Question 1

If you could hop in a time machine and go back millions of years, which of the following are you unlikely to find when you step out of your time machine?

Accepted Answer

A)  An Earth whose atmosphere contains eight times more carbon dioxide in its atmosphere than it does today 
B)  An Earth with continents and oceans far different from those of today 
C)  An Earth so warm that it lacked polar ice caps 
D)  An Earth completely inundated by sea, lacking any land masses 
A)  An Earth whose atmosphere contains eight times more carbon dioxide in its atmosphere than it does today 
B)  An Earth with continents and oceans far different from those of today 
C)  An Earth so warm that it lacked polar ice caps 
D)  An Earth completely inundated by sea, lacking any land masses D

Question 2

If Earth had no atmosphere, _ .

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth would experience much larger and more severe storms 
B)  the surface of Earth would be considerably colder 
C)  the concentrations of Earth's greenhouse gases would be much greater than they are 
D)  less of the sun's energy would strike Earth 
A)  Earth would experience much larger and more severe storms 
B)  the surface of Earth would be considerably colder 
C)  the concentrations of Earth's greenhouse gases would be much greater than they are 
D)  less of the sun's energy would strike Earth B

Question 3

What may be a biological implication of global climate change?

Accepted Answer

A)  In general, plants and animals will probably benefit from warmer temperatures. 
B)  Since biodiversity is usually higher in warmer, milder climates, there will be little or no ecological implications. 
C)  Since farmland may be lost, the habitats of plants and animals may increase in area. 
D)  Plants and animals may not be able to move to a suitable habitat quickly enough. 
A)  In general, plants and animals will probably benefit from warmer temperatures. 
B)  Since biodiversity is usually higher in warmer, milder climates, there will be little or no ecological implications. 
C)  Since farmland may be lost, the habitats of plants and animals may increase in area. 
D)  Plants and animals may not be able to move to a suitable habitat quickly enough. D

Question 4

Why is the concept of climate forcing critical to understanding the causes of global climate change?

Accepted Answer

Climate forcing is the amount of change

Question 5

Which of the following would be classified as an aerosol?

Accepted Answer

A)  Gasoline fumes 
B)  Ragweed pollen 
C)  CFCs 
D)  Water vapor 
A)  Gasoline fumes 
B)  Ragweed pollen 
C)  CFCs 
D)  Water vapor

Question 6

Which of the following is an artificial compound that acts as a greenhouse gas?

Accepted Answer

A)  Carbon dioxide 
B)  Nitrous oxide 
C)  Methane 
D)  Chlorofluorocarbons 
A)  Carbon dioxide 
B)  Nitrous oxide 
C)  Methane 
D)  Chlorofluorocarbons

Question 7

Which of the following is causing global sea levels to rise?

Accepted Answer

A)  Large amounts of carbon dioxide diffusing into seawater 
B)  The expansion of ocean water as it warms 
C)  Airborne silt and sand from desertified landscapes forming sediments on the bottom of oceans 
D)  Greatly increased precipitation 
A)  Large amounts of carbon dioxide diffusing into seawater 
B)  The expansion of ocean water as it warms 
C)  Airborne silt and sand from desertified landscapes forming sediments on the bottom of oceans 
D)  Greatly increased precipitation

Question 8

Milankovitch cycles _.

Accepted Answer

A)  are changes in Earth's rotation and orbit around the sun that may trigger climate variation 
B)  describe the transpiration, evaporation, and precipitation of Earth's water 
C)  describe the interaction between Earth and the Moon that results in periods of rapid temperature variations 
D)  refer to shifts in the temperature of surface water in the middle latitudes of the Pacific Ocean 
A)  are changes in Earth's rotation and orbit around the sun that may trigger climate variation 
B)  describe the transpiration, evaporation, and precipitation of Earth's water 
C)  describe the interaction between Earth and the Moon that results in periods of rapid temperature variations 
D)  refer to shifts in the temperature of surface water in the middle latitudes of the Pacific Ocean

Question 9

The most dramatic temperature shifts in the past few decades have been .

