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Questions and Answers
Which gases are primarily responsible for the increase in global temperature due to human activities?
Since which year have global temperatures increased approximately 4°F warmer than historical temperatures?
How do human activities compare to geological processes in terms of changing Earth’s surface?
What is the term used to describe the amount of greenhouse gases emitted through human activity?
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What type of substances release a great deal of energy when burned and contribute to the increase in greenhouse gases?
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How many degrees Celsius cooler was Earth's climate during ice ages?
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What were the primary sources of evidence used by scientists to estimate past cooling cycles?
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Who discovered the pattern of variations in Earth's tilt and orbit affecting climate?
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Which phenomenon did Milankovitch propose to explain the build-up of reflective ice and snow?
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How often do variations in Earth's tilt and orbit resulting in unusually cool summers occur?
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When did the most recent ice age end?
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Study Notes
Human Activities and Global Warming
- Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, alter Earth's surface at a faster rate than natural geological processes.
- Release of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, increases atmospheric concentration, leading to rising global temperatures.
Global Temperature Increase
- Global temperatures have risen by approximately 4°F since 2016, exceeding historical temperatures.
- Scientists attribute human activities as a significant contributor to global warming.
Ice Ages
- Ice ages were periods of dramatic climate change in Earth's past, with temperatures 5 to 15 degrees Celsius cooler than today.
- During these periods, huge glaciers extended beyond the ice caps.
- There have been about 40 cooling cycles in the past 2.5 million years, according to evidence from ice cores and ocean floor cores.
Milankovitch's Theory
- Mathematician Milutin Milankovitch discovered a pattern of variations in Earth's tilt and orbit around the sun.
- These variations occur at regular intervals, resulting in periods of unusually cool summers in the Northern Hemisphere every 40,000 to 100,000 years.
- Milankovitch theorized that cool summers led to a build-up of reflective ice and snow, which in turn reflected solar energy, causing the cooling trend to escalate.
Gathering Information about Climate Conditions
- Scientists gather information about climate conditions millions of years ago from ice cores and ocean floor cores.
- These cores provide evidence of past climate conditions, allowing scientists to estimate the timing and intensity of ice ages.
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Description
This quiz explores how human activities affect the Earth's surface and contribute to global warming. It covers the release of greenhouse gases and their impact on the atmosphere.
