Deck 11: Climate: How Does Global Climate Change

Question 1

Select the event that marks the beginning of the instrumental period of climate history.

A) invention of the mercury thermometer by Daniel Fahrenheit in 1714
B) routine and widespread usage of thermometers starting in 1860
C) first temperature recording by an orbiting weather satellite in 1979
D) use of ocean-going vessels to measure marine air temperatures in 2000

Answer 1

routine and widespread usage of thermometers starting in 1860

Question 2

The geothermal gradient is due to

A) decaying radioactive elements that release energy and heat the crust
B) changing patterns of Earth's orbit, tilt, and rotational axis
C) drifting continental landmasses over geologic time
D) heat trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Answer 2

decaying radioactive elements that release energy and heat the crust

Question 3

Proxies are used to

A) directly measure temperature
B) evaluate climate models
C) reconstruct past changes in climate
D) All of these are correct.

Answer 3

reconstruct past changes in climate

Question 4

Select the example of a proxy indicator of paleoclimate.

A) tree rings
B) coral skeletons
C) ice cores
D) All of these are correct.

Question 5

Which proxy indicates a past period of warmer global climate?

A) coal deposits
B) ice cores with more ¹⁸O (heavy isotope)
C) glacial sediments
D) None of these are correct.

Question 6

Atmospheric greenhouse gases cause the greenhouse effect by

A) degrading the natural atmospheric filter against incoming solar energy
B) absorbing heat energy from ultraviolet rays produced by the sun
C) depleting the heavy isotope of oxygen (¹⁸O) from air at the poles
D) preventing the escape of radiant heat from Earth's surface into space

Question 7

The Milankovitch cycles involve changes in that correlate with glacial epochs, or ice ages.

A) solar output
B) Earth's orbit
C) volcanic activity
D) greenhouse gas concentrations

Question 8

Volcanic eruptions

A) release dark soot particles with high albedo
B) correlate with glacial epochs called ice ages
C) initiated mass extinction events
D) emit more carbon dioxide than industrial processes

Question 9

Which is the most significant greenhouse gas released by human activities?

A) water vapor H₂O
B) methane CH₄
C) carbon dioxide CO₂
D) nitrous oxide N₂O

Question 10

Most methane emissions arise from

A) animal digestive tracts
B) wetlands
C) volcanoes
D) human sources

Question 11

In a computer model that is tested and refined through hindcasting, increasing the emission of which gas by one ton would have the greatest effect on warming over 100 years?

A) water vapor H₂O
B) methane CH₄
C) carbon dioxide CO₂
D) nitrous oxide N₂O

Question 12

Carbon dioxide is considered to be the primary greenhouse gas because

A) it has the highest heat-trapping potential per molecule.
B) it is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.
C) it is responsible for most of the recent global warming.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 13

Computational models of global climate

A) are not effective prediction tools because there are too many variables.
B) are effective when inputs include both natural and human factors.
C) are effective when inputs only include natural factors.
D) are effective when inputs only include human factors.

Question 14

Hindcasting is a scientific technique used to

A) validate climate models using observed data.
B) determine past concentrations of carbon dioxide.
C) correlate ancient climates with mass extinctions.
D) capture carbon dioxide in underground storage.

Question 15

In phenology, scientists study changes in subjects such as

A) ocean acidification.
B) precipitation patterns.
C) bird migrations.
D) climate models.

Question 16

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration in the atmosphere increased from 280 parts per million (ppm) in 1750 to 400 ppm in 2013. How has this change affected the oceans?

A) movement of CO₂ from the ocean to the atmosphere has decreased the pH of ocean waters
B) movement of CO₂ from the atmosphere to the ocean has decreased the pH of ocean waters
C) movement of CO₂ from the ocean to the atmosphere has increased the pH of ocean waters
D) movement of CO₂ from the atmosphere to the ocean has increased the pH of ocean waters

Question 17

About 40% of the sea-level rise since 1980 is attributed to

A) melting icebergs.
B) the thermal expansion of water in the oceans.
C) melting glaciers.
D) increased precipitation over oceans.

Question 18

Climate models for the United States predict

A) an increased frequency of droughts.
B) an increased frequency of extreme precipitation events.
C) increased variability and less predictability of the climate.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 19

Select the correct statement regarding hurricane activity over the past 70 years.

