Unit 8 Climate Change

Front

Climate proxy

Back

A climate proxy is a preserved physical characteristic of the past that scientists use to reconstruct past climate conditions.

Front

Isostatic rebound

Back

Isostatic rebound is the rise of land masses after the removal of the weight of ice sheets during the last glacial period.

Front

Isostatic rebound and Earth's past climate

Back

It tells us how fast the ice sheets are melting and how much ice is pressing down on Earth’s crust, indicating climate change in temperature.

Front

Mild seasons vs. extreme seasons

Back

A year with mild seasons has gradual and moderate temperature shifts, while a year with extreme seasons has pronounced temperature swings with harsher winters and hotter summers.

Front

Causes of ice ages

Back

extreme seasons are not a direct cause of ice ages; it's the Milankovitch cycles that are the primary drivers of long-term climate shifts and ice ages.

Front

Milankovitch cycles

Back

Eccentricity, obliquity, and precession.

Front

Milankovitch cycles and climate

Back

They are variations in Earth's orbit and axial tilt that affect the amount of solar radiation the planet receives, influencing long-term climate changes and ice ages.

Front

Eccentricity in Milankovitch cycles

Back

Refers to the shape of Earth's orbit around the sun, varying between a more circular and a more elliptical form.

Front

Obliquity

Back

The tilt varies between 21.5 and 24.5 degrees over about 41,000 years, influencing seasons and solar radiation distribution.

Front

Albedo

Back

Refers to the fraction of sunlight a surface reflects. Values range from 0 (no reflection) to 1 (complete reflection).