3.3 C: Geology = the Changing Earth 3.3 Explaining and Predicting Climate Change Flashcards
(134 cards)
1
Q
What is the definition of weather?
A
The state of the atmosphere in terms of variables such as temperature, cloud cover, precipitation, and humidity for a particular place at a particular time.
Weather is often what people check daily for immediate conditions.
2
Q
What is the definition of climate?
A
The average of daily and seasonal weather events that occur in a region over a long time period.
Climate provides a broader perspective than weather, encompassing long-term trends.
3
Q
True or False: Meteorologists can always make perfect weather predictions.
A
False.
Predictions are not always accurate, especially long-term forecasts.
4
Q
What makes predicting changes in Earth’s climate challenging?
A
Earth’s climate system is complex.
This complexity complicates the reliability of forecasts.
5
Q
What tools do atmospheric scientists use to improve weather forecasts?
A
Powerful weather-simulating computers.
These computers assist in modeling atmospheric conditions.
6
Q
Fill in the blank: Weather is determined by variables such as temperature, cloud cover, ________, and humidity.
A
precipitation.
These variables are essential for understanding current weather conditions.
7
Q
What is measured by a detector mounted on a satellite orbiting Earth?
A
Surface temperatures across the entire globe.
This technology allows for comprehensive temperature monitoring.
8
Q
What does an average temperature measurement for a specific month, like April 2003, help to understand?
A
Monthly climate trends and patterns.
Averaging data over time helps in analyzing climatic shifts.
9
Q
What story does Unit C narrate?
A
A story of changing landscapes and climates
This includes the diversity of organisms that have lived on Earth.
10
Q
What types of organisms are mentioned in the environmental diversity?
A
Stromatolites, bizarre creatures in coral reefs, dinosaurs, large grazers, woolly giants
These organisms adapted to various environments over time.
11
Q
What significant period follows the four tumultuous eras of survival and extinction?
A
The Holocene Epoch
This epoch marks the most recent part of Earth’s story.
12
Q
When did the Holocene Epoch begin?
A
Approximately 10,000 years ago
It began after the last glaciation.
13
Q
What major event occurred at the beginning of the Holocene Epoch?
A
The great melt following the last glaciation
This led to significant environmental changes.
14
Q
Where were the oldest signs of human existence in North America found?
A
Bluefish Caves in the Yukon
These stone tools are approximately 16,000 years old.
15
Q
What may scientists discover regarding human existence in North America?
A
Older evidence of humans
This indicates that human presence may date back further than currently known.
16
Q
What geographical feature opened up a passage for early residents of North America?
A
The Laurentide Ice Sheet
Its melting created an ice-free corridor extending south through Alberta.
17
Q
What traditional stories of First Peoples describe?
A
A world of water from which the Great Spirit created the land
18
Q
What significant event occurred as the Laurentide Ice Sheet disintegrated?
A
Release of a great deal of water that filled enormous glacial lakes
19
Q
What is the length of glacial Lake Edmonton?
A
150 km
20
Q
How long ago did glacial Lake Edmonton submerge the Edmonton area?
A
12,000 years ago
21
Q
What is the oldest archaeological evidence of humans living in North America?
A
16,000 years ago
22
Q
Why is it important to understand the relationship between cause, correlation, and probability?
A
To evaluate the validity of theories concerning Earth’s climate
23
Q
In the context of climate change, what will you apply concepts of cause, correlation, and probability to?
A
A small-scale weather event and a long-term global climate trend
24
Q
Fill in the blank: The Laurentide Ice Sheet released a great deal of _______ as it completely disintegrated.
A
water
25
What traditional stories of First Peoples describe?
A world of water from which the Great Spirit created the land
26
What significant event occurred as the Laurentide Ice Sheet disintegrated?
Release of a great deal of water that filled enormous glacial lakes
27
What is the length of glacial Lake Edmonton?
150 km
28
How long ago did glacial Lake Edmonton submerge the Edmonton area?
12,000 years ago
29
What is the oldest archaeological evidence of humans living in North America?
16,000 years ago
30
Why is it important to understand the relationship between cause, correlation, and probability?
