E2020 Climate and Climate Change

What happens during the fall in September?

The Sun's rays are not as concentrated as in summer.

Which statement describes the weather and climate in a tropical region?

The angle of the Sun's rays affects daylight hours, creating warm temperatures all year.

In what type of climate do trees produce narrower rings?

cool and dry

Which greenhouse gas is produced by commercial refrigeration and air conditioning systems?

fluorinated gas

What major factors play a role in global warming?

natural factors and human activity

What should scientists consider when studying tree rings to understand the variations in the local climate?

patterns in their width, their density, and their composition

What do scientists study to reconstruct past climate conditions?

pollen grains, tree rings, and fossils

What are global wind patterns called?

prevailing winds

What are sunspots?

storms on the Sun's surface

What is a fossil?

the remains of an animal or plant preserved within a layer of rock

What causes the cycle of seasons on Earth?

the tilt of Earth's axis

What most likely caused the ice ages?

the tilt of the Earth's axis and the shape of its orbit

Which factors of Earth's position would contribute to long-term climate change?

its elliptical orbit and the tilt on its axis

What is the relationship between Earth's temperature and the number of sunspots that occur?

An increased number of sunspots causes an increase in Earth's temperature.

Which statement best describes the greenhouse effect?

It is a process by which greenhouse gases allow the sun's light to penetrate the atmosphere but stop the heat from escaping.

How does latitude affect climate?

Latitude determines the duration of daylight hours.

Which statement best explains how tectonic activity affects long-term climate change?

The movement of continents changes wind patterns and ocean currents.

What effects do wind patterns have on climate?

They change the amount of precipitation in a region.

Which definition best describes global warming?

a long-term increase in the Earth's average temperature

What is one cause of long-lasting climate change?

Earth's rotation

Which statement describes the influence of latitude on temperature?

Latitude determines the duration of daylight.

During which two months do both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres receive the same amount of energy from the Sun?

March and September

Which describes how prevailing winds affect precipitation in a region?

Prevailing winds cause huge air masses, both warm and cool, to move.

What happens when the south end of Earth's axis is tilted toward the Sun?

The Southern Hemisphere experiences summer.

Which statement describes solstices?

They occur when the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky.

How do scientists study pollen grains to help them understand climate change?

by analyzing and making inferences about them

Which greenhouse gas has an average lifetime in the atmosphere of a few weeks to thousands of years and is the largest contributor to climate change?

carbon dioxide

Pollen grains help scientists

identify plants and make assumptions on past climate conditions.

Which is a possible result of rising ocean temperatures caused by global warming?

increase in strength of hurricanes

What negative effect occurs when there is a decrease in air quality?

increased illnesses that result in a decrease in population

In what type of climate do trees produce wider rings?

warm and wet

What climate condition occurs during El Niño?

warm water moving toward the coast of South America

Which season occurs in the Northern Hemisphere when the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky?

winter