Questions and Answers
What is the component of the climate system that includes all forms of life?
What is the primary source of moisture for precipitation in the Earth's climate system?
Which component of the climate system affects the flow of atmosphere and oceans through its morphology?
What is the term used to describe the frozen water part of the Earth?
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Which component of the climate system includes collection of gases?
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What is the term used to describe the solid portion of the Earth?
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Which component of the climate system plays a special role in the Earth radiation balance?
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What is the term used to describe the component of the climate system that includes all water?
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What is the consequence of a reduction in snow cover and ice?
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What is the role of ocean circulation in the climate system?
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What has been observed in the energy output of the sun since 1976?
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What is the term used to describe variations in the mean state and other statistics of the climate?
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Why do oceans have a high capacity to contain heat compared to the atmosphere?
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What is the impact of changes in snow and ice cover on freshwater availability?
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What is the term used to describe the measure of the amount of energy the sun gives off?
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What is the relationship between the ocean and atmosphere in terms of climate regulation?
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What impact does the Earth's axial tilt have on seasonal changes?
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How does the eccentricity of Earth's orbit influence climatic conditions?
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Which statement best describes the relationship between ice cover and temperature regulation?
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What role does ocean circulation play in climate regulation?
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How does the average tilt of Earth's axis interact with seasonal climate?
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What phenomenon is primarily driven by changes in the Earth's axial tilt?
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Which factor can lead to significant changes in Earth's climate over long periods due to alterations in orbit?
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What is the current tilt angle of the Earth's axis, and how does it affect climate?
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Study Notes
Global Energy Flows
- The oceans play a crucial role in determining the Earth's climate and have a high capacity to contain heat.
- Ocean circulation redistributes heat throughout the climate system.
- The interaction between the ocean and atmosphere is strong and has a significant impact on climate change.
Earth's Natural Climate Cycle
- Snow and ice cover affect freshwater availability, air temperatures, sea levels, ocean currents, and storm patterns.
- A reduction in snow cover and ice causes the Earth's surface to absorb more energy from the sun, leading to stronger warming.
Climate Variability
- Climate variability refers to variations in the mean state and other statistics of the climate on all temporal and spatial scales beyond individual weather events.
The Climate System
- The climate system consists of five components that directly interact with the atmosphere: atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and cryosphere.
- These components jointly determine the climate of the atmosphere.
Earth Climate System
- The Earth's climate system is a compilation of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere and their interactions.
- The hydrosphere includes oceans and all other reservoirs of water in liquid form.
- The geosphere affects the flow of atmosphere and oceans through its morphology and radiative properties.
- The cryosphere plays a special role in the Earth's radiation balance and determines the properties of the deep ocean.
- The biosphere affects the composition and physical properties of air and water through respiration and other chemical interactions.
Earth's Natural Climate Cycle
- The Earth's rotation is slowing slightly with time, resulting in longer days (today is 1.7 ms longer than a day one century ago).
- The Earth's axis is tilted 23.5 degrees from the plane of its orbit around the sun, and this tilt changes between 22.1 and 24.5 degrees over a cycle of about 40,000 years.
- The shape of the Earth's orbit varies between nearly circular and mildly elliptical, causing Ice Ages with a period of 413,000 years.
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Description
Learn about the crucial role of oceans in determining the Earth's climate and how ocean circulation affects climate change. Understand the impact of snow and ice cover on climate cycles.
