Term
| What are the 5 components of the climate system? |
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Definition
| Atmosphere, Vegetation, Ice, Land Surfaces, Ocean |
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Term
| What are the 3 (4) types of climate forcing? |
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Definition
| Tectonic Processes, Earth-Orbital Changes, Changes in the Sun, and Anthropogenic Forcing |
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Term
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Definition
| A measure of the time it takes the climate system to react fully to some imposed change in forcing. |
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Term
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Definition
| A state of climatic stability toward which the climate system is moving and at which it will eventually remain. |
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Term
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Definition
| Amount of time it takes for HALF the remaining warming needed to achieve equilibrium to occur. |
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Term
| Which climate system component has the fastest response time? Slowest response time? |
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Definition
Fastest = atmosphere
Slowest = ice sheets |
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Term
| Describe the systems response if the forcing is fast? slow? Occurs in cycles? |
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Definition
Slow forcing = fast response
Fast forcing = little or no response (slow)
Forcing in Cycles = cyclic response that track the forcing or lags behind |
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Term
| Define a positive feedback. Give an example of a positive feedback. |
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Definition
| Response enhances the original condition. |
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Term
| Define a negative feedback. Give an example. |
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Definition
| Response dampens the original condition. |
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Term
How is the strength of a feedback measured? What's the calculation? Describe what each result means.
How is the strength of a feedback measured? What's the equation? What do the resulting values mean? |
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Definition
- Strength measured by feedback factor (f)
f= (temp change with feedback)/(temp change without feedback)
- f = 1, no feedback
- f>1, positive feedback
- f<1, negative feedback |
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Term
| What type of energy is the energy from the sun? |
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Definition
| Electromagnetic radiation (shortwave radiation - visible light 0.4-0.7micrometers) |
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Term
| How much incoming solar radiation is received at the top of the atmosphere? At the Earth's surface? |
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Definition
Atmosphere = 1368W/m^2
Surface = 342W/m^2 |
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Term
| Describe the distribution of solar radiation across the Earth. |
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Definition
| Unequal distribution. Amount arriving at the top of the atmosphere and absorbed by the Earth's surface is highest at the equator and lowest at the poles. Amount reflected by clouds is highest in southern hemisphere. Amount reflected by surface is highest at the poles (ice). |
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Term
| Why does incoming solar radiation very seasonally? |
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Definition
| Due to the migration of the incidence angle North and South of the equator and varying of albedo (snow cover in winter, no snow in summer). |
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Term
| What type of energy is the energy emitted from the Earth? |
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Definition
| Longwave electromagnetic radiation (aka Back Radiation) |
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Term
| Describe the principle of object's emitting heat. |
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Definition
| Any object whose temperature is greater than absolute zero (0K or -273C) contains some heat that's being radiated away from that object. |
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Term
| Based on the energy emitted by Earth, Earth's surface temp should be -16C. Surface estimates +15C. What's the reason for this 31C difference? |
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Definition
| Due to greenhouse effect. |
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Term
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Definition
| The percentage of incoming radiation that's reflected rather than absorbed. |
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Term
| How does surface colour affect albedo? |
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Definition
| The lighter the surface, the higher the albedo. |
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Term
| How does incidence angle affect albedo? |
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Definition
| The lower the sun angle, the higher the albedo (more reflected). The higher the sun angle, the lower the albedo (more absorbed). |
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Term
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Definition
| The ability to absorb heat. Measured in calories per unit volume. |
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Term
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Definition
| The number of calories absorbed as the temperature of 1g increases by 1C. |
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Term
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Definition
| Heat measured by a thermometer (can touch/feel). |
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Term
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Definition
| Heat absorbed and held in storage in a gas or liquid during phase changes. |
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Term
| Describe the process of convection. |
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Definition
| Incoming solar radiation warms the Earth's surface, which warms the air directly above it. The warming of the air results in the air mas expanding and becoming less dense and rising. As it rises, cooler air above which is denser descends to fill in the void below. |
