Climate Basics
What is the definition of climate?
What is the average weather over long periods of time?
What major climatic event occurs when large parts of the Earth are covered in glaciers?
What is an ice age?
What natural phenomenon affects Earth’s climate by changing its orbit over 100,000 years?
What is the shape of Earth’s orbit?
What is El Niño?
What is a climate pattern characterized by warm ocean water moving toward South America?
What do large volcanic eruptions release that can cool the Earth?
What are aerosols or dust and ash?
What is one major effect of climate change on global temperatures?
What is an increase in global temperatures?
How much did temperatures drop during the last ice age?
What is about 5°C?
What is the range of degrees for Earth’s axial tilt?
What is between 22.1° and 24.5°?
What effect does El Niño have on California's weather?
What is increased rainfall?
How can volcanic activity affect global temperatures?
What is by blocking sunlight and causing cooling?
How long does it typically take for significant climate changes to occur?
What is over decades to millions of years?
When did the last ice age end?
What is approximately 10,000 years ago?
What is the term for the wobble of Earth as it spins on its axis?
What is axial precession?
What happens to trade winds during an El Niño event?
What is they become weaker?
What is one consequence of major volcanic eruptions on climate?
What is a temporary drop in global temperatures?
What is the greenhouse effect?
What is the natural heating of Earth's surface caused by certain atmospheric gases?
What are interglacial periods?
What are warmer periods between ice ages?
How does Earth's tilt affect the seasons?
What is it causes variations in temperature and daylight throughout the year?
How does El Niño affect weather patterns globally?
What is it causes unusual weather patterns, including droughts and floods?
What is the term for the particles released by volcanoes that can linger in the atmosphere?
What are aerosols?
What is one human activity that contributes to climate change?
What is burning fossil fuels?
How did ice ages affect sea levels?
What is caused sea levels to drop due to water being trapped in ice?
What is the Milankovitch cycle?
What is the long-term variation in Earth's orbit and tilt affecting climate?
What is La Niña?
What is the opposite of El Niño, characterized by cooler ocean temperatures?
How did the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 affect global climate?
What is it led to a temporary cooling of the Earth's surface?