Question 1

An increase in albedo would mean there would be

Accepted Answer

A)  an increase in reflectivity. 
B)  an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. 
C)  an increase in the amount of ultraviolet light absorbed by the atmosphere. 
D)  an increase in heat absorption. 
A)  an increase in reflectivity. 
B)  an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. 
C)  an increase in the amount of ultraviolet light absorbed by the atmosphere. 
D)  an increase in heat absorption. A

Question 2

There has been an increase in frequency and intensity of storms and hurricanes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

Which of these best describes the comparison of observed changes in CO2 production and IPCC model scenarios of expected CO2 production?

Accepted Answer

A)  Model scenarios predicted CO2 production about right. 
B)  Model scenarios overestimated CO2 production. 
C)  Observed CO2production has exceeded the worst model scenarios. 
D)  Observed CO2 production rose but has recently declined below IPCC model scenarios. 
E)  CO2 production matches the middle range of model scenarios 
A)  Model scenarios predicted CO2 production about right. 
B)  Model scenarios overestimated CO2 production. 
C)  Observed CO2production has exceeded the worst model scenarios. 
D)  Observed CO2 production rose but has recently declined below IPCC model scenarios. 
E)  CO2 production matches the middle range of model scenarios C

Question 4

Most of the excessive carbon dioxide that is expected to cause global warming is generated by

Accepted Answer

A)  green plants. 
B)  burning of fossil fuels. 
C)  production of cement and clearing of forests. 
D)  All of these are correct. 
E)  burning of fossil fuels and production of cement and clearing of forests only. 
A)  green plants. 
B)  burning of fossil fuels. 
C)  production of cement and clearing of forests. 
D)  All of these are correct. 
E)  burning of fossil fuels and production of cement and clearing of forests only.

Question 5

The "Keeling curve" showing CO2 measurements at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, shows that concentrations of CO2 have reached approximately what level, in parts per million (PPM)?

Accepted Answer

A)  1,000 ppm 
B)  400 ppm 
C)  350 ppm 
D)  200 ppm 
E)  100 ppm 
A)  1,000 ppm 
B)  400 ppm 
C)  350 ppm 
D)  200 ppm 
E)  100 ppm

Question 6

When El Niño occurs every three to seven years, a mass of warm Pacific water that is usually pushed westward by trade winds

Accepted Answer

A)  surges back eastward toward South America. 
B)  becomes much warmer than usual, strengthening trade winds. 
C)  cools dramatically. 
D)  sinks and therefore cools substantially. 
E)  surges northward toward Japan. 
A)  surges back eastward toward South America. 
B)  becomes much warmer than usual, strengthening trade winds. 
C)  cools dramatically. 
D)  sinks and therefore cools substantially. 
E)  surges northward toward Japan.

Question 7

The atmospheric zone where most weather events occur is the

Accepted Answer

A)  stratosphere. 
B)  thermosphere. 
C)  troposphere. 
D)  mesosphere. 
E)  stratopause. 
A)  stratosphere. 
B)  thermosphere. 
C)  troposphere. 
D)  mesosphere. 
E)  stratopause.

Question 8

Paying to plant trees because you use carbon in your daily life would be an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon reduction. 
B)  cap and trade. 
C)  carbon offsets. 
D)  carbon production [ambiguous]. 
E)  going carbon neutral. 
A)  carbon reduction. 
B)  cap and trade. 
C)  carbon offsets. 
D)  carbon production [ambiguous]. 
E)  going carbon neutral.

Question 9

What are the ecological implications of global warming?

Accepted Answer

A)  Plants and animals that are residing in fragmented habitats may not be able to move to a suitable habitat. 
B)  In general, plants and animals will probably benefit from warmer temperatures. 
C)  Since farmland may be lost, the habitats for plants and animals will increase in area. 
D)  Since biodiversity is usually higher in warmer, milder climates, it will probably be increased. 
E)  Tropical ecosystems will become dramatically warmer than they are now. 
A)  Plants and animals that are residing in fragmented habitats may not be able to move to a suitable habitat. 
B)  In general, plants and animals will probably benefit from warmer temperatures. 
C)  Since farmland may be lost, the habitats for plants and animals will increase in area. 
D)  Since biodiversity is usually higher in warmer, milder climates, it will probably be increased. 
E)  Tropical ecosystems will become dramatically warmer than they are now.

Question 10

As far as we are currently aware, who were the first people to notice the El Niño Southern Oscillation cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  scientists studying atmospheric changes 
B)  meteorologists 
C)  indigenous people in South America 
D)  Peruvian fishermen 
E)  colonial governors in South America from Spain 
A)  scientists studying atmospheric changes 
B)  meteorologists 
C)  indigenous people in South America 
D)  Peruvian fishermen 
E)  colonial governors in South America from Spain

Question 11

Given what we know about the likelihood of climate change, the best thing to do is

Accepted Answer

A)  immediately cease all industrial activity. 
B)  wait and see how much temperatures change before we change our habits. 
C)  severely cut back on production of greenhouse gases. 
D)  not worry about greenhouse gas production. 
E)  focus on the development of advanced technologies such as ocean fertilization to will decrease the effects of climate change. 
A)  immediately cease all industrial activity. 
B)  wait and see how much temperatures change before we change our habits. 
C)  severely cut back on production of greenhouse gases. 
D)  not worry about greenhouse gas production. 
E)  focus on the development of advanced technologies such as ocean fertilization to will decrease the effects of climate change.

Question 12

The two main gases making up the lower atmosphere are

Accepted Answer

A)  helium and hydrogen. 
B)  carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. 
C)  oxygen and methane. 
D)  nitrogen and oxygen. 
E)  oxygen and carbon dioxide. 
A)  helium and hydrogen. 
B)  carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. 
C)  oxygen and methane. 
D)  nitrogen and oxygen. 
E)  oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Question 13

Data from Mauna Loa show that CO2 levels since 1958 have

Accepted Answer

A)  Risen steadily 
B)  Risen steadily, except for declines in the northern summer 
C)  Risen and fallen irregularly by decades 
D)  Changed little 
E)  Declined dramatically in recent years 
A)  Risen steadily 
B)  Risen steadily, except for declines in the northern summer 
C)  Risen and fallen irregularly by decades 
D)  Changed little 
E)  Declined dramatically in recent years

Question 14

Nineteen of the 20 warmest of the last 150 years have occurred since 1980.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Which of these is NOT among our most important greenhouse gases?

Accepted Answer

A)  sulfur dioxide 
B)  methane (CH4) 
C)  nitrous oxide (N2O) 
D)  fluorine gases (such as CFCs) 
E)  carbon dioxide (CO2) 
A)  sulfur dioxide 
B)  methane (CH4) 
C)  nitrous oxide (N2O) 
D)  fluorine gases (such as CFCs) 
E)  carbon dioxide (CO2)

Question 16

The correct sequence of atmospheric zones upward from the earth's surface is

Accepted Answer

A)  stratosphere, troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere. 
B)  troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere. 
C)  mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere, thermosphere. 
D)  thermosphere, stratosphere, troposphere, mesosphere. 
E)  troposphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, thermosphere. 
A)  stratosphere, troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere. 
B)  troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere. 
C)  mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere, thermosphere. 
D)  thermosphere, stratosphere, troposphere, mesosphere. 
E)  troposphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, thermosphere.

Question 17

Which of the following would have the highest albedo?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fresh snow 
B)  Open water 
C)  Forest 
D)  Soil 
A)  Fresh snow 
B)  Open water 
C)  Forest 
D)  Soil

Question 18

The change in ocean temperatures brought on by climate change could lead to an extreme cold period in Europe due to a change in the

Accepted Answer

A)  thermohaline circulation. 
B)  reductions in El nino/La nina oscillation. 
C)  albedo increases. 
D)  Milankovitch cycles. 
A)  thermohaline circulation. 
B)  reductions in El nino/La nina oscillation. 
C)  albedo increases. 
D)  Milankovitch cycles.

Question 19

Which of these is unlikely to result from climate change?

Accepted Answer

A)  the change in distribution patterns of birds. 
B)  an increased land area in some countries due to the melting of glaciers. 
C)  increased drought in agricultural regions resulting in famine. 
D)  warmer average temperatures. 
E)  movement of tectonic plates. 
A)  the change in distribution patterns of birds. 
B)  an increased land area in some countries due to the melting of glaciers. 
C)  increased drought in agricultural regions resulting in famine. 
D)  warmer average temperatures. 
E)  movement of tectonic plates.

Question 20

Which of these is true about ways that we might slow climate change, according to climate policy analysts?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is no way to slow climate change. 
B)  There is no way to slow climate change without dramatically reducing our quality of life. 
C)  Slowing change is impossible without new technologies. 
D)  We can use a variety of climate "wedges," but these will cause considerable social disruption. 
E)  Developing a variety of existing strategies, such as conservation, reforestation, and alternative energy, could dramatically slow climate change. 
A)  There is no way to slow climate change. 
B)  There is no way to slow climate change without dramatically reducing our quality of life. 
C)  Slowing change is impossible without new technologies. 
D)  We can use a variety of climate "wedges," but these will cause considerable social disruption. 
E)  Developing a variety of existing strategies, such as conservation, reforestation, and alternative energy, could dramatically slow climate change.

An increase in albedo would mean there would be

There has been an increase in frequency and intensity of storms and hurricanes.

Which of these best describes the comparison of observed changes in CO2 production and IPCC model scenarios of expected CO₂ production?

Most of the excessive carbon dioxide that is expected to cause global warming is generated by

The "Keeling curve" showing CO2 measurements at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, shows that concentrations of CO2 have reached approximately what level, in parts per million (PPM)?

When El Niño occurs every three to seven years, a mass of warm Pacific water that is usually pushed westward by trade winds

The atmospheric zone where most weather events occur is the

Paying to plant trees because you use carbon in your daily life would be an example of

What are the ecological implications of global warming?

As far as we are currently aware, who were the first people to notice the El Niño Southern Oscillation cycle?

Given what we know about the likelihood of climate change, the best thing to do is

The two main gases making up the lower atmosphere are

Data from Mauna Loa show that CO2 levels since 1958 have

Nineteen of the 20 warmest of the last 150 years have occurred since 1980.

Which of these is NOT among our most important greenhouse gases?

The correct sequence of atmospheric zones upward from the earth's surface is

Which of the following would have the highest albedo?

The change in ocean temperatures brought on by climate change could lead to an extreme cold period in Europe due to a change in the

Which of these is unlikely to result from climate change?

Which of these is true about ways that we might slow climate change, according to climate policy analysts?

Understanding Our Environment

Environmental Systems: Matter and Energy of Life

Evolution, Species Interactions, and Biological Communities

Human Populations

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Environmental Conservation: Forests, Grasslands, Parks, and Nature Preserves

Food and Agriculture

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Water: Resources and Pollution

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Exam 9: Climate

An increase in albedo would mean there would be

There has been an increase in frequency and intensity of storms and hurricanes.

Which of these best describes the comparison of observed changes in CO2 production and IPCC model scenarios of expected CO2 production?

Most of the excessive carbon dioxide that is expected to cause global warming is generated by

The "Keeling curve" showing CO2 measurements at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, shows that concentrations of CO2 have reached approximately what level, in parts per million (PPM)?

When El Niño occurs every three to seven years, a mass of warm Pacific water that is usually pushed westward by trade winds

The atmospheric zone where most weather events occur is the

Paying to plant trees because you use carbon in your daily life would be an example of

What are the ecological implications of global warming?

As far as we are currently aware, who were the first people to notice the El Niño Southern Oscillation cycle?

Given what we know about the likelihood of climate change, the best thing to do is

The two main gases making up the lower atmosphere are

Data from Mauna Loa show that CO2 levels since 1958 have

Nineteen of the 20 warmest of the last 150 years have occurred since 1980.

Which of these is NOT among our most important greenhouse gases?

The correct sequence of atmospheric zones upward from the earth's surface is

Which of the following would have the highest albedo?

The change in ocean temperatures brought on by climate change could lead to an extreme cold period in Europe due to a change in the

Which of these is unlikely to result from climate change?

Which of these is true about ways that we might slow climate change, according to climate policy analysts?

Understanding Our Environment

Environmental Systems: Matter and Energy of Life

Evolution, Species Interactions, and Biological Communities

Human Populations

Biomes and Biodiversity

Environmental Conservation: Forests, Grasslands, Parks, and Nature Preserves

Food and Agriculture

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Air Pollution

Water: Resources and Pollution

Environmental Geology and Earth Resources

Energy

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Economics and Urbanization

Environmental Policy and Sustainability

Filters

Which of these best describes the comparison of observed changes in CO2 production and IPCC model scenarios of expected CO₂ production?