Deck 18: Global Climate Change

Question 1

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, the increased flux of carbon into the atmosphere has been primarily due to .

A)desertification
B)deforestation
C)burning of fossil fuels
D)addition of phosphate in detergents
E)addition of fertilizers to the soil

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Carbon- based fuels from lithospheric reservoirs .

A)are formed from the deposition, partial decay, and compression of inorganic matter
B)will be lost before the end of the decade
C)have been slowly sequestered over many millions of years
D)cannot be lost to the atmosphere by human processes once stabilized on Earth's surface
E)are readily lost from Earth's surface in the absence of humans

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The use of public transportation is .

A)increasing rapidly in the face of concerns over climate change
B)more expensive than driving a car
C)subsidized by the U.S. government
D)one option for decreasing the use of fossil fuels for transportation
E)higher in the United States than in Europe

Answer 3

D

Question 4

What is a growing concern related to sea- level rise?

A)deforestation as salt in the atmosphere increases
B)migrating birds as salt in the atmosphere increases
C)eroding shorelines in coastal areas
D)fish migrating earlier than usual
E)vanishing land near lakes and rivers

Question 5

In the wake of the U.S. failure to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, .

A)cities and states are setting their own programs for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
B)dozens of other nations pulled out of the Protocol
C)the United States has shown that it is a leader in carbon emission reduction without having signed the Protocol
D)oil exporting nations have refused to sell to the United States
E)many nations have severed diplomatic relations with the United States

Question 6

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that physical, biological, and economic evidence exists confirming global climate change due to human-produced greenhouse gases. Although the United States emits most of Earth's carbon dioxide, its policies do not reflect concern over its environmental effects. The United States failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement signed by other developed nations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Requested voluntary reductions of carbon dioxide emissions have not been effective in reducing greenhouse gases. Revisions to the 1970 Clean Air Act, called the "Clear Skies Initiative," were proposed to limit mercury, nitric oxides, and sulfur oxide emissions from power plants. Nicknamed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as the "Clear Lies Initiative," this proposal did not specifically address emission of carbon dioxide, and its loopholes excluded older power plants from having to modernize, seemingly supporting pollutive industries with political influence. Environmentalists are arguing for immediate action, including stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and subsidies for renewable energy. They favor "portfolio standards," requiring electric companies to provide clean energy alternatives to consumers and "green tags," "wind certificates," and "green pricing" to support the use of alternative fuels.
One factor contributing to U.S. resistance to legal intervention regarding global climate change is .

A)political influence of the petroleum, coal, and automobile industries
B)the precautionary principle
C)lack of support from other developed nations around the world
D)lack of scientific evidence supporting global climate change
E)the success of voluntary reductions of carbon dioxide emissions by U.S. power plants

Question 7

The 2009 Copenhagen Conference .

A)failed to produce a treaty because the United States failed to support it and China refused international monitoring for promised steep cuts
B)failed to provide any help to developing nations for mitigation and adaptation efforts
C)was unable to pass any resolution because 20 developed nations refused to accept the scientific premises of global climate change
D)produced a multinational treaty to limit carbon emissions
E)created an international fund to promote climate research

Question 8

The U.S. Senate has so far opposed emissions reductions on the grounds that .

A)no other nations have pledged reductions
B)it might hurt the economy
C)the United States already has reduced its emissions by 68% as agreed in the Copenhagen treaty
D)President Obama rejected the scientific basis of global climate change
E)the United States does not emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases

Question 9

Earth's climate .

A)has been stable over the history of the planet
B)is changing as a result of natural and human processes
C)will stabilize over the next century, according to the predictions of most scientists
D)history is undeterminable because there is no method of studying the climatic history of the planet
E)has been documented to have changed once due to the evolution of green photosynthesizing plants

Question 10

Recent research indicates that the variation in solar output _.

A)is less than any of the anthropogenic factors affecting climate change
B)is the major factor driving temperature change
C)is greater than all the anthropogenic factors affecting climate change
D)will increase by a hundredfold over then next century
E)has a radiative force of 20 watts/m²

Question 11

Hydrogen fuel cells, biodiesel, and long- range electric batteries are potential solutions to

A)cap- and- trade emission control
B)replacing coal as a major fuel for generating electricity
C)cutting back the carbon emissions from hydroelectric plants
D)reducing carbon emissions from cars and trucks
E)carbon sequestration

Question 12

Which of the following are market mechanisms for addressing climate change?