To evaluate the validity of theories concerning Earth's climate
31
In the context of climate change, what will you apply concepts of cause, correlation, and probability to?
A small-scale weather event and a long-term global climate trend
32
Fill in the blank: The Laurentide Ice Sheet released a great deal of _______ as it completely disintegrated.
water
33
What epoch is currently being experienced?
Holocene
34
What geological period will Alberta experience its next glaciation within?
Next 100,000 years
35
What is the name of the period when Earth experienced repeated glaciations dating back to Snowball Earth?
Precambrian Era
36
What are the two types of changes in climate mentioned?
* Chaotic in nature
* Follow a pattern
37
What is the name of the period that follows several glaciations?
Quaternary Period
38
Fill in the blank: The current epoch, the Holocene, is just one time period of warming following one of several _______.
[glaciations]
39
True or False: The Holocene is the only epoch experienced in Earth's climate history.
False
40
What will learners review before learning about theories concerning cold periods?
Global climate record during Earth's history
41
What is the average global temperature in degrees Celsius?
15°C
42
What geological time period is known for the Cretaceous?
145 to 66 million years ago
43
What geological time period is known for the Jurassic?
201 to 145 million years ago
44
What geological time period is known for the Triassic?
252 to 201 million years ago
45
What is the time range of the Permian period?
299 to 252 million years ago
46
What geological time period is known for the Carboniferous?
359 to 299 million years ago
47
What geological time period is known for the Devonian?
419 to 359 million years ago
48
What geological time period is known for the Silurian?
443 to 419 million years ago
49
What geological time period is known for the Ordovician?
485 to 443 million years ago
50
What geological time period is known for the Cambrian?
541 to 485 million years ago
51
What is the time range of the Precambrian period?
4.6 billion to 541 million years ago
52
What are the sub-periods of the Quaternary?
Holocene and Pleistocene
53
Fill in the blank: The _______ period is known for the Tertiary.
Paleogene
54
What is the time range of the Tertiary period?
66 to 2.6 million years ago
55
True or False: The Carboniferous period comes after the Devonian period.
True
56
What is the time range of the Holocene epoch?
11,700 years ago to present
57
What is the time range of the Pleistocene epoch?
2.6 million to 11,700 years ago
58
Fill in the blank: The _______ period is known for the Mesozoic era.
Cretaceous
59
What are the three main periods of the Mesozoic era?
* Triassic
* Jurassic
* Cretaceous
60
What are the two main periods of the Cenozoic era?
* Tertiary
* Quaternary
61
Fill in the blank: The _______ period is known for the Paleozoic era.
Cambrian
62
What are powerful supercomputers used for?
Creating mathematical models
## Footnote
Supercomputers are essential in various fields for simulations and complex calculations.
63
Fill in the blank: Powerful supercomputers are used to create _______.
[mathematical models]
64
What is the hydrosphere?
All the water at or near Earth's surface
## Footnote
The hydrosphere includes oceans, rivers, lakes, and even moisture in the atmosphere.
65
What do mathematical models created by supercomputers attempt to describe?
Earth's climate
## Footnote
These models study links between solar radiation and Earth's layers.
66
What is a key challenge in creating accurate climate models?
Numerous links and intricate interactions
## Footnote
The complexity of Earth's systems makes it difficult for supercomputers to generate precise models.
67
What should one consider regarding the theories of glaciation?
Which combination of effects is most likely to play a significant role
## Footnote
It is more productive to think about multiple contributing factors rather than seeking a single explanation.
68
What appears to be random concerning glaciation periods?
The timing of long periods of repeated glaciations
## Footnote
This includes glaciations in the Precambrian Era, Jurassic Period, and Pleistocene Epoch.
69
What is the most probable cause of glaciation periods?
Plate tectonics
## Footnote
The random nature of plate tectonics may influence glaciation events.
70
What is one theory concerning the occurrence of cold snaps?
They occur when Earth's tectonic plates are in certain positions
## Footnote
This theory suggests that large land masses must be near the poles for glaciations to happen.
71
What must form on land to cause glaciations?
Continental ice sheets
## Footnote
The presence of continental ice sheets is essential for the accumulation of snow and ice.
72
What effect does the accumulation of snow and ice have on the climate?
