GG231 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Milankovitch Cycles, Chlorofluorocarbon, Little Ice Age
Document Summary
Gg231 lesson #12: climate change, drought, & fammine. Long term changes can be linked to the amount solar radiation the earth receives. Milankovitch cycles: eccentricity (the shape of earths orbit, obliquity (the angle earths axis is tilted with respect to earth"s orbital plane, precession (the direction earths axis of rotation is pointed) Short-term changes are related to a variety of factors or changes in input. Earths atmosphere comprises nitrogen, oxygen, and smaller amounts of other gases. Atmospheric acids can be divided into two groups: permanent & variable gases. Most radiation that reaches the earth is in the ultraviolet (uv) range. The heat trapping effect of these gases (co2, ch4, n2o, cfc) is similar to that of a greenhouse to grow plants, thus the name greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is necessary, however some of the warming is due to infared radiation by carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxide gases which are known as greenhouse gases.
