1. Earth's dynamic climate

Preserved physical characteristics of the past which act as natural recorders of climate variability are referred to as climate _______

Which of the following statements are true for an 'Icehouse Earth'?

• Temperatures are lower

• Carbon dioxide levels are higher

• There are no permanent ice sheets

• We are in an Icehouse Earth now

Which of the following statements are true for a 'Greenhouse Earth'?

• Higher global temperatures

• No permanent ice sheets

• Low carbon dioxide levels

• Higher sea levels

How much higher were average global temperatures in the Mid-Cretaceous period (100 million year ago)?

• 6-8 degrees C

• 2-4 degrees C

• The same as today

• 8-10 degrees C

How high were carbon dioxide levels in the Mid-Cretaceous period (100 million years ago)?

• At least double as high as today

• At least 5 times as high as today

• The same level as today

• Lower levels than today

When was the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum?

• 22 million years ago

• 55 million years ago

• 33 million years ago

• 65 million years ago

How high were average global temperatures during the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum?

• 23 degrees C

• 27 degrees C

• 20 degrees C

• 18 degrees C

How long ago did Antarctica enter a permanent Icehouse state?

• 35 million years ago

• 22 million years ago

• 55 million years ago

• 42 million years ago

How long do intergalcial periods last for on average?

• 10000-15000 years

• 100000 years

• 22000-25000 years

• 8000-10000 years

When did the current interglacial period (Holocene) start?

• 14200 years ago

• 11700 years ago

• 10500 years ago

• 15300 years ago