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The Climate System and Glaciation Chapter 10. Long Term Global Cooling Trend. -16 o C 55 million years 0.22 o C /million years. Vostock Station Core Antarctica. A Greenland Ice Core GISP2 B Site 1144 Planktonic Core. Temperature reconstructed from Greenland Ice core.
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The Climate System and Glaciation Chapter 10
Long Term Global Cooling Trend -16oC 55 million years 0.22oC /million years
Major Theories on Climate Change • Orbital Forcing • (Astronomical Theory, Milankovitch Cycles) • Changes in Atmosphere • Reflection-Transmission • Global Circulation Patterns • Atmosphere • Ocean
3. Variations in Earth - Sun Relations (Astronomical Theory, Milankovitch Cycles) • One of the most popular theories • Used to explain several types of phenomena through geologic time • Can be modeled simply
Eccentricity • About 100,000 years • Change in orbit shape and center • Main component 110,000 years, minor component 413,000 years • Currently more circular • Jan 3 perihelion, July 4 aphelion • 6% difference between January and July • At Maximum ellipse • 20 to 30% difference
Orbital Data • March 20 – September 22 = 186 Days • Aphelion 94,400,000 Miles • September 22 – March 20 = 179 Days • Perihelion 91,400,000 Miles
Precession (wobble) • North pole pointing at the North Star, to having the North pole pointing at the star Vega • 22,000 year cycle is composed of a 19,000 cycle and a 23,000 year cycle).
An object will heat up if energy is added: • A temperature at the surface of the earth will be reached such that Energy in = Energy out • T = 275 K = 2°C (Calculated surface temperature) • Actual surface temperature is 15°C. Difference reflects the greenhouse effect.
Glaciations • High Altitude • Sensitive to short term conditions (decades) • High Latitude
Ash column generated by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo on June 12, 1991.
Dust Veil Index • DVIa= 0.97 RmaxEmaxTmo • DVIb= 52.5 TdmaxEmaxTmo • DVIc= 4.4 Q EmaxTmo • DVI = DVIa+DVIb+DVIc • Krakatoa (1883) = 1,000
Glaciations • High altitude • Short term sensitivity (decades) • Advances and retreats • High latitude • Long term sensitivity (centuries) • Thinning
Major glacial pulses Illinois Episode Wisconsin Episode