Climate Basics
When altitude increases, temperature ______
decreases
What is the long-term pattern in an area?
Weather
What are greenhouse gases?
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere
How much of Earth is covered in water?
71%
What are two ways to remove carbon from the atmosphere?
photosynthesis and manual filtering
The distance from the equator
What is the difference between weather and climate?
weather = short term conditions, climate = long term trends
Name three greenhouse gases
CO2 methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide
How do ocean currents move?
Warm currents move away from the equator, cold currents move away from the poles
What happens to global sea levels as temperatures rise?
They increase
What area is most impacted by rising ocean levels?
Low-lying coastal areas
The closer you are to the _____. the warmer the climate.
Equator
The more ____ in the air, the more the temperature rises.
CO2
Oceans are like a ______, moving water between poles and the equator
Conveyer belt
How many cooling cycles has Earth had in the last 2.5 million years?
40
What happens to air near warm ocean waters?
the air heats up
What are three things scientists use to predict a climate history?
tree rings, ice cores, and fossils
How do car emissions impact sea levels?
They increase CO2, causing global warming and ice to melt
What do melting glaciers carry?
Fresh water and sediment
What are the four types of alternative energy?
Solar, geothermal, wind, tidal power
What are five factors that affect climate?
Latitude, altitude, distance from large bodies of water, ocean currents, winds
What area has mild winters and hot summers?
Coastal areas
What is the Paris Climate Agreement?
A global agreement to reduce climate change effects
What is coral bleaching?
Coral loses color due to rising ocean temperatures
How cold did Earth get during ice ages?
5–15°C colder than today