A)carbon neutrality and carbon aggression policies
B)carbon taxes and fee- and- dividend benefits
C)cap- and- trade and carbon offsets
D)mitigation and adaptation
E)international treaties from global conferences

Question 13

Carbon dioxide is _ .

A)produced during the combustion of fossil fuels
B)the most abundant greenhouse gas
C)more potent (per molecule of gas)than methane
D)the only greenhouse gas presently increasing in the atmosphere
E)the most potent (per molecule of gas)of the greenhouse gases

Question 14

Use the accompanying figure to answer the following questions.
If anthropogenic factors continue to increase, then in the future _.

A)the lines for all three models should level out
B)the lines for all three models and for observed data should show marked decreases
C)all of the lines will look more like the line for observed data
D)the lines for all three models should show decreases while the observation line would be expected to increase
E)the temperature trends shown in the figures should continue

Question 15

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is an international panel that .

A)reports on how climate change influences wildlife, ecosystems, and society
B)fines companies that pollute
C)constructed the Kyoto Protocol
D)performed the research included in the climate change findings
E)could not achieve its objectives because of lack of popular support

Question 16

The most recent analyses of polar ice cores have given us the ability to profile global climate change back as far as _ years.

A)50,000
B)300,000,000
C)100,000
D)800,000
E)1000

Question 17

Recent evidence from polar ice core analysis shows that, until now, carbon dioxide levels have never exceeded ppm in the last 800,000 years.

A)300
B)25
C)1000
D)200
E)500

Question 18

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that physical, biological, and economic evidence exists confirming global climate change due to human-produced greenhouse gases. Although the United States emits most of Earth's carbon dioxide, its policies do not reflect concern over its environmental effects. The United States failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement signed by other developed nations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Requested voluntary reductions of carbon dioxide emissions have not been effective in reducing greenhouse gases. Revisions to the 1970 Clean Air Act, called the "Clear Skies Initiative," were proposed to limit mercury, nitric oxides, and sulfur oxide emissions from power plants. Nicknamed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as the "Clear Lies Initiative," this proposal did not specifically address emission of carbon dioxide, and its loopholes excluded older power plants from having to modernize, seemingly supporting pollutive industries with political influence. Environmentalists are arguing for immediate action, including stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and subsidies for renewable energy. They favor "portfolio standards," requiring electric companies to provide clean energy alternatives to consumers and "green tags," "wind certificates," and "green pricing" to support the use of alternative fuels.
Environmentalists and scientists advocate immediate intervention regarding global climate change because _ .

A)they fear the consequences of inaction caused by lack of full scientific certainty
B)they are concerned about the global economic losses sustained due to global climate change
C)most live in areas most affected by global climate change
D)most are Cornucopians
E)they favor anthropogenic principles

Question 19

Growing rice results in the release of into the atmosphere.

A)carbon dioxide
B)ozone
C)sulfur oxides
D)sulfate aerosols
E)methane

Question 20

It can be argued that the United States should enact laws slowing global climate change because .

A)U)S. industry supports the legislation
B)the United States is a major source of the problem
C)global climate change effects are most significant in the United States
D)no other nations have initiated efforts to slow global climate change
E)the United States is the most populous nation on Earth

Question 21

Hydroelectric power generation .

A)uses fuel cells to generate electricity
B)produces pollutants that contribute significantly to acid precipitation
C)produces high quantities of greenhouse gases
D)is an alternative to fossil fuels that produces fewer greenhouse gases
E)has no undesirable environmental effects

Question 22

Match the following.

