Describe the enhanced greenhouse
effect & how it has contributed to
extreme weather phenomena.
Answers
Answer:
HERE YOU GO
Explanation:
The enhanced greenhouse effect and climate change
The disruption to Earth’s climate equilibrium caused by the increased concentrations of greenhouse gases has led to an increase in the global average surface temperatures. This process is called the enhanced greenhouse effect.
While scientists agree that the levels of greenhouse gases and average global temperatures are rising, there is less certainty about what the future consequences will be. To help understand this, scientists use mathematical models. These models take account of many processes that together determine the behaviour of the atmosphere (eg, temperature, humidity, wind speed and atmospheric pressure).
What is Modeling ?
Modelling is a way of simplifying the real world to enable us to solve problems. We do it all the time and so easily that we don’t even notice we are doing it. For example, a street directory is a model of a city’s roads, a diagram is a model of how something is made, and even a calendar is a model of a month. People use these models to solve problems, such as ‘What is the shortest route?’, ‘How do I put this together?’, ‘How long until my birthday?’ Mathematics is one of the most important modelling tools. The ancient Egyptians used geometry to model and divide up their farmland. In the 1600s, Isaac Newton developed mathematical equations to model the motion of the planets—one of the greatest scientific achievements.
Today we use sophisticated computer models to help predict the weather, simulate climate conditions and climate change, and assess the impact of population growth on the natural environment. A climate model takes into account the numerous variables that characterise the climate system—temperature, rainfall, wind, humidity etc. Using equations that describe the relationships between these variables, the models crunch the numbers to make predictions and projections of how external influences or changes in one or more of the variables might affect the others in the future.
Climate models are particularly complicated because of the large number of influences they must consider, and the complex interconnectedness of the entire climate system. So far, scientists have developed models that provide reasonably good simulations of current climate conditions on global and continental scales. Local variations are harder to simulate (and therefore predict) accurately, and some variables are easier to predict than others—for example, temperature is easier to predict accurately than rainfall. Modelling of human-induced climate change involves simulating the enhanced greenhouse effect that increased greenhouse gas concentrations have on the overall radiation balance of the planet. This is often referred to as ‘radiative forcing of climate change’.
The models indicate Earth’s surface will get warmer. This will have serious knock-on effects, such as changes in global rainfall, ocean circulation and extreme weather events, and an increase in sea level. These changes will have further consequences for global agriculture, biodiversity and human health. Putting a precise timeframe upon Earth’s responses to the increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is difficult, but it’s clear that recent observations are starting to confirm the predictions of a warming planet.
Average global temperature has risen by around 0.7°C since the early 20th century. This may not sound like much, but some regions will experience a much more extreme response than the global average. More importantly, even a small but permanent increase in temperature can have a significant impact upon large scale environmental features like ice sheets or forest cover in the long run. Extreme events, which already push the boundaries of ecosystems’ tolerance, will push even harder.
Arctic ice extent, snow cover and glacier volumes have decreased and sea level is rising. Surface ocean temperatures have increased. Warmer ocean temperatures will affect marine ecosystems and can place stress upon coral reefs. Furthermore, the increased CO2 in the atmosphere has also led to an increase of CO2 absorbed by the ocean. This has changed the chemistry of the surface ocean, a process known as ocean acidification, and it can lead to a whole host of other problems for marine life.