- What are the key scientific principles that explain climate change including the greenhouse (blanket) effect? Radiaiton from the sun passes through the atmosphere, is absorbed by the earth and radiates back as infrared heat. GHG's such as CO2 absorb that heat and radiate some of it back, heating the earth's surface.
- What are the key feedback mechanisms that help to explain why our climate is able to “self-regulate”? Ice/albedo, radiative, and water vapor.
- How can our climate be conceptualised as a system containing a series of components that interact with one another? The hydrological cycle is part of our climate, where the oceans and atmosphere interact with each other.
Also consider:
- What are the most important themes you have learned this week? Feedback effects happen between various components of the earth system.
- What aspect of this week did you find difficult? It was all well explained.
- What did you find most interesting? And why? The ice albedo effect and other feedbacks, especially water vapor. It helped me conceptualize the interrelatedness of the various factors.
- Was there something that you learned this week that prompted you to do your own research? At this point I haven't, yet.
- Are there any web sites or other online resource that you found particularly useful in furthering your knowledge and understanding? The NASA GISS website and NOAA websites.
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