A)argon
B)methane
C)The Day After Tomorrow
D)water vapor
E)ozone
F)ammonia
G)carbon dioxide
H)biodiesel
I)An Inconvenient Truth
J)sulfate aerosol
K)nitrous oxide
By- product of feedlots, chemical manufacturing, and fertilizer use

Question 23

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that physical, biological, and economic evidence exists confirming global climate change due to human-produced greenhouse gases. Although the United States emits most of Earth's carbon dioxide, its policies do not reflect concern over its environmental effects. The United States failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement signed by other developed nations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Requested voluntary reductions of carbon dioxide emissions have not been effective in reducing greenhouse gases. Revisions to the 1970 Clean Air Act, called the "Clear Skies Initiative," were proposed to limit mercury, nitric oxides, and sulfur oxide emissions from power plants. Nicknamed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as the "Clear Lies Initiative," this proposal did not specifically address emission of carbon dioxide, and its loopholes excluded older power plants from having to modernize, seemingly supporting pollutive industries with political influence. Environmentalists are arguing for immediate action, including stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and subsidies for renewable energy. They favor "portfolio standards," requiring electric companies to provide clean energy alternatives to consumers and "green tags," "wind certificates," and "green pricing" to support the use of alternative fuels.
Why do environmentalists and scientists advocate immediate action, including stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and subsidies for renewable energy?

A)Environmentalists do not want to anger farmers, even though agriculture produces the most carbon dioxide.
B)These industries produce the most greenhouse gases.
C)No laws currently exist to regulate these industries.
D)These industries export goods to all other nations on Earth.
E)Power companies do not have labor unions that oppose legal restrictions.

Question 24

Match the following.

A)argon
B)methane
C)The Day After Tomorrow
D)water vapor
E)ozone
F)ammonia
G)carbon dioxide
H)biodiesel
I)An Inconvenient Truth
J)sulfate aerosol
K)nitrous oxide
Compound that contributes to short- term atmospheric cooling

Question 25

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that physical, biological, and economic evidence exists confirming global climate change due to human-produced greenhouse gases. Although the United States emits most of Earth's carbon dioxide, its policies do not reflect concern over its environmental effects. The United States failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement signed by other developed nations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Requested voluntary reductions of carbon dioxide emissions have not been effective in reducing greenhouse gases. Revisions to the 1970 Clean Air Act, called the "Clear Skies Initiative," were proposed to limit mercury, nitric oxides, and sulfur oxide emissions from power plants. Nicknamed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as the "Clear Lies Initiative," this proposal did not specifically address emission of carbon dioxide, and its loopholes excluded older power plants from having to modernize, seemingly supporting pollutive industries with political influence. Environmentalists are arguing for immediate action, including stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and subsidies for renewable energy. They favor "portfolio standards," requiring electric companies to provide clean energy alternatives to consumers and "green tags," "wind certificates," and "green pricing" to support the use of alternative fuels.
Which of the following is an alternative fuel supported by environmentalists that would decrease carbon dioxide production in transportation?

A)compressed natural gas
B)gasoline
C)vaporized water
D)coal
E)nuclear fuel rods

Question 26

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that physical, biological, and economic evidence exists confirming global climate change due to human-produced greenhouse gases. Although the United States emits most of Earth's carbon dioxide, its policies do not reflect concern over its environmental effects. The United States failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement signed by other developed nations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Requested voluntary reductions of carbon dioxide emissions have not been effective in reducing greenhouse gases. Revisions to the 1970 Clean Air Act, called the "Clear Skies Initiative," were proposed to limit mercury, nitric oxides, and sulfur oxide emissions from power plants. Nicknamed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as the "Clear Lies Initiative," this proposal did not specifically address emission of carbon dioxide, and its loopholes excluded older power plants from having to modernize, seemingly supporting pollutive industries with political influence. Environmentalists are arguing for immediate action, including stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and subsidies for renewable energy. They favor "portfolio standards," requiring electric companies to provide clean energy alternatives to consumers and "green tags," "wind certificates," and "green pricing" to support the use of alternative fuels.
Milankovitch cycles _.

A)describe the timing of the northern lights in the thermosphere
B)describe the transpiration, evaporation, and precipitation of Earth's water
C)refer to shifts in the temperature of surface water in the middle latitudes of the Pacific Ocean
D)are changes in Earth's rotation about its axis and orbit around the sun that may trigger climate variation
E)describe upwelling and downwelling in the ocean

Question 27

Match the following.

