Climate change Flashcards
If scientists measure record-high temperatures one year, is this evidence for global warming?
No.You need at least 30 years of data to determine if the climate is changing
Name 3 factors that determine the climate of a region.
Latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean
How does latitude influence climate?
Latitude influences climate because of how far away you are from the poles. Closer to the equator, the warmer. Closer to the poles, the colder. Due to direct sunlight
What factor is the best to use to help determine a region’s climate?
Latitude
What happens to the range of temperatures of air masses as they move across a continent for a year?
The range increases.As an air mass moves across a continent, the temperature of the air mass changes
What happens to temperature as air rises and gains altitude?
The temperature decreases
Name 2 ways heat is distributed from the tropics to the polar zones.
Wind and ocean currents.
At the Earth’s surface near the equator, heat from the Sun causes air to expand, become less dense and rise. What happens to this air as it continues to rise?
The air cools,can hold less moisture. Condensation occurs then precipitation occurs
What is the latitude of Waterford, CT?
41 degrees north
What are the prevailing winds in Waterford, CT?
Westerlies (Comes from the west)
Name 3 greenhouse gasses
Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor
What 2 products are produced when hydrocarbons are combusted?
Water vapor and carbon dioxide
What do we call a feedback loop where changes accelerate the change that is being measured?
Positive feedback loop
If we have a hot or cold year, is that evidence that the climate is changing?
No, climate change is the change over 30 years
Describe the Lee rain shadow
As the air moves up the mountain, it can hold less moisture causing condensation and precipitation. As the air moves down the mountain, the air warms and can hold more moisture and there is less precipitation
2 processes that remove carbon from the atmosphere
(Any two of these works) Photosynthesis, fossil fuel formation, chemical weathering or ocean diffusion
2 resivoirs where carbon can be stored
(Any two of these) Soils and rocks, vegitation and oceans, streams,fossil fuels
2 ways carbon dioxide increases
(Any two of these) Volcanism, animal respiration,ocean diffusion,fossil fuel combustion, respiration
What is the most important factor on Earth that allows it to support life?
Liquid water
How do greenhouse gasses raise the average temperature of the Earth?
They allow light to pass through but prevent heat from escaping
What does an increase in pH mean?
the carbon dioxide levels are increasing and the pH is dropping
What will happen to the overall albedo of the Earth if total glacial ice on Earth decreases? How do you think this will impact future temperatures?
The overall albedo will decrease because less sunlight is being reflected by ice. Ice reflects a lot of sunlight. This would increase the temperature because less sunlight is going back into space
What is a climate proxy? Why is it useful? Give an example.
Study of past climate. It’s useful to help show the past climate. Tree rings are an example of a climate proxy
Describe what causes the seasons.
Earth’s orbit around the sun, the 23.5-degree axis tilt and the different amount of direct sunlight
How would the seasons be different if the Earth was tilted at 33.5 degrees instead of 23.5 degrees?
The temperatures would be much warmer in the summer and much colder in the winter
How do we describe the eccentricity of an orbit that is nearly circular?
Low eccentricity is nearly circular
Eccentricity, axial tilt, and precession are all cycles that can influence climate. Who were they named after?
Milankovitch
What evidence of past data can tree rings provide?
Past precipitation levels
If you wanted to determine what the climate was like 10 million years ago, where could you look for evidence?
Sediment and ice cores.
Fisher’s Island and Long Island were pushed into place by massive glaciers around 28,000 years ago. What were global temperatures like then compared to now?
It was much colder
Note:
CHECK YOUR STUDY GUIDE, NOT EVERY QUESTION IS ON HERE BECAUSE THERE ARE GRAPHS. LOOK AT QUESTION 39 and OTHER QUETIONS WITH GRAPHS!!
