Deck 20: World Climates and Global Climate Change

Question 1

In some Aw regions, such as India, Southeast Asia, and portions of Australia, the alternating periods of rainfall and dryness are associated with well- established ___________.

A) thunderstorm updrafts
B) ocean currents
C) monsoon cycles
D) El Nino Southern Oscillation Cycles

Answer 1

monsoon cycles

Question 2

Köppen relied on ___________as a primary indicator of climate.

A) natural vegetation
B) ocean basins
C) solar energy
D) tsunami
E) sedimentary rocks

Answer 2

natural vegetation

Question 3

The major difference between a wet tropical region and a tropical wet and dry region is ___________.

A) wind direction
B) precipitation
C) temperature
D) elevation
E) pressure

Answer 3

precipitation

Question 4

Climates where evaporation exceeds precipitation are called ___________climates.

A) highland
B) humid tropical
C) dry
D) polar
E) humid middle- latitude

Question 5

A dry climate is defined as___________ .

A) one where the rainfall is less than 10 cm per year
B) a climate where wind is the dominate form of erosion
C) a climate where the temperature is over 25°C
D) one were the evaporation exceeds the precipitation
E) all of the above

Question 6

Which of the following is not part of the climate system?

A) hydrosphere
B) gyrosphere
C) geosphere
D) biosphere
E) cryosphere

Question 7

Why do humid tropical regions have only small variations in temperature throughout the year?

A) The location of this climatic region is limited to an area where the solar radiation does not vary significantly.
B) The winds associated with these systems rapidly redistribute the heat.
C) The constant humidity maintains a relatively uniform temperature.
D) The canopy of trees in the rain forest shade the ground and reflect light all the time.
E) The cloud cover and rain do not allow the temperatures to rise or fall significantly.

Question 8

Of the 5 major groups in the Köppen classification system, which letter below indicates the classification that is based primarily on precipitation?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Question 9

The ancient___________ divided each hemisphere into torrid, temperate, and frigid zones.

A) Greeks
B) Phoenicians
C) Romans
D) Assyrians

Question 10

For more than 70 years, the best- known and most used climate classification system has been the ___________classification.

A) Köppen
B) Smith
C) Klingel
D) Saffir
E) Hutton

Question 11

Which of the following is not used to establish the boundary between dry and humid climates in the Köppen system?

A) Average Annual Temperature
B) Average Annual Precipitation
C) Average Annual Evaporation
D) Seasonal Distribution of Precipitation

Question 12

The most luxuriant abundant. vegetation found in any climatic realm is the___________ .

A) mid- latitude forest
B) savannah
C) tropical rain forest
D) tundra
E) taiga

Question 13

Winterless climates with all months having a mean temperature above 18°C are known as___________ climates.

A) humid middle- latitude
B) dry
C) polar
D) humid tropical

Question 14

The Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn were identified by the ancient Greeks as the___________ .

A) center of areas that were the hottest on earth
B) center of areas that were both hot and wet
C) boundaries between the moderate and hot areas on earth
D) edges of the world
E) center of areas that were moderate temperature on earth

Question 15

Which of the following is a part of the earth system that could be significantly impacted by climate and climate change?

A) igneous intrusions
B) formation of volcanic islands
C) development of metamorphic minerals
D) deposition of sedimentary rocks
E) none of the above

Question 16

The Köppen classification system for climate is widely used because___________ .

A) it is a highly evolved classification system that has been carefully refined and improved over more than a century so that it meets the complex needs of a modern society
B) it is easy to use, and it covers the most populated areas of the earth and the oceans
C) it uses easily obtained data, and the system is relatively clear
D) it is easy to use, and it covers the most affluent parts of the world, including Europe, the U.S. and north Africa
E) it uses easily obtained data and can cover a large area with a single classification

Question 17

Temperature and precipitation are the most important elements in describing a climate because ___________.

A) they are what controls our climate
B) they are the major indicators of what is happening in the atmosphere
C) they are the major indicators of what is happening in the biosphere
D) they are the elements that have the greatest impact on humans
E) they are the elements that have the greatest impact on the hydrosphere

Question 18

The climate in which temperatures average 25°C or more each month and total precipitation for the year is high is the ___________climate.

A) highland
B) wet tropics
C) marine west coast
D) humid subtropics
E) humid continental

Question 19

The wet tropics are limited to areas ___________.