A)argon
B)methane
C)The Day After Tomorrow
D)water vapor
E)ozone
F)ammonia
G)carbon dioxide
H)biodiesel
I)An Inconvenient Truth
J)sulfate aerosol
K)nitrous oxide
In 2006- 2007, millions of lay citizens were powerfully educated about the reality, evidence and consequences of global climate change by the film

Question 28

Tuvalu and the Maldives are in the international spotlight because they _ .

A)opposed China's proposals for global carbon neutrality at the Copenhagen Conference in 2009
B)are the largest emissions producers in their respective areas
C)have exceeded the emissions reductions set by the Kyoto Protocol
D)are accepting climate change refugees from other nations
E)may be among the first nations to be completely flooded by rising sea levels

Question 29

The Earth's atmosphere can cause global warming because .

A)plants release CO₂
B)fossil fuels release heat
C)plants absorb CO₂
D)warm air cannot escape, as in a greenhouse
E)molecules in the atmosphere trap heat radiated from the Earth's surface

Question 30

Approximately % of U.S. citizens live in coastal counties and are thus vulnerable to storm surges and a rise in sea level.

A)10
B)20
C)83
D)53
E)95

Question 31

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that physical, biological, and economic evidence exists confirming global climate change due to human-produced greenhouse gases. Although the United States emits most of Earth's carbon dioxide, its policies do not reflect concern over its environmental effects. The United States failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement signed by other developed nations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Requested voluntary reductions of carbon dioxide emissions have not been effective in reducing greenhouse gases. Revisions to the 1970 Clean Air Act, called the "Clear Skies Initiative," were proposed to limit mercury, nitric oxides, and sulfur oxide emissions from power plants. Nicknamed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as the "Clear Lies Initiative," this proposal did not specifically address emission of carbon dioxide, and its loopholes excluded older power plants from having to modernize, seemingly supporting pollutive industries with political influence. Environmentalists are arguing for immediate action, including stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and subsidies for renewable energy. They favor "portfolio standards," requiring electric companies to provide clean energy alternatives to consumers and "green tags," "wind certificates," and "green pricing" to support the use of alternative fuels.
The greenhouse effect involves warming of Earth's surface and the .

A)thermosphere
B)ionosphere
C)troposphere
D)stratosphere
E)mesosphere

Question 32

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that physical, biological, and economic evidence exists confirming global climate change due to human-produced greenhouse gases. Although the United States emits most of Earth's carbon dioxide, its policies do not reflect concern over its environmental effects. The United States failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement signed by other developed nations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Requested voluntary reductions of carbon dioxide emissions have not been effective in reducing greenhouse gases. Revisions to the 1970 Clean Air Act, called the "Clear Skies Initiative," were proposed to limit mercury, nitric oxides, and sulfur oxide emissions from power plants. Nicknamed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as the "Clear Lies Initiative," this proposal did not specifically address emission of carbon dioxide, and its loopholes excluded older power plants from having to modernize, seemingly supporting pollutive industries with political influence. Environmentalists are arguing for immediate action, including stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and subsidies for renewable energy. They favor "portfolio standards," requiring electric companies to provide clean energy alternatives to consumers and "green tags," "wind certificates," and "green pricing" to support the use of alternative fuels.
Impacts of global warming include all of the following except .

A)more human illness
B)decrease in mortality because winter is warmer
C)more extreme weather
D)shifting species ranges
E)rising sea levels

Question 33

Approximately % of the fuel you pump into your automobile does something other than move your vehicle down the road.

A)20- 25
B)85- 90
C)35- 45
D)65- 75
E)55- 65

Question 34

Match the following.

A)argon
B)methane
C)The Day After Tomorrow
D)water vapor
E)ozone
F)ammonia
G)carbon dioxide
H)biodiesel
I)An Inconvenient Truth
J)sulfate aerosol
K)nitrous oxide
Predominant greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels

Question 35

Match the following.

A)argon
B)methane
C)The Day After Tomorrow
D)water vapor
E)ozone
F)ammonia
G)carbon dioxide
H)biodiesel
I)An Inconvenient Truth
J)sulfate aerosol
K)nitrous oxide
Produced by microbes decomposing matter in landfills and swamps

Question 36

The Kyoto Protocol _ .

