8. Climate Change

Question 1

What are milankovich cycles?

Answer 1

earth’s orbit and tilt variations cause warm and cold periods

Question 2

How is the antarctic vs arctic responding?

Answer 2

arctic- north, donut, less albedo, more ice sheet melting

antarctic- south, filled donut, growing ice sheet

Question 3

What causes climate change?

Answer 3

1. Orbit mechanics
2. Retention of heat (GG)
3. Albedo (reflection)

Question 4

Describe orbit mechanics.

Answer 4

1. Obliquity- now 23.44 degrees, axial tilts between 22 and 25 degrees every 40,000 years. Determines seasons
2. Precession- axial wobbles in full circle, every 26,000 years
3. Eccentricity- orbit of the earth strays from regular circle because of gravitational pull from other planets. Every 100,000 years

Question 5

When was the last time CO2 ppm was the same as it is now?

Answer 5

Now 380-400

Was this 20 million years ago