The forming ice sheet takes on a climate of its own
## Footnote
This climate is influenced by the ice's reflective properties.
73
What is the impact of an ice sheet's color on solar energy?
It reflects most solar energy back into space
## Footnote
The white color of ice contributes to a cooling effect on the planet.
74
Fill in the blank: The most powerful supercomputers are used to create mathematical models that attempt to describe _______.
Earth's climate
75
What is the global conveyor?
The system of ocean currents that circulates warm water from the tropics
## Footnote
This system has both warming and cooling effects on different parts of the world.
76
How does the ocean function similarly to a refrigerator?
It uses convection currents to transport heat
## Footnote
Just like a refrigerant fluid circulates in a fridge, ocean currents pick up and release heat.
77
What effect does the global conveyor have on the North Atlantic Ocean?
Transfers heat from the warm tropics between Iceland and Scotland
## Footnote
This heat is further carried to Europe by prevailing winds.
78
Why are most European countries warmer than Canada despite being at similar latitudes?
Due to heat transported by the global conveyor
## Footnote
The prevailing winds play a significant role in this heat distribution.
79
What is the effect of the ocean current encircling Antarctica?
Reduces the amount of heat the continent can receive from the southern tropics
## Footnote
This contributes to Antarctica being the coldest place on Earth.
80
What historical event may be explained by changes in ocean current flow during the Pleistocene epoch?
The Pleistocene cold snap
## Footnote
Changes in ocean currents significantly affected global temperatures.
81
What geographical change occurred forty million years ago that impacted ocean currents around Antarctica?
Australia separated from Antarctica, creating the Indian Ocean
## Footnote
This separation allowed ocean currents to circulate around Antarctica.
82
What climatic formation did the cooling effect from ocean current changes encourage?
Formation of the Antarctic Ice Sheet
## Footnote
This led to the Pleistocene Glaciations.
83
Fill in the blank: The ocean acts as a _______ by transferring heat through convection currents.
heat pump
84
True or False: The global conveyor only has a warming effect on the planet.
False
## Footnote
It has both warming and cooling effects in different regions.
85
What is one way that old volcanic activity has impacted the Earth's climate?
It may have contributed to long-term climate change
## Footnote
Volcanic activity has been linked to significant climate shifts over geological time scales.
86
Which period is associated with significant volcanic contributions to species extinction?
Permian Period
## Footnote
The Permian Period is known for the largest mass extinction event in Earth's history.
87
What is an example of a short-term climate fluctuation caused by a volcanic eruption?
The temporary cooling effect caused by the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo
## Footnote
The eruption of Mount Pinatubo released a large amount of ash and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, leading to global temperature drops.
88
Fill in the blank: Volcanoes can contribute to _______ fluctuations in climate.
short-term
89
True or False: Volcanoes only affect climate on long-term scales.
False
## Footnote
Volcanoes can influence both long-term and short-term climate changes.
90
What is the Milankovitch Theory?
The correlation between changes in Earth's orbit and the occurrence of glaciations
## Footnote
Named after Milutin Milankovitch, who first suggested this relationship.
91
What are the three ways Earth's orbit varies according to Milutin Milankovitch?
* Shape of the orbit (eccentricity)
* Tilt of the axis of rotation
* Wobble of the axis of rotation
92
How do the variations in Earth's orbit and rotation affect the planet?
They affect the amount of solar radiation reaching Earth's polar regions.
93
What do ocean sediment cores show regarding Milankovitch Cycles?
They correlate quite well with the timing of the Pleistocene Glaciations.
94
True or False: Milankovitch Cycles are the cause of overall cold periods.
False
## Footnote
They control the timing of the glaciations, not the cold periods themselves.
95
Fill in the blank: The repeated glaciations during major cold periods seem to match changes in Earth's _______.
orbit around the Sun and rotation on its axis.
96
What pattern does the intensity of solar radiation seem to follow?
The frequency of sunspots.
97
What happens to solar energy when there are more sunspots?
It increases.
98
What do most climatologists consider regarding variations in sunspots?
They have only a minor impact on climate.
99
What historical period is known as the Maunder Minimum?
1645 to 1715.
100
What climatic event occurred during the Maunder Minimum?
