Where thermal energy from the sun is naturally trapped

Consider the global ‘Greenhouse Effect’, where thermal energy from the sun is naturally trapped by ‘greenhouse gases’ present within the Earth’s atmosphere. A majority of the heat generated from this process is then absorbed by the world’s oceans, where it is sequestered and stored. What are some of the predictable consequences recently observed over the past 40-50 years with the observed rise in Global Mean Temperature, correlate with an increase in greenhouse gas emissions from burning of fossil fuels across that same period? (more than one answer)

A.melting of Himalayan glaciers and collapse of Antarctic ice shelves into the sea

B.warming of deep ocean water and increased evaporation at the surface

C.warming of oceanic surface temperatures, driving the formation of more powerful hurricanes & rainstorms

D.retreat of winter and summer sea ice, decreasing the amount of solar energy directly absorbed into the oceans

E. thermal expansion of oceanic water, leading to mean global sea level rise

2. Consider the predicted consequences of a Global Mean Temperature rise comparing 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius. Which of the following phenomena are expected to occur by mid to end century? ( more than one answer)

A.rise in soy and rice production with either 1.5 or 2 degrees of warming

B.increase in heat waves by up to one and a half months each year with 2 degrees of warming

C. loss of wheat and maize (corn) production with either 1.5 or 2 degrees of warming

D.all coral reefs bleaching with 1.5 degrees of warming

3. To meet the Paris Climate Agreement goals for limiting global temperature rise to under +2.0°C above pre-industrial levels by the year 2100, which of the following CO2 emissions reduction pathway targets must be met? ( more than one answer)

A. ~50% reduction in annual global CO2 emissions by 2040
B. ~80% reduction in annual global CO2 emissions by 2030
C. ~85% reduction in annual global CO2 emissions by 2060
D. ~90% reduction in annual global CO2 emissions by 2050
E. ~15% reduction in annual global CO2 emissions by 2030

4. Over the past 3 years (2020-2022), which of the following major extreme weather and/or unprecedented climate related events in the modern era have occurred across Earth? (more than one answer)

A. collapse of Thwaites glacier, one of Antarctica’s largest, into the ocean

B. Gulf Coast hurricane migrating across Eastern US to cause flash flooding in Northeast coastal states

C. loss of river water in Germany and Southern US states

D. multi-year drought across Horn of Africa (Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia), causing massive drying of freshwater wells, crop failure and loss of animal livestock

E. highest modern global temperatures ever recorded on Earth, in the Lut Desert, Iran and Sonoran Desert, Mexico

F. summer snowstorms in Colorado

G. deepwater heat in Gulf of Mexico driving Superstorm Ida’s record flooding of Southern Louisiana

H.first wildfires to cross the summit of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range

I. sub-zero winter temperatures due to Polar Vortex shifting deep across the US Midwest into Texas

J. two typhoons, Maysak, Haishen passing through South Korea at the same time

K. record heatwaves across India, Pakistan and Middle East with several days of ‘wet bulb’ temperatures exceeding

beyond thresholds tolerable for human surviva

L. Amazon rainforest emitting for the first time more carbon dioxide (CO2) than it absorbs

M. Pyrocumulonimbus lightning storms due to amplified water evaporation generated by Western US wildfires

N. 1/3 of the nation of Pakistan underwater for multiple weeks due to simultaneous river flooding and tropical storm surges

O. major flooding in deep interior of Mozambique

P. large geographic scale of summer wildfires burning across Siberia