16.1. Earth-System Change – Learning Outcomes
After reading this chapter of the textbook, learning the vocabulary, and working through the review questions, students should be able to:
- Explain the difference between weather and climate.
- List and describe aspects of each component of the climate system that can influence and change climate patterns.
- Describe examples of positive and negative climate feedback.
- Describe how carbon dioxide concentrations have changed over the past 200 years, sources of CO2, and the potential impacts on climate and life on Earth.
- Give examples of how scientists study past climate using proxy data.
- Describe important considerations for preparing climate models that can be used in predicting future climate behaviour.
- Describe some of the consequences of anthropogenic climate change.
Learning outcomes not covered in the textbook chapter in detail, but we may discuss them in class (depending on your professor):
- Describe the Earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.
- Describe the relationships between the Earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere and how these relationships can influence climate.
