Climate Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is weather
The day to day conditions that an area experiences
What is climate
The average precipitation and temperature conditions that an area experiences over a year
What is the quaternary period
Simply the last 2.6 million years
How does volcanic activity work
Violent volcanic eruptions blast huge quantities of ash, gases an de liquids into the atmosphere
What is the time scale for volcanic activity
Varies, can be weeks, months, years
How can volcanic activity affect the Earth’s climate?
Volcanic ash a can block out the sun, reducing the temperatures on earth. (A short term impact)
What is solar activity
When sunspots activity is at a maximum, the sun gives off more heat
What is the time scale for solar activity
About 11 years
How can solar activity affect the Earth’s climate
Increases the temperature on earth
What are the three Milankovitch cycles
Eccentricity, axial tilt, precession
What is eccentricity
When the Earth’s orbit around the sun changes from being circular to mildly elliptical
What is the time scale for eccentricity
100,000 years
How does it effect the Earth’s climate
It can change the the average temperature by 5-6*C
