CH - Climate Variability & Change

Question 1

Global Warming?

Answer 1

The gradual increase in the temperature of the Earth attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of CO2, Choloroflurocarbons, and other pollutants

Question 2

Paleoclimatology?

Answer 2

The understanding of past climates and the causes of climate change

Question 3

Climate Proxy?

Proxy?

Answer 3

Physical Characteristics of the past that can be used to help determine climate

Substitute

Question 4

Eccentricity of Orbit?

Answer 4

The ‘shape’ of the Earth’s elliptical orbit

Varies in a series of cycles lasting about 100,000 years

Question 5

Obliquity of Rotational Axis?

Answer 5

The inclination of the Earth’s axis

Varies from 22.1 to 24.5 in a 41,000 yr. cycle.

Greater Inclination = greater seasonal variation between low latitudes and high latitudes
Less Inclination = Seasonal contrasts are less significant

Question 6

Precession?

Answer 6

Earth’s axis wobbles like a spinning top so it points to different starts.

Alters the timing of the season relative to the Earth-Sun position.

Question 7

Milankovitch Cycles?

Answer 7

The collective changes of changes in the Earth’s movements on its climate over thousands of years

Question 8

6 Climate Proxies

Answer 8

Dendrochronology, Ice Cores, Pollen Analysis, Remnant Glacial Landforms, Speleothems, Oxygen Isotope Analysis

Question 9

Dendrochonology?

Answer 9

Examination of Tree Rings: wider the tree rings… the more growth. Thinner the tree rings… less growth.

Wider Rings = Humid/Precipitous
Smaller Rings = Drought/Cool

Question 10

Ice Cores?

Answer 10

Air bubbles trapped in the ice reveal the gases in the atmosphere at the time

BEST Climate Proxy

Question 11

Pollen Analysis?

Answer 11

The analysis of pollen reveals the types of vegetation and trees which can reveal climate

Question 12

Remnant Glacial Landforms?

Answer 12

Evidence of glaciation reaveals colder climates and climate change

Question 13

Speleothems?

Answer 13

Stalagmites & Stalagtites… Looking at rate of growth and materials in them you can determine temperature and climate

Question 14

Oxygen Isotope Analysis?

Answer 14

The amount of ice on the planet is based upon the ratio of Oxygen 16 & Oxygen 18

Question 15

Four Causes of Climate Change?

Answer 15

Atmospheric Aerosols, Fluctuations in Solar Output, Variation in Earth-Sun relations, greenhouse gas concentrations

Question 16

Atmospheric Aerosols?

Answer 16

Large Quantities of particulates ejected into the Atmosphere that seep through stratosphere and allow more radiation (Volcanic Eruptions, Sulfates, Black Carbon, Other Aerosols)

Anthropogenic & Natural

Question 17

Fluctuations in Solar Output?

Answer 17

A link between past climates and variations in the energy output of the Sun (Sunspots = Cooler areas of the sun which could influence climate)

Natural

Question 18

Variations in Earth-Sun Relations?

Answer 18

Changing of the orientation of the earth’s rotational axis (Precession, Obliquity, Eccenctricity, Milankovitch Cycles)

Natural

Question 19

Greenhouse Gas Concentrations?

Answer 19

Higher concentrations of greenhouse gases warm the atmosphere… and increase in water vapor warms the atmosphere

Natural & Anthropogenic