COS 14: Climate

Yes, During photosynthesis, trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. By planting more trees, or by replacing those removed during deforestation, atmospheric carbon dioxide would be decreased.

Why would planting trees help reduce global warming and why?

--They analyze sediment and shells of microorganisms on sea floor. --Shells of microorganisms that lived at the surface can give a history of changes in temperature of the sea surface. --They drill into glaciers and study oxygen isotopes to create a climate history. --They study tree rings to create weather history of a tree's lifetime.

How can scientists study climate changes for which no historical record exists.

Volcanic dust from an eruption can remain suspended in the atmosphere for several years, blocking incoming solar radiation and thus lowering global temperatures.

How can volcanoes affect climate?

Temperatures differ because of the air currents. When the air brings in a warm air current, then the temperature will be warm. Same with the cold air currents

How do temperatures in different regions differ?

-- As the Earth takes a more circular orbit than normal around the Sun, it stays consistently farther away from the Sun thus reducing the amount of solar radiation the Earth receives. This path would produce much cooler climates than average.

How does a more circular orbit affect Earth's climate during each time the various cycles were occurring.

-- As the Earth takes a more elliptical path than normal around the Sun, there is a part of the year where the Earth is much closer to the Sun than average. This causes the Earth to receive much more solar radiation and causes temperatures to become warmer and creating warmer climates than normal.

How does a more elliptical orbit affect Earth's climate during each time the various cycles were occurring.

-- Earth is tilted, seasonal climatic changes occur as Earth revolves around the Sun and different areas of the planet receive varying amounts of solar radiation. During summer in the northern hemisphere, for example, the north pole is tilted toward the Sun, and the northern hemisphere has longer hours of daylight and warmer temperatures. At the same time, the south pole is tilted away from the Sun, causing the southern hemisphere to experience longer hours of darkness and colder temperatures. --The angle of the tilt varies every 41,000 years. Scientists theorize that these changes in angle cause seasons to become more severe.

How does the tilt of the Earth affect climate?

The greenhouse effect blocks solar radiation from escaping from the atmosphere, causing temperatures to stay warm. Gas and dust from volcanic activity block solar radiation from entering the atmosphere, causing cooler temperatures

How is the atmosphere blocking solar radiation different from volcanic activity blocking solar radiation?

-Seasons on Earth will be reversed, meaning that winter will come in the northern hemisphere when Earth is farthest from the Sun and summer will come when it is closest. That is the opposite of what happens now. -The result will be colder winters and warmer summers than we now experience.

How will seasons on Earth change when Earth's axis points away from Polaris and toward Vega in ~14,700 years?

There would be scarcely any seasonal climatic changes if Earth were not tilted because each part of Earth's surface would receive the same amount of solar radiation all year round.

How would seasonal climate change if Earth were not tilted on its axis?

Irrigation would be more likely on the leeward side. Moist air rises on the windward side. The air cools, the moisture condenses, and precipitation drops on the windward side. As the air moves down the leeward side, it is drier and warmer, often creating dry conditions that would require irrigation.

If you have an apple orchard, would you be more likely to need irrigation if the orchard is on the windward or the leeward side of a mountain range? Explain your answer.

wind speed

In addition to average weather conditions, climatological data also describes annual variations and fluctuations of temperature, precipitation, ____, and other variables.

sunspot

The Maunder minimum is a period of very low _____ activity that closely corresponded to an unusually cold climatic episode.

carbon dioxide

The burning of fossil fuels releases large amounts of ____ into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming.

polar zone

The climatic zone that receives the least solar radiation and has the coldest climate is the ____.

-They are averaged on a monthly or annual basis. -They represent the standard values for a location. -The information applies only to the place where the data were collected.

The following are true about climatological normals :

heating

The greenhouse effect is the natural ___ of Earth's surface caused by certain gases in the atmosphere.

precipitation

The major criteria used to classify climates are temperature and amount of ___.

elliptical.

The shape of Earth's orbit changes over a 100,000-year cycle, becoming more circular, and then more ______________________

climatology

The study of Earth's climate and the factors that affect past, present, and future climate changes

bodies of water

Two climates that are at the same latitude may be different because of ____.

wind

Types of climate data include annual variations in temperature, precipitation, and ____.

-- wind patterns -- the amount of solar radiation absorbed by Earth's surface -- ocean currents

Changes in the positions of the continents may affect global climates by affecting

-wind patterns - the amount of solar radiation absorbed by Earth's surface -Ocean currents

Changes in the positions of the continents may affect global climates by affecting ____.

No, the greenhouse effect allows Earth's atmosphere to trap heat.

Could global warming happen without the greenhouse effect?

The glacial ice reflected more solar energy than it absorbed.