A)required equal concessions from all countries involved in greenhouse gas emission
B)increased federal funding for controlling greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. power plants
C)was intended to reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases to levels lower than those of 1990
D)required increases in nuclear power generation
E)would have resulted in overall increases in greenhouse emissions

Question 37

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that physical, biological, and economic evidence exists confirming global climate change due to human-produced greenhouse gases. Although the United States emits most of Earth's carbon dioxide, its policies do not reflect concern over its environmental effects. The United States failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement signed by other developed nations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Requested voluntary reductions of carbon dioxide emissions have not been effective in reducing greenhouse gases. Revisions to the 1970 Clean Air Act, called the "Clear Skies Initiative," were proposed to limit mercury, nitric oxides, and sulfur oxide emissions from power plants. Nicknamed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as the "Clear Lies Initiative," this proposal did not specifically address emission of carbon dioxide, and its loopholes excluded older power plants from having to modernize, seemingly supporting pollutive industries with political influence. Environmentalists are arguing for immediate action, including stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and subsidies for renewable energy. They favor "portfolio standards," requiring electric companies to provide clean energy alternatives to consumers and "green tags," "wind certificates," and "green pricing" to support the use of alternative fuels.
Of the following greenhouse gases, which one has experienced the greatest percentage increase since 1750?

A)methane
B)ozone
C)water vapor
D)carbon dioxide
E)nitrous oxide

Question 38

Match the following.

A)argon
B)methane
C)The Day After Tomorrow
D)water vapor
E)ozone
F)ammonia
G)carbon dioxide
H)biodiesel
I)An Inconvenient Truth
J)sulfate aerosol
K)nitrous oxide
Most abundant greenhouse gas

Question 39

Keeling's reports from Mauna Loa demonstrated _.

A)that as distances from cities decreased, CO₂ concentrations increased
B)that CO₂ levels have been stable over the last 40 years
C)an increase in tropospheric CO₂ from the 1950s to present
D)the presence of El Niño
E)that sediments deposited on the seafloor can yield clues about past climates

Question 40

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that physical, biological, and economic evidence exists confirming global climate change due to human-produced greenhouse gases. Although the United States emits most of Earth's carbon dioxide, its policies do not reflect concern over its environmental effects. The United States failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement signed by other developed nations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Requested voluntary reductions of carbon dioxide emissions have not been effective in reducing greenhouse gases. Revisions to the 1970 Clean Air Act, called the "Clear Skies Initiative," were proposed to limit mercury, nitric oxides, and sulfur oxide emissions from power plants. Nicknamed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as the "Clear Lies Initiative," this proposal did not specifically address emission of carbon dioxide, and its loopholes excluded older power plants from having to modernize, seemingly supporting pollutive industries with political influence. Environmentalists are arguing for immediate action, including stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and subsidies for renewable energy. They favor "portfolio standards," requiring electric companies to provide clean energy alternatives to consumers and "green tags," "wind certificates," and "green pricing" to support the use of alternative fuels.
The largest source of anthropogenic greenhouse gases in the United States is , followed by .

A)agriculture; transportation
B)electricity generation; industry
C)agriculture; electricity generation
D)electricity generation; transportation
E)electricity generation; agriculture

Question 41

How can scientists learn about Earth's climatic history?

Question 42

Match the following.

A)argon
B)methane
C)The Day After Tomorrow
D)water vapor
E)ozone
F)ammonia
G)carbon dioxide
H)biodiesel
I)An Inconvenient Truth
J)sulfate aerosol
K)nitrous oxide
Stratospheric greenhouse gas that absorbs the sun's incoming short-wave radiation

Question 43

Distinguish between the terms weather and climate, and briefly discuss how each affects species distribution within ecosystems.

Question 44

Describe how freshwater ecosystems face challenges of global climate change. Give an example from the text.

Question 45

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

Question 46

Explain how human health may suffer or benefit from global climate change.

Question 47

How certain are scientists that humans are causing global climate change? Describe the language used by scientists and some of the particular climate trends they have identified as changing. If the scientific community is convinced of the evidence, why is there still debate?

Question 48

Briefly explain why water vapor may either contribute to or slow global warming.

Question 49

Explain how climate change can affect agriculture and forestry.