APES Unit 9.5 (Global Climate Change)

Milankovitch cycles

Predictable variations in Earth's climate caused by changes in the earth's orbit around the sun, including eccentricity and obliquity variations.

Foraminifera shells

Shells found in ocean sediments used by scientists to estimate historical temperatures based on the temperature tolerance of different species.

Ice cores

Cores containing air bubbles used to estimate ancient atmospheric gas levels, such as CO2, providing insights into historical climate conditions.

Permafrost melting

Thawing of permanently frozen tundra soils releasing methane and CO2 due to anaerobic decomposition, contributing to climate change.

Hadley cell

Atmospheric circulation pattern affected by climate change, widening and weakening as temperature differences decrease, leading to shifts in subtropical zones and drier climates in certain regions.

Thermohaline circulation

Global ocean current redistributing heat, salt, and nutrients, which could slow or stop due to factors like ice melt from Greenland, impacting global climate.

Polar amplification

Phenomenon where polar regions warm faster than other areas due to various factors like melting sea ice, leading to positive feedback loops and unequal global warming.

Arctic sea ice loss

Reduction in sea ice in the Arctic region impacting polar ecosystems, including habitat loss for species like seals and polar bears.