ENVIRSC 2EI3 Quiz: podcast notes - climate change.docx

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Environmental Science
• Course: ENVIRSC 2EI3
• Professor: Luc Bernier

Document Summary

Weather = expressed by temperature, precipitation, humidity, winds, air pressure; atmospheric conditions over short time (day to day) Climate = composite of the variety of day to day weather. Long term alteration in the climate of a specific location, region or planet. Global warming = addresses changes in average surface temps. Surface of the earth is unequally heated by the sun. Earth"s climate is driven by incoming solar energy as short wave radiation and outgoing energy emitted by earth as long wave radiation; radiation from the sun either reaches the surface or is reflected back to space by clouds. Green house gases = absorb or trap short wave radiation and re-radiate it as long wave radiation leading to heat. At night the land and ocean re-radiate heat into atmosphere; may be reflected back into surface by clouds or dust or space in clear nights or absorbed by green house gases.