Week 3 (Slide 15-18)

Question 1

What is the Younger Dryas named after?

A) A comet impact
B) A glacial period
C) A flower, Dryas octopetala
D) A prehistoric settlement

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What role does the “Atlantic Conveyor” portion of the Gulf Stream play in climate?

A) It distributes cold water across the tropics

B) It helps transport warm water from the tropics to polar regions

C) It keeps temperatures stable in the Arctic only

D) It moves glacial meltwater to the Pacific Ocean

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Fill-in-the-Blank

The “Younger Dryas” refers to a period of abrupt climate cooling named after the plant, ___________, which is common in Arctic environments.

Answer 3

Dryas octopetala

Question 4

Fill-in-the-Blank

Around 12,800 B.P., Lake Agassiz in North America released a massive flood that may have triggered the __________.

Answer 4

Answer: Younger Dryas

Question 5

Match the following:
A. Lake Agassiz
B. Atlantic Conveyor
C. Dryas octopetala
D. Younger Dryas

1. Period of abrupt cooling
2. Major glacial lake in North America
3. Plant associated with Arctic conditions
4. Current system distributing ocean heat

Answer 5

A - 2
B - 4
C - 3
D - 1

Question 6

Order the following events related to the Younger Dryas:

1. Lake Agassiz floods
2. Younger Dryas cooling period begins
3. Impact of climate on early human settlements

Answer 6

Answer:

1. Lake Agassiz floods
2. Younger Dryas cooling period begins
3. Impact on early human settlements

Question 7

Describe the significance of the “Atlantic Conveyor” system in global temperature distribution

Answer 7

The “Atlantic Conveyor” is part of the Gulf Stream that helps distribute warm water from the tropics to higher latitudes, regulating temperature in the Atlantic region and influencing global climate.

Question 8

Explain the possible role of Lake Agassiz’s flood in the onset of the Younger Dryas.

Answer 8

The release of massive amounts of freshwater from Lake Agassiz into the North Atlantic may have disrupted ocean currents, contributing to a significant drop in temperatures during the Younger Dryas period.

Question 9

Define the Younger Dryas and its potential causes.

Answer 9

The Younger Dryas was a period of abrupt climate cooling around 12,800 years ago, possibly triggered by the sudden influx of glacial meltwater from Lake Agassiz or a cosmic impact, which disrupted oceanic and atmospheric systems.

Question 10

What is Dryas octopetala and why is it significant to climate history?

Answer 10

Dryas octopetala is a small Arctic plant typical of cold climates. Its presence in pollen records helps scientists identify and date the Younger Dryas period due to its association with colder, open environments.