Natural Cyclic Fluctuations and Climate Change

What is the main difference between weather and climate?

• Weather is short-term, while climate is long-term.

• Weather and climate are the same.

• Climate changes daily, but weather does not.

• Climate only refers to temperature.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following is an example of a short-term climate fluctuation?

• Milankovitch cycles

• Plate tectonics

• El Niño

• Ice ages

How does El Niño impact weather in the eastern Pacific?

• Increased rainfall and flooding

• Severe droughts

• Colder temperatures

• Stronger hurricanes

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following are effects of La Niña? (Select all that apply)

• Stronger upwelling in the eastern Pacific

• Increased rainfall in Australia

• Warmer waters in the Pacific

• Decreased fish populations

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

NGSS.HS-ESS3-1

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

Match the climate fluctuation to its characteristic:

• Milankovitch cycles

• Changes in Earth’s orbit and tilt

• Volcanic eruptions

• Temporary cooling due to ash clouds

• El Niño

• Cooler ocean temperatures in the Pacific

• La Niña

• Warmer ocean temperatures in the Pacific

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

The Milankovitch cycles are changes in Earth’s orbit, axial tilt, and __________.

• precession

• rotation

• revolution

• nutation

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

Which Milankovitch cycle describes the shape of Earth’s orbit?

• Precession

• Obliquity

• Eccentricity

• Rotation

Place the following climate events in order of occurrence (shortest to longest time scale).

• Ice ages

• Ice ages

• El Niño

• El Niño

• Milankovitch cycles

• Volcanic eruptions

• Volcanic eruptions

• Milankovitch cycles

How do volcanic eruptions impact climate?

• They cause immediate global warming.

• They release gases that cool the atmosphere temporarily.

• They have no effect on climate.

• They increase hurricane activity.

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-2

NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

Which factors influence long-term climate change? (Select all that apply)

• Plate tectonics

• Seasonal changes

• Milankovitch cycles

• Human activity

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

NGSS.HS-ESS3-1

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5