Paleoclimatology Quiz

What is paleoclimatology?

• The study of past climates

• The study of weather patterns

• The study of current climates

• The study of future climates

What are some examples of climate proxies?

• Diatoms, forams, and coral

• Ice cores, tree rings, and sediment cores

• Both A and B

• None of the above

How do foraminifera and diatoms serve as climate proxies?

• By reflecting water chemistry at the time of shell formation

• By indicating changes in past climate through population dynamics

• Both A and B

• None of the above

What can be inferred from stable oxygen isotope ratios in foram and diatom shells?

• Species composition in particular areas

• Sedimentation rate through time

• Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels

• Past water temperatures

What can ice core records be analyzed for?

• Trapped gas, stable isotope ratios, and pollen

• Changes in solar output

• Changes in Earth's orbit

• Changes in atmospheric content of greenhouse gases

How can tree rings be used to infer climate fluctuations?

• By counting the rings to determine age

• By analyzing the thickness of each ring

• Both A and B

• None of the above

What can sediment cores indicate about past climate?

• All of the above

• Sedimentation rate through time

• Past fire events

• Changes in species composition

What are the major factors that can affect the climate system?

• Changes in solar output

• Changes in Earth's orbit

• Changes in the distribution of continents

• Changes in atmospheric content of greenhouse gases

What does the Milankovich Theory state?

• All of the above

• Earth's wobble affects climate

• Variations in Earth's axial tilt affect climate

• Variations in Earth's orbit cause climate change

Why is paleoclimatology important?

• To model and predict current and future climate change scenarios

• To explain how current ecosystems came to be

• None of the above

• Both A and B