EAPS 111 EXAM 3 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Which parts of the earth system are involved with the climate system?
Oceans, cryosphere (ice and snow), biosphere (animals and plants), pedosphere (soil),
lithosphere (rocks). All of these elements together compose the climate system, whose individual
components and processes are connected and influence each other in diverse ways.
What is the primary energy source for the climate system?
Solar energy (green house gases and orbit).
What influence does the ocean have on the climate of nearby continents?
Ocean currents move vast amounts of heat across the planet - roughly the same amount as the
atmosphere does. Heat transport is more localized and channeled into specific regions.
What are the ways that plate tectonics can affect climate?
When tectonic plates shift, the creation of the volcanic eruptions increases the degree of carbon
dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the atmosphere. This is what leads to a rise in the
temperature levels globally. Also, mountains have a large influence on regional climates, so
converging plate boundaries play a role here as well.
How does climate influence tectonics?
Rate of erosion goes up related to climate, so this affects the height of uplift. Slopes reflect
balance of uplift and intense erosion may allow lateral movement of material.
How do changes in Earth's orbit drive drive short term (less than 1 million years) climate
change? Is it predictable and cyclic? What are the three components of orbital variations
that
generate much of cyclic climate change?
The three main components are described in the Milankovitch cycles, which are Eccentricity,
Tilt, and Precision. These orbital variations help us predict changes, it is not perfectly cyclic, but
it does follow a relative pattern.
Can orbital variations explain recent climate change? If not, what else is involved?
The rapid increase in global temperatures is predicted in these variations, but not to the extent
that we are experiencing today. The average temperature is increasing rapidly due to human
influence and pollution.
What is the significance of methane and carbon dioxide in the climate system?
The carbon dioxide and methane in the climate system are climbing higher due to the human
activity which is causing the planet to warm more than it should.
, What are climate proxies and how do they help us extend the instrumental record?
Proxy data is preserved physical characteristics of the environment that can stand in for direct
instrumental measurements. Sources of climate information from natural archives such as tree
rings, ice cores, corals, lake and ocean sediments, tree pollen, or human archives such as
historical records or diaries, which can be used to estimate climate conditions prior to the modern
period. They show how fast the earth is warming over the last 140 years.
We have evidence that earth has been much warmer in the past and much colder. Why are
we concerned about climate change today given this information?
Because it is warming a lot faster than it should which is scary because we aren't seeing it go
down as quick as it is heating up.
What does sea level change have to do with past glaciations? Explain this linkage.
Sea level is lower during ice ages and higher in the past (non-ice ages). As the glaciers melt the
sea level rises, since more water is introduced back into the oceans.
Within a glacier what is the primary force driving its motion? (This force acts on all of
us.)
Gravity
What are the main differences between an alpine from a continental glacier?
Alpine - glacier that moves down from a high valley, confined to valley. Continental - larger than
alpine, very large sheets of ice, cover entire continent
What are the different types of moraines, and how do they form?
Lateral moraine - forms along sides of glaciers, dark fringe of rocks and other debris
Medial moraine - sediment rich belt in the center of the glacier, forms where 2
Terminal moraine - forms at the termination of a glacier and marks glacier's farthest downhill
extent
What kinds of continental glacier features have been left in Indiana, especially as the last
glaciation receded?
Moraine
Smooth troughs that were once covered by ice sheets which smoothed underlying landscape
Ridges - piles of glacial sediment mark front of ice sheet as it melted back (recessional moraines)
Drumlin - streamline form of sediment
Esker - melt water river flowing through ice
Recessional moraine - glacier stops for a bit and deposits
Kettle lakes - from till with chunks of ice
How does the physical behavior of glacial ice change with depth from top to bottom in
a glacier (where does the ice flow and where does it break)? (this is in a figure in lecture).
ANSWERS
Which parts of the earth system are involved with the climate system?
Oceans, cryosphere (ice and snow), biosphere (animals and plants), pedosphere (soil),
lithosphere (rocks). All of these elements together compose the climate system, whose individual
components and processes are connected and influence each other in diverse ways.
What is the primary energy source for the climate system?
Solar energy (green house gases and orbit).
What influence does the ocean have on the climate of nearby continents?
Ocean currents move vast amounts of heat across the planet - roughly the same amount as the
atmosphere does. Heat transport is more localized and channeled into specific regions.
What are the ways that plate tectonics can affect climate?
When tectonic plates shift, the creation of the volcanic eruptions increases the degree of carbon
dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the atmosphere. This is what leads to a rise in the
temperature levels globally. Also, mountains have a large influence on regional climates, so
converging plate boundaries play a role here as well.
How does climate influence tectonics?
Rate of erosion goes up related to climate, so this affects the height of uplift. Slopes reflect
balance of uplift and intense erosion may allow lateral movement of material.
How do changes in Earth's orbit drive drive short term (less than 1 million years) climate
change? Is it predictable and cyclic? What are the three components of orbital variations
that
generate much of cyclic climate change?
The three main components are described in the Milankovitch cycles, which are Eccentricity,
Tilt, and Precision. These orbital variations help us predict changes, it is not perfectly cyclic, but
it does follow a relative pattern.
Can orbital variations explain recent climate change? If not, what else is involved?
The rapid increase in global temperatures is predicted in these variations, but not to the extent
that we are experiencing today. The average temperature is increasing rapidly due to human
influence and pollution.
What is the significance of methane and carbon dioxide in the climate system?
The carbon dioxide and methane in the climate system are climbing higher due to the human
activity which is causing the planet to warm more than it should.
, What are climate proxies and how do they help us extend the instrumental record?
Proxy data is preserved physical characteristics of the environment that can stand in for direct
instrumental measurements. Sources of climate information from natural archives such as tree
rings, ice cores, corals, lake and ocean sediments, tree pollen, or human archives such as
historical records or diaries, which can be used to estimate climate conditions prior to the modern
period. They show how fast the earth is warming over the last 140 years.
We have evidence that earth has been much warmer in the past and much colder. Why are
we concerned about climate change today given this information?
Because it is warming a lot faster than it should which is scary because we aren't seeing it go
down as quick as it is heating up.
What does sea level change have to do with past glaciations? Explain this linkage.
Sea level is lower during ice ages and higher in the past (non-ice ages). As the glaciers melt the
sea level rises, since more water is introduced back into the oceans.
Within a glacier what is the primary force driving its motion? (This force acts on all of
us.)
Gravity
What are the main differences between an alpine from a continental glacier?
Alpine - glacier that moves down from a high valley, confined to valley. Continental - larger than
alpine, very large sheets of ice, cover entire continent
What are the different types of moraines, and how do they form?
Lateral moraine - forms along sides of glaciers, dark fringe of rocks and other debris
Medial moraine - sediment rich belt in the center of the glacier, forms where 2
Terminal moraine - forms at the termination of a glacier and marks glacier's farthest downhill
extent
What kinds of continental glacier features have been left in Indiana, especially as the last
glaciation receded?
Moraine
Smooth troughs that were once covered by ice sheets which smoothed underlying landscape
Ridges - piles of glacial sediment mark front of ice sheet as it melted back (recessional moraines)
Drumlin - streamline form of sediment
Esker - melt water river flowing through ice
Recessional moraine - glacier stops for a bit and deposits
Kettle lakes - from till with chunks of ice
How does the physical behavior of glacial ice change with depth from top to bottom in
a glacier (where does the ice flow and where does it break)? (this is in a figure in lecture).
