Climate Change Ch. 12 Study Guide

1. Identify 2 physical features and explain how they influence the climate. Latitude Elevation

2. List 2 geographic features and explain how they influence the climate of an area. Geographic features 1.Mountains Precipitation –Rain shadow Wind 2.Oceans Humidity Temperature- moderator 3.Lakes Snow

3. What is the significance of growth rings in trees as indicators of environmental change? Indicate weather –Shows the amount of growth per year Rings close together= cold climate Rings far apart = warm climate

4. What is the significance of ice cores from glaciers as indicators of environmental change? Dust forms a layer each year Scientists can count layers Dark layer=winter Light layer=summer seasons Air bubbles- CO 2 is high during warm temperatures

5. What is the significance of geologic sediments as indicators of environmental change? Shells of organism spiral in one direction during warm weather and the other direction during cold weather If shell has lots of Oxygen then the temperature was more cold

6.What is the significance of glacial sediments and landforms as evidence for climate change? Glacier= cold climate Glacier melts releasing dirt Dirt is blown by the wind to nearby areas Glacial dirt then indicates that area was close to or covered by a glacier

7. What is the significance of fossil pollen as evidence for climate change? Certain types of trees grow during certain temperatures Trees release pollen Pollen layers then give clues to what the temperature was like The thickness of the layer can indicate how long that time period lasted.

8. What is the Earth’s axial tilt? How are the Earth’s seasons related to the axial tilt? Tilt=23.5 º During the summer we are point toward the sun thus we have warmer temperatures During the winter we are tilted away from the sun so we have colder temperatures.

9. What is the shape of the Earth’s orbit? How does the shape influence climate? Earth’s orbit is elliptical During the summer the earth is closer to the sun thus warmer temperatures During the winter the earth is farther away from the sun, thus cooler temperatures

10. Explain how ocean currents affect regional and global climate? Regional –Cold current causes colder weather –Warm current causes warmer weather Global –Ocean water travels from colder north to the warmer south thermohaline circulation- –Cold salty water sinks, flows south and slowly warms, warm water is then push north and slowly sinks-thus a cycle is formed –If the circulation stops then an ice age will slowly begin

12. How is the Earth’s climate influenced by: Plate Movements –Ice sheets only form on land close to the north or south pole The more ice sheets the cooler the climate –Land has a lower heat capacity, as the land moves to where is gets more sun then the temperature also increases –Changes the position of the continents Currents tend to hug along continents so as the continents move so do the currents

12. How is the Earth’s climate influenced by: Ocean Currents Water has a higher heat capacity if the ocean is receiving most of the sun light then the temperature remains more consistent Thermohaline circulation, ocean conveyor belt Circulates the oceans water

13. What is the relationship between carbon dioxide and global temperature? As carbon dioxide increases the global temperature increases as well

14. Explain why/how carbon dioxide effects global temperature. Carbon dioxide acts like a greenhouse wall it allows heat and sun to come in but it does not allow it back out thus causing an increase in global temperature

15. List 5 causes of global warming. Greenhouse gases –CO 2 - carbon dioxide –CH 4 - methane –H 2 0- water –Nitrogen Oxides- burning fossil fuels, ex. Gasoline, coal Volcanoes Cutting down forests Factories Cars Aerosol cans

16. List at least 4 effects of global warming. ice caps melting Global temperature increasing thus changing growing and crop seasons Animals losing their habitat Ocean currents changing