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Term
| Describe Hadley Cell Circulation. |
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Definition
| Warmest air at the equator due to highest amounts of incoming solar radiation. The air mass warms, expands, and rises. As it rises, it cools due to adiabatic lapse rate, condenses, and lots of precipitation occurs at the equator as a result. This cool and dry air then descends at 30 degrees North and South. |
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Term
| What is the value of the Saturated/Moist Adiabatic Lapse Rate? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the value of the dry adiabatic lapse rate? |
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Definition
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Term
| Describe the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). |
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Definition
| Trade winds from north east and south east converge at the equator to fill the void of the warm air that rises at the equator. |
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Term
| Describe monsoonal circulation in the summer. Which component is high-pressure and which is low-pressure? |
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Definition
| Land is warmer than ocean. Land heats air right above the surface, air mass warms, expands, and rises. As it rises, cools at adiabatic lapse, condenses, and heavy precipitation falls over land. Cools and descends over oceans and is carried over the ocean back towards land picking up moisture. Highpressure = ocean where air is descending. Low Pressure = over land. |
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Term
| Describe monsoonal circulation in the winter. Which component is high-pressure and which is low-pressure? |
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Definition
| Ocean is warmer than land and heats air mass above the water. Air mass expands, rises, and then cools at adiabatic lapse rate, and condenses resulting in heavy precipitation over the ocean. The cool air then descends back down over land. High pressure = land where cool air is descending. Low pressure = over ocean. |
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Term
| Describe the Coriolis Effect. |
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Definition
| The deflection of currents to the right in the Northern Hemisphere (clockwise) and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere (counter-clockwise) due to the Earth's rotation. |
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Term
| To what ocean depth is all solar radiation stored and mixing occur? |
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Definition
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Term
| Describe the North Atlantic Deep Water formation. |
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Definition
| As warm, saline water from the Gulf of Mexico makes its way across the Atlantic to Northern Europe, it then meets up, with very cold, saline arctic water around northern UK/ireland. This cold, saline water is very dense and descends. |
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Term
| How does sea ice affect climate? |
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Definition
| Sea ice can block the interaction between the warmer ocean and atmosphere. Resulting in much colder air temperatures than ocean temps. |
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Term
| What is the inverse relationship between the size of the reservoir and the rates of exchange? |
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Definition
| The larger the size of the reservoir, the slower the rates of exchange. |
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Term
| What's the chemical reaction that takes place during photosynthesis? |
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Definition
| CO2 + water -> energy(glucose) + oxygen |
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Term
| What are the four types of proxies? |
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Definition
| Sediments, Ice, Coral, Trees |
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Term
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Definition
| Proxies based on changes in the composition of plant and animal groups. |
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Term
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Definition
| Proxies that quantify mass movements of Earth's materials through the climate systems. |
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Term
| What are the two types of climate models? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which oxygen isotope is preferentially evaporated? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which oxygen isotope is preferentially precipitated? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the two type of climate eras? |
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Definition
| Icehouse era and Greenhouse era |
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Term
| Describe the faint young sun paradox. What's an explanation for it? |
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Definition
| Sun's intensity is increasing with age (today it's 25-30% brighter), so being weaker, for the first 3 million years, the Earth should've been frozen over. Explanation: Much more greenhouse gases were present which kept the Earth warm. |
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Term
| Describe how Hydrolysis removes CO2 from the atmosphere. |
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Definition
| Water and CO2 from the atmosphere combine and form carbonic acid and reacts with silicate rocks resulting in calcium carbonate, silicate, and water. |
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Term
| Describe the process of dissolution. |
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Definition
| Water and CO2 from the atmosphere combine forming carbonic acid which reacts with limestone (calcium carbonate) resulting in the degradation of the limestone. Some CO2 gets returned to the atmosphere. |
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Term
| What are the 3 factors controlling chemical weathering and how do they each affect it? |
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Definition
Temperature - warmer temps = more cw
