Climate Science, Ecology & Conservation

Environmental science integrates atmospheric physics, ecology, chemistry, and policy to understand Earth's interconnected systems. This pack covers the core mechanisms of climate change, ecosystem dynamics, biodiversity loss, and evidence-based conservation strategies.

## Climate System Fundamentals

Earth's energy budget drives everything. Incoming SWR (shortwave radiation) from the sun (~340 W/m²) is partially reflected by ALB (albedo — clouds, ice, surfaces reflecting ~30%) and partially absorbed. The surface re-emits LWR (longwave radiation/infrared). GHGs (greenhouse gases) absorb and re-emit LWR in all directions, warming the lower atmosphere. Without the natural GHE (greenhouse effect), Earth's average temperature would be -18°C instead of +15°C.

The enhanced GHE from anthropogenic GHG emissions is the driver of modern CC (climate change). CO2 concentrations have risen from 280 ppm (pre-industrial) to over 420 ppm. CH4 (methane) is 80x more potent than CO2 over 20 years but has a shorter ATL (atmospheric lifetime) of ~12 years versus CO2's centuries-to-millennia persistence. N2O (nitrous oxide) from agriculture has 273x the GWP (global warming potential) of CO2 over 100 years.

CF (climate forcing) measures the energy imbalance caused by a factor. Positive CF warms (GHGs, black carbon), negative CF cools (aerosols, increased ALB). Current net anthropogenic CF is approximately +2.7 W/m², with CO2 contributing +2.2 W/m². The planet has warmed ~1.2°C above pre-industrial baseline.

## Feedback Mechanisms

FBL (feedback loops) amplify or dampen initial warming. Positive FBLs accelerate change: