Question 1

Is the primary cause of recent climate change natural or anthropogenic? How do we know?

Accepted Answer

The cause of recent climate change is anthropogenic. The atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations observed during the past two centuries are much greater than at any time during the past 800,000 years. Global climate models suggest that in the absence of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, the climate might be experiencing a weak cooling trend rather than warming.

Question 2

Based on the graph below, the amount of glacial ice on a global scale is

Accepted Answer

A) increasing. 
B) decreasing. 
C) fluctuating wildly. 
D) remaining consistent. 
A) increasing. 
B) decreasing. 
C) fluctuating wildly. 
D) remaining consistent. B

Question 3

In the illustration below, which part of Earth is receiving the most sunlight?

Accepted Answer

A) Tropic of Capricorn 
B) South Pole 
C) equator 
D) Tropic of Cancer 
A) Tropic of Capricorn 
B) South Pole 
C) equator 
D) Tropic of Cancer B

Question 4

Which of the following best explains why we have seasons?

Accepted Answer

A) The amount of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere varies throughout the year. 
B) The plane of Earth's orbit is inclined relative to the sun. 
C) Earth's distance from the sun is variable. 
D) Earth's axis of rotation is at an angle to the plane of its orbit. 
A) The amount of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere varies throughout the year. 
B) The plane of Earth's orbit is inclined relative to the sun. 
C) Earth's distance from the sun is variable. 
D) Earth's axis of rotation is at an angle to the plane of its orbit.

Question 5

Milankovitch cycles involve changes in the shape of Earth's orbit, as well as the

Accepted Answer

A) location of the magnetic North Pole. 
B) precession of its axis. 
C) tilt of its axis, and the precession of its axis. 
D) tilt of its axis, and the location of the magnetic North Pole. 
A) location of the magnetic North Pole. 
B) precession of its axis. 
C) tilt of its axis, and the precession of its axis. 
D) tilt of its axis, and the location of the magnetic North Pole.

Question 6

Global climate models predict that if greenhouse gasses had remained constant, Earth would have experienced

Accepted Answer

A) warming. 
B) cooling. 
C) no change in climate. 
D) much stormier conditions. 
A) warming. 
B) cooling. 
C) no change in climate. 
D) much stormier conditions.

Question 7

How is a history of global climate change preserved in the stratigraphic record? Give an example.

Accepted Answer

The depositional setting in which sedime

Question 8

What is a paleoclimate indicator? Provide three examples.

Accepted Answer

A paleoclimate indicator is a clue to pa

Question 9

A basic history of global climate change is preserved in the stratigraphic record because

Accepted Answer

A) characteristics of igneous rocks depend on climate because of variations in cooling rates. 
B) the amount of sediment deposited is a function of climate. 
C) the amount of fossils preserved in the rock record is dependent on climate. 
D) depositional setting and the assemblages of organisms depend on the climate. 
A) characteristics of igneous rocks depend on climate because of variations in cooling rates. 
B) the amount of sediment deposited is a function of climate. 
C) the amount of fossils preserved in the rock record is dependent on climate. 
D) depositional setting and the assemblages of organisms depend on the climate.

Question 10

Why does Earth have seasons?

Accepted Answer

Earth experiences distinct seasons durin

Question 11

Where is solar heating least likely to vary with seasons?

Accepted Answer

A) Tropic of Capricorn 
B) South Pole 
C) equator 
D) Tropic of Cancer 
A) Tropic of Capricorn 
B) South Pole 
C) equator 
D) Tropic of Cancer

Question 12

During winter in the Northern Hemisphere, which part of Earth receives the most daylight hours?

Accepted Answer

A) Tropic of Capricorn 
B) South Pole 
C) equator 
D) Tropic of Cancer 
A) Tropic of Capricorn 
B) South Pole 
C) equator 
D) Tropic of Cancer

Question 13

Greenhouse gases are those that

Accepted Answer

A) exist in abundance in Earth's atmosphere. 
B) absorb energy that is reradiated from Earth's surface. 
C) occupy the ozone layer. 
D) cause seasonal variations. 
A) exist in abundance in Earth's atmosphere. 
B) absorb energy that is reradiated from Earth's surface. 
C) occupy the ozone layer. 
D) cause seasonal variations.

Question 14

The conditions of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, cloudiness, and precipitation at a given location at a given time are referred to as

Accepted Answer

A) weather. 
B) climate. 
C) weather forecast. 
D) climate change. 
A) weather. 
B) climate. 
C) weather forecast. 
D) climate change.

Question 15

An increase in average global atmospheric and sea-surface temperatures represents

Accepted Answer

A) global cooling. 
B) natural variations. 
C) paleoclimatology. 
D) global warming. 
A) global cooling. 
B) natural variations. 
C) paleoclimatology. 
D) global warming.

Question 16

The warming of Earth's climate results in _______ glaciation and a _______ in sea level.

Accepted Answer

A) increased; rise 
B) increased; fall 
C) decreased; rise 
D) decreased; fall 
A) increased; rise 
B) increased; fall 
C) decreased; rise 
D) decreased; fall

Question 17

How is weather different from climate? How are they related?

Accepted Answer

Weather refers to the conditions of air

Question 18

During autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, which part of Earth receives the most solar energy?

Accepted Answer

A) Tropic of Capricorn 
B) South Pole 
C) equator 
D) Tropic of Cancer 
A) Tropic of Capricorn 
B) South Pole 
C) equator 
D) Tropic of Cancer

Question 19

Charles Keeling learned that the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere over the past century

Accepted Answer

A) is increasing. 
B) is decreasing. 
C) is constant. 
D) fluctuates on a 10-year cycle. 
A) is increasing. 
B) is decreasing. 
C) is constant. 
D) fluctuates on a 10-year cycle.

Question 20

What season is illustrated for the Northern Hemisphere in the figure below?

Accepted Answer

A) spring 
B) summer 
C) autumn 
D) winter 
A) spring 
B) summer 
C) autumn 
D) winter

Exam 20: Climate and Climate Change

Is the primary cause of recent climate change natural or anthropogenic? How do we know?

Based on the graph below, the amount of glacial ice on a global scale is

In the illustration below, which part of Earth is receiving the most sunlight?

Which of the following best explains why we have seasons?

Milankovitch cycles involve changes in the shape of Earth's orbit, as well as the

Global climate models predict that if greenhouse gasses had remained constant, Earth would have experienced

How is a history of global climate change preserved in the stratigraphic record? Give an example.

What is a paleoclimate indicator? Provide three examples.

A basic history of global climate change is preserved in the stratigraphic record because

Why does Earth have seasons?

Where is solar heating least likely to vary with seasons?

During winter in the Northern Hemisphere, which part of Earth receives the most daylight hours?

Greenhouse gases are those that

The conditions of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, cloudiness, and precipitation at a given location at a given time are referred to as

An increase in average global atmospheric and sea-surface temperatures represents

The warming of Earth's climate results in _______ glaciation and a _______ in sea level.

How is weather different from climate? How are they related?

During autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, which part of Earth receives the most solar energy?

Charles Keeling learned that the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere over the past century

What season is illustrated for the Northern Hemisphere in the figure below?

The Earth in Context

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

A Surface Veneer: Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

A Process of Change: Metamorphism and the Rock Cycle

Crags, Cracks, and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Deep Time: How Old Is Old

A Biography of Earth

Riches in Rock: Energy and Mineral Resources

Shaping the Earths Surface: Landscapes, the Hydrologic Cycle, and Mass Wasting

Freshwater: Streams, Lakes, and Groundwater

Extreme Realms: Desert and Glacial Landscapes

Ocean Waters: the Blue of the Blue Marble

Marine Geology: the Study of Ocean Basins and Coasts

The Air We Breathe: Introducing Earths Atmosphere

Winds of the World: the Earths Major Weather Systems

Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, and Local Weather Systems

Our Solar System and Beyond

Our Neighborhood in Space

The Sun, Stars, and Deep Space

Prelude: Welcome to Earth Science

Filters

The warming of Earth's climate results in _ glaciation and a _ in sea level.