Climate Change

Question 1

What does sunlight enter the Earth as?

Answer 1

Shortwave, electromagnetic radiation

Question 2

What traps heat in the Earth’s surface?

Answer 2

Greenhouse gases

Question 3

What does heat try to escape the Earth as?

Answer 3

Infrared heat (wavelengths 800 nm to 1mm)

Question 4

What is natural and enhanced greenhouse effect?

Answer 4

Natural is the trapping of heat with greenhouse gases due to the natural processes within the carbon cycle. Enhanced is the increase in temperature due to increase in greenhouse gases as a result of human activity. This leads to global warming which then leads to climate change.

Question 5

How does the carbon cycle work?

Answer 5

Look at carbon cycle diagram in notebook.

Question 6

What are geological eras periods, and epochs?

Answer 6

Geological time is split into three geological eras, these eras are split into periods where specific systems of rocks were formed. These are broken down into epochs which is a period of time when a series of rocks are deposited.

Question 7

What causes Earth temperatures to fluctuate?

Answer 7

• Earth’s orbit is not completely circular and changes every 100,000 years
• Earth’s tilt changes overtime due to Moon’s gravity (22.1-24.5 degrees) which impacts seasons

Question 8

How can we tell if the Earth has switched between glacial and interglacial periods?

Answer 8

• Ice cores
• Ocean sediments
• Orbital changes
• Volcanic activity

Question 9

What period of time are we in?

Answer 9

Cenozoic Era –> Quaternary Period –> Holocene Epoch

Question 10

Name one three threats and opportunities of global warming.

Answer 10

Check notebook

Question 11

Give an example of a cause and solution for carbon footprint?

Answer 11

Check notebook