Explain The Primary Factors Determining Earth's Climate
EOSC 112 Learning Goals for Final Exam, Fall 2012
Course Learning Goals:
By the end of this course, students will be able to… 1. DESCRIBE how Earth’s geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere comprise an integrated system driven by a continuous supply of energy 2. EXPLAIN the primary factors determining Earth’s climate 3. EVALUATE evidence and hypotheses explaining why Earth’s climate changes on different time scales 4. COMPARE today’s climate to the climate of the past 5. Using scientific
principles and evidence, EVALUATE information in the mainstream media about climate change.
Lecture-level Learning Goals: Students will be able to… Radiation Balance
1. COMPARE infrared, ultraviolet, and visible electromagnetic radiation in terms of energy per photon, frequency, and wavelength 2. COMPARE the amount and type of energy emitted by objects at different temperatures 3. PREDICT the effect of varying the factors that determine the solar constant of a planet 4. PREDICT the consequences of varying the factors that determine the (a) effective radiating temperature and (b) mean surface temperature of a planet 5. DESCRIBE how incoming and outgoing electromagnetic radiation interacts with Earth’s surface and its atmosphere 6. PREDICT how changes in solar constant, greenhouse gases, and albedo will affect a planet’s mean surface temperature 7. BALANCE a radiation budget by accounting for reflection, absorption, and transmission of radiation throughout a system 8. PREDICT the consequences for Earth’s surface temperature of latent heat and sensible heat transfer from the Earth’s surface to the atmosphere 9. CONTRAST the equator-‐to-‐pole temperature gradient with and without atmospheric circulation 10. DEVELOP the general atmospheric circulation starting with the distribution of incoming solar energy 11. PREDICT, for any latitude, the direction from which surface winds blow, based on the general atmospheric circulation 12. PREDICT atmospheric circulation, location of cloud formation and precipitation for today’s Earth with continents 13. EXPLAIN how a balance between atmospheric pressure differences and Coriolis results in geostrophic winds
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
14. APPLY geostrophic wind principles to storms and jet streams 15. PREDICT atmospheric circulation, location of cloud formation and precipitation for today’s Earth with continents (Note that we had this goal in a previous class too. Today the picture just gets more complex.) 16. USE temperature and pressure differences between land and sea to DESCRIBE seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation for the monsoon 17. COMPARE monsoon precipitation patterns to El Nino/La Nina cycles and to the rise and fall of human civilizations 18. COMPARE the relative sizes of different water reservoirs and residence times of a water molecule within these reservoirs.
19. PREDICT the result of processes that change the flux between different water reservoirs. 20. PREDICT locations of open-‐ocean upwelling and downwelling, given surface wind direction.
21. PREDICT the direction of wind-‐driven surface ocean currents for a simplified, water-‐covered, rotating Earth with no continents. 22. PREDICT whether upwelling or downwelling will occur along a coastline, given surface wind direction 23. PREDICT the direction of wind-‐driven surface ocean currents anywhere on Earth with any continental configuration. 24. LIST differences between western and eastern boundary currents in subtropical gyres 25. RANK the stability of water columns from different locations, in different seasons, based on how density varies with depth
26. DESCRIBE the different processes by which deep water forms today in the North Atlantic and in the Southern Ocean, respectively. 27. DESCRIBE the general pattern and time scale of density-‐driven, deep water circulation on Earth today. 28. EXPLAIN how deep ocean circulation helps modulate Earth’s climate. 29. PREDICT how deep water circulation might change if the positions of continents changed. 30. DESCRIBE the general pattern and time scale of density-‐driven, deep water circulation on Earth today. 31. EXPLAIN how deep ocean circulation helps modulate Earth’s climate. 32. PREDICT how deep water circulation might change if the positions of continents changed. 33. EXPLAIN how solid Earth processes influence the evolution of Earth’s climate 34. DESCRIBE aspects of the inner structure of Earth needed to explain tectonic processes 35. DESCRIBE the processes of continental drift, seafloor spreading, and subduction, and the evidence for these processes
Lithosphere
Biosphere
36. CONTRAST the different types of plate boundaries (divergent, convergent, and transform) 37. EXPLAIN how atmospheric CO2 would change if rates of tectonic activity changed 38. LIST the environmental conditions needed to sustain life. 39. DESCRIBE the chemical transformations that occur during photosynthesis and respiration. 40. CONTRAST gross, net, regenerated, new, and export productivity in the ocean.
