APES 9

Obliquity

The tilt of the Earth's axis, which affects the distribution of solar insolation at different latitudes throughout the year.

Eccentricity

The measure of how far the Earth's orbit deviates from being circular.

Milankovitch cycles

The collective effects of changes in the Earth's movements on its climate over thousands of years.

Foraminifera shells

Microfossils found in ocean sediments used to estimate historical ocean temperatures.

Air bubbles in ice cores

Trapped air in ice that can provide historical data on atmospheric CO2 levels.

Oxygen isotopes (16O vs 18O)

Isotopes used to infer historical temperature, with higher ratios of 18O indicating warmer climates.

Correlation of temperature and CO2 levels

A relationship showing that as temperature increases, CO2 levels also tend to increase.

Effects of climate change

Rising temperatures and sea levels, habitat loss, droughts, and increased weather extremes.

Impact of rising temperatures

Includes habitat loss, drought, increased precipitation, and extreme heat events.

Permafrost thawing

Releases methane and CO2 due to anaerobic decomposition of organic matter.

Barrier islands

Islands that protect coastal communities from wind and waves.

Seawalls and barriers to sea level rise

Structures that may delay flooding but do not prevent it.

Hadley cell weakening

Occurs as the temperature difference between the equator and poles decreases, altering tropical climates.

Jet stream weakening

Caused by reduced temperature gradients, leading to extreme weather patterns.

Marine ecosystems impact

Includes altered habitats, changes in species distribution, and shifts in the photic zone.

Thermohaline circulation

A global ocean circulation pattern driven by differences in water temperature and salinity.

Unequal global warming

The phenomenon where polar regions warm faster due to polar amplification.

Positive feedback loop of melting ice

As ice melts, more water is exposed to sunlight, leading to further warming and ice loss.

Air pollution's role in global warming

Pollutants deposited in polar regions darken ice, reducing its albedo and increasing absorption of heat.

Impact on polar ecosystems

Habitat loss for seals and polar bears, disruption of the food web, and diminished algae growth.

Sea levels rising

An effect of climate change that threatens coastal communities with flooding and property loss.

Extreme cold spells

Weather events caused by a destabilized jet stream, leading to unusual temperature drops in certain regions.

Drier climate in subtropics

Result of a weakened Hadley cell, impacting rainfall and ecosystems between 30-60° latitude.

Photic zone shift

The upward movement of the sunlit layer of the ocean as sea levels rise.

Ocean circulation changes

Thermohaline circulation may slow or stop due to increases in freshwater from melting ice.

Land vs water heat absorption

More land in polar regions contributes to faster warming compared to ocean areas.

Habitat loss for polar bears

Due to melting ice, polar bears struggle to find food and breeding grounds.