A) below 1000 meters of elevation
B) where the temperature is always above 35°C
C) that have mountainous regions of forest
D) where the humidity averages more than 70%
E) where the trade winds bring moisture

Question 20

Af and Am climates form a discontinuous belt astride the___________ .

A) equator
B) Tropic of Cancer
C) Tropic of Capricorn
D) Prime Meridian
E) Arctic Circle

Question 21

Almost ___________of Australia is desert.

A) 10%
B) 50%
C) 20%
D) 40%
E) 30%

Question 22

You are going camping with a friend in June in the Lovelock, Nevada area. Your friend, who is wearing a t- shirt, says "my pack is pretty full. Do I really need this jacket?" What would be a fair response?

A) "While it is warm during the day in this climate there are great daily contrasts. Bring the jacket."
B) "This is a midlatitude desert in summer so should be warm enough without a jacket."
C) "Dry air feels warm even at very low temperatures. Do not pack the jacket."
D) "We are in midlatitudes and even in the desert it is essentially always cold, so bring your jacket."

Question 23

In a climatological sense, dryness is a function of both annual rainfall and___________ .

A) altitude
B) wind direction
C) solar radiation
D) evaporation
E) slope

Question 24

The name ___________ climate is often used as a synonym for the dry- summer subtropical climate.

A) Australian
B) Indian
C) European
D) African
E) Mediterranean

Question 25

The ___________west coast climate is situated on the western windward. side of continents from about 40 to 65 degrees latitude.

A) humid
B) Mediterranean
C) subtropical
D) continental
E) marine

Question 26

The western U.S. climate is different from the western European climate because___________ .

A) the western U.S. has mountains near the coast and Europe does not
B) the winds that dominate the weather in the U.S. come from the west but in Europe they come from the southeast
C) the water along the coast of Europe is warmer than the water along the western coast of the U.S.
D) the U.S. is significantly closer to the equator than Europe
E) the water along the western coast of the U.S. is warmer than the water along the coast of Europe

Question 27

The humid subtropical climate dominates the ___________United States.

A) western
B) central
C) southwestern
D) northeastern
E) southeastern

Question 28

Low latitude dry climates are found primarily ___________.

A) near 45° north and south latitudes.
B) near 35° north and south latitudes.
C) near the equator.
D) between the equator and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
E) near the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

Question 29

Humid middle- latitude climates with mild winters tend to have less precipitation in the summer than during the rest of the year because___________ .

A) higher temperatures in those regions result in more precipitation over the oceans and less over the land
B) oceanic subtropical highs migrate toward the equator during the summer
C) higher temperatures in those regions carry the moist air higher into the atmosphere
D) oceanic subtropical highs migrate poleward towards higher latitudes. during the summer

Question 30

Midlatitude deserts and steppes form because___________ .

A) they are in high mountains
B) subsiding air masses are associated with high pressure
C) they are in the interiors of continents
D) rising air masses are associated with low pressure
E) they form at middle latitudes everywhere

Question 31

Why are humid middle- latitude climates with severe winters not found in the Southern Hemisphere?

A) It is too warm in the Southern Hemisphere to have severe winters.
B) The Southern Hemisphere is dominated by warm winds.
C) Mountains block the flow of moist air in the Southern Hemisphere.
D) The Southern Hemisphere is dominated by oceans.
E) Coastal regions in the Southern Hemisphere are mostly volcanic.

Question 32

The___________ climates are land- controlled climates, the result of broad continents in the middle latitudes.

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Question 33

The___________ climate is located on the eastern sides of continents, in the 25- to 40- degree latitude range.

A) dry- summer subtropical
B) humid subtropical
C) Mediterranean
D) marine west coast
E) humid continental

Question 34

The two types of dry Bclimates are desert and___________ .

A) tundra
B) taiga
C) highland
D) steppe

Question 35

The___________ sides of mountains are often wet.

A) leeward
B) steep
C) windward
D) sunny
E) southern

Question 36

The subarctic climate is often referred to as ___________.

A) the taiga climate
B) the polar express
C) tundra
D) frozen land
E) steppes

Question 37

The low latitude dry regions coincide with___________ .

A) the polar high pressure belt
B) the subtropical high pressure belts
C) the gulf stream
D) the polar low pressure belt
E) the subtropical low pressure belts

Question 38

Low latitude dry regions tend to___________ .