41. EXPLAIN how light and nutrient availability control the distribution and seasonality of ocean primary productivity. 42. EXPLAIN how biological activity and ocean circulation control the distribution of nutrients in the ocean 43. IDENTIFY greenhouse gases; IDENTIFY non-‐greenhouse-‐gas air molecules 44. DIFFERENTIATE between short wave radiation from the Sun and long wave radiation from the Earth
45. CONTRAST the molecular structure of greenhouse gases versus non-‐greenhouse gases (common air molecules)
46. EXPLAIN how the greenhouse effect warms Earth in terms of the physical processes that happen. 47. DESCRIBE how greenhouse gases themselves absorb and emit radiation, including what kinds of radiation (shortwave or longwave). 48. DESCRIBE how greenhouse gases influence flows of energy within the atmosphere, to and from Earth’s surface, and to and from space.
49. DESCRIBE the carbon cycle 50. LIST the reservoirs of organic and inorganic carbon and their relative sizes 51. DESCRIBE the processes by which carbon can move among organic and inorganic forms 52. DESCRIBE how exchange of carbon between the atmosphere and other carbon reservoirs controls atmospheric CO2 on different timescales (from millions of years to seasonal) 53. EXPLAIN how atmospheric CO2 changes in response to seasonal changes in photosynthesis and respiration. 54. CONTRAST the potential for water vapor to drive greenhouse warming vs CO2 or CH4 55. DESCRIBE the long-‐term evolution of solar radiation and its potential effect on Earth’s mean temperature 56. DESCRIBE the pattern of shorter-‐term changes in solar radiation – sunspots – and their potential effect on Earth’s mean temperature 57. DESCRIBE how different types of clouds affect Earths climate differently
Greenhouse
Changes in Solar Radiation
Changes in Albedo
Long-term Climate Evolution
58. DESCRIBE the amplifying feedback between ice cover and climate 59. DESCRIBE the effect of changes in vegetation cover and associated feedbacks on albedo 60. EXPLAIN the effect of seafloor spreading and continental drift on the long-‐term evolution of the Earths albedo and its impact on the long-‐term evolution of climate. 61. DESCRIBE the broad features of climatic evolution over Earth’s history. 62. EXPLAIN the feedback mechanism believed to have maintained Earth's average temperature within the range of liquid water over 100s of millions of years, as the Sun got brighter. 63. Based on albedo, solar radiation, and atmospheric gases, CONSTRUCT logical chains of events that would result in major glaciations or warm periods on Earth. 64. IDENTIFY and EXPLAIN the primary trends and climate events of the past 65 million years based on oxygen isotope data. 65. CONSTRUCT the stabilizing feedback loop involving silicate weathering, that moderates the level of atmospheric CO2 on long time scales.
66. EXPLAIN how evidence from both land and sea supports the orbital theory of recurring ice ages during the Pleistocene.
67. COMPARE today’s atmospheric CO2 concentration and rate of change of atmospheric CO2 to times in the past. 68. INFER what conditions were like during the last ice age, based on geologic data 69. COMPARE orbital configurations that favor glaciation versus those that favor deglaciation 70. CONSTRUCT amplifying feedback loops that amplify Pleistocene climate cycles.
71. ASSESS the plausibility that natural variability (sunspots and volcanoes) can explain the late 20th century global warming 72. DESCRIBE evidence supporting the idea that humans have a discernible influence on climate.
