Question

Short-term (up to 100,000 years) variations in climate are likely controlled by the amount of solar radiation reaching earth, variability in the atmosphere, ocean currents, and the position of the continents. classify the phenomena as promoting glaciation or hindering glaciation.

Answer 1

Short-term climate variations influencing glaciation include factors such as solar radiation, atmospheric variability, and ocean currents, with events like the Little Ice Age promoting glaciation through reduced solar activity and warmer periods potentially hindering it.

Step-by-step explanation:

Short-term climate variations, which can last up to 100,000 years, are influenced by multiple factors including solar radiation, atmospheric variability, ocean currents, and the positioning of continents. These phenomena can promote or hinder glaciation. For instance, low solar activity during the Little Ice Age is thought to have contributed to cooler temperatures, thus promoting glaciation. Meanwhile, warmer periods like the Medieval Climate Anomaly suggest that increased solar intensity may hinder glaciation by raising global temperatures.

The Milankovitch cycles, or changes in the Earth's orbit, also play a significant role in the glacial and interglacial periods, with certain orbital configurations promoting colder climates and thus glaciation. Additionally, volcanic eruptions can introduce aerosols into the atmosphere that may block sunlight, promoting glaciation due to cooling effects. Conversely, greenhouse warming from increased atmospheric carbon dioxide tends to hinder glaciation by trapping heat and raising global temperatures.