Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Earth catastrophes
quiz 3
23
Science
Undergraduate 1
12/04/2008

Additional Science Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What are climate proxies?
Definition
something that is probably not in itself of any great interest, but from which a variable of interest can be obtained. Temperature proxies such as tree ring widths and ice core layering are used by climatologists to create a temperature record.
Term
Paleoclimate
Definition
the study of climate change taken on the scale of the entire history of Earth. It uses records from ice sheets, tree rings, sediment, and rocks to determine the past state of the climate system on Earth.
Term
What produced washington scablands?
Definition
catacylsmic Missoula floods
Term
What 5 trace gases are greenhouse gases?
Definition
CO2, methane, NO, h20 and 0zone
Term
CO2 sinks:
Definition
photosynthesis
Term
CO2 sources:
Definition
Volcanic, fossil fuel combustion
Term
Absorption of CO2, H20 and CH4
Definition
absorb IR (in troposphere)
Term
Absorption of O3
Definition
Absorbs UV (in stratosphere)
Term
Heating the Earth from above varies with:
Definition
Latitude, season and height in atmosphere
Term
Light flow to and from Earth
Definition
Most converts to heat, then reflects, then evaporation
Term
Way to measure Albedo
Definition
Earthshine on back of moon
Term
Coriolis effect
Definition
Deflection of pathway due to rotation of Earth
Term
Circulation pattern
Definition
Rising motion near equator
Term
Montreal protocol
Definition
ban on CFCs
Term
How much did Earth's surface warm up during the 20th century?
Definition
0.5 c
Term
Geologic climate indicators on land
Definition
Glacial deposits, permafrost, tree rings, fossils, coastal terraces, sand dune, loess
Term
Geologic climate indicators under water
Definition
lake/deep sea sediments
Term
Oxygen isotopes
Definition
18O will be found in the sea water (heavier) and 16O will be found in sea ice
Term
Milankovitch cycles
Definition
collective effect of changes in Earths movement upon its climate
Term
What type of light waves are reflected from the Earth?
Definition
short wavelength radiation
Term
Evaporation and precipitation
Definition
Occurs mostly on the equator
Term
Ice ages
Definition
Every 100,000 or so years due to eccentricity or earths tilt
Term
Hottest period
Definition
crretaceous- 100 mya. no ice. oceans covered 17% of continents. due to plate positions
Supporting users have an ad free experience!