Climate

Question 1

Why is the Sun’s heat unevenly distributed?

Answer 1

Earth’s tilt and curvature (causes different solar radiation levels).

Question 2

How is heat transferred globally?

Answer 2

Pressure differences (land/sea heat at different rates) & ocean currents (convection).

Question 3

Why do land and sea heat differently?

Answer 3

Land heats/cools quickly, sea heats/cools slowly (due to heat capacity).

Question 4

How does land affect air pressure in summer?

Answer 4

Heats quickly → air rises → low pressure (warm air expands).

Question 5

How does land affect air pressure in winter?

Answer 5

Cools quickly → air sinks → high pressure (cold air is denser).

Question 6

How does the sea affect air pressure in summer?

Answer 6

Remains cool → high pressure (slow temperature change).

Question 7

How does the sea affect air pressure in winter?

Answer 7

Remains warmer than land → low pressure (retains heat longer).

Question 8

What is the ITCZ?

Answer 8

Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (low pressure near Equator where warm air rises).

Question 9

How does the ITCZ affect West Africa?

Answer 9

Wet summers, dry winters (caused by Hadley Cell movement).

Question 10

What are the three main cells in the Global Circulation Model?

Answer 10

Hadley (0°-30°), Ferrel (30°-60°), Polar (60°-90°) (move heat across the globe).

Question 11

What is the Hadley Cell?

Answer 11

Rising air at Equator, moves 30°, sinks (drives tropical climates).

Question 12

What is the Ferrel Cell?

Answer 12

Between 30°-60°, moves opposite Hadley Cell (affects mid-latitude weather).

Question 13

What is the Polar Cell?

Answer 13

Cold air sinks at poles, moves to 60°, rises (creates polar climate).

Question 14

What are four natural causes of climate change?

Answer 14

Eruption Theory, Asteroid Impact, Sunspot Cycle, Orbital Changes (alter Earth’s temperature).

Question 15

How does the Eruption Theory explain cooling?

Answer 15

Volcanic ash blocks Sun → cooling (less solar radiation reaches Earth).

Question 16

How do asteroids affect climate?

Answer 16

Dust & ash block Sun → cooling (similar to eruptions but more severe).

Question 17

What is the Sunspot Theory?

Answer 17

More sunspots = more heat, fewer = cooling (linked to solar cycles).

Question 18

How does Earth’s orbit affect climate?

Answer 18

Shape changes (circular = warmer, elliptical = cooler) (Milankovitch cycles).

Question 19

How does Earth’s tilt affect climate?

Answer 19

Greater tilt = extreme seasons, smaller tilt = mild seasons (affects solar energy received).

Question 20

What are three ways to study past climate?

Answer 20

Ice cores, tree rings, historical records (show past temperatures and CO₂ levels).

Question 21

How do ice cores show climate change?

Answer 21

Trapped CO₂ bubbles indicate past temperatures (more CO₂ = warmer climate).

Question 22

How do tree rings show climate change?

Answer 22

Thicker rings = warm/wet years, thinner = cold/dry (tree growth depends on climate).

Question 23

What historical records help study climate?

Answer 23

Diaries, newspapers, paintings (document past weather events).

Question 24

What is the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect?

Answer 24

Extra heat trapped by human-released gases (CO₂, methane, etc.).

Question 25

What are the main human activities increasing greenhouse gases?

Answer 25

**Industry (factories), transport (fossil fuels), farming (methane), energy use (coal/oil/gas)**.

Question 26

How much has Earth’s temperature risen since 1900?

Answer 26

**~1°C** (due to greenhouse gas emissions).

Question 27

How much have sea levels risen?

Answer 27

**200mm** (caused by thermal expansion & ice melt).

Question 28

How much Arctic sea ice has disappeared since 1980?

Answer 28

**50% loss** (due to rising temperatures).

Question 29

What % of valley glaciers are shrinking?

Answer 29

**90%** (global warming causes melting).

Question 30

What are three major future climate impacts?

Answer 30

**Extreme weather, farming issues, climate refugees** (rising sea levels & droughts).

Question 31

Why is future climate change hard to predict?

Answer 31

**Uncertain population growth, economy, energy use** (many factors affect emissions).

Question 32

How does population growth affect climate change?

Answer 32

**More people = more emissions** (higher energy & food demand).

Question 33

How do fossil fuels vs. renewables impact climate?

Answer 33

**More renewables = less warming, more fossil fuels = worse** (energy source matters).

Question 34

Why do lifestyle choices matter for climate?

Answer 34

**Transport, diet, energy use affect emissions** (personal carbon footprints matter).

Question 35

What is climate?

Answer 35

**Long-term weather patterns** (measured over decades/centuries).

Question 36

What is weather?

Answer 36

**Short-term atmospheric conditions** (temperature, wind, rain, etc.).

Question 37

What is global warming?

Answer 37

**Increase in Earth’s average temperature** (mainly due to human activity).

Question 38

What are greenhouse gases?

Answer 38

**Gases that trap heat** (CO₂, methane, water vapor, etc.).

Question 39

What is the Greenhouse Effect?

Answer 39

**Natural warming of Earth by trapped heat** (without it, Earth would be too cold).

Question 40

What is the ITCZ?

Answer 40

**Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone** (low-pressure zone near the Equator).

Question 41

What is the Global Circulation Model?

Answer 41

**System of three atmospheric cells moving heat** (Hadley, Ferrel, Polar).

Question 42

What is thermal expansion?

Answer 42

**Water expands as it warms, raising sea levels**.