Week 7

Question 1

When was the medieval warm period, what was the termperature like and forcings

Answer 1

850-1250 AD

• 0.9 degrees warmer
• Solar forcings
• GHG

Question 2

What circumstances about the medieval warm period (interms of forcings)

Answer 2

Solar Forcings - there was an increase in solar activity (more sun spots) which raised the temperature
Volcanic forcing

Question 3

What caused the little Ice Age?

Answer 3

Solar forcings - reduced sunspots

- short term volcanic forcings high frequency of volcanic eruptions in this time period

Question 4

Discuss the mechanism of Volcanic forcings

Answer 4

Eruption excretes sulfates, aerosols into the atmosphere, These aerosols create a shielding effect over the troposphere, thus preventing insolation from entering, causing a net cooling of the troposphere.

Question 5

What is the famous volcanic eruption which caused the year without a summer?

Answer 5

Tambora, occured in 1815

Question 6

Which forcings are having the greatest effect on the modern era

Answer 6

mostly GHG caused by anthropogenic means