lec 1-

Question 1

proxy

Answer 1

a variable that had a strong correlation to a certain event or condition in the past.
an indirect measurement

Question 2

what are the 2 pieces to measure for an environmental proxy

Answer 2

the climate
age/ time

Question 3

what factors might change the energy balance of the earth?

Answer 3

GHG composition/abundance
cloud cover

Question 4

historically, what was the cause of the Ice Age

Answer 4

the introduction of cyanobacteria (phytoplankton) introducing oxygen into the atmos
2.4 billion years ago

Question 5

what are ice ages

Answer 5

long periods when large glaicer are presnece

Question 6

how many ice ages have occurred

Answer 6

at least 5

Question 7

methanogen hypothesis

Answer 7

microbes that feed on H2 and CO2 (anoxic) to make CH4 which allowed the earth to be warm, pre-oxygen

when oxygen-producing bacteria evolved, the atmosphere was littered with O2, killing the methanogens gas CO2 and methane (cooling!)

Question 8

surface radiation balance equation

Answer 8

Q*= Ki+Ko+Li+Lo

Question 9

how is heat transferred in the atmosphere?

Answer 9

via convection in/ across Hadley cells
warmed air rises and cool dense air sinks to replace it, causing a cycling effect

Question 10

why does the Q* value change as dramatically with high energy inputs

Answer 10

because water can absorb a lot of energy before changing temp (High heat capacity). further, most of the energy causes a state change and water in lost to evaporation