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HOW TO STUDY CLIMATE CHANGE

With Formulas and Solved Examples

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KEY CONCEPTS

  • • Climate vs Weather
  • • Greenhouse Effect
  • • Climate Indicators (CO₂, Temperature, Sea Level)

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FORMULA: CO₂ RADIATIVE FORCING

  • Radiative Forcing (ΔF):

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  • ΔF = 5.35 × ln(C/C₀)

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  • C: Current CO₂ ppm
  • C₀: Pre-industrial CO₂ ppm

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SOLVED EXAMPLE

  • Given:
  • C = 420 ppm, C₀ = 280 ppm

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  • ΔF = 5.35 × ln(420/280)
  • ΔF = 5.35 × ln(1.5)
  • ΔF ≈ 5.35 × 0.405
  • ΔF ≈ 2.17 W/m²

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FORMULA: TEMPERATURE CHANGE

  • ΔT = λ × ΔF

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  • ΔT: Temperature increase
  • λ: Climate sensitivity factor (°C per W/m²)

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SOLVED EXAMPLE

  • Given ΔF = 2.17 W/m²
  • Assume λ = 0.8 °C per W/m²

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  • ΔT = 0.8 × 2.17 = 1.736 °C

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METHODS TO STUDY CLIMATE CHANGE

  • • Satellite Observations
  • • Ice Core Analysis
  • • Climate Modeling
  • • Ocean Temperature Records

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CONCLUSION

  • Using formulas helps quantify climate change.
  • Examples show how rising CO₂ leads to warming.
  • Climate change study combines math + observations.