A) The frequency of hurricanes that make landfall has increased.
B) The intensity has shifted toward stronger hurricanes.
C) Climate change has become an immediate cause for some hurricanes.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 20

A computer model predicts a rise in mean global temperature by 3.6°F. How will this affect the oceans?

A) increased pH of surface waters
B) increased CO₂ concentration in deeper waters
C) increased thermal expansion of water
D) All of these are correct.

Question 21

The frequency and intensity of droughts have most notably been increasing in the United States.

A) Southwest
B) Northeast
C) Northwest
D) Southeast

Question 22

In response to a warming climate, the observed trend for a variety of midlatitude species is

A) moving north and to lower elevations.
B) moving north and to higher elevations.
C) moving south and to lower elevations.
D) moving south and to higher elevations.

Question 23

At summer breeding grounds, insects provide food for a migratory bird species. Climate change could disrupt bird migration by affecting which factor?

A) the fact that birds migrate according to the sun's location
B) the fact that birds are the primary predators of insects
C) the fact that insects emerge from hibernation in spring and summer
D) the fact that insects feed on native plant populations

Question 24

Select the example of a positive feedback loop.

A) Higher fuel prices lead to increased demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.
B) Warmer ocean temperatures release more carbon dioxide inro the atmosphere
C) Earlier breeding times for frogs cause snake populations to increase.
D) Greater evaporation from warmer oceans leads to more shade from cloud cover.

Question 25

Select the example of a balancing feedback loop.

A) Warming in urban areas leads to increased electrical demand for air conditioning.
B) Melting permafrost releases methane from storage in the groun
C) The cost of flood insurance rose by 25% following Superstorm Sandy.
D) Increased algae growth in warmer waters leads to more absorption of carbon dioxide.

Question 26

Water absorbs more heat than ice, which reflects sunlight. Thus, melting ice has a(n) feedback effect on heating.

A) positive
B) negative
C) balancing
D) expanding

Question 27

are effects that either amplify or counter a change to a system.

A) Tipping points
B) Disruption mechanisms
C) Feedback loops
D) Equilibrium circuits

Question 28

Under a scenario of rapid emission reduction, climate models still project a warming global climate because

A) carbon dioxide emissions remain in the atmosphere for at least a century.
B) energy held in the upper atmosphere takes decades to transfer to the Earth's surface.
C) greenhouse gases make up a large percentage of the overall atmosphere.
D) None of these are correct.

Question 29

"Embodied energy" refers to the energy

A) used to make and transport goods.
B) saved through conservation efforts.
C) lost through inefficiencies and waste.
D) available to offset carbon footprint.s

Question 30

In the United States, which source of greenhouse gas emissions is the largest?

A) transportation
B) home heating
C) electricity production
D) agriculture

Question 31

Which of the actions would address the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States?

A) switching to more energy efficient light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs
B) setting thermostats to 68°F in the winter and 78°F in the summer
C) walking or biking to work and to other routine destinations
D) buying locally produced organic foods

Question 32

Select the item with the highest embodied energy for a typical American.

A) pineapple imported by air from Costa Rica
B) sweet corn produced locally using synthetic fertilizer
C) organically grown oranges transported 500 miles by truck
D) green beans grown in the backyard garden

Question 33

Name and describe three examples of proxies that help to indicate past temperatures.

Question 34

A letter to the editor in the local newspaper claims that the greenhouse effect is a political hoax that plays no significant role in Earth's climate. Construct a response to this letter that first describes how the greenhouse effect works in Earth's atmosphere and then explains the importance of the greenhouse effect for Earth's energy balance.

Question 35

Terika states that the recent warming trend is due to the "natural variability" of climate rather than the result of human activity. What does she mean by "natural variability"? Identify two reasons why Terika's conclusion is not supported by the evidence.

Question 36

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by humans burning wood and other biomass sources was offset by the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by plant life. Today, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is significantly higher because of fossil fuel combustion and large-scale deforestation. If humans were able to stop adding greenhouse gases by drastically reducing the use of fossil fuels, would the atmosphere quickly return to pre-Industrial Revolution levels of carbon dioxide? Explain why or why not. What action could be taken to hasten the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?

Question 37

Consider how your personal transportation, home energy use, and consumption of goods contribute to emission of greenhouse gases. For each of these three categories, propose realistic ways you can effectively reduce emissions.