WCC EXAM 1 QUIZZES & ANS
How does climate differ from weather? Answer- -climate describes the average condition of a region -temp -rainfall / snowfall -wind direction
-climate change applies to longer periods of time (years +)
-weather comes in shorter fluctuations and lasts for hours, days, weeks, or a few months.
In what ways does climate science differ from traditional sciences such as chemistry and biology? Answer- Climate science differs because it goes back to unimaginable points in time.
How does climate forcing differ from climate response? Answer- -Forcing refers to the factors that drive or cause changes -the responses are the resulting climatic shifts.
Does positive feedback always make climate warmer? Answer- No. Regardless of the direction of change (warming or cooling), positive feedbacks amplify whatever changes are underway.
How does solar radiation arriving on Earth differ from the back radiation emitted by Earth? Answer- Back radiation occurs at wavelengths lying in the infrared part of the
electromagnetic spectrum, which is at longer wavelengths than the incoming shortwave solar radiation, chichis in the range of visible light.
What kind of radiation is trapped by greenhouse gases? What is the effect on Earth's
climate? Answer- -Earth's atmosphere contains greenhouse gases that absorb 95% of the longwave radiation emitted from the surface, making it impossible for most heat to escape into space. -The trapped radiation is retained within the climate system and reradiated down to Earth's surface.
What different and opposing roles do clouds play in the climate system? Answer- -
Clouds trap outgoing radiation from Earth's surface.
-The role in warming Earth's climate works exactly opposite to the impact of clouds in
reflecting incoming solar radiation and cooling our climate.
How does climate differ from weather? Answer- -climate describes the average condition of a region -temp -rainfall / snowfall -wind direction
-climate change applies to longer periods of time (years +)
-weather comes in shorter fluctuations and lasts for hours, days, weeks, or a few months.
In what ways does climate science differ from traditional sciences such as chemistry and biology? Answer- Climate science differs because it goes back to unimaginable points in time.
How does climate forcing differ from climate response? Answer- -Forcing refers to the factors that drive or cause changes -the responses are the resulting climatic shifts.
Does positive feedback always make climate warmer? Answer- No. Regardless of the direction of change (warming or cooling), positive feedbacks amplify whatever changes are underway.
How does solar radiation arriving on Earth differ from the back radiation emitted by Earth? Answer- Back radiation occurs at wavelengths lying in the infrared part of the
electromagnetic spectrum, which is at longer wavelengths than the incoming shortwave solar radiation, chichis in the range of visible light.
What kind of radiation is trapped by greenhouse gases? What is the effect on Earth's
climate? Answer- -Earth's atmosphere contains greenhouse gases that absorb 95% of the longwave radiation emitted from the surface, making it impossible for most heat to escape into space. -The trapped radiation is retained within the climate system and reradiated down to Earth's surface.
What different and opposing roles do clouds play in the climate system? Answer- -
Clouds trap outgoing radiation from Earth's surface.
-The role in warming Earth's climate works exactly opposite to the impact of clouds in
reflecting incoming solar radiation and cooling our climate.