Accepted Answer

A)  in Arctic areas such as Canada and Greenland 
B)  on land near the equator 
C)  in the oceans nearest the equator 
D)  in the inland areas of South America and Africa 
A)  in Arctic areas such as Canada and Greenland 
B)  on land near the equator 
C)  in the oceans nearest the equator 
D)  in the inland areas of South America and Africa

Question 10

Which of the following would cause a negative forcing?

Accepted Answer

A)  A large volcanic eruption spewing ash high into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight around the world for years until the ash cloud slowly dissipates 
B)  Snow- covered ice sheets in Greenland melting and revealing bare rock 
C)  An increase in the burning of fossil fuels, leading to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere 
D)  All of these scenarios would cause a negative forcing. 
A)  A large volcanic eruption spewing ash high into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight around the world for years until the ash cloud slowly dissipates 
B)  Snow- covered ice sheets in Greenland melting and revealing bare rock 
C)  An increase in the burning of fossil fuels, leading to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere 
D)  All of these scenarios would cause a negative forcing.

Question 11

Greenhouse gases trap in the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A)  visible light 
B)  gamma radiation 
C)  ultraviolet radiation 
D)  infrared radiation 
A)  visible light 
B)  gamma radiation 
C)  ultraviolet radiation 
D)  infrared radiation

Question 12

Which one of the following has been decreasing over the past several decades?

Accepted Answer

A)  Methane levels in the troposphere 
B)  pH of the world's oceans 
C)  Mean global temperature 
D)  Sea levels 
A)  Methane levels in the troposphere 
B)  pH of the world's oceans 
C)  Mean global temperature 
D)  Sea levels

Question 13

Which of the following gases has the greatest global warming potential (GWP)?

Accepted Answer

A)  CO2 
B)  N2O 
C)  Ozone 
D)  CH4 
A)  CO2 
B)  N2O 
C)  Ozone 
D)  CH4

Question 14

The Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that .

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth has never experienced the level of warming that has occurred over the past 30 years. 
B)  Earth has actually been cooling for the past 15 years. 
C)  Earth is now at its warmest point in the past 800- 1400 years. 
D)  modern global climate change has been triggered primarily by natural causes. 
A)  Earth has never experienced the level of warming that has occurred over the past 30 years. 
B)  Earth has actually been cooling for the past 15 years. 
C)  Earth is now at its warmest point in the past 800- 1400 years. 
D)  modern global climate change has been triggered primarily by natural causes.

Question 15

Global temperature trends can be reconstructed from proxy records such as and .

Accepted Answer

A)  lake sediments; gases trapped in glacial ice cores 
B)  the frequency of volcanic eruptions; gases trapped in glacial ice cores 
C)  the frequency of volcanic eruptions; fossils 
D)  fossils; sea level records 
A)  lake sediments; gases trapped in glacial ice cores 
B)  the frequency of volcanic eruptions; gases trapped in glacial ice cores 
C)  the frequency of volcanic eruptions; fossils 
D)  fossils; sea level records

Question 16

Which of the following lines of evidence would best support the argument that Earth's atmosphere is warming as a result of an increase in solar output but would not be the argument that it is warming because of increased concentrations of greenhouse gases?

Accepted Answer

A)  Warming trends are detected in some regions of the planet but not others. 
B)  Earth's temperature stabilizes when the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere begins to decrease. 
C)  The stratosphere shows a warming trend, but the troposphere shows a cooling trend. 
D)  Both the troposphere and stratosphere show warming trends. 
A)  Warming trends are detected in some regions of the planet but not others. 
B)  Earth's temperature stabilizes when the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere begins to decrease. 
C)  The stratosphere shows a warming trend, but the troposphere shows a cooling trend. 
D)  Both the troposphere and stratosphere show warming trends.

Question 17

When volcanoes erupt, they emit into the atmosphere, resulting in a cooling effect on the planet.

