Quaternary Period, GH effect, Climate change, Extreme weather

Question 1

What do we mean by glaicals?

Answer 1

Cold periods in the earth’s history when glaciers (Ice) have advanced (got bigger/larger)

Question 2

What are interglacials?

Answer 2

Warmer periods in the earth’s history when glaciers have retreated (gone backwards) and ice sheets have decreased in size.

Question 3

The quaternary period has …

Answer 3

been dominated by cold climates and ice shaping the land

Question 4

What period are we expecting now?

Answer 4

interglacial

Question 5

The warmer and cooler periods experienced on earth according to Milankovich are caused by the combination of two things. What are they?

Answer 5

-Shape of the earth’s orbit around the sun (Circular orbits
result in glacials),
-Tilt of the earth’s axis (The natural wobble of the Earth as
it moves around the sun. This affects the tilt of the Earth
and the amount of energy it receives by the sun. The
greater the angle of the tilt the hotter the summers and
the colder the winters are)

Question 6

What is one other natural cause of climate change?

Answer 6

Volcanic eruptions, sunspots

Question 7

Give 2 examples of greenhouse gasses

Answer 7

Methane

Carbon dioxide

Question 8

What is short wave energy?

Answer 8

Light from the sun.

Question 9

What is long wave energy?

Answer 9

Heat from the sun.

Question 10

Carbon is one of the most common elements in the environment. Where do we find it?

Answer 10

All organic substances i.e. all living things,
Simple compounds such as CO₂ which exists as a gas in the atmosphere and is dissolved in the oceans.
Complex compounds such for example hydrocarbons found is fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas.

Question 11

What is a carbon sink?

Answer 11

Places where carbon is stored over very long periods of time.

Question 12

Carbon is transferred from one part of the environment to another in a cycle known as

Answer 12

Carbon cycle

Question 13

What is it called when the light hits the earth and is remitted?

Answer 13

The greenhouse effect

Question 14

What is the keeling curve?

Answer 14

Graph that shows the rise of CO₂ in the atmosphere

Question 15

What evidence is there of climate change?

Answer 15

Ice cores, Tree rings

Question 16

The global circulation is a worldwide system of winds which transports heat from the tropical to polar (1). At the equator (2) heats the Earth which in turn heats up the air above. Hot air rises, creating (3) pressure. When the air reaches the (4) it cannot go any further and travels north and south. This air becomes colder and heavier, and at around 30 degrees north and south it falls creating (5) pressure. Air from the north and south then returns to the equator and meets an area known as (6). A large circulation of air is thus created, known as the (7) cell. Air rises again at around 60 degrees north and south and descends again around 90 degrees north and south, creating a further two less distinct cells: The (8) cell and the (9) cell.

Answer 16

1=Latitudes, 2=Insolation, 3=Low Pressure, 4=Tropopause, 5=High Pressure, 6=ITCZ, 7=Hadley, 8=Ferrel, 9=Polar