GEOG10001 Lecture 2: GEOG10001 - W2L2
28 Jul 2018
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Document Summary
Global climates are controlled by an unequal distribution of energy inputs; Redistribution of energy occurs in the atmosphere and oceans; Circulation explains the distribution of wet and dry / cold and hot climates; Precipitation and temperature are available variables that can be used to describe climatic zones; Population density also increases exposure to catastrophic events. Exploring if, historically, climate variability has been the main driver of famine. Before present (bp): 1 jan 1950 - start of radiocarbon dating. Cyclic - so major change when cycles coincide. The earth follows an elliptical orbit (inclined at an angle of ~23. 5) around the sun. Milankovitch wobbles (cycle) - describes the way the receipt of energy changes over a really long timespan. Point in the orbit of the earth where it is nearest to the sun. Point in the orbit of the earth where it is farthest from the sun. Orbit rotates on a 108,000 year cycle.