The Little Ice Age in Europe.
101
True or False: The Sun always shines with the same intensity.
False.
102
Fill in the blank: The Maunder Minimum is associated with a period of _______ sunspots.
very low.
103
What gases are present in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat?
Carbon dioxide and methane
## Footnote
These gases create a natural insulating effect.
104
What would happen to Earth without the natural greenhouse effect?
Earth would be much colder than even the coldest ice age.
105
What historical data shows variations in carbon dioxide levels over time?
Vostok ice-core data
## Footnote
This data indicates drastic changes in carbon dioxide levels.
106
What natural events can cause variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide?
* Volcanic activity
* Weathering of carbonate rocks
107
How do changes in carbon dioxide correlate with global temperature?
They appear to correlate with changes in the average global temperature over the past 160,000 years.
108
What are the Milankovitch Cycles?
Natural cycles that affect the Earth's climate and correlate with carbon dioxide changes.
109
What has been observed in recent times regarding carbon dioxide concentration?
There has been an exponential increase in carbon dioxide concentration since the Industrial Revolution.
110
What is the main human activity contributing to increased carbon dioxide emissions?
Burning of fossil fuels.
111
What impact does the increase in carbon dioxide concentration have on Earth's temperature?
It enhances Earth's natural greenhouse effect, leading to significant increases in average global temperature.
112
What has been the trend in average global temperature over the last century?
There has been a significant increase in average global temperature.
113
What is the possibility related to climate change mentioned in the text?
There is a possibility that large climate change can be reversed.
114
Fill in the blank: The largest source of atmospheric carbon dioxide is _______.
burning of fossil fuels.
115
True or False: The increase in carbon dioxide emissions is entirely under human control.
True.
116
What do computer models predict regarding average global temperature?
They predict increases in average global temperature due to emissions from energy use.
117
Which countries are mentioned as having significant per capita carbon dioxide emissions?
* United States
* China
* India
* Russia
* Germany
* Japan
* United Kingdom
* Italy
* Ukraine
118
What is the main question posed about global warming's effects?
Could global warming cause global cooling?
## Footnote
This question highlights the complex nature of Earth's climate system.
119
What phenomenon is predicted to occur as Earth warms due to the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Melting of mountain glaciers and continental ice sheets
## Footnote
This includes the Greenland Ice Sheet, which has been shrinking over the past several decades.
120
What has been the impact of the melting Greenland Ice Sheet?
Releasing fresh water into the North Atlantic Ocean
## Footnote
This process could affect ocean currents and global climate patterns.
121
What could happen if enough fresh water is added to the North Atlantic?
It could slow down warm tropical currents
## Footnote
This could lead to significant changes in climate, including rapid cooling in certain regions.
122
What historical climate event is mentioned as a comparison for potential future cooling?
The most recent ice age
## Footnote
The analogy suggests that similar processes could lead to advancing ice sheets.
123
Fill in the blank: The complex nature of Earth's climate system can lead to _______ effects from global warming.
cooling
124
True or False: Computer models predict that global warming will only lead to higher temperatures.
False
## Footnote
Some models predict that global warming could eventually cause cooling.
125
What is one of the variables in the complex projections of climate change?
The rate of melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet
## Footnote
This melting influences sea levels and ocean currents.
126
What is the relationship between global warming and the melting of ice sheets?
As global temperatures rise, ice sheets melt at an increasing rate
## Footnote
This process contributes to changes in ocean salinity and circulation.
127
What is the Holocene Epoch?
The Holocene Epoch is the final page in the story of Alberta, beginning approximately 10,000 years ago and still in progress.
128
Who are two key scientists that established foundational concepts in geology?
James Hutton and Charles Lyell.
129
What do scientists rely on to understand the past?
Processes observable in the present.
130
What must theories carry according to scientific principles?
The burden of evidence.
131
What do scientists hope to achieve by understanding past climate changes?
To predict future climate change.
132
True or False: Total certainty can be reached when predicting outcomes in complex systems like Earth.
False.
133
Fill in the blank: A lack of certainty should not prevent people from _______.
acting.
134
What challenges do scientists face when predicting climate change?
Many theories and processes combine in complicated ways.
