Climate Change

Question 1

Cenozoic and Holocene Cooling

Answer 1

• Climate has been cooling for last 50 My

- tild and precession will keep insolation stable in next 10 Ky

Question 2

Holocene Climate Oscillations

Answer 2

forcing time, timescale, and its periodicity
-all models affect global circulation and local weather
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Question 3

Types of Holocene Oscillations

Answer 3

• seasonal (90 days)
• El Nino (2-10 years)
• North Atlantic Oscillation (decadal)
• Arctic Oscillation (Annual?)
• Pacific Decadal Oscillation (10 -50 years)

Question 4

El Nino

Answer 4

• warm western pacific, precipitation

- cold eastern pacific, little precipitation

Question 5

Arctic/North Atlantic Oscillation

Answer 5

• most noticeable in winter, maximum in the Atlantic

- surface sea-level pressure difference

Question 6

Positive NAO

Answer 6

• stronger than usual subtropical high pressure center

- deeper than normal Icelandic low-strong winds brings cold air across polar regions and weather to Europe)

Question 7

Negative NAO

Answer 7

• weak subtropical high and weak Icelandic low

- winds are weaker, increased storminess

Question 8

Radiative Forcing

Answer 8

-direct measure of amount that the Earth’s energy budget is out of balance