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Geology > Chapter 10 > Flashcards

Chapter 10 Flashcards

1
Q

Paleoclimatology

A

Study of Earth’s past climates (paleo → ancient)

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2
Q

Proxy methods

A

Using pieces of information found in the natural
environment to reconstruct historic climates.

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3
Q

Isotope

A

variation of a particular atomic nuclei

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4
Q

Stable oxygen isotopes

A

oxygen: 8 protons, 8 electrons, 8-10 neutrons.

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5
Q

160

A

Light
Most common

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6
Q

180

A

Heavy

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7
Q

H2O

A

Contains isotopes

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8
Q

Variations in isotopes cause

A

differences in the tendency to evaporate and condense

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9
Q

If water contains “light” (16O)

A

evaporates more quickly than water containing the heavier than 180

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10
Q

Atmospheric water tends to be enriched with

A

Light oxygen

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11
Q

Oceans tend to be
enriched in

A

Heavy oxygen

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12
Q

Sediment Cores

A

High 18O/16O value → cold period
Low 18O/16O value → warm period

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13
Q

Ice Cores

A

Low 18O/16O ratios = Cold Period
High 18O/16O value = Warm Period

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14
Q

Proxy indicators for climate

A

Tree rings
Speleothems

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15
Q

Dendrochronology

A

Tree ring growth.

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16
Q

Solar irradiance

A

Suns energy output
Can affect the climate
Sunspots

16
Q

Speleothems

A

CaCO3
Spikes from the roof and floor in caves.

17
Q

Milankovitch Cycles

A

Eccentricity
Precession
Obliquity

18
Q

Eccentricity

A

shape of orbit around sun
(100,000-yr cycle)

19
Q

Precession (or wobble)

A

resulting from
changes in the time of year when the Earth is
closest to the sun (26,000-yr cycle)

20
Q

Obliquity (or tile)

A

axis tilt; varies from 21.5 to
24.5 (41,000-yr cycle)

21
Q

Continental position and topography

A

Affect ocean currents
Snow-ice accumulation
Are connected to periods of increased volcanic eruptions and topographic uplift

22
Q

Ice-albedo Feedbacks

A

An example of a positive feedback system

23
Q

Ice-albedo Feedbacks warming

A

Warming reduces snow/ice cover, decreases polar albedo, and added insolation adsorption results in further warming

24
Q

Ice-albedo Feedbacks cooling

A

Cooling increases snow/ice cover, increases polar albedo, and reduced insolation absorbed results in further cooling

25
Q

Water-Vapor Feedbacks

A

Most abundant natural green house gas

26
Q

Permafrost-carbon Feedback

A

Warming melts permafrost, allowing further decomposition and releases of CO2 and CH4 further enhancing warming

27
Q

Climate change causes

A

Increase of temperature
Melting of ice
Rising sea level
Increased humidity

28
Q

N2O (nitrous oxide)

A

3rd most prevalent gas; residence time of
~120 years; fertilizer in agriculture

Geology (23 decks)

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