If a continent moves towards the equator, how does its climate change?
It gets warmer.
True or false: The amount of energy given off by the sun changes over a regular 15 year cycle.
False, 11 years.
How does pollen help scientists study ancient climates?
They can look at pollen to determine what kind of plants lived in a location.
What principle do scientists follow in studying ancient climates?
If plants or animals today need certain conditions to live, then similar plants and animals in the past also required those conditions.
What are four things that naturally change climate?
Movement of continents, Earth's position, Volcanic activity, and Solar energy
What information can scientists get from tree rings?
Wide rings indicate a good growing season that was long or wet. Narrow rings indicate a dry year or a short growing season.
What are three types of evidence scientists examine to study ancient climates?
Pollen, Tree Rings, and Ice Cores
True or false: Ice cores have a layer of ice for each year, just like tree rings.
True
True or false: Volcanic eruptions release aerosols.
True
How do aerosols affect Earth's climates?
They can reflect solar radiation and may lower temperatures.
Does climate change quickly or slowly?
Slowly
How many major ice ages were there in the last two million years?
About 20
True or false: The number of sunspots decreases when the sun gives off more light.
False: Increases
What is an aerosol?
Solid particles or liquid drops in gas
200 million years ago, most of the land on Earth was part of a single continent. What was it called?
Pangaea
When Earth's orbit is more elliptical, does it get more or less sunlight during the year?
Less
How does Earth's surface change during an ice age?
It becomes covered in glaciers.
True or false: The angle of Earth's axis always stays the same.
False, it can change over time.
Do the continents move?
Yes!