During Earth's past, some landmasses lay nearer to the poles and became glaciated. Which of the following statements explains how this event could have caused global cooling?

The glacial ice reflected more solar energy than it absorbed.

During Earth's past, some landmasses lay nearer to the poles and became glaciated. Why could this have contributed to global cooling?

-location on Earth's surface in either the tropical, temperate, or polar zone; -location near or far from a large body of water; -altitude.

Give some reasons for climate variation.

La Niña

A cold ocean current that develops off the west coast of South America

season

A short-term period of climatic change caused by regular variations in daylight, temperature, and weather patterns

El Niño

A warm ocean current that develops off the west coast of South America

Volcanic dust from an eruption can remain suspended in the atmosphere for several years, blocking incoming solar radiation and thus lowering global temperatures.

Explain how a huge volcanic eruption can disrupt the Earth's climate.

Places at different latitudes on Earth receive different amounts of solar radiation. Areas closer to the equator receive more direct solar radiation for a longer period of time.

Explain how latitude affects climate.

La Nina effect

In the Fall of 2016, the SE United States experienced drought conditions whereas the Ohio Valley region experienced severe flooding. In the Spring of 2017, the SE United States experienced a very warm winter while the Northern United States had severe snow storms. Please give a reason as to why?

-Location on Earth's surface in either the tropical, temperate, or polar zone; -location near or far from a large body of water; -altitude.

List reasons for variations in climate.

is more affected by ocean currents, specifically the gulf stream

London, England, has warmer winters than Cleveland, Ohio, partly because London

south

One of the effects of El Niño is that the jet stream shifts farther ___ .

ice age

Period when much of Earth's surface was covered by vast sheets of ice

ice

Periods of extensive glacial coverage are called ____ ages.

ice ages.

Some scientists hypothesize that changes in the angle of Earth's tilted axis cause ___________

Maunder minimum

Studies indicate that periods of low sunspot activity, like the ____, correspond to unusually cold climate conditions.

Normals are the specific place where climate was recorded so the limits would be the part where the climate is extensively different than the rest of the area.

What are limits associated with the use of normal?

-Normals are standard values for weather in an area. -They include average readings for characteristics such as temperature and rainfall. -On any given day, the temperature or amount of precipitation can vary greatly from that average.

What are normals?

-solar activity, -changes in Earth's orbit or the tilt of its axis, -volcanic eruptions.

What are some natural cycles that could cause climatic change on Earth?

Volcanic eruptions, solar output, ocean circulation, surface temperatures, precipitation patterns, glacial ice volumes, sea levels, Coriolis effect

What are the natural causes of climate change?

earthquake activity

What has not affected Earth's climate in the distant past?

Long-term climactic changes are climate changes that occur over a long period of time, whereas short-term climactic changes are climate changes that occur over a shorter period of time.

What is the difference between long-term and short-term climactic changes?

greenhouse effect -solar energy reaches the planet -CO2 creates a warm (blanket) layer around planet -some solar energy does re-enter space -the earth warms volcanic eruption -volcanic dust and ash create a blanket around the planet or an area -solar energy does not penetrate the "blanket" -the earth (or area) cools

What is the difference between the greenhouse effect and a volcanic eruption?

These combined factors would likely produce greater seasonal contrasts in temperature. Thus, there would be more extreme differences in temperatures, between summer and winter.

What might be the effect on seasons if Earth's orbit became more elliptical and, at the same time, the angel of the tilt of the Earth increased?

temperate

What zone is above the tropical zone?

tropic

What zone is around the center of the planet?

polar

What zone is at 66.5 N and S?

warmer.

When its orbit elongates, Earth passes closer to the Sun and climates become _____________

warmer

When its orbit elongates, Earth passes closer to the Sun and climates becomes

colder.

When its orbit is more circular, Earth is farther from the Sun and its climates become __________

warmer and drier

When moist winds approach a mountain, they often drop rain as they rise over the mountain, and come down the other side of the mountain much ____.

increased reflection of sunlight into space

Which change is most likely to cause Earth to cool?

-The climate of an area would influence the way buildings are designed and constructed. -Houses in a polar climate might need to withstand heavy snows and protect its inhabitants against cold temperatures. -Homes in tropical climates might need to withstand heavy rainfall and provide ventilation for cooling because of the high temperatures.

Why do architects need to know about climate?

Climactic changes occur when the amount of heat in the Earth's system changes by either being added or released.

Why do climactic changes occur?

Climates vary around the world because of the positioning of the sun. The equator gets the most sunlight. Therefore, the equator is always going to be hotter than the rest of the world. Mountains are different, however. The higher up you go, the colder it will be because there is not a lot of surface area for the sun to heat up. As you climb, the surface area becomes less and less and gets even colder.

Why do climates vary?