Describe two complexities about Earth's climate system that results in changes happening faster than expected.
http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=EEFC609C-1
http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/faq-1-1.html
When the oceans warm up a little they melt arctic ice. That of course is part of warming.
However what makes it far worse is that when the ice melts, the bare ocean is exposed and does not reflect the radiation of the sun as effectively as the ice did. That makes the melting go much faster. Same thing when a snow and ice melt and expose earth. That is called "a positive feedback loop" and makes things go faster and faster spiraling out of control.
If you melt year around ice in the earth (permafrost) in northern climates, it may have natural gas, Methane, trapped underneath. The melting could release the methane into the atmosphere. Methane is a greenhouse gas. This is another positive feedback loop.
These are indeed earth science emergencies.
ah, here you go:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_methane_release
and furthermore:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/nov/11/poles-scientists-antarctic-sea-ice
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/ArcticIce/
wow! That helps me a lot..
Thank You guys for your helps:)
Two complexities about Earth's climate system that contribute to changes occurring faster than expected are positive feedback loops and the amplification effect.
1. Positive feedback loops: Positive feedback loops in the climate system refer to mechanisms that amplify initial changes and drive further changes in the same direction. These loops occur when a change in one component of the climate system triggers additional changes that reinforce the initial shift. For example, increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities lead to a rise in global temperatures. As temperatures rise, ice melts, which reduces the Earth's ability to reflect sunlight back into space (known as the albedo effect). The reduced reflective capacity of the Earth's surface then causes more heat to be absorbed, further amplifying the initial temperature increase. Positive feedback loops can accelerate the rate of climate change, causing changes to happen faster than expected.
2. Amplification effect: The amplification effect refers to the phenomenon wherein certain changes in the climate system have cascading effects, which amplify the overall impact of those changes. For instance, as temperatures increase, permafrost (frozen soil and organic matter) in Arctic regions starts to thaw. This thawing releases trapped methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. The additional methane in the atmosphere then contributes to further warming, leading to more permafrost thawing and releasing even more methane. This positive feedback loop, driven by the amplification effect, intensifies the rate of climate change by amplifying the initial change and causing changes to occur faster than anticipated.
Understanding these complexities highlights the importance of considering feedback loops and amplification effects when studying and predicting the rate of climate change. These factors contribute to the non-linear behavior of the Earth's climate system and underscore the need for urgent action to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate.