b) weather happens on a daily basis, whereas climate is the average of weather over long periods of time

d) air, water, ice, land, and living things

d) all water on Earth

b) heat conduction through land masses

Solids take much longer to transfer heat than do air and water

b) heat conduction through land masses

a) carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor

a) tree rings

a) changes in the total amount of ice and water on earth

c) increasing water pollution

d) human emissions of greenhouse gases

d) change transportation habits so that we walk, bicycle, and use public transit more frequently

c) greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation emitted from Earth’s surface and emit about half of it back towards Earth’s surface

a) water increases in volume as its temperature increases

c) the prevailing winds in the Pacific Ocean temporarily switch directions and push warm water east, towards South America

a) Earth’s surface absorbs about half of the total energy and re-radiates it as infrared energy

True

False, the statement is backwards. Ozone up high is helpful, but is toxic to humans when down near the surface

False, the rates are equal

True, this is the greenhouse effect

True

True, this is one of many reasons for global temperature increase

True

True

True, the electric power industry is the largest producer of greenhouse gases in Canada

True

True

False, climate change is most rapid in the arctic and antarctic due to the ice-albedo effect

hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere

visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, and re-radiates as infrared

Thermal expansion and melting ice caps

Carbon dioxide

Heat energy

Albedo

feedback loop

Stewardship

Absorbed

Conduction is the transfer of heat directly through a substance

Convection is the rising of hot fluid and sinking of colder fluid, this movement causes heat transfer

Conduction is the transfer of heat directly through a substance

Natural is due to natural causes that produce greenhouse gases, where anthropogenic are human-related causes such as burning fossil fuels for transportation or electricity

Ocean currents carry heat which warm and humidify the air above nearby lands, bringing changes in temperature and precipitation

a) methane is released naturally within wetlands, and human-related through the raising of livestock

b) nitrous oxide is part of a natural nitrogen cycle, where humans release it through agriculture and industrial processes

a) methane is released naturally within wetlands, and human-related through the raising of livestock

Winters would be colder and we would receive twice as much snow

Winters would be colder and we would receive twice as much snow due to this colder weather

Glacial cycles and carbon dioxide levels of the atmosphere

Ozone blocks a high percentage of the ultraviolet light that enters Earth’s atmosphere, which is helpful since ultraviolet rays cause skin cancer. Ozone is however toxic to breathe which is a problem when it exists near Earth’s surface

a) The climate has mild dry summers and cold snowy winters

b) Winters may become warmer, less snow, hotter summers

a) The climate has mild dry summers and cold snowy winters

Some radiation from the sun enters Earth’s atmosphere while the rest is reflected. The absorbed radiation is radiated back as infrared waves which are absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases within the atmosphere

b) The greenhouse effect heats the Earth and allows various climate systems to exist, creating different habitats for organisms to live within

Some radiation from the sun enters Earth’s atmosphere while the rest is reflected. The absorbed radiation is radiated back as infrared waves which are absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases within the atmosphere

Temperatures would increase if Earth absorbed all of the energy and did not emit all of it

a) any natural combustion chemical reactions produce carbon dioxide

b) the burning of fossil fuels and when humans breathe they exhale carbon dioxide

c) Forests are a carbon sink because they use carbon dioxide from the environment along with sunlight to create chemical energy

a) any natural combustion chemical reactions produce carbon dioxide

a) the glacier has melted as time went on

b) Climate changes that led to increasing temperatures caused the glacier to melt

c) the burning of fossil fuels for electricity and transportation as well as industrial pollution

a) the glacier has melted as time went on

While climate changes occur over long periods of time, due to the industrial revolution and growth of the human population, the climate has been changing rapidly

Scientists that do not believe in human related climate change argue that the climate changes naturally

While climate changes occur over long periods of time, due to the industrial revolution and growth of the human population, the climate has been changing rapidly

