Question
Which factors of Earth’s position would contribute to long-term climate change?
its elliptical orbit and the tilt on its axis
its distance from other planets and the tilt on its axis
the tilt on its axis and its distance from the moon
its distance from the moon and its elliptical orbit
its elliptical orbit and the tilt on its axis
its distance from other planets and the tilt on its axis
the tilt on its axis and its distance from the moon
its distance from the moon and its elliptical orbit
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The factors of Earth's position that would contribute to long-term climate change are **its elliptical orbit and the tilt on its axis**.
1. **Elliptical Orbit**: Earth's orbit around the Sun is not a perfect circle but an ellipse, which means that the distance between the Earth and the Sun varies over time. This can affect the amount of solar energy received by the Earth and can contribute to long-term climate variations.
2. **Tilt on its Axis**: The tilt of Earth's axis (about 23.5 degrees) affects the distribution of sunlight across the planet throughout the year, leading to seasons. Variations in this axial tilt over long periods can lead to significant changes in climate patterns, such as the development of ice ages.
Both these factors are part of the Milankovitch cycles, which describe how changes in Earth's orbit and axial tilt affect long-term climate change over thousands to millions of years.
1. **Elliptical Orbit**: Earth's orbit around the Sun is not a perfect circle but an ellipse, which means that the distance between the Earth and the Sun varies over time. This can affect the amount of solar energy received by the Earth and can contribute to long-term climate variations.
2. **Tilt on its Axis**: The tilt of Earth's axis (about 23.5 degrees) affects the distribution of sunlight across the planet throughout the year, leading to seasons. Variations in this axial tilt over long periods can lead to significant changes in climate patterns, such as the development of ice ages.
Both these factors are part of the Milankovitch cycles, which describe how changes in Earth's orbit and axial tilt affect long-term climate change over thousands to millions of years.