Answer :
The best answer to the question "Which of these refers to a change in the direction of Earth's axis toward or away from the sun?" is A. Axial precession.
Axial precession is a phenomenon where the Earth's rotational axis slowly changes direction over time. This change in the axis orientation causes the Earth's position relative to the sun to shift, affecting the timing of seasons over thousands of years. It is a natural and slow process that influences long-term climate patterns on Earth.
In contrast, the other options listed:
- B. Radiative forcing refers to changes in the Earth's energy balance due to factors like greenhouse gases or solar radiation.
- C. Precession of the ecliptic is related to the slow change in the orientation of the Earth's orbital plane.
- D. Thermohaline circulation is a large-scale ocean circulation pattern driven by temperature and salinity differences.
Therefore, axial precession is the specific term that describes the change in the direction of Earth's axis toward or away from the sun.
