Climate Change and Atmosphere Flashcards
6 cards from real Environmental Science practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Climate Change and Atmosphere flashcards as text
What is carbon capture and storage (CCS)?
Answer: Capturing CO₂ at emission sources and injecting it underground
CCS involves capturing CO₂ from industrial sources and injecting it into deep geological formations for long-term storage.
Which gas is responsible for the stratospheric ozone hole primarily observed over Antarctica?
Answer: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
CFC molecules release chlorine in the stratosphere, which catalytically destroys ozone molecules in cold polar vortex conditions.
What is meant by 'climate mitigation' in environmental science?
Answer: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to prevent future warming
Climate mitigation focuses on reducing or preventing the emission of greenhouse gases to limit the extent of future climate change.
Which renewable energy source currently provides the largest share of U.S. electricity generation among renewables?
Answer: Wind
Wind energy surpassed hydropower to become the largest renewable electricity source in the U.S. in recent years.
The term 'radiative forcing' refers to:
Answer: The change in energy flux in the atmosphere due to a climate driver
Radiative forcing quantifies how much a climate factor (e.g., CO₂ increase) alters the energy balance of Earth's atmosphere.
Which climate adaptation strategy involves restoring coastal wetlands to buffer communities from storm surges?
Answer: Green infrastructure
Green infrastructure uses natural and engineered systems (wetlands, mangroves) to reduce vulnerability to climate impacts.