Anthropogenic Climate Change

"Goldilocks Problem"

Earth's temperature is JUST right for life.

Greenhouse Effect

Heats planets

Earth's Atmosphere

- Mostly "transparent" in wavelengths the sun emits (shortwave)

- Somewhat opaque in wavelengths the Earth emits (longwaves)

Warming greater over land than ocean

Because heat capacity of water is greater

1) More warming in the northern hemisphere bc more land mass

2) Arctic amplification -> loss of snow and ice -> loss of albedo -> less reflection -> more warming

Potential Midterm Question

Let's say 100% absorption of greenhouse effect. Then temperature would be 1.19 * original temperature.

Climate Change

Not just temperature change hapening. Snow, sea ice, sea level, the amount of heat in teh oceans are all changing

The Keeling Curve

CO2 concentration oscillates due to annual cycle but increases overall.

Global Warming

Not created by the Chinese

- Climate change ""attribution": observed warming does not occur without human forcings.

CO2 Emission

Temperature linearly increases with Co2 emissions.