GEOL 1330 Study Guide – Evidence
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Global temperature measurements: since when do they exist, how are they
averaged globally? Why are temperature anomaly records used, rather than
absolute temperature values? What should be the minimum number of years used
as a base period?
By how much has global temperature increased over the last century?
Which areas have heated up the most (and why)?
What is Earth’s cryosphere?
Recent trends in Arctic sea ice extent, thickness, volume
By how much would global sea level approximately change if the Greenland Ice
Sheet, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, or all of the Antarctic ice melted?
Why might collapsing ice shelves accelerate ice sheet decline?
What is permafrost? How does its melting influence the climate system?
By how much has global sea level risen over the last century?
How is the global sea level being monitored?
What has been the rate of sea level rise during the past 2-3 decades? What are the
major causes for this rise?
Observed trends over the past decades in ocean heat content, heat waves,
precipitation extremes and distribution
How has hurricane intensity changed in recent decades, and what is the likely
cause for this change?