Paleoclimate Lab
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Ocean County College *
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Course
152
Subject
Geography
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
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3
Uploaded by AmbassadorMoonFox21
1.List three greenhouse gases:
1. Carbon Dioxide
2. Methane
3. Water
2. Which is the most important of these gases in terms of amplification of climate effects?
Water vapor is the most important because it turns over quickly and lasts in the atmosphere for hours, days, and or weeks. 3. Describe how these gases act like a “thermal blanket.”
Gases absorb radiation and re-radiate it back to space and downwards.
4. “The story of Earth’s climate has been a story of massive changes. Earth has been much warmer and much colder than it is today, including times when there were no ice caps and times when the entire planet was nearly frozen over.” Based on this statement, should changes in Earth’s climate cause anxiety? If you answer yes, please support your opinion with factual information. If you answer no, please explain why we should not worry.
Yes, the ever changing climate should cause anxiety because the planet is forever changing. The changes occurring happen in the atmosphere are called the greenhouse effect. In which the three greenhouse gases create heat that is trapped to Earth’s surface and can be thought of as a warm blanket wrapped around the planet. Since the planet is always changing and climate change is always increasing, we should be keeping a close eye on Earth.
5. What are the main factors that affect Earth’s climate?
Carbon Dioxide levels are a main factor that affects Earth. When CO2 rises, the temperature will rise as well. Without carbon dioxide, Earth’s surface would be almost 60ºF cooler.
6. We know from the relative amounts of 16O and 18O that global temperatures and global climate have changed over time. Why is it important for scientists to be able to explain how they know that climate has changed over time and that they are able to repeat experiments that support this information?
It is important for scientists to be able to explain how they know that climate change has
differed over time so they can understand the extent of change in global temperature and climate. This also allows them to do research and work on ways to lessen climate change.
7. Atmospheric changes in Earth’s history have caused large temperature changes through time. Explain how knowledge of these past connections between atmosphere and climate can inform us about modern-day climate change.
Past connections can inform us about modern day climate change because the climate has been changing due to an increase of CO2 levels in the atmosphere. The increase of CO2 is caused by agricultural and industrial waste created by humans, we should take measures to
reduce the amount of carbon that we use.
8. Explain how the ability to describe the pattern of ice ages over the past million years helps us to assess what is a “normal” variation in Earth’s atmosphere.
The graph shows that ice caps have melted over time, it allows us to assess what is too hot and too cold for the Earth’s atmosphere.
9. Changes in atmosphere are not the only changes that impact climate. How can changes in Earth’s orbit impact temperature?
Small changed in Earth’s orbit around the sun affects the amount and distribution of solar energy striking the planet.
10. Describe how small changes in Earth’s orbit around the sun explain the pattern of glacial and
interglacial periods over the past million years.
Small changes in Earth’s orbit can explain the pattern of glacial and interglacial periods over the past million years because when the orbit is more elliptical, melting of the glaciers is affected by seasons.
11. Based on the information you have just learned, please explain how Milankovitch cycles can be used to predict future changes in Earth’s climate.
The closer the Earth is to the sun, the warmer the climate will be.
12. Using the chart titled CO2 and Temperature Fluctuations During the Past 800,000 Years:
a. describe the fluctuations in CO2 and temperature over the past 800,000 years, and explain why you see oscillations.
There is a rise in CO2 since humans are using a lot for agriculture and industry.
b. explain the cause for the significant changes seen at 0 years before present on the CO2 and Temperature Fluctuations During the Past 800,000 Years chart.
The increasing rise in CO2 emissions is due to human causes.
13. What is the big concern about the rate of CO2 change in Earth’s climate?
The big concern for CO2 is that it is getting warmer at an unusual rate where the rate of change is rapid in the environment.
14. Using the information provided for the past 800,000 years:
a. estimate the length of time that it took for CO2 to go from 200 to 300 ppm. 17,000 years
b. estimate the length of time that it took for CO2 to go from 300 to 400 ppm. 100 years
c. Compare the rate of change from 300 ppm to 400 ppm to the rate of change from 200 to 300 ppm. 16,000 years
15. What has happened in the past 150 years that has caused this rise in the rate at which CO2 is added to the atmosphere?
Industrial Revolution
16. List five potentially severe impacts of rapid climate change:
1. droughts
2. floods
3. rise in sea level
4. heat waves
5. storms
17. Explain the importance of educating others about climate change consequences. Describe how you would present the information in a way that would cover the most important points, as well as emphasizing that changes in human behavior can make a difference in the ultimate impacts of climate change.
Educating others about climate change would allow humans to fully grasp the idea of how they are living now and how to change the ways they live to help reduce the rate of climate
change. In order to cause a difference,
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