Climate Change and Models

These flashcards cover myths and realities of climate change, types of scientific models, and significant historical climate periods and their impacts.

Myth: Without human interference, Earth’s climate is __.

stable

Reality: Earth’s climate has always changed, is always __, and always will.

changing

Models are common in science and help __ a system.

simplify

A __ model is a drawing of a system made from our understanding.

conceptual

A __ model is a smaller or larger copy of an object or system.

physical

A __ model is a description of a system using mathematical concepts.

mathematical

A __ simulation is a program that simulates a system in response to input signals.

computer

The Medieval Warming Period lasted about __ years.

300

The Little Ice Age lasted from the mid-__ to 1700.

1400s

Climate models divide Earth into a __ grid for evaluation.

3D

GCMs stand for __ Climate Models.

General

Radiative Convective Models simplify our understanding of __ by considering solar radiation and the atmosphere.

atmospheric science

Climate is __, meaning it is always in a state of change.

dynamic

Human activities like burning fossil fuels release __ gases, influencing climate.

greenhouse

Albedo refers to the __ of surfaces and its effect on climate.

reflectivity

The rise of the __ Plague was exacerbated by the environmental stresses of the Little Ice Age.

Bubonic