Deck 20: Global Climate Change

Question 1

Which of the following is the chemical formula for ozone?

A) NO3
B) SO3
C) O2
D) CO2
E) O3

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Permafrost has traditionally been found in

A) Bangladesh and Pakistan.
B) Tuvalu and the Maldives.
C) Peru and Montana.
D) Canada and Alaska.
E) Greenland and Antarctica.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?

A) carbon dioxide
B) methane
C) water vapor
D) chlorofluorocarbons
E) sulfur oxide

Answer 3

E

Question 4

In California, major wildfires have been increasing since the mid-1980's. Climate change is believed to play a role in this increase by its effects on:

A) prevailing wind patterns
B) timing of snowmelt
C) Both the timing of snowmelt and the reduction in annual precipitation
D) all of these statements are correct

Question 5

A situation in which a change in some conditions triggers a response that counteracts, or reverses, the changed condition is called

A) the second law of thermodynamics.
B) positive feedback.
C) negative feedback.
D) thermoregulation.
E) the Gaia hypothesis.

Question 6

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projected a global temperature increase by the year 2100 of:

A) 0º to 1.5ºC.
B) 1.8º to 4.0ºC.
C) 3º to 5.5ºC.
D) 3.5º to 10.4ºC.
E) none, they didn't actually make such a prediction.

Question 7

Stratospheric ozone:

A) is a pollutant.
B) is composed of nitrogen.
C) has been decreasing for several decades.
D) is thinning because of sulfur oxide pollution.
E) absorbs all of the incoming ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Question 8

Which of the following organisms have already been negatively affected by global climate change?

A) Mediterranean fruit flies
B) tropical forests in Brazil
C) zooplankton along the California coast
D) nematodes in the soil

Question 9

The international treaty which provides operational rules on reducing greenhouse gas emissions is called

A) Kyoto Protocol.
B) Montreal Protocol.
C) IPCC Protocol.
D) Mount Pinatubo Protocol.
E) The enhanced greenhouse effect.

Question 10

Studies documenting the arrival of spring and fall in the Northern Hemisphere are based on:

A) average daily temperatures as measured at locations throughout Northern Hemisphere.
B) fixed calendar dates that have been consistent for the past 150 years.
C) when buds of particular plants open and when the leaves of particular plants change color and fall.
D) average snow melt, precipitation, and consistently increasing or decreasing temperatures across the state.
E) the amount of pollution, particularly greenhouse gases, found in the atmosphere of that region.

Question 11

Global climate change may actually benefit:

A) arctic species.
B) certain weeds.
C) agriculture.
D) most plants.
E) aquatic animals.

Question 12

Which of the following is not a predicted outcome of global climate change?

A) higher global temperatures
B) more extreme weather patterns
C) extinction of some organisms
D) rising sea levels
E) ocean water becomes alkaline

Question 13

The atmospheric cooling that occurs where and when aerosol pollution is the greatest is an example of:

A) positive feedback.
B) negative feedback.
C) equilibrium instability.
D) carbon management.
E) adaptation.

Question 14

Land conversion, such as when tropical forests are logged or burned, releases what substance(s) into the air?

A) carbon dioxide
B) methane
C) nitrous oxide
D) chlorofluorocarbons
E) sulfuric acid

Question 15

The group of air pollutants that tends to cool the atmosphere are known collectively as:

A) CFCs.
B) ozone enhancers.
C) nitrous oxides.
D) atmospheric aerosols.
E) anti-greenhouse gases.

Question 16

Which of the following statements about sulfur emissions is false?

A) Both natural processes and human activities produce sulfur emissions.
B) Sulfur emissions are concentrated in heavily populated industrial areas, primarily in the Northern Hemisphere.
C) Sulfur haze only cools the planet during the daytime, while greenhouse gases warm the planet 24 hours a day.
D) Most countries are trying to reduce their sulfur emissions because of the negative impact of acid deposition.
E) Sulfur emissions remain in the atmosphere for hundreds of years and cause global cooling.

Question 17

Gases that absorb infrared radiation include all of the following except:

A) carbon dioxide.
B) methane.
C) nitrous oxide.
D) sulfur oxide.
E) tropospheric ozone.

