Long Term Changes in Climate

Global Climate change - Part 2

Wind patterns

Wind patterns

• Caused by convection currents resulting from rising warm air and falling cool air

Wind patterns

Transports moisture and heat

Global wind patterns move warm air away from equator, toward poles.

Cold air moves from poles toward equator.

Winds pick up moisture and can carry it for long distances until it falls as precipitation. 

Multiple Choice

Cold air moves ________________

• from poles toward equator.

• from equator toward poles

• both ways

Multiple Choice

Wind transports moisture and heat

• True

• False

The Oceans

Oceans

Ocean currents affect climate by transporting heat.

Ocean currents are caused by a combination of:

-unequal heating of water

-unequal salinity

Multiple Choice

Ocean currents affect climate by transporting ________

• Heat

• Humidity

Oceans

The ocean absorbs a lot of carbon dioxide, causing a global cooling effect.

The ocean can hold 50 times more CO₂ than is found in the atmosphere.

Multiple Choice

The ocean can hold___________CO₂ than is found in the atmosphere.

• 60 times more

• 50 times more

• 70 times more

Open Ended

How can ocean can help in cooling our planet?

Other Factors That Affect Climate

1) Altitudes:

Higher altitudes have cooler temperatures; mountain ranges affect rainfall patterns.

Multiple Choice

Higher altitudes have ________temperatures

• hooter

• cooler

2) Volcanoes

Gases and particles can temporarily block sunlight, causing air to cool. 

Open Ended

Volcanoes can have a cooling effect on the climate. Explain

3) Vegetation:

Plant life promotes cloud formation and absorbs carbon dioxide

Multiple Choice

Plants can help in _____________

• increasing hea and Oxygen absorption

• cloud formation and CO2 absorption

4) Earth’s orbit:

Changes in Earth’s orbit and the tilt of Earth’s axis affect the distribution of solar radiation

Polar wander: the change of the magnetic poles over Earth's surface through geologic time

For example, Ice ages are at least partially caused by changes in Earth’s orbit and axis.

This happened 3.2 million years ago

Multiple Choice

___________the change of the magnetic poles over Earth's surface through geologic time

• Polar wander

• Polar change

• Polar storm

Multiple Choice

Ice ages are partially caused by__________________

• changes in Earth’s orbit and axis.

• changes in Earth’s seasons

Multiple Choice

Ice age happened _______________

• 5.6 million years ago

• 3.2 thousands years ago

• 3.2 million years ago