Higher Geography - Atmosphere

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

Note
Note44-the
-the yyaxis
axisdoes
does not
not show
show
Note
Note
1
Note
-22the
--since
3since
-temperature
There
1860
shows
have
this
a-also
temperature
been
the
actual
ititsteady
shows
Note
Note
3graph
-temperature
There
1860
have
this-also
temperature
beenrise in
the
actual
shows
cooler
has
global
than
only
temperature.
average
been
about
years.
1C
the
difference
from
the
average!
rise
cooler
has
than
only
average
been
about
years.
1C
therise
difference
from
the
average!

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

Physical Factors

Solar variation
Volcanic activity
Ocean currents
Milankovitch
cycles

Human Factors
Burning fossil fuels
Increased output of
methane etc.
Deforestation

PHYSICAL 1-SOLAR VARIATION

The
Thesuns
sunsoutput
output varies
varies slightly
slightlyfrom
from time
timeto
totime
time
--its
itssize
sizeis
iseven
even known
knownto
tochange
changeby
byaafraction
fraction
as
asititexpands
expandsand
andcontracts.
contracts.

PHYSICAL 1 - SOLAR VARIATION

Sunspots:
Sunspots: an
anincrease
increase
in
insunspot
sunspot activity
activitymay
may
lead
leadto
to aa very
veryslight
slight
increase
increasein
in the
thesuns
suns
output
outputand
andaa temporary
temporary
warming
warming of
of the
theearth.
earth.
Sunspot
Sunspotactivity
activity
follows
follows11
11and
and 22
22 year
year
cycles.
cycles.
The
TheLittle
LittleIce
IceAge
Age of
of
1450-1700
1450-1700may
mayhave
have
been
been linked
linkedto
toperiods
periodsof
of
very
verylow
low sunspot
sunspot
activity.
activity.

PHYSICAL 2 - VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS

Eruptions of volcanoes
can throw millions of
tonnes of ash,dust and
sulphur dioxide into
the atmosphere.
This produces aerosols
that can reduce the
amount of sunlight
reaching the earth.
This can lead to a
temporary cooling of
the earth.

VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS 2
Major eruptions in the past which
have been linked to short periods of
global cooling include
Tambora (1815),
(1883),
(1980) and
(1991)

Krakatoa
Mt. St Helens
Pinatubo

When
WhenMt.
Mt.
Pinatubo
Pinatubo
erupted
eruptedin
in1991
1991
an
anestimated
estimated22
22
million
milliontons
tonsof
of
ash
ashwas
wasthrown
thrown
into
into the
the
atmosphere,
atmosphere,
cooling
coolingthe
the
worlds
worldsclimate
climate
by
byabout
about 1C.
1C.

When
WhenTambora
Tambora
erupted
eruptedin
in1815
1815
ititled
ledto
to1816
1816
being
beingcalled
called the
the
year
year without
without
summer,
summer, when
when
summer
summerfrosts
frosts
and
and other
other major
major
weather
weather
problems
problemswere
were
experienced.
experienced. ItIt
cooled
cooledthe
the
global
global climate
climateby
by
3C.
3C.

PHYSICAL 3 - MILANKOVITCH CYCLES

Stretch, Wobble
and Roll!!!

 Milankovitch
cycles are three
variations in the
earths orbit.
Although they
may be linked to
very long term
changes in the
climate, their
effect would not
be noticed on a
scale of a few
hundred years.

PHYSICAL 4 - OCEAN CURRENTS

Changes in the pattern and strength of ocean
currents may lead to changes in the
distribution of heat around the planet.
A short term example would be El Nio,
which appears every few years.
A longer term example would be the North
Atlantic Drift, which may change position
every few thousand years.

ENSO - the El Nio Southern Oscillation

The
Thenormal
normal
conditions,
conditions,with
withcool
cool
surface
surfacewater
wateroff
offthe
the
coast
coastof
ofPeru.
Peru.

Every
Every2-7
2-7years
yearsthe
thewestern
western
Pacific
Pacificbecomes
becomesmuch
much
warmer,
warmer,disrupting
disruptingweather
weather
patterns
patterns--possibly
possiblyon
onaa
global
globalscale.
scale.

An
AnEl
ElNio
Nioyear
year

One
Onetheory
theory
suggests
suggests
that
thatglobal
global
warming
warmingwill
will
increase
increasethe
the
number
numberof
of
icebergs
icebergsin
in
the
theAtlantic,
Atlantic,
cooling
coolingthe
the
sea
seaand
and
switching
switchingoff
off
the
theNorth
North
Atlantic
Atlantic
Drift
Drift//
Atlantic
Atlantic
Conveyor
Conveyor
system.
system.This
This
would
wouldbe
bebad
bad
news
newsfor
forus!
us!

The
TheAtlantic
Atlantic
Conveyor
Conveyorsystem
system
is
ispart
partof
ofaaglobal
global
circulation
circulationof
of
water
waterand
andheat
heat
energy.
energy.