73. DESCRIBE most likely impacts of climate change within your expected lifetime based on IPCC scenarios.
Pleistocene Ice Ages
Modern Climate
Course Learning Goals:
By the end of this course, students will be able to… 1. DESCRIBE how Earth’s geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere comprise an integrated system driven by a continuous supply of energy 2. EXPLAIN the primary factors determining Earth’s climate 3. EVALUATE evidence and hypotheses explaining why Earth’s climate changes on different time scales 4. COMPARE today’s climate to the climate of the past 5. Using scientific
principles and evidence, EVALUATE information in the mainstream media about climate change.
Lecture-level Learning Goals: Students will be able to… Radiation Balance
1. COMPARE infrared, ultraviolet, and visible electromagnetic radiation in terms of energy per photon, frequency, and wavelength 2. COMPARE the amount and type of energy emitted by objects at different temperatures 3. PREDICT the effect of varying the factors that determine the solar constant of a planet 4. PREDICT the consequences of varying the factors that determine the (a) effective radiating temperature and (b) mean surface temperature of a planet 5. DESCRIBE how incoming and outgoing electromagnetic radiation interacts with Earth’s surface and its atmosphere 6. PREDICT how changes in solar constant, greenhouse gases, and albedo will affect a planet’s mean surface temperature 7. BALANCE a radiation budget by accounting for reflection, absorption, and transmission of radiation throughout a system 8. PREDICT the consequences for Earth’s surface temperature of latent heat and sensible heat transfer from the Earth’s surface to the atmosphere 9. CONTRAST the equator-‐to-‐pole temperature gradient with and without atmospheric circulation 10. DEVELOP the general atmospheric circulation starting with the distribution of incoming solar energy 11. PREDICT, for any latitude, the direction from which surface winds blow, based on the general atmospheric circulation 12. PREDICT atmospheric circulation, location of cloud formation and precipitation for today’s Earth with continents 13. EXPLAIN how a balance between atmospheric pressure differences and Coriolis results in geostrophic winds
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
14. APPLY geostrophic wind principles to storms and jet streams 15. PREDICT atmospheric circulation, location of cloud formation and precipitation for today’s Earth with continents (Note that we had this goal in a previous class too. Today the picture just gets more complex.) 16. USE temperature and pressure differences between land and sea to DESCRIBE seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation for the monsoon 17. COMPARE monsoon precipitation patterns to El Nino/La Nina cycles and to the rise and fall of human civilizations 18. COMPARE the relative sizes of different water reservoirs and residence times of a water molecule within these reservoirs.
19. PREDICT the result of processes that change the flux between different water reservoirs. 20. PREDICT locations of open-‐ocean upwelling and downwelling, given surface wind direction.
21. PREDICT the direction of wind-‐driven surface ocean currents for a simplified, water-‐covered, rotating Earth with no continents. 22. PREDICT whether upwelling or downwelling will occur along a coastline, given surface wind direction 23. PREDICT the direction of wind-‐driven surface ocean currents anywhere on Earth with any continental configuration. 24. LIST differences between western and eastern boundary currents in subtropical gyres 25. RANK the stability of water columns from different locations, in different seasons, based on how density varies with depth
26. DESCRIBE the different processes by which deep water forms today in the North Atlantic and in the Southern Ocean, respectively. 27. DESCRIBE the general pattern and time scale of density-‐driven, deep water circulation on Earth today. 28. EXPLAIN how deep ocean circulation helps modulate Earth’s climate. 29. PREDICT how deep water circulation might change if the positions of continents changed. 30. DESCRIBE the general pattern and time scale of density-‐driven, deep water circulation on Earth today. 31. EXPLAIN how deep ocean circulation helps modulate Earth’s climate. 32. PREDICT how deep water circulation might change if the positions of continents changed. 33. EXPLAIN how solid Earth processes influence the evolution of Earth’s climate 34. DESCRIBE aspects of the inner structure of Earth needed to explain tectonic processes 35. DESCRIBE the processes of continental drift, seafloor spreading, and subduction, and the evidence for these processes
Lithosphere
Biosphere
36. CONTRAST the different types of plate boundaries (divergent, convergent, and transform) 37. EXPLAIN how atmospheric CO2 would change if rates of tectonic activity changed 38. LIST the environmental conditions needed to sustain life. 39. DESCRIBE the chemical transformations that occur during photosynthesis and respiration. 40. CONTRAST gross, net, regenerated, new, and export productivity in the ocean.
