There are 3 natural causes of climate change that you need to learn; orbital changes, solar activity and volcanic activity.
A natural cause of climate change is one that happens independently of humans. These are the causes that would cause climate change even if humans didn't exist. They are the reasons why the climate has been changing over billions of years.
A natural cause of climate change is one that happens independently of humans. These are the causes that would cause climate change even if humans didn't exist. They are the reasons why the climate has been changing over billions of years.
Orbital Changes
The orbit of the earth around the sun changes in three ways. These are often called Milankovitch cycles after the man who identified them.
1. Eccentricity
This describes the path of the Earth as it orbits the sun.
The path changes from being circular to mildly elliptical (oval).
It takes 100,000 years for the orbit to change from circular to mildly elliptical
1. Eccentricity
This describes the path of the Earth as it orbits the sun.
The path changes from being circular to mildly elliptical (oval).
It takes 100,000 years for the orbit to change from circular to mildly elliptical
2. Precession
This describes a natural 'wobble' rather like a spinning top when it slows down.
A complete wobble cycle takes 26,000 years.
This describes a natural 'wobble' rather like a spinning top when it slows down.
A complete wobble cycle takes 26,000 years.
3. Axial tilt
The Earth spins on it's axis causing night and day. The axis is currently tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees. However over 41,000 years, the axis moves between 21.5 degrees and 24.5 degrees.
The Earth spins on it's axis causing night and day. The axis is currently tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees. However over 41,000 years, the axis moves between 21.5 degrees and 24.5 degrees.
Solar Activity
The amount of energy that is emitted form the sun depends on the amount of sunspots there are.
A sunspot is a dark patch that appears from time to time on the surface of the sun. The number of sunspots increases from a minimum to a maximum and then back to a minimum over an 11 year period called the sunspot cycle. |
Volcanic Activity
Volcanic eruptions blast huge quantities of ash, gasses and liquids into the atmosphere.
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