Met 112: Past and Current Climate Changes

Due: Monday, September 20^th, 2021 (at 11:59 P.M.)

Submit electronically via Canvas (.doc, .docx, or .pdf file format).

Email or see me in office hours if you have questions.

Please answer all questions in complete sentences.

 

Imagine that the Earth was to warm for some reason (initiating mechanism or forcing).

 

1. Identify two positive feedbacks that would influence the earth’s climate and explain how each one works. Use 4-6 sentences for your response. (4 points)

 

1. Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

 

If the earth was to warm, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would increase. This would in return increase the rates of growth of crops or plants. Plants have a number of benefits to the climate. First, they release oxygen that supports lives of both animals and humans, second, they provide habitat and food wildlife and humans and third, plants regulate the water cycle. Plants are an important element in maintaining the balance of an ecosystem.

 

2. Lower energy costs

 

The heat waves on warmer climates can be converted into other types of energy and be used as alternative sources of energy. Having alternative sources of energy is beneficial to the climate the climate because it will reduce the rates of depletion of other natural sources of energy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Identify a negative feedback that would influence the earth’s climate and explain how each one works. Use 4-6 sentences for your response. (4 points)

1. Arctic Melting

Arctic melting results in rising sea level. This would cause an increased in the area covered by water and it would mean that ocean would cover all coastal cities and that would significantly shrink the land area causing a major imbalance in ecosystem. Additionally, warming air and ocean temperatures results in more frequent and intense coastal storms such as hurricanes.

 

2. Rising sea level

If the earth were to warm, the sea levels would rise and that would have major impacts on climate. First, the increasing levels of dissolved carbo dioxide would alter the chemistry of sea water by altering its acidity. Additionally, rising sea levels increases area covered by water and therefore interferes with the balance of the ecosystem in most ways such as erosion and washing away the plants. It would alps destroy the habitat of humans and animals living along the coastal region.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Which of the feedbacks you identified do you think is most uncertain? Explain your reasoning in 3-5 sentences. (2 points)

 

The most uncertain feedback is the first positive impact of a warmer earth and it states that a warmer earth would lead to increased levels of carbon dioxide which would be beneficial to plants. While it is true that this might happen. It is also evident that increased levels of carbon dioxide are harmful to the ecosystem. The increased levels of carbon dioxide have an overall negative impact on climate change even though it would help improve it in a short term basis by improving the growth rates of plants.