1. Natural Variations in Climate

2. 1. El Nino and La Nina
Natural changes in climate due to warmer or cooler than normal surface water in the eastern Pacific

3. Normal Conditions/Trade Winds
Normally, strong trade winds blow from the east along the equator, pushing warm water into the Pacific Ocean.

4. El Nino
El Nino – unusual ________ of ocean temperatures of Pacific Ocean
results from weakened or a reverse in trade winds in the western Pacific Ocean, allowing piled-up warm water to flow toward South America.
warming

5. El Nino Weather in the US
Northeast United States is warmer
Western US is stormy
Southern US is cold and wet

6. La Nina
cooling
unusual _________ of ocean temperatures of Pacific Ocean
Results in stronger low-level winds along the equator
Northern US  harsh winter conditions
Southern US  drier and warmer condition

7. El Nino or La Nina – 2015/2016? El Nino La Nina
Based on our winter, do you think its an El Nino year or a La Nina year?

10. http://esminfo. prenhall

11. 2. Solar Cycle

12. 3. Ice Ages
Milankovitch Cycle – Gradual changes in Earth’s rotation and orbit have changed the intensity of sunlight received in our planet’s polar and equatorial regions

13. Ice Ages

14. what triggers an ice age
Ice Ages
Ice Ages are cyclic.
The last one occurred
~12,000 years ago
The exact cause of
what triggers an ice age
is not known

15. Earth’s Tilt

16. Earth’s Wobble
Currently points toward Polaris but every years it will point toward Vega

17. Earth’s orbit B.

21. 4. Volcanic Eruptions
Large quantities of Volcanic Ash that are released into atmosphere which blocks incoming solar radiation, Thus, cools the earth

22. Mt. Pinatubo
Erupted in 1991, caused cooler temps around the world for about 2 years.