water resources, and energy demand, as well as the potential for wildfires and ecosystem disruptions. Adaptation measures such as heatwave early warning systems and urban planning strategies are being implemented to mitigate the impacts of heatwaves in Europe.
Know an NCA4 region and one key message for it.
The Southwest region is one of the regions defined in the U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA4). One key message for the Southwest region from the NCA4 report is:
Key Message: "Increasing heat, drought, and insect outbreaks, along with the associated impacts on wildfires, have already increased risks to ecosystems and communities in the Southwest. These changes are projected to continue, causing widespread and substantial ecological and economic impacts."
This key message highlights the current and projected impacts of climate change on the Southwest region. The region is experiencing increasing temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and outbreaks of insects, all of which contribute to an elevated risk of wildfires. These changes have significant implications for ecosystems and communities in terms of water availability, natural resources, agriculture, and overall socioeconomic well-being. It underscores the urgent need for adaptation strategies and measures to build resilience in the face of these climate-related challenges.
Choose one geoengineering strategy from each category (SRM andCDR) that you would support. Explain why.
Afforestation (CDR strategy): Afforestation involves planting trees in areas where they did not previously exist or restoring forests that have been depleted. It is a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategy that aims to enhance carbon sequestration and mitigate climate change. Afforestation has several potential benefits:
Carbon sequestration: Trees absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, storing carbon in their biomass and soils. Afforestation can contribute to removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reducing greenhouse gas concentrations.
Biodiversity conservation: Forest ecosystems support rich biodiversity and provide habitats for numerous plant and animal species. Afforestation can help restore or create new habitats, supporting wildlife conservation efforts.
Ecosystem services: Forests provide various ecosystem services, including water regulation, soil protection, and climate regulation. Afforestation can help improve local climate conditions, enhance soil health, and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events.
Brightening of human structures (SRM strategy): Brightening human structures is a solar radiation management (SRM) strategy that involves increasing the reflectivity (albedo) of human-made surfaces such as roofs, pavements, and roads. By increasing their reflectivity, more sunlight is reflected back into space, potentially reducing the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Some potential benefits of this strategy include:
Cooling effect: Increasing the reflectivity of surfaces can reduce the amount of solar energy absorbed, leading to localized cooling effects. This can help mitigate the urban heat island effect and reduce energy consumption for cooling buildings.
Climate mitigation: By reflecting more sunlight, this strategy could potentially offset a portion of the warming caused by greenhouse gases. It has the potential to provide short-term cooling effects and buy time for greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts.
Cost-effective: Modifying the albedo of human structures is a relatively low-cost intervention compared to other geoengineering techniques. It can be implemented on a local or regional scale, making it more feasible for specific areas that experience high heat or energy demands.
IPCC regions
Africa: This region includes the entire African continent and surrounding islands.
Asia: This region covers the Asian continent, including countries in the Middle East.
Europe: This region comprises the countries in Europe and neighboring regions.
North America: This region includes Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Central and South America: This region encompasses the countries of Central America and South America.
Oceania: This region includes Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
Polar Regions: This region includes the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS): This region consists of small island nations and territories vulnerable to climate change impacts.
NRC4 regions
Northeast: This region includes the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Southeast: This region comprises the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Midwest: This region includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Northern Great Plains: This region comprises the states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Southern Great Plains: This region includes the states of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Northwest: This region comprises the states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
Southwest: This region includes the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.
Alaska: This region covers the state of Alaska.
Hawaiʻi and Pacific Islands: This region includes the state of Hawaiʻi and other Pacific Islands.
CIDs
Greenhouse Gas Concentrations:
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Methane (CH4)
Nitrous oxide (N2O)
Aerosols and Precursor Emissions:
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Black carbon (soot)
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Land Use and Land Cover Changes:
Deforestation
Urbanization
Agricultural expansion
Solar Radiation Management Techniques:
Stratospheric aerosol injection
Cloud brightening
Surface albedo modification
Natural Climate Forcings:
Solar irradiance
Volcanic eruptions
Orbital variations
Natural Climate Variability:
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO)
Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)
Internal Climate Feedbacks and External Forcings:
Oceanic heat uptake
Water vapor feedback
Changes in land surface properties
Evidence, that climate change is antropogenic
CO2 increase 40% to pre industrial
Most CO2 since 3mio
Most CH4 since 800.000
bigest change rate
Monsoon
Shift in wind system. Monsoon is a seasonal wind pattern that brings heavy rainfall. It occurs when warm air over land rises, creating a low-pressure area, and cooler air over the ocean moves in to fill the gap. Monsoons are important for agriculture and water resources but can also cause flooding. They are not limited to South Asia and occur in other parts of the world as well.
Name and describe one observed impact of Climat Change
B1.1: The global temperature will rise. With this increase in temp, other climate scenarios like more extreme weather events will hapen. Impact on human health and ecosystems.
adabtation solutions ae just, effective and feasible (macbar). Explain
Just: Just adaptation solutions prioritize social equity and ensure that vulnerable and marginalized communities are not disproportionately affected by climate change impacts. They take into account the needs, rights, and voices of all stakeholders, particularly those who are most at risk. Just solutions consider social justice, fairness, and the distribution of resources to ensure that the burden of climate change does not exacerbate existing inequalities.
Effective: Effective adaptation solutions are those that successfully reduce vulnerability, build resilience, and enable societies to cope with climate change impacts. They are based on sound scientific evidence, incorporate local knowledge, and are tailored to the specific context and challenges of a given region. Effective solutions are comprehensive, addressing multiple sectors and considering long-term sustainability. They are designed to produce tangible and measurable outcomes in terms of reducing risks and enhancing adaptive capacity.
Feasible: Feasible adaptation solutions are practical and implementable within the constraints of available resources, technology, and governance systems. They consider economic viability and affordability, taking into account the cost-effectiveness of different strategies. Feasible solutions are also technically viable, utilizing existing knowledge and available technologies. They are adaptable and flexible, considering uncertainties associated with future climate scenarios. Feasible solutions take into account the capacity and capabilities of local institutions, communities, and ecosystems to implement and maintain adaptation measures.
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