A) have stratocumulus clouds
B) have high cirrus clouds
C) be cloud free
D) have high winds due to downward plunging air masses

Question 39

Coastal Alaska and Norway are in the___________ group of climates.

A) dry
B) humid tropical climates
C) humid middle- latitude, severe winters
D) polar
E) humid middle- latitude, mild winters

Question 40

The leeward sides of mountains are typically dry enough to be referred to as ___________.

A) a Mediterranean climate
B) rain shadow deserts
C) tundra
D) steppes
E) taigas

Question 41

Polar climates get most of their precipitation in the___________ .

A) spring
B) winter
C) summer
D) fall
E) It is uniform throughout the year.

Question 42

Which of the following is not a trace gas?

A) CH₄
B) CFCs
C) C₂N
D) N₂O

Question 43

Carbon dioxide is an important influence on climate because___________ .

A) it passes incoming short wavelength solar radiation, but it absorbs some longer wavelength outgoing earth radiation
B) it absorbs incoming long wavelength solar radiation, but it passes short wavelength outgoing earth radiation
C) it passes incoming long wavelength solar radiation, but it absorbs short wavelength outgoing earth radiation
D) it absorbs incoming short wavelength solar radiation, but it passes some longer wavelength outgoing earth radiation
E) None of the above is correct.

Question 44

Climate- feedback mechanisms ___________.

A) disagree with climate models
B) have nothing to do with climate models
C) complicate climate models
D) enhance climate models
E) support climate models

Question 45

If sea ice melts, this would affect the climate by ___________.

A) increasing the amount of solar energy absorbed at the surface
B) increasing albedo
C) increasing the moisture in the atmosphere
D) reducing the amount of solar energy absorbed at the surface
E) decreasing the moisture in the atmosphere

Question 46

Which of the following might not be considered a natural cause of climate change?

A) plate tectonics
B) explosive volcanic eruptions
C) changes in atmospheric ozone
D) variations in solar radiation
E) changes in the earth's orbit

Question 47

Any change in the air's___________ content could alter temperatures in the lower atmosphere.

A) smoke
B) oxygen
C) acid
D) carbon dioxide
E) nitrogen

Question 48

Aerosols are ___________in terms of global change due to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

A) neither a positive nor a negative feedback mechanism
B) a negative feedback mechanism
C) a reflector
D) a positive feedback mechanism
E) an absorber

Question 49

Polar regions receive nearly continuous sunlight in the summer months so why doesn't the mean temperature during those months get above 10°C?

A) The sun is too low in the sky to be an effective heat source.
B) The sun's energy has to heat the frozen atmosphere in order to reach the land and that takes all summer.
C) The reflection of the sun's energy albedo. by the ice and snow prevents the area from warming.
D) The ozone layer has thinned significantly over the polar regions and this prevents heat from being trapped near the surface in those areas.
E) In the summer, the winds blow from the cold oceans and keep the temperatures low.

Question 50

Where are Polar Climates most well developed?

A) Antarctica and Alaska
B) Iceland and Antarctica
C) Iceland and Alaska
D) Antarctica and Greenland
E) Alaska and Greenland

Question 51

According to the 2013 report from which body which is informed by the world's most accomplished atmospheric scientists. have global temperatures been increasing in recent years?

A) Association of National Talk Show Hosts
B) National Association of Chemists
C) Mobil Oil Corporation
D) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Question 52

Seasonal variations in CO₂ recorded at Mauna Loa Observatory are related to ___________.

A) vegetation
B) storms
C) winds
D) temperature
E) humidity

Question 53

Highland climates usually experience ___________compared to the adjacent lowlands.

A) slower but larger changes
B) higher winds
C) similar patterns of change
D) faster and larger changes
E) smaller temperature and precipitation variations

Question 54

How do aerosols influence climate?

A) They increase the albedo.
B) They absorb long wavelength earth radiation.
C) They reflect solar radiation back into space.
D) They produce acid rain.
E) All of the above

Question 55

Compared to places at lower elevations, highland climates are usually cooler and ___________ .

A) less changeable
B) wetter
C) dryer
D) sunny
E) none of the above

Question 56

In the past approximately 100 years, global temperatures have___________ .

A) decreased by nearly 5°C
B) increased by nearly 1°C
C) decreased by nearly 1°C
D) increased by nearly 5°C
E) not changed significantly

Question 57

Taiga climates are characterized by___________ .

