A period of ice advance associated with falling temperatures
1 of 8
Interglacial
A period of ice retreat associated with rising temperatures
2 of 8
Ice Sheet
A large body of ice over 50,000km ² in extent
3 of 8
Ice Cap
A smaller body of ice less than 50,000km ² in extent
4 of 8
Glacier
A finger of ice usually extending downhill from an ice cap and occupying a valley
5 of 8
Pleistocene Ice Age
> Began 2 million years ago > 30% of earth was covered at its peak > Ice reached as far as New York and Berlin > Ended 10,000 years ago
6 of 8
Reasons for temperature change
> Subtle variations in Earth's orbit > Global changes in ocean currents > Slight changes in earth's tilt towards the sun > Ocean currents of west coast of South America change, resulting in the El Nino effect
7 of 8
Chemical evidence
The chemical composition of ice and marine sediments change with temperature and can be used to work out how temperatures have changed in the past. Samples are taken at different depths, the records show a pattern of increasing and decreasing temp.
8 of 8
Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Interglacial
Back
A period of ice retreat associated with rising temperatures
Comments
No comments have yet been made