Scientists use written records when available for precipitation levels and temperatures of climates such as thermometers used in different areas of the world for the last century. They rely on proxy records (ice cores, tree rings) for later time period studies to infer temperature and precipitation based on the proxy records.

a) North America will experience glacial melting and temperature increases in the northern hemisphere which will effect plant growth and disrupt food chains.

b) Africa will experience even greater temperatures and periods of drought as global temperatures increase. This will heighten water scarcity and make it more costly to keep living areas cool.

c) Australia will see its reefs die as ocean temperatures rise. Due to the death of these tourists attractions, the local economies may suffer

a) North America will experience glacial melting and temperature increases in the northern hemisphere which will effect plant growth and disrupt food chains.

a) Changes in agricultural growing regions, increased cooling costs, less rainfall, plant and animal based food chains disrupted

b) Changes will cause a need for society to focus on renewable energy and sustainable practices, which will help lengthen the lifespan of the human species on top of ethical reasons behind shifting

a) Changes in agricultural growing regions, increased cooling costs, less rainfall, plant and animal based food chains disrupted

The ice albedo effect deals with how ice reflects lots of the sun’s energy instead of absorbing it, which lowers global temperatures. As ice melts, more energy is absorbed, leading to temperatures increasing and more ice melting.

a) The water cycles creates precipitation so that areas that are not directly next to bodies of water receive rain or snowfall. Water vapor is a greenhouse gas, the more of it that is present in the atmosphere, the higher Earth’s temperatures rise. Clouds provide shade and lower temperatures since less of the sun’s energy will be absorbed by land and sea.

b) Animals breathe in oxygen to create energy and exhale carbon dioxide which is used by plants to create energy and release oxygen. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, so the more of it is that exists in the atmosphere, the more Earth’s temperatures rise.

a) The water cycles creates precipitation so that areas that are not directly next to bodies of water receive rain or snowfall. Water vapor is a greenhouse gas, the more of it that is present in the atmosphere, the higher Earth’s temperatures rise. Clouds provide shade and lower temperatures since less of the sun’s energy will be absorbed by land and sea.

While reducing greenhouse gas emissions will help reduce the impacts of climate change, there are other measures which must be taken to stop it. These measures include using renewable energy sources, limiting population growth, and living sustainably.

a) The non-native plant may compete with native plants, and since it has no natural predator, it can cause native plants to become endangered, limiting the food source of native animals

b) The increase in cows leads to an increase in methane produced as well as the water required to clean the cows and produce the edible meat, both harming the environment as unsustainable practices

c) A percentage of Canadians will want access to the incentives and will use these sustainable practices in their homes and buildings, which would be great for the environment

d) The use of greenroofs could provide apartment communities fresh food, filtered rainwater, and fresher air as the plants will reduce carbon dioxide levels while raising oxygen levels

a) The non-native plant may compete with native plants, and since it has no natural predator, it can cause native plants to become endangered, limiting the food source of native animals

Potential costs are the decline of penguin, polar bear, walrus, seal, and arctic fox species, Loss of fresh water from glaciers, and rise of ocean levels.

Potential benefits include less costs of heating buildings

Potential costs are the decline of penguin, polar bear, walrus, seal, and arctic fox species, Loss of fresh water from glaciers, and rise of ocean levels.

Already being done in Canada:

1) Raising gas prices to de-incentivize vehicular travel.

2) Incentivizing renewable energy sources and sustainable building practices.

3) Pushing eating habits that rely less on meats and other water intensive industries

Could be done in Canada:

1) More recycling and composting programs

2) Mandatory education programs on sustainability.

3) Further increasing gas prices to limit that type of travel

Could be done by me and my support system: Recycle, reduce consumption, and teach others the importance of living sustainably

Already being done in Canada:

1) Raising gas prices to de-incentivize vehicular travel.

2) Incentivizing renewable energy sources and sustainable building practices.

