Earths Climate

Question 1

Weather

Answer 1

is a description of atmospheric conditions in a location during a short period of time; such as temperature, wind , humidity

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

the average weather at a location over a long period of time

Question 3

describe why weather varies day-to-day and year-to-year.

Answer 3

weather is variable depending on clouds, storms, and air masses & more long term is jet streams

Question 4

describe why weather is difficult to forecast more than a few days in advance

Answer 4

weather depends on the precise conditions in the atmosphere now

Question 5

The butterfly effect is..

Answer 5

phenomenon whereby a tiny localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere

Question 6

Types of data used to study past climates..

Answer 6

• Ice cores = temp
• Pollen Cores =
  -Tree rings
• Cores from coral = ocean temps
  -Stalagmites
• Sediments

Question 7

What caused the ice ages?

Answer 7

astronomical cycles reduce the amount of summer sunlight in northern hemisphere – winter snow doesn’t melt with change in reflectivity – snow reflects sunlight back to space causing cooling – earth cools and accumulates more snow

Question 8

How do volcanoes affect climate?

Answer 8

Can cool or warm
Cool – ‘volcanic winter’ bc of sulfur dioxide in atmosphere reflects sunlight to space
Warm – can at CO2 to atmosphere and can warm earth

Question 9

How do climate models show whether humans cause global warming or not?

Answer 9

Tests of suns output, volcanoes, ocean currents and other variables show strong consensus that they naturally can not explain global warming

Question 10

What percent of climate scientist agree humans are the issue?

Answer 10

97%