Random
the layer of gases that surrounds Earth
atmosphere
H2O in the atmosphere, comes from evaporation and steam
water vapor
Can be reported as a daily forecast. Short-term atmospheric conditions in an area.
weather
What is the relationship between carbon dioxide levels and temperature? (Which affects the other?)
Carbon dioxide levels increase, which causes temperatures to increase.
What does a paleoclimatologist study?
climate over time/ throughout Earth's history
Which fossil fuel did a king ban in the 1300s because it made the air smoky and dark?
coal
this gas comes from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and vehicles
carbon dioxide (CO2)
Looks at atmospheric measurements for 30 years or more.
climate
What event occurred in the 1850s where humans started to burn more fossil fuels and create factories and new inventions?
The Industrial Revolution
Which proxy record reveals climate data from up to 800,000 years ago? (Frozen layers contain ice bubbles that show us what the air was like and the amount of greenhouse gases in the air. )
ice cores/ boreholes
What is it called when many trees are removed from an area? Does this cause an increase or decrease in carbon dioxide levels?
deforestation; increase because trees aren't there to do photosynthesis and take carbon OUT of the atmosphere
Which greenhouse gas is produced by livestock farming (cows) and landfills? Which gas comes mostly from fertilizers?
Methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O)
1. Michigan gets an average of 150 inches of snow per year.
2. It snowed last year on Christmas.
1. Climate
2. Weather
True or False: Earth's climate has remained completely stable for thousands of years, but now it is quickly getting much warmer.
False-- Earth has natural fluctuations (ice ages and warmer periods), but it is getting much warmer than usual.
What does a dendrochronologist study? How does that tell us about climate?
They study tree rings to see how old the tree is and what the climate/ rainfall was like while it was growing
False-- Water heats and cools very slowly, so areas near large bodies of water like the ocean have more moderate seasons.
Greenhouse effect-- heat from the sun gets trapped in Earth's atmosphere
It's a good thing because it keeps Earth warm but bad if the atmosphere is trapping too much heat.
What is the weather like the higher in altitude you go?
the air is thinner and colder.
List at least 4 effects of climate change.
melting ice, rising sea levels, drought, biodiversity loss, increased temperatures, more extreme and unpredictable weather, extra CO2 in the air, etc.
What is the most sustainable and efficient way to study tree rings?
Use a tree corner/ borer to take a small sample of the rings rather than cutting the whole tree down.
What are some causes of climate change?
deforestation, burning fossil fuels, vehicle emissions, agriculture/ increase in methane, factories/ pollution, increased release of CO2, natural processes
Which fossil fuel can be dangerous and explosive but "burns cleaner" than coal or oil?
natural gas
Explain the relationship between latitude and climate.
Areas closer to the equator (latitude of zero) have much warmer climates than those further from the equator.
Why does ocean acidification occur and how does it affect marine life?
Ocean acidification occurs because the ocean absorbs excess carbon dioxide in the air. It affects coral and shellfish because they cannot grow tough exteriors in the acidic conditions (less carbonate available). Fish populations are smaller on average and have less food available...
How can coral reefs reveal past climate conditions? What about fossils or pollen found in rock layers?
Coral has seasonal growth bands (similar to tree rings) that show ocean conditions during their growth.
Fossils and pollen show us what species used to live in an area, which reveals past climate. (ex. woolly Mammoth skeleton found = used to be cold there)