Precipitation - more precip = more cw
Vegetation - increases cw |
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Term
| What is the snowball earth hypothesis? |
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Definition
| The hypothesis that Earth was frozen even in the tropics sometime in the interval between 850-550million years ago. |
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Term
| What is the Gaia Hypothesis? |
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Definition
| Hypothesis that life regulates climate on Earth. |
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Term
| Describe the structure of continental crust. |
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Definition
30-70km thick
composed of granite
less dense |
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Term
| Describe the structure of oceanic crust. |
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Definition
5-10km thick
composed of basalt
more dense |
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Term
| What are 3 types of plate movements? |
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Definition
| Divergent Margins, Convergent Margins, and Transform Faults |
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Term
| What is the polar position hypothesis? |
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Definition
| That 1) Ice sheets should appear on continents that were located at polar or near-polar latitudes and 2) No ice should appear if the continents are located outside polar regions. |
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Term
| Describe the climate on pangea. |
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Definition
| Driven by monsoons (wet and dry seasons). Also was a winter hemisphere and summer hemisphere. |
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Term
| Does the polar position hypothesis provide a good enough explanation for climate? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is BLAG/Spreading Rate Hypothesis? |
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Definition
| Hypothesis that states tectonic-scale climate changes are driven by variations in the global average rate of seafloor spreading which alters the amount of CO2 being released to the atmosphere. |
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Term
| Where are two places CO2 is released according to the spreading rate hypothesis? |
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Definition
| At convergent margins and divergent margins. |
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Term
| How do faster spreading rates contribute to the release of more CO2 at ridges? At subduction zones? |
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Definition
- Faster spreading at ridges creates larger amounts of new crust and the release of more magma, increasing the release of CO2
- Faster spreading rates results in more subduction and larger volumes of carbon bearing sediments and rocks melting and Co2 is released through volcanoes. |
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Term
| Why are we limited in using the spreading rate hypothesis to explain climatic controls? |
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Definition
| Because there's no ocean crust older than 160my |
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Term
| What is the Uplift and Weathering Hypothesis? |
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Definition
| Hypothesis that states chemical weathering is the active driver of climate change rather than just a negative feedback. |
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Term
| What affects the global mean rate of weathering according to the Uplift and Weathering Hypothesis? |
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Definition
| The availability of fresh rock and mineral surfaces to erode. |
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Term
| What's the relationship between weathering and surface area and weathering and grain size? |
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Definition
Increase in surface area = increase in chemical weathering
Smaller the grain size = increase in chemical weathering that can take place |
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Term
| According to Uplift and Weathering Hypothesis, when continents are colliding (uplift occuring), is atmospheric CO2 high or low? |
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Definition
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Term
| According to Uplift and Weathering Hypothesis, when continents are NOT colliding (no uplift occuring), is atmospheric CO2 high or low? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the Ocean Heat Transport Hypothesis? |
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Definition
| Hypothesis that changes in the amount of heat transported toward polar regions by the ocean cause changes in polar climates. |
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Term
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Definition
| Relative movement of ocean up and across the margins of land. |
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Term
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Definition
| Relative movement of the ocean down and off margins of the land. |
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Term
| What are two causes for eustatic sea level changes? |
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Definition
| Changes in the volume of the ocean basin and changes in the volume of water. |
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Term
| What are 3 processes that change the volume of an ocean basin? |
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Definition
| Volume of ocean ridges (faster spreading = bigger ridges, smaller ocean basin), Collision of continents (increase volume of basin), and Construction of volcanic plateaus (cause displacement of water) |
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Term
| What are 2 processes that change the volume of water? |
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Definition
| Ice sheets and the thermal contraction/expansion of water. |
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Term
| What was the blip that occurred 55 million years ago? What is the hypothesized cause of the blip? |
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Definition
| Deep ocean temps warmed by 4 degrees in less than 100,000 years. Caused by ocean acidification. |
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