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EARTHSS 15 Week 4-6
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1.
2.
It is noon at the
equator and the
overhead sunlight
lands perpendicular
to the beach on a
Pacific island,
depositing about
1361 W on 1 m2
(square meter) of
beach. In the Arctic
Ocean, the sunlight
also lands on a
beach with a
slanting angle
because the sun is
much lower in the
sky.
6.
The solar constant
(radiance at 1 AU) is
about 1361 W m-2.
If the sun expanded
to twice its radius (2
x 696,000,000 ~
1.4e9 m), what
would the solar
constant be?
7.
Aerosol
perturbations to
climate are
distinctly different
from greenhouse
gases because they
8.
Aerosol
perturbations to
climate are
distinctly different
from greenhouse
gases because they
(select all the
correct answers)
9.
Aerosols
61 W
Estimate much
energy does 1 m2
of the Arctic beach
receive?
2722 W m-2
interact with and alter clouds
interact primarily with the Sun's visible radiation
interact with and alter clouds
interact primarily with the Sun's visible radiation
Clouds are bright and white (albedo ~ 1)
10.
3.
The average
distance from the
center of the sun to
the center of the
Earth is ______.
Choose all that
correct (note: we
can have the same
answer but with
different units)
1 AU
11.
An impulse
response function
describes
12.
Anthropogenic CH4
(methane)
emissions to date
(2018) have caused
more climate
warming (RF = 0.97
Wm-2) than just
that due to the
increase in
atmospheric CH4
concentration alone
(RF = 0.48 Wm-2)
because of the
other GHG changes
caused by CH4.
These include:
150,000,000 km
4.
How large is the
heating (W/m2) due
to the energy
coming from the
Earth's core (i.e.,
geothermal)?
0.09
5.
How large is the
solar cycle in terms
of the solar
constant (maximum
minus minimum in
W per m2) as
measured over
several 11-year
solar cycles since
1975?
1
Albedo
Ocean is dark and blue (albedo ~ 0.05)
Land varies from forests (albedo ~ 0.1) to deserts
(albedo ~ 0.4)
the decay of CO2 after it is emitted into the
atmosphere
tropospheric O3
stratospheric H2O
13.
14.
Arctic sea ice has a
large seasonal cycle
in areal extent
ranging from about
8 10^6 km^2 in
September to 15 x
10^6 km^2 in
March. Climate
change since 1970
has dramatically
changed this
seasonal cycle how?
Climate feedback
greatly reduced the September minimum to less
than 5 x 10^6 km^2
Positive feedback - internal forcings that make the
climate change greater than that caused by the
initial RF
Negative feedback - internal forcings that make the
climate change less than that caused by the initial
RF
15.
Effective radiative
forcing allows some
parts of the climate
system to adjust to
an imposed
perturbations, but
not this one:
ocean temperatures
16.
Ein (Energy in from
the Sun)
(Solar Costant) x (1 - albedo) x (cross-sectional area
of sunlit Earth)
17.
For the period
1970-1990 which
source of
anthropogenic CO2
emissions is
largest?
18.
Greenhouse effect
19.
20.
In terms of
changing GHG
concentrations in
the atmosphere,
which are the top 2
gases in terms of
radiative forcing
driving climate
change?
21.
In terms of major
greenhouse gases
(GHG) that alter
climate, which 4 of
these do we directly
emit?
fossil fuel use
Gases (H2O, CO2, CH4, N2O, O3, and clouds)
prevent earth from radiating like a blackbody.
Greenhouse gases and clouds trap some of earth's
thermal radiation in the atmosphere.
Planets are not 100% efficient as blackbodies
(stars). Temperature of planets must increase to
emit the same amount of energy.
Greenhouse gases
like CO2 trap the
outgoing thermal
radiation from the
surface that cools
the Earth, and only
allow that radiation
to be emitted to
space and cool the
climate system
from an
atmospheric
altitude of about 12
km in the IR regions
(wavelength bands)
where CO2
absorbs. Describe
ALL the changes
that occur in the
climate system
what happens after
we increase CO2 in
the atmosphere.
Assume that a
radiative balance
(Ein = Eout) is
reached. Select all
the correct answers.
22.
Looking at the big 3
greenhouse gases
from year 0 to
2020, when did
these gases clearly
show signs of the
Anthropocene?
(pick best answer)
23.
Major feedback
loops that are
positive and
enhance global
warming include:
[Select all correct
answers.]
the increased radiation from the warmer surface
balances the reduced radiation from the CO2 bands
the Earth's radiation emitted in the CO2 bands (at a
higher, colder altitude) decreases
the total CO2 capacity of the atmosphere increases
the climate system, including both atmosphere and
surface, warms
CO2, CH4
CFO3
CH4
CO2
N2O
1950
temperature - Arctic soils - CO2 emissions - RF loop
atmospheric H2O - RF - temperature loop
sea ice - albedo - temperature
24.