Question 18

Which of the following activities is responsible for the largest percentage of human-made carbon dioxide emissions?

A) burning fossil fuels
B) deforestation
C) ozone depletion
D) acid deposition
E) agriculture

Question 19

The Earth's average temperature is based on daily measurements taken from all of the following except:

A) orbiting satellites.
B) weather balloons.
C) spectrophotometers.
D) sea-surface buoys.
E) transoceanic ships.

Question 20

The greenhouse effect occurs because:

A) greenhouse gases released interact chemically to produce excess heat.
B) there are too many greenhouses scattered across the Earth's surface.
C) carbon dioxide and other trace gases trap infrared radiation in the Earth's atmosphere.
D) sulfur emissions from smokestacks and volcanoes continue to occur.
E) the gases produced by human activities allow significantly more heat to pass out of the Earth's atmosphere.

Question 21

Which of the following does not cool the atmosphere?

A) Sooty aerosols
B) Atmospheric aerosols
C) Sulfur dioxide emissions
D) Human-produced sulfur emissions
E) None of these statements is correct

Question 22

Which of the following does NOT influence climate change?

A) winds
B) clouds
C) albedo
D) ocean currents
E) none of these, all influence climate change

Question 23

Which of the following effects on organisms is a result of climate warming?

A) premature birth in mammals
B) sterility
C) early migration of aquatic species
D) physical deformities
E) increased cancer rates

Question 24

Organisms that take CO2 out of the water and sequester it in the form of calcium carbonate are

A) increasing in numbers because of the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
B) effectively serving as a sink for carbon dioxide.
C) being threatened by the increasing acidity of the oceans from carbonic acid.
D) disappearing at an alarming rate as oceans become more alkaline.
E) converting the calcium carbonate to sulfuric acid.

Question 25

The potential impact of global climate change on the lifestyle of those people and animals living in Alaska and Northern Canada include all of the following except:

A) changes in distribution and migration patterns of some wildlife species.
B) collapse of roads and buildings with increased thawing of the permafrost.
C) higher risk of contaminated water supplies.
D) decreased agricultural productivity due to changing climate.
E) a reduction in subsistence hunting due to reductions in wildlife habitat.

Question 26

Which of the following statements about the effects of global warming on agriculture is true?

A) Global climate change may decrease the frequency of droughts.
B) The warmer temperatures will result in increased soil moisture content in many agricultural soils.
C) Global climate change will result in a global increase in agricultural productivity.
D) Rising sea level may inundate some of the world's most productive agricultural lands.
E) Warmer temperatures associated with global climate change will probably help to control agricultural pests.

Question 27

The Kyoto Protocol:
I. has been signed and ratified by over 160 countries.
II. is an agreement to establish legally binding timetables to cut global emissions of greenhouse gases.
III. is an attempt to control global climate change by prohibiting all carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
IV. has been ratified by the U.S., resulting in voluntary reductions in industrial emissions.

A) I
B) II
C) III
D) IV
E) I and II

Question 28

All of the following are probable results of global climate change EXCEPT:

A) more extreme weather patterns.
B) extinction of some organisms.
C) increases in sea level.
D) higher global temperatures.
E) an increase in acid rain.

Question 29

What indicates the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere before large scale use of fossil fuels began?

A) negative feedback
B) preindustrial CO2 level
C) post-fossil CO2 level
D) emission scale
E) none of these

Question 30

Which of the following are two ways to attempt to manage global climate change?

A) mitigation and conservation
B) adaptation and exploitation
C) reducing electricity and stopping cigarette smoke
D) mitigation and adaptation
E) none of these

Question 31

Excessive exposure to UV radiation has been linked to:

A) the greenhouse effect.
B) skin lesions.
C) deforestation.
D) declining aquatic plant populations.
E) weakened eggshells in birds.

Question 32

Water shortages, frequent flooding, and heavy snow and rainstorms in some areas are
A direct result of…

A) melting ice caps
B) changes in precipitation patterns
C) rising sea levels
D) agricultural byproducts
E) none of these choices is correct

Question 33

Which ozone-depleting chemical is not matched with its proper use?

