Deck 11: Climate Change

Question 1

A higher ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio in ocean sediment cores indicates a ________ climate, and a higher ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio in ice cores indicates a ________ climate.

A) cooler; warmer
B) warmer; cooler
C) cooler; cooler
D) warmer; warmer

Answer 1

A

Question 2

A lower ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio in ocean sediment cores indicates a ________ climate, whereas a higher ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio indicates a ________ climate.

A) cooler; warmer
B) warmer; cooler
C) cooler; cold
D) warmer; hot

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The interdisciplinary study of the causes and consequences of changing climate for all Earth systems and the sustainability of human societies is

A) climate change science.
B) meteorology.
C) paleoclimatology.
D) climate policy.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Carbon dioxide (CO₂ ) concentrations over the past 800,000 years

A) have remained relatively constant.
B) were much higher in the past than the present.
C) fluctuated