Study Aid/ Self Quiz
Chapter 8 Long Term Climate Regulation

1. Refresh your memory of Chapter 2 and look at Figure 2-3.  Now look at Figure 8-14.
Can a model such as given Figure 2-3 be used to explain the patterns observed in Figure 8-14? Why or why not?

2. Close your book.  Draw a pie graph of the atmospheric composition of the early earth and another of what it is today.

3. Go to Figure 8-8. Explain how this figure shows the faint young sun paradox.

4. Conventional geological wisdom suggests that equatorial continents should cause global warming. Why is this not so?

5. During the Devonian (about 400 m.y.a), vascular plants (plants with well developed stems or trunks and roots) became established and spread across various continents. Did this change in biota increase or decrease CO2 levels?

6. Why were there larger insects in the Carboniferous period than are typically found today?

7. Were the delta 13C values in the Cretaceous greater or less than in recent time?
Why?