Unit 4: Global Climate Change

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Q1) Understanding Earth’s energy balance is essential to understanding the issue of global warming. For example, the solar energy striking Earth’s surface averages 168 watts per square meter (W/m²), but the energy leaving Earth’s surface averages 390 W/m² Why isn’t Earth cooling rapidly?

1) Earth does not cool rapidly even though the amount of energy emitted is greater than double the amount received. It is because the atmosphere retains much of the emitted heat energy.

Q2) “This winter has lowered my concerns about global warming…”. Decide and explain where the stamen is correct or incorrect. Explain.

2) The quote “This winter has lowered my concerns about global warming…” is not validated. It actually meant to poke fun at people who have no clue about global warming and do not understand the different between weather and climate.  It does not meant the earth is getting colder just because there are there are particular seasons in regions that are cold, like winter. Measure of time is the key difference that set apart weather and climate. Climate refers to the typical and average weather a region will have over a lengthy period of time. Therefore, scientists use climate for statistics about the temperature of earth. It helps to determine whether earth is getting warmer or colder. Weather as compared to climate is not that reliable. It is nothing more than the atmosphere condition over a brief period of time.

Q3) One of the first radar devices developed during World War II used microwave radiation of a specific wave range that triggers the rotation of water molecules. Why was the design not successful?

3) The design was not successful because of the following reasons:

  • It heated up the air around the machine.
  • It caused diseases in the radar operators.
  • Water absorbed the microwave radiation in the atmosphere interferes with the detection of intended objects.

Q4) Now that you have studied air quality (Unit 1), stratospheric ozone depletion (Unit 2), and global warming (Unit 3), which do you believe poses the most serious problem for you in the short run (pick one and explain)? In the long run (pick one and explain why)?

4) The answers will be geographically influenced. Students will most likely be concerned of air quality as the most severe problem in short term, especially those living in and around large cities. The ozone hole is probably too far removed to affect most students directly. Depending on the students’ perceptions of the seriousness of climate change, that will most likely be their most serious long-term concern.