41. EXPLAIN how light and nutrient availability control the distribution and seasonality of ocean primary productivity. 42. EXPLAIN how biological activity and ocean circulation control the distribution of nutrients in the ocean 43. IDENTIFY greenhouse gases; IDENTIFY non-‐greenhouse-‐gas air molecules 44. DIFFERENTIATE between short wave radiation from the Sun and long wave radiation from the Earth
45. CONTRAST the molecular structure of greenhouse gases versus non-‐greenhouse gases (common air molecules)
46. EXPLAIN how the greenhouse effect warms Earth in terms of the physical processes that happen. 47. DESCRIBE how greenhouse gases themselves absorb and emit radiation, including what kinds of radiation (shortwave or longwave). 48. DESCRIBE how greenhouse gases influence flows of energy within the atmosphere, to and from Earth’s surface, and to and from space.
49. DESCRIBE the carbon cycle 50. LIST the reservoirs of organic and inorganic carbon and their relative sizes 51. DESCRIBE the processes by which carbon can move among organic and inorganic forms 52. DESCRIBE how exchange of carbon between the atmosphere and other carbon reservoirs controls atmospheric CO2 on different timescales (from millions of years to seasonal) 53. EXPLAIN how atmospheric CO2 changes in response to seasonal changes in photosynthesis and respiration. 54. CONTRAST the potential for water vapor to drive greenhouse warming vs CO2 or CH4 55. DESCRIBE the long-‐term evolution of solar radiation and its potential effect on Earth’s mean temperature 56. DESCRIBE the pattern of shorter-‐term changes in solar radiation – sunspots – and their potential effect on Earth’s mean temperature 57. DESCRIBE how different types of clouds affect Earths climate differently
Greenhouse
Changes in Solar Radiation
Changes in Albedo
Long-term Climate Evolution
58. DESCRIBE the amplifying feedback between ice cover and climate 59. DESCRIBE the effect of changes in vegetation cover and associated feedbacks on albedo 60. EXPLAIN the effect of seafloor spreading and continental drift on the long-‐term evolution of the Earths albedo and its impact on the long-‐term evolution of climate. 61. DESCRIBE the broad features of climatic evolution over Earth’s history. 62. EXPLAIN the feedback mechanism believed to have maintained Earth's average temperature within the range of liquid water over 100s of millions of years, as the Sun got brighter. 63. Based on albedo, solar radiation, and atmospheric gases, CONSTRUCT logical chains of events that would result in major glaciations or warm periods on Earth. 64. IDENTIFY and EXPLAIN the primary trends and climate events of the past 65 million years based on oxygen isotope data. 65. CONSTRUCT the stabilizing feedback loop involving silicate weathering, that moderates the level of atmospheric CO2 on long time scales.
66. EXPLAIN how evidence from both land and sea supports the orbital theory of recurring ice ages during the Pleistocene.
67. COMPARE today’s atmospheric CO2 concentration and rate of change of atmospheric CO2 to times in the past. 68. INFER what conditions were like during the last ice age, based on geologic data 69. COMPARE orbital configurations that favor glaciation versus those that favor deglaciation 70. CONSTRUCT amplifying feedback loops that amplify Pleistocene climate cycles.
71. ASSESS the plausibility that natural variability (sunspots and volcanoes) can explain the late 20th century global warming 72. DESCRIBE evidence supporting the idea that humans have a discernible influence on climate.
73. DESCRIBE most likely impacts of climate change within your expected lifetime based on IPCC scenarios.
Pleistocene Ice Ages
Modern Climate