L6 - Climate History & Long Term C

Question 1

climate cooling mechanisms?

Answer 1

• Chemical weathering can be a negative feedback loop - thermostat
  
  • Decrease in volcanism - less co2 to atmosphere
  • Continental drift - change in ocean currents and thus heat transfer.
    Continental drift - Himalaya formation & increased silicate weathering

Question 2

monsoon mechanism?

Answer 2

• Land has low thermal inertia and heats up quickly. Creates low pressure as air rises
  
  • Pressure difference causes air to flow inland from high pressure ocean
  • Moist air from sea is slowly heated and joins up motion
  • Cools and condenses to produce heavy rain
  • Monsoons initially dry (rising of sensible heat) then wet (release of latent heat)
    Opposite during winter - warm air rises over sea and air from land joins motion

Question 3

What is a proxy for temperature?

Answer 3

d18O isotope ratio