Midterm Flashcards
The main chemical component of the lower atmosphere by total volume is…?
nitrogen
what season is in Australia when the earth is positioned as it is shown in the diagram below… north pole to the right left side shaded, sun rays coming from the right
winter
positive earth climate system feedbacks always:
amplify changes initially caused by external forcing
Which of the following CANNOT be used as a source of geochemical climate data?
A) planktonic forms (such as foraminifera or Radiolara)
B) cave deposits
C) seasonal snow cover
D) glacial ice
E) trees
seasonal snow cover
The influence on the climate of carbon dioxide is mainly due to its ability to absorb..
infrared radiation
When considered within the time scale of the last 300 million years, what is the present-day state of earth’s climate?
Earth is much colder today than it was 100 million years ago
Earth’s average temperature today is:
15.5°C
If the sun were to suddenly brighten and send more energy what climate systems components would respond most slowly? A) the atmosphere B) ice sheets C) sea ice D) vegetation E) surface ocean
ice sheets
The part of the atmosphere that creates weather and supports life
is troposhere
Which two types of biotic data are most important to climate reconstructions?
microfossils of plankton and pollen
Infrared energy is mainly absorbed in the greenhouse effect by which two gases?
water vapor and carbon dioxide
what causes the observed annual rise and fall of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
seasonal changes in the rate of photosynthesis in the Northern Hemisphere
What place on earth experiences the largest annual temperature range?
Asia
What is the driving force for the Hadley cell atmospheric circulation pattern?
equatorial heating
Which of the following has the highest average albedo? A) desert sand B) forest C) ocean water D) ocean water covered w/ sea ice E) grassland
ocean water covered w/ sea ice
What effect does sea ice have on atmospheric temperature?
Sea ice prevents the release of heat from the ocean beneath, allowing air temperatures to get much colder in the winter.
What of the following correctly describes the Intertropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ)?
A) In the ITCZ, converging air rises and forms clouds
B) The trade winds flow out of the ITCZ towards the tropics
C) The ITCZ is located in the tropical area around 30°N and S
D) The ITCZ is an area of permanently high pressure
In the ITCZ, converging air rises and forms clouds
Oxygen (O2) is being added to the atmosphere by..
vegetation
What effect do mountain ranges have on the distribution of precipitation?
Precipitation is enhanced on the windward side and reduced on the leeward side.
Which of the following statements about monsoonal circulation is CORRECT?
A) High pressure over continental surfaces leads to heavy precipitation on land
B) Monsoons are caused by a malfunction of the Hadley cell circulation
C) Summer monsoons tend to produce precipitation over continental surfaces
D) The strongest monsoon circulations occur when there are little seasonal differences in the surface heating between the land and ocean
Summer monsoons tend to produce precipitation over continental surfaces.
What is one direct result of the circulation of molten iron in Earth’s core?
Earth’s magnetic field
what allows lithospheric slabs to move?
a soft, easily deformed layer of the mantle just below the lithosphere
Which one of the following regions is the site of a convergent plate boundary?
A) San Andreas fault, Western North America
B) the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau
C) the east coast of North America (think of NY and NJ)
D) the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge
the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau
The greenhouse effect:
A) describes the process by which incoming solar radiation is trapped in the troposphere
B) keeps Earth’s average temperature such that liquid water can exist at Earth’s surface
C) is a synonym for global warming
D) all of the above
keeps Earth’s average temperature such that liquid water can exist at Earth’s surface
With a weak Sun, why wasn’t earth frozen for the first two-thirds of its history?
The atmospheric carbon reservoir was much larger in earth’s early history than it is today.
Can volcanic input of C02 into the atmosphere be considered a plausible candidate for the Earth’s climatic thermostat?
No, b/c the rate of volcanic activity is not influenced by atmospheric conditions
Chemical weathering by hydrolysis of silicate rocks on the continents:
transfers carbon-containing ions to the ocean where they are later stored in the shells of marine plankton
Where did the extra carbon dioxide (CO2) from Earth’s early atmosphere ultimately go to?
sediments and rocks in Earth’s crust
What is the relationship between temperature and chemical weathering?
When climate initially warms, chemical weathering decreases atmospheric CO2
Tectonic (lithospheric) plates:
are rigid slabs of the crust plus the uppermost mantle
Time scales of climate change
the last 300 million years, the last 3 million years, the last 50,000 years, and the last 1,000 years
Components of climate system
- Air
- water
- ice
- land
- vegetation
Climate forcing
factors that drive climate changes (causes) • Tectonic processes • Changes in Earth’s orbit • Changes in the Sun’s strength • Anthropogenic forcing
Climate responses
the resulting changes (effects)
• The response time is the rate at which water (or air temperature or any other climate component) warms or cools toward an equilibrium temperature
• Each part of the climate system has its characteristic response time (from hours to thousands of years)
Feedbacks of the climate system
processes that alter climate changes either by amplifying or by suppressing them.
Positive feedbacks
growth of glaciers during climate cooling or melting of glaciers during climate warming
Negative feedbacks
increased evaporation and cloud cover during climate warming
Difference between weather and climate
Weather - Short-run atmospheric conditions
Climate – pattern of day-to-day weather conditions over a long period
What are sediment archives?
layered rocks accumulating on the ocean floor, along the coastline, and in continental lakes
What are examples of other climate archives?
glacial ice, corals, tree rings, lake pollen, cave stalactites
Pollen - a proxy indicator of climate on land
- Pollen is used for reconstructing younger climate intervals
- 60 microns – the diameter of a sand grain
Plankton: a proxy indicator of climate in
the ocean
Shelled remains of plankton:
- foraminifera and coccoliths contain CaCO3
- diatoms and radiolaria contain SiO2