Accepted Answer

A)  methane 
B)  nitrous oxide 
C)  sulfate aerosols 
D)  water vapor 
A)  methane 
B)  nitrous oxide 
C)  sulfate aerosols 
D)  water vapor

Question 18

Which of the following parts of the electromagnetic spectrum emitted by the sun has the strongest effect on climate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Microwaves 
B)  Gamma rays 
C)  Visible light 
D)  Far infrared radiation 
A)  Microwaves 
B)  Gamma rays 
C)  Visible light 
D)  Far infrared radiation

Question 19

Scientists use proxy records in climate research to determine .

Accepted Answer

A)  climates hundreds and thousands of years ago 
B)  changes in the ozone layer over the past 30 years 
C)  current levels of carbon dioxide 
D)  changes in temperature over the past 100 years 
A)  climates hundreds and thousands of years ago 
B)  changes in the ozone layer over the past 30 years 
C)  current levels of carbon dioxide 
D)  changes in temperature over the past 100 years

Question 20

Over the past 50 years the average rate of sea level rise has been 1.8 mm per year. Explain the two primary factors responsible for this rise in sea level.

Accepted Answer

The expansion of water (in this case oce

If you could hop in a time machine and go back millions of years, which of the following are you unlikely to find when you step out of your time machine?

If Earth had no atmosphere, _ .

What may be a biological implication of global climate change?

Why is the concept of climate forcing critical to understanding the causes of global climate change?

Which of the following would be classified as an aerosol?

Which of the following is an artificial compound that acts as a greenhouse gas?

Which of the following is causing global sea levels to rise?

Milankovitch cycles _.

The most dramatic temperature shifts in the past few decades have been .

Which of the following would cause a negative forcing?

Greenhouse gases trap in the atmosphere.

Which one of the following has been decreasing over the past several decades?

Which of the following gases has the greatest global warming potential (GWP)?

The Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that .

Global temperature trends can be reconstructed from proxy records such as and .

Which of the following lines of evidence would best support the argument that Earth's atmosphere is warming as a result of an increase in solar output but would not be the argument that it is warming because of increased concentrations of greenhouse gases?

When volcanoes erupt, they emit into the atmosphere, resulting in a cooling effect on the planet.

Which of the following parts of the electromagnetic spectrum emitted by the sun has the strongest effect on climate?

Scientists use proxy records in climate research to determine .

Over the past 50 years the average rate of sea level rise has been 1.8 mm per year. Explain the two primary factors responsible for this rise in sea level.

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Exam 5: Populations and Communities

If you could hop in a time machine and go back millions of years, which of the following are you unlikely to find when you step out of your time machine?

If Earth had no atmosphere, _ .

What may be a biological implication of global climate change?

Why is the concept of climate forcing critical to understanding the causes of global climate change?

Which of the following would be classified as an aerosol?

Which of the following is an artificial compound that acts as a greenhouse gas?

Which of the following is causing global sea levels to rise?

Milankovitch cycles _.

The most dramatic temperature shifts in the past few decades have been .

Which of the following would cause a negative forcing?

Greenhouse gases trap in the atmosphere.

Which one of the following has been decreasing over the past several decades?

Which of the following gases has the greatest global warming potential (GWP)?

The Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that .

Global temperature trends can be reconstructed from proxy records such as and .

Which of the following lines of evidence would best support the argument that Earth's atmosphere is warming as a result of an increase in solar output but would not be the argument that it is warming because of increased concentrations of greenhouse gases?

When volcanoes erupt, they emit into the atmosphere, resulting in a cooling effect on the planet.

Which of the following parts of the electromagnetic spectrum emitted by the sun has the strongest effect on climate?

Scientists use proxy records in climate research to determine .

Over the past 50 years the average rate of sea level rise has been 1.8 mm per year. Explain the two primary factors responsible for this rise in sea level.

The Science of Sustainability

Environmental Policy

Economics and Values

Biodiversity and Evolution

Ecosystems and Biomes

Biogeochemical Cycles

Freshwater

Atmosphere and Air Pollution

Oceans

Climate

Human Populations

Land Use

Agriculture

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Human Health and the Environment

Energy Use

Nonrenewable Energy

Renewable Energy

Science Fundamentals

Filters