Worlds Climate Systems

Question 1

What is the Hadley cell

Answer 1

At the equator hot moist air rises moves to higher latitudes and sinks

Question 2

What is the Ferrell cell

Answer 2

At around 60° either side of the equator moist air rises and travels to lower latitudes at around 30° where it sinks along with the air travelling from the equator

Question 3

What is the polar cell

Answer 3

At 60° north or south of the equator moist air rises and travels to the poles where it sinks

Question 4

Name the natural causes of climate change

Answer 4

Asteroid collisions

Variations in the earths orbit around the sun

The effects of a volcanic eruption

Changes in solar output (amount of heat energy) of out sun

Question 5

Why does asteroid collisions effect the climate

Answer 5

Masses of ash and debris would be ejected in to the air which would block the Sun, causing a decrease in global temperatures

Question 6

How does orbital change (Eccentricity) affect the climate

Answer 6

The orbit around the sun changes from a circle to an oval. This affects how intense the sun is in certain seasons. 1 cycle takes 100,000 years

Question 7

How does obliquely affect earths climate

Answer 7

Around every 45,000 years the earths axis changes by around 3°
Which affects the contrast between summer and the winter season

Question 8

How does precession affect the earths climate

Answer 8

Describes the wobble of the earths axis. Affects the length of days
Full cycle takes around 20,000

Question 9

What is solar output

Answer 9

Is the amount of solar energy that the sun emits which are thought to have an effect on the earths climate

Question 10

What is the sunspot cycle

Answer 10

It’s an 11 year old cycle where the amount of sunspots on the suns surface varies from minimum to maximum
Minimum = reduced solar out put
Maximum = enhanced solar output

Question 11

How does volcanic activity affect the earths climate

Answer 11

Large volcanic eruptions can lead to ash in the sky blocking the sun and cause the earths climate to cool down known as the volcanic winter

Question 12

Name one example of a volcanic winter

Answer 12

1783 in Laki, Iceland temperatures fell by 1°

Question 13

What is the quaternary period

Answer 13

It’s a geological time period that started 2.6 million years ago and extends into the present

Question 14

What are ice cores

Answer 14

Scientists use ice cores to detect tempo change
They drill down inside and extract large cylinders (ice cores) at the top is the youngest ice at the bottom is the oldest ice

Question 15

What are tree rings

Answer 15

Tree rings can be used to reconstruct the climate that those trees growing

Every year a tree ring gains another layer each year they can see if the surrounding of the tree was warmer or colder

Question 16

Historical sources in finding out past climates

Answer 16

Photos or paintings may illustrate past climates as people drew what they saw

Question 17

Name human causes of climate change

Answer 17

Burning fossil fuels
Deforestation
Different farming methods, which release methane

Question 18

What is the greenhouse effect

Answer 18

It’s a natural process where greenhouse gases trap the energy from the sun inside the earths atmosphere which heats the earth

Question 19

Explain one role of ocean currents

Answer 19

ocean currents regulate global climate, helping to even out the uneven distribution of heat on the earths surface

Question 20

why do tropical cyclones lose their power over land

Answer 20

they are no longer receiving heat energy and moisture from the ocean, which is needed to drive them.

Question 21

Explain two reasons why tropical cyclones lose their energy

Answer 21

they go onto land, which cuts them off from the ocean

Friction from passing over the land makes them lose their energy

Question 22

What do ocean currents do?

Answer 22

They transfer warmer water to colder regions, and colder water to warmer regions

Question 23

what are ocean currents?

Answer 23

Ocean currents are predictable continuous movements of water in the ocean

Question 24

Where do high rainfall areas form?

Answer 24

The form in low pressure areas, as hot moist air rises it condenses to form rain clouds. this causes the climate near the equator to be humid and very rainy

Question 25

Where do dry, arid areas form?

Answer 25

It forms in high pressure areas, clouds do not form here because the air isn’t rising so it is very dry