Quaternary period, GH effect, Climate change, Extreme weather

Question 1

What do we mean by glacials?

Answer 1

Cold periods in the earth’s history when glaciers (Ice) have advanced (got bigger/larger)

Question 2

What are interglacials?

Answer 2

Warmer periods in the earth’s history when glaciers have retreated (gone backwards) and ice sheets have decreased in size.

Question 3

True/False - The quaternary period has been dominated by cold climates and ice shaping the land.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Are we experiencing an interglacial period now?

Answer 4

Yes

Question 5

The warmer and cooler periods experienced on earth according to Milankovitch are caused by the combinations of what two things?

Answer 5

• The shape of the earth’s orbit around the sun (Circular orbits result in glacials),
• The tilt of the earth’s axis (The natural wobble of the Earth as it moves around the sun. This affects the tilt of the Earth and the amount of energy it receives by the sun. The greater the angle of the tilt the hotter the summers and the colder the winters are)

Question 6

Apart from Milankovitch’s theory, what is another natural cause of climate change?

Answer 6

Volcanic eruptions.

Question 7

Give two examples of greenhouse gases:

Answer 7

Methane

Carbon dioxide

Question 8

What is short wave energy?

Answer 8

Light from the sun.

Question 9

What is long wave energy?

Answer 9

Heat from the sun.

Question 10

Carbon is one of the most common elements (parts) in the environment. Where is it found?

Answer 10

• All organic substances i.e. all living things,
• Simple compounds such as CO₂ which exists as a gas in the atmosphere and is dissolved in the oceans.
• Complex compounds such for example hydrocarbons found is fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas.

Question 11

What is a carbon sink?

Answer 11

Places where carbon is stored over very long periods of time.

Question 12

Carbon is transferred from one part of the environment to another in a cycle known as what?

Answer 12

Carbon cycle.

Question 13

What is the keeling curve?

Answer 13

A graph that shows the rise of CO₂ in the atmosphere.

Question 14

What evidence is there of climate change?

Answer 14

• Ice cores.

- Tree rings.

Question 15

Fill in the gaps:
The global circulation is a worldwide system of winds which transport heat from the tropical to polar [1]. At the equator [2] heats the Earth which in turn heats up the air above. Hot air rises, creating [3] pressure. When the air reaches the [4] it cannot go any further and travels north and south. This air becomes colder and heavier, and at around 30 degrees north and south it falls creating [5] pressure. Air from the north and south then returns to the equator and meets an area known as [6]. A large circulation of air is thus created known as the [7] cell. Air rises again at around 60 degrees north and south and descends again around 90 degrees north and south, creating a further two less distinct cells: The [8] cell and the [9] cell.

Answer 15

1=Latitudes,  
2=Insolation,   
3=Low Pressure,   
4=Tropopause,   
5=High Pressure,   
6=ITCZ,   
7=Hadley,   
8=Ferrel,    
9=Polar.