A) grasslands
B) coniferous forests
C) tropical vegetation
D) cactus plants

Question 58

Because topographic variations are pronounced in mountains, every change in slope with respect to the Sun's rays produces a different___________ .

A) vegetation classification
B) microclimate
C) Koppen climate let
D) wind pattern

Question 59

The overall effect of aerosols is to___________ .

A) warm the planet
B) increase ocean temperatures
C) increase CO₂
D) cool the planet
E) decrease CO₂

Question 60

Humid continental climates are found between about___________ north latitude

A) 40 and 50
B) 70 and 80
C) 30 and 40
D) 10 and 20

Question 61

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

A) desert
B) rain shadow
C) steppe
D) subarctic

Question 62

Sea level change is___________ .

A) accelerating
B) decelerating
C) steady
D) not occurring

Question 63

How has loss of ice led to an increase in global warming?

A) It has caused sea levels to rise, which have moderated temperatures.
B) It has increased heat absorption.
C) It has caused ocean acidification, which has raised the temperature.
D) It has increased solar energy reflection.

Question 64

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

A) ozone
B) methane
C) carbon dioxide
D) nitrous oxide

Question 65

General circulation models are based on the fundamental laws of physics and chemistry, and they are designed to ___________.

A) determine whether places are going to experience bad hurricane seasons or droughts during the next year
B) measure urban heat islands and identify where changes need to be made in a community
C) predict the weather over periods of weeks and months
D) simulate the history of weather on earth for the last ice age
E) model climate behavior over decades

Question 66

Earth's middle- latitude deserts exist principally ___________.

A) because of high pressure systems
B) because of their positions in the deep interiors of large landmasses, far removed from the oceans
C) because of the rainshadow effect
D) because of cold currents

Question 67

___________are the two most important elements in a climatic description.

A) Altitude and proximity to the oceans
B) Altitude and precipitation
C) Humidity and temperature
D) Pressure and wind patterns

Question 68

Consequences of global warming are___________.

A) unlikely to begin for the next 100 years
B) potentially full of surprises that we cannot yet fully know or predict
C) not an issue since the planet would have warmed due to natural cycles anyway
D) known and predictable

Question 69

Global warming appears to be thawing the permafrost as indicated by ___________.

A) houses sinking into the ground in Alaska
B) increased surface waters in the Arctic
C) disappearing lakes in the Arctic
D) all of the above

Question 70

Records indicate that sea level has___________ since 1870.

A) decreased by 2.5 meters
B) decreased by 25 centimeters
C) risen by 2.5 meters
D) risen by 25 centimeters
E) not changed

Question 71

The two main types of A climates are___________ climates.

A) wet tropical and tropical wet and dry
B) humid subtropical
C) highland and dry maritime
D) polar maritime

Question 72

The combustion of ___________ has added great quantities of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

A) wood
B) oxygen
C) paper
D) fossil fuels
E) none of the above

Question 73

Climate models indicate that ___________isare. one of the strongest indications of global warming.

A) the hole in the ozone in Australia
B) loss of sea ice in the Arctic
C) melting of Antarctica
D) El Niño
E) retreating glaciers in Alaska

Question 74

The climate system involves Earth's___________ .

A) atmosphere
B) solid sphere
C) oceans
D) all of these

Question 75

A___________ is a tropical grassland with scattered drought- tolerant trees.

A) savanna
B) boreal
C) steppe
D) tundra

Question 76

The magnitude of a temperature increase due to greenhouse warming will probably be smallest in the ___________.

A) higher middle- latitudes
B) subtropics
C) polar regions
D) lower middle- latitudes
E) tropics

Question 77

The hydrosphere refers to the ___________that exist at Earth's surface.

A) snow and ice and liquid water only
B) water vapor and gases only
C) liquid water, snow and ice, and water vapor
D) snow and water vapor only

Question 78

Sea level change will have its greatest impact on coastal areas that are___________ .

A) volcanic islands like Hawaii
B) passive continental margins like the eastern U.S. and southern India
C) active continental margins like California and Chile
D) subduction zones like Japan
E) all of the above

Question 79

The windward sides of mountains are predominantly___________ climates.

A) hot
B) wet
C) dry
D) cold

Question 80

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

A) atmosphere
B) hydrosphere
C) biosphere
D) lithosphere