The Younger Dryas was an abrupt cooling period around 13,000 years ago that was believed to be caused by:

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks about the cause of the Younger Dryas, an abrupt cooling event around 13,000 years ago.
The provided correct answer states: 'a change in the thermohaline circulation of the Atlantic.' This option points to a disruption in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which is the large-scale movement of ocean water driven by differences in temperature and salinity. In many scientific reconstructions, substantial freshwater input from melting ice sheets would have reduced the salinity and density of surface waters, inhibiting the formation of deep water and weakening or shutting down the AMOC. With a slower or altered AMOC, heat transport from equatorial regions to the North Atlantic would diminish, leading to regional cooling and supporting the rapid climate shift seen in the Younger Dryas.

Since no other answer choices are provided in the data, it isn’t possible to contrast this option with alternatives. However, in general, other proposed causes for abrupt climate events around that time include external impacts or volcanic activity, and some theories suggest solar or orbital forcing as contributors. The key idea behind the stated option is the oceanic mechanism: a disturbance to the thermohaline circulation altering heat distribution, which aligns with major interpretations of the Younger Dryas signal.

If you had alternate options listed, we would assess each by whether it plausibly explains the rapid cooling and timing, considering evidence from ice cores, marine sediments, and climatic proxies. The emphasis here remains on the AMOC disruption as a coherent mechanism consistent with abrupt Northern Hemisphere cooling during the Younger Dryas period.

Geography CC 1 Sec ON1 (31167) Quiz #7: Units 18-20

The Younger Dryas was an abrupt cooling period around 13,000 years ago that was believed to be caused by:

查看解析

登录即可查看完整答案

类似问题

What is the age of the base of the “Hockey Stick” where temperatures start to warm significantly?

The location of the current Sahara Desert and Sahel hosted a giant lake called mega Lake Chad. When did very large lake exist and what does that existence tell you of climate at the time.

Which of the following is or are true?

Which of the following statements related to climate variation is true?

In a consumer society, many adults channel creativity into buying things

Economic stress and unpredictable times have resulted in a booming industry for self-help products

People born without creativity never can develop it

更多留学生实用工具

考试浏览器助手

风格化写作助手

论文查重助手

文献引用助手

课堂转译助手

课堂笔记助手

Quiz搜索助手

学校历年真题

智能刷题助手

智能匹配练习

希望你的学习变得更简单