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G- P1 Physical E > Climate > Flashcards

Climate Flashcards

1
Q

Define the term ‘glacial’ climate

A

A period of time with lower average temperatures causing widespread glaciation

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2
Q

Define the term ‘interglacial’ climate

A

A period of time between glaciations with higher average temperatures when ice retreats

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3
Q

Define the term ‘quaternary’ climate

A

The current period of geological time.

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4
Q

The oceans transfer approximately ___% of total heat that is transferred from the _______ to the ______.
They are produced as ________ of water move from one climatic zone to another. The currents of all the oceans are similar as they are all created by the surface winds generated by…
Both ocean and air currents are deflected by the ________ _______.

A

20%
Tropics to the poles
Masses
Global atmospheric circulation.
Coriolis effect

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5
Q

What is a major cause of climate change?

A

The way that the earth orbits around the sun and also how It spins on its axis.

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6
Q

What are milankovitch cycles?

A

How the Earth orbits the sun and its spinning on its axis.

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7
Q

Define the milankovitch cycle ‘ eccentricity ‘

A

The shape of the Earth’s orbit

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8
Q

Define the milankovitch cycle ‘ obliquity’

A

The angle earth’s axis is tilted with respect to the Earth’s orbital plane

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9
Q

Define the milankovitch cycle ‘precession’

A

The direction Earth’s axis of rotation is pointed

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10
Q

In simple terms what is Cycle 1 - Eccentricity?

A

How circular the earths orbit is

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11
Q

What does eccentricity influence?

A

The overall global temperature and the seasons

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12
Q

At times when the orbit is circular there are no..

A

There are no seasons

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13
Q

The earth is at a ________ temperature all year round

A

Constant

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14
Q

When there is a full elipse what is the temperature like?

A

It is slightly warmer (interglacial)

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15
Q

In winter and summer temperatures reach..

A

Extremes

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16
Q

In simple terms what is Cycle 2- Obliquity?

A

How tilted the earth is on its axis.

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17
Q

The earth tilts between ___ ° and ___ ° every 41000 years.

A

22.5° and 24.5°

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18
Q

Currently the earth is at ___° and is approaching a full tilt.

A

23.5°

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19
Q

How does axial tilt affect our seasons?

A

When axial tilt is at its smallest ( 22.5°) there will be less of a difference in our seasons.
When the axial tilt is at its greatest ( 24.5° ) there will be a more pronounced difference in our seasons (warmer at summer, cooler at winter)

20
Q

In simple terms what is Cycle 3 - precession?

A

This refers to the ‘wobble’ of the earth on its axis.

21
Q

The earth ________ wobbles and takes __,___ years to complete a cycle.

A

Constantly, 24000

22
Q

Precession is like a…

A

Spinning top slowing down

23
Q

Precession influences…

A

Which seasons are in which month

24
Q

Describe how precession influences which seasons were in which months

A

Currently, the northern hemisphere is pointing towards the sun so in June = summer and in December = winter.
Although, in 24000 years it will face away from the sun in June, reversing the seasons.

25
Q

What are three ways that glacial periods are caused?

A

Solar variation, volcanism, surface impact

26
Q

What is solar radiation?

A

The amount of radiation the sun produces over time

27
Q

How does solar radiation cause glacial / interglacial periods?

A

Periods of lower solar activity are likely to lead to glacial periods. Periods with higher activity lead to interglacial periods.

28
Q

What is volcanism?

A

This involves large scale volcanic eruptions which can eject huge volumes of ash and dust into the atmosphere.

29
Q

How can volcanism cause glacial periods?

A

Some eruptions produce so much ash / dust that the volcanic material can block out solar radiation, reducing temperatures which causes glaciations.

30
Q

What is surface impact?

A

This is large cosmic material, like asteroids and comets.

31
Q

How can surface impacts cause glacial periods?

A

They can eject lots of dust into the atmosphere, partially blocking solar radiation leading to glacial periods.

32
Q

What are four methods we can use to track changes in climate over time?

A

Ice cores, pollen records, tree rings, historical resources.

33
Q

State examples of historical resources and how do they track changes in climate?

A

Diaries and paintings show us what the environment use to be like, daily weather reports since 1873 allows us to document what the climate used to look like.

34
Q

State an example of 2 places where ice has been for millions of years.

A

Antarctica and Greenland

35
Q

What is the method ‘ ice cores’?
(climate change evidence)

A

Cores of ice can be drilled into, to measure the amount of carbon dioxide trapped in the ice. The levels of CO² tend to be lower during cooler periods and higher when it’s warmer.

36
Q

What is pollen and where can it be trapped?

A

It is produced by all flowering plants, it can be trapped in ice or sedimentary rocks.

37
Q

How are pollen records used to determine changes in climate?

A

Since certain plants only grow in certain conditions, this gives us information about what the climate must have been like when the rock or ice ,in which the pollen was trapped, was formed.

38
Q

What are tree rings?

A

Every year the growth of a tree is shown by a single ring, within the stump.

39
Q

In tree rings, what does it mean if the ring is narrow / thicker?

A

If the ring is narrow it means it has been a cool, drier year.
If the ring is thicker, it means it had been a warmer and wetter year.

40
Q

What is the evidence from tree ring growth used to produce?

A

These patterns of growth are used to produce tree ring timescales, which give accurate climate information.

41
Q

State the four human causes of climate change

A

Transport, industry, energy, farming

42
Q

How does transport affect climate change?

A

With cars becoming more affordable and more people taking flights over long distances, huge quantities of fuels are being used up. Greenhouse gases are therefore being released.

43
Q

How is industry affecting climate change?

A

As levels of disposable income rise, increased demand for the production of consumer goods leads to industry growth and the need for more energy, resulting in the burning of fossil fuels.

44
Q

How does energy effect climate change?

A

The demand for electricity is increasing because of the growing population and new technology. Most energy is produced via burning fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

45
Q

How is farming effecting climate change?

A

The process of supplying land for agriculture can result in deforestation, releasing carbon dioxide from plantation into atmosphere.

46
Q
A

G- P1 Physical E (19 decks)

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