Climate Change Flashcards
1
Q
Cenozoic and Holocene Cooling
A
- Climate has been cooling for last 50 My
- tild and precession will keep insolation stable in next 10 Ky
2
Q
Holocene Climate Oscillations
A
forcing time, timescale, and its periodicity
-all models affect global circulation and local weather
-
3
Q
Types of Holocene Oscillations
A
- seasonal (90 days)
- El Nino (2-10 years)
- North Atlantic Oscillation (decadal)
- Arctic Oscillation (Annual?)
- Pacific Decadal Oscillation (10 -50 years)
4
Q
El Nino
A
- warm western pacific, precipitation
- cold eastern pacific, little precipitation
5
Q
Arctic/North Atlantic Oscillation
A
- most noticeable in winter, maximum in the Atlantic
- surface sea-level pressure difference
6
Q
Positive NAO
A
- stronger than usual subtropical high pressure center
- deeper than normal Icelandic low-strong winds brings cold air across polar regions and weather to Europe)
7
Q
Negative NAO
A
- weak subtropical high and weak Icelandic low
- winds are weaker, increased storminess
8
Q
Radiative Forcing
A
-direct measure of amount that the Earth’s energy budget is out of balance