A) chlorofluorocarbons - pesticide
B) halons - fire extinguishers
C) methyl chloroform - industrial solvent
D) carbon tetrachloride - industrial manufacturing
E) methyl bromide - pesticide

Question 34

Warmer temperatures leading to greater evaporation and higher concentration of atmospheric water vapor which leads to warmer air and ocean temperatures is an example of:

A) negative feedback
B) infrared radiation
C) UV rays
D) Greenhouse gasses
E) Positive feedback

Question 35

Which of the following causes sea levels to rise?

A) Expansion of water as it warms
B) Water is more reflective than ice
C) retreat of glaciers
D) ice absorbs more heat than water
E) Both the expansion of water as it warms and the retreat of glaciers

Question 36

Major thawing of glaciers and the polar ice caps:

A) is occurring as the result of excess aerosols in the atmosphere.
B) will only impact those few people that live within 150 km of a coastline.
C) will contribute to a rise in sea level because of thermal expansion of the warming ocean,
D) will result in an estimated 150 cm increase in sea level by 2100, according to IPCC estimate.
E) All of these statements are correct

Question 37

Which of the following is NOT true about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change?

A) It summarizes the current state of knowledge and uncertainty of global climate change
B) It provides the most definitive scientific statement about global climate change
C) It concluded that human-produced pollutants have caused minimal climate warming
D) It seeks input and review from climate experts
E) None of these, all are true

Question 38

Increased UV exposure has been linked to

A) the greenhouse effect
B) disruption of photosynthesis
C) deforestation
D) declining aquatic plant populations
E) weakened eggshells in birds

Question 39

Chlorofluorocarbons are released into the atmosphere by:

A) smoke stacks.
B) car exhaust.
C) leaking air conditioners and old refrigerators.
D) pesticides.
E) nuclear power plants.

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT a function of climate models?

A) exploring and analyzing past climate events
B) exploring and analyzing future climate events
C) determine consequences of global warming on the biosphere
D) represent interactions among the atmosphere, ocean, and land
E) none of these, all are functions of climate models

Question 41

Identify three strategies that can be used to mitigate the effects of global climate change. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each strategy.

Question 42

Which of the following ecosystems are NOT considered at greatest risk of loss of species in the short term?

A) polar seas
B) coral reefs
C) tundra
D) temperate forests
E) coastal wetlands

Question 43

Describe the link between greenhouse gas emissions and economic development in developing countries. Why has this been a point of controversy as highly developed and developing countries try and work together to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions?

Question 44

Which of the following is NOT a potential harmful effect on human health resulting from climate change?

A) malaria
B) yellow fever
C) heatstroke and heat-related illnesses
D) respiratory problems
E) schistosomiasis

Question 45

Distinguish between the terms positive feedback and negative feedback. In developing climate models that might result from the enhanced greenhouse effect, what role does water vapor play in the arguments that climate change might result in (a) global warming or (b) global cooling?

Question 46

What is known thus far about the link between climate change and human disease?

Question 47

Which of the following statements about climate change affecting agriculture is FALSE?

A) Increased nighttime temperatures are beneficial for some crops
B) Increased nighttime temperatures are detrimental to some crops
C) Agricultural productivity will increase in some areas, and decrease in others
D) Subtropical regions will be able to increase their agricultural productivity in a warmer climate
E) Agricultural methods are now less reliant on CO2-producing fossil fuels

Question 48

The 2003 movie "The Day After Tomorrow" portrayed the possible effects of humans ignoring the warning signs of global climate change. Temperature sensors in the oceans sent the immediate signals that things were in the process of changing rapidly. How plausible was this scenario in light of what we know about climate change?

Question 49

Describe the interactions of the effects of ozone depletion, global climate change, and acid deposition on North America. Why might these interactions be described as synergistic?

Question 50

Identify four potential effects of global climate change. Briefly discuss the ramifications of each of the effects that you have identified.

Question 51

Identify and briefly describe the international agreements that have been formulated to address the issues of global climate change and the thinning of the ozone layer. Include the position that the United States has taken in response to these agreements.

Question 52

Distinguish between the terms "greenhouse effect" and "enhanced greenhouse effect". Include identification of four major greenhouse gases and their sources in your discussion.