Natural Climate Change

Question 1

What are orbital changes

Answer 1

Variations in the way the Earth moves round the Sun

Question 2

Tilt

Answer 2

Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle as it orbits the sun.This tilt changes over a cycle of 41,000

Question 3

Wobble ( also called precession )

Answer 3

The axis of the Earth wobbles like a apinning top on a cycle of about 22,000 years

Question 4

Stretch ( also called eccentricity )

Answer 4

The path of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun changes fom almost a perfect circle to an oval and back again about every 96,000 years

Question 5

These orbital changes / cycles affect the amount

Answer 5

Of solar radiation ( energy) the Earth recieves .If the Earth recieves more energy then it gets warmer

Question 6

Major volcanic eruptions eject

Answer 6

Large quantities of material e.g. ash into the atmosphere

Question 7

These ash particles reflect the Sun’s rays

Answer 7

Back to space so the Earth’s surface cools

Question 8

The Sun’s output isn’t constant it changes in

Answer 8

Short cycles of about 11 years and possibly also in longer cycles of several hundred years

Question 9

Periods when solar output is reduced

Answer 9

May cause the Earth’s climate to become cooler

Question 10

Aesteroid hitting thr Earth’s surface can throw up huge amounts

Answer 10

Of dust into the atmosphere .

Question 11

These dust paricles prevent the Sun’s energy from

Answer 11

Resching the Earth’s surface so global tempersture falls

Question 12

Natural climate change

Answer 12

Volcanic activity
Aesteroid collisions.
Orbital changes
Solar output