3) Pushing eating habits that rely less on meats and other water intensive industries

a) Cattle farms, industrial plants, and driving cars around town

b) Grow less cattle, make plants more sustainable and reuse potential emissions in other areas of the plant instead of emitting to the atmosphere, and rely on bikes or public transportation more

a) Cattle farms, industrial plants, and driving cars around town

White, since white reflects more light than other colors, it will not absorb as much of the sun’s energy and will keep you cooler than if you had worn black. This is similar to the ice albedo effect, that ice reflects more energy than asphalt does

a) Life span and energy usage

b) Energy efficiency and effectiveness at preventing spoilage

c) Gas vs. electric and energy efficiency

a) Life span and energy usage

a) While trees provide us the oxygen we breathe, some crops provide a similar atmospheric effect while also providing a source of food.

b) Remind them the importance of forested areas acting as year-round carbon sinks to help reduce the effects of carbon emissions on the environment

a) While trees provide us the oxygen we breathe, some crops provide a similar atmospheric effect while also providing a source of food.

It is likely that the models with humans show greater increases in global temperatures than those without humans since human activity is a major cause of climate change

a) Ice caps are melting which causes raising ocean levels and destroys arctic habitats. Reefs are expected to die with rising ocean acidification. Rising temperatures we see have had a significant impact on the environment, but are still negligible compared to the problems that will arise if trends continue to occur

b) I would argue that most impacts are starting to occur, but have not nearly reached their apex.

a) Ice caps are melting which causes raising ocean levels and destroys arctic habitats. Reefs are expected to die with rising ocean acidification. Rising temperatures we see have had a significant impact on the environment, but are still negligible compared to the problems that will arise if trends continue to occur

If the forests are left alone, they reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, but if they are cut down, greenhouse gases are emitted from them

a) It is hard to know whether human activity will shift in the right direction and harm the environment less or if it will continue to get worse.

b) Action should start as soon as possible to implement current ideas and technologies that will help our Earth, but studies should still occur to keep improving such ideas and technologies.

a) It is hard to know whether human activity will shift in the right direction and harm the environment less or if it will continue to get worse.

Rising temperatures will increase temperatures in air and ocean currents, possibly altering their directions and habits.

I would perhaps fill and clear bowl with boiling water and then pour ice cold water into the bowl to show how the different densities of the different temperatures create fluid flow.

Glass, paper, and some plastics can be recycled at my University, as well as food composts

The impacts of human activity on global temperatures and subsequently the climate and world we live in. I would do this since spreading knowledge of the problem and making others care about fixing it is the first step in creating change

a) learning about the ice-albedo effect as a feedback loop since I easily understood it, but hadn’t thought about it before

b) ideas about recycling since I am very familiar with it and practice it already

a) learning about the ice-albedo effect as a feedback loop since I easily understood it, but hadn’t thought about it before

a) I knew how they worked with their blanketing effect when in high concentrations in the atmosphere

b) I learned that nitrous oxide was a greenhouse gas, where previously I had only thought about carbon dioxide, methane, and water

a) I knew how they worked with their blanketing effect when in high concentrations in the atmosphere

My view on human activity as a major cause of climate change has further grown due to learning about the anthropogenic greenhouse gas effect

a) I take the bus (public transportation) to classes instead of driving

b) I can eat less red meat since by purchasing it I am supporting the cattle businesses that emit methane

a) I take the bus (public transportation) to classes instead of driving

Eating locally grown food will reduce the amount of fossil fuels burned to transport food to our region and will support local, smaller farms that emit lower amounts of greenhouse gases than major agriculture companies

Climates of coastal nations will be changed as the altered currents bring different amounts of thermal energy and precipitation to the area.

a) As temperatures increase, more ice will melt. This melting will destroy arctic and antarctic habitats as well as raise sea levels

b) A poster outlining the possible positives and negatives of climate change at the poles would be able to inform an audience of your findings

a) As temperatures increase, more ice will melt. This melting will destroy arctic and antarctic habitats as well as raise sea levels