Natural Climate Change

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  • Natural Climate Change
    • Evidence
      • Tree Rings
        • How do they work?
          • Scientists assume that the growth is because of a wet, warm climate and they predict the weather.
        • Pros
          • Trees are natural and unbiased.
        • Cons
          • Other factors may have caused and influenced the growth.
            • Nutrient abundance in the soil
            • Fertilisers
            • No competition for nutrients.
          • Not easy to read.
      • Ice Cores
        • How do they work?
          • Scientists measure the levels of CO2 and Methane in the air and assume the temperature and climate.
          • When glaciers are formed air is trapped and it forms bubbles.
        • Pros
          • Ice is natural and unbiased.
          • Scientific.
        • Cons
          • Difficult because air might escape and the ice melts.
      • Paintings and Diaries
        • How do they work?
          • People painted pictures, drew on cave walls and wrote descriptions of the weather in their diaries.
        • Cons
          • Biased by humans – could be a futuristic/ dream picture rather than actual.
      • Global Temperature Data
        • How does this work?
          • We can see temperature readings that have been taken and plotted on graphs.
        • Pros
          • Very accurate.
        • Cons
          • Not long-term.
    • Causes
      • Sun Spots
        • Black spots appear on the surface of the sun.
          • Although they are dark in colour, they are hotter areas.
            • The more sun spots there are the more heat given out.
      • Milankovitch Cycles
        • Precession
          • In 23,000 years the earth's axis can wobble.
            • This means that the earth is sometimes closer or farther away from the sun.
              • This changes the amount of solar energy reaching the earth and can causes climate change.
        • Axial Tilt
          • Over a period of 41,000 years the tilt of the earth can change.
            • The earth's axial tilt is usually at an angle of 23.5' away from the sun.
              • The axial tilt can vary to 1' closer (22.5') or 1' further away (24.5).
                • This changes the amount of solar energy reaching the earth and can affect the climate.
        • Eccentricity
          • Every 100,000 years the orbit of the Earth changes.
            • The orbit can be circular or elliptical.
              • When it's elliptical the earth is sometimes farther away and sometimes nearer the sun.
                • This changes the amount of solar energy reaching the earth and can affect the climate.
      • Volcanic Activity
        • During eruptions gases (like sulfur dioxide) and ash get blown all around the earth.
          • The particles block sunlight from entering the earth and/or reflect the sunlight back into space.
            • The lack of sunlight can cause the whole earth to cool down.

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