Natural Causes of Climate Change
The shape of Earth's orbit around the sun
Eccentricity
Measures current, daily conditions
Weather
Is photosynthesis a carbon sink or a carbon source?
carbon sink
A prefix meaning "old" or "ancient"
paleo
Earth's axial tilt is called...
Obliquity
How can studying glaciers both support and disprove climate change?
Glacial retreat is occurring, but it is also a natural process
Name the three phases of ENSO
El Niño
La Niña
Neutral
Which type of feedback will stabilize and reduce the action in the future?
Negative Feedback
How do volcanic eruptions affect the climate? Be specific!
Eruptions release sulfates into the atmosphere, which stay in the stratosphere for 1-2 years, absorbing sunlight and therefore increasing warming
What 2 factors of climate do tree rings tell us about?
rainfall and temperature
How long does it take a single carbon atom to complete the entire carbon cycle?
100-200 millions years
What degree of axial tilt is most favorable for another ice age?
22.1 degrees
Name the 3 parts of the Milankovitch Cycles
Eccentricity
Obliquity
Precession
How do scientists use ice core samples to study climate?
They study the molecular makeup of the trapped air bubbles
What conditions are created by an El Niño weather event?
trade winds reverse direction
Pacific ocean temperatures get warmer
Earth's wobbliness is called...
Precession
Name the 3 natural causes of climate change
Milankovitch Cycles
Solar Variation
Plate Tectonics
Humans have been measuring surface temperatures since.....when?
The late 1800s
What are greenhouse gases?
Gases in the atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation
Pick a number!
14 or 37
14 - You get 100 free points!
37 - The other team gets 100 free points!