1 / 2

Why do CO 2 , CH 4 , and ΔT co-vary in the Vostok ice-core data (Kump et al. Figure 1-9)?

Why do CO 2 , CH 4 , and ΔT co-vary in the Vostok ice-core data (Kump et al. Figure 1-9)?. Possible climate processes that could help answer this: Greenhouse effect: CO 2 /CH 4 increases(decreases) lead to ΔT increases(decreases)

padma
Télécharger la présentation

Why do CO 2 , CH 4 , and ΔT co-vary in the Vostok ice-core data (Kump et al. Figure 1-9)?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Why do CO2, CH4, and ΔT co-vary in the Vostok ice-core data (Kump et al. Figure 1-9)? Possible climate processes that could help answer this: Greenhouse effect: CO2/CH4 increases(decreases) lead to ΔT increases(decreases) A) Ocean solubility effect on atmospheric CO2: ΔT increase(decrease) leads to ocean de-gassing(uptake) of CO2 and therefore atmospheric CO2 increase(decrease) B) Clathrates (CH4 or methane-hydrates) are less(more) stable with increase(decrease) in ΔT First, 1. and 2. could provide a positive feedback. Second, it is not clear which is driving which; surface temperature driving atmospheric chemistry or atmospheric chemistry driving surface temperature!?! “Systems” approach is the best way to get a handle on the complex interactions in the Earth’s climate.

  2. Terms and Terminology Dynamical Systems dynamical system – series of interacting components which are coupled system state – the complete set of attributes (state variables) that define the characteristics of the system at a particular moment in time coupling – physical process relating two state variables in a dynamical system positive coupling – the state variables are positively correlated. Example: greenhouse effect, where increases/decreases in one variable (CO2) lead to increases/decreases in another (temperature) negative coupling – the state variables are negatively correlated. Example: planetary albedo (or reflectivity), where increases/decreases in one variable (albedo or reflectivity) lead to decreases/increases in another (temperature) A systems diagram shows this information graphically – see Kump et al. Figures 2-1 and 2-2… feedback loop – self-perpetuating mechanism of change and a response to that change (better to understand the concept than memorize a definition!)

More Related