25.
26.
Match these
components of the
Earth's energy
budget with their
approximate values
(W per m2)
average outgoing longwave radiation emitted by
the Earth: 235 W/m^2
1360.6 W m^-2
Solar constant
36.
Suppose our sun
shrinks to yellow
sub-dwarf star. The
radius drops from
696,000,000 to
348,000,000 m (2x
smaller while
maintaining the
same effective
blackbody
temperature of
5788 K). What
would the new
solar constant be?
340 W m-2
37.
The Earth's climate
has a large
variation in climatic
zones ranging from
the tropics (hot,
steamy) to the
poles (cold, dry).
What single, simple,
physical
phenomenon best
explains these
different climate
zones?
The angle of incident sunlight means more energy
is absorbed in the tropics than at the poles.
38.
The estimated
change in solar
energy over the
11-year solar cycle
is what fraction of
the GHG induced
warming
<5%
39.
The text uses an
n-layer radiative
model to explain
the atmospheric
greenhouse effect
that makes the
surface
temperature
warmer that of a
similar 'blackbody
planet' without an
atmosphere. What
is wrong with this
explanation? Select
all the correct
answers
instantaneous incident sunlight at noon in the
tropics: 1361 W/m^2
incident sunlight averaged over the Earth: 342
W/m^2
amount of sunlight reflected by the Earth (average):
107 W/m^2
Natural climate
forcing
Natural forcing of
climate change is
caused by
volcanoes and solar
variability. For the
period 1850 to
2018, about what
fraction of the total
forcing is estimated
to be natural
2%
27.
Over the 21st
century higher
latitudes and
continents warm
more than the
tropics and oceans
under all the
scenarios
investigated by the
IPCC.
28.
Over the past 20
years, the increase
in atmospheric N2O
has been steady
and smooth?
True
29.
Over the past 40
years, the increase
in atmospheric CH4
has been nearly
constant?
False
30.
Processes involving
uptake of
atmospheric CO2
by the upper ocean
(mixed layer) occur
on time scales of
1-10 years
31.
Radiative forcing
net change in the energy balance of the Earth
system due to some imposed perturbation
32.
Radiative forcing of
climate change is
an imposed change on the energy balance of the
Earth
33.
Sea Ice - Albedo
Climate Feedback
True
Positive Climate Feedback
34.
Select the correct
title for this figure
from IPCC 2013
Arctice Ice melts, lowers earth's albedo, increases
sunlight absorbed, climate gets warmer and thus
melts more ice
Relative Sea Level Change 2081-2100 relative to
1986-2005
Solar Constant doesn't change as the earth
revolves around the sun as it is defined based on
the mean orbit of 1 AU
35.
40.
The total Effective
Radiative Forcing
caused by human
activities from 1750
to 2018 is about
It is not physically based, since there is no way to
relate the number of layers to the greenhouse gas
amount.
It fails to recognize that the atmosphere heats by
convection.
2.5 W m-2
stratus
41.
What are examples
of the types of
clouds (select all
that are correct)
altostratus
deep cumulus towers
shallow cumulus
cirrus
51.
convective anvils
42.
What causes the
large seasonal
cycling of CO2 seen
at Mauna Loa?
(select all that are
correct)
Which of the
following
atmospheric
constituents
contribute to the
greenhouse effect
(i.e., warming the
surface
temperature above
that of a black body)
respiration
What do you think
would happen to
the Earth's oceans
if our sun's radius is
reduced by a factor
of 2 but the
effective
temperature
remains the same
at 5788 K?
freeze at the surface
What is the average
albedo of the Earth?
0.3
Which of these
human activities
are significant
sources of CH4?
[Select all
appropriate
answers.]
53.
Which part of the
ocean has the
largest reservoir of
C (carbon)?
54.
RCP2.6
Which statements
below (more than
one) best describe
changes in
precipitation for
year 2100 under
scenario RCP8.5?
55.
46.
What is the CO2
abundance at
Mauna Loa
Observatory as of
Dec 2020?
414 ppm
Why do we
calculate Radiative
Forcing to estimate
climate change?
47.
What is the
equation that best
represents the
simple climate
model?
E_in = E_out
48.
What part of the
climate system has
the largest mass
and takes centuries
to heat up?
the oceans
49.
When did Chinese
emission of CO2
first surpass USA
emissions?
2007
50.
When the
atmosphere warms
by 1°C, it can hold
how much more
H2O vapor?
7%
44.
45.
What is the climate
stabilization
scenario used in
IPCC 2013
N2O
CO2
H2O
clouds
decay
52.
43.
CH4
fossil fuels
rice cultivation
landfills
biomass burning
livestock
intermediate and deep ocean
dry regions become drier
wet regions become wetter
because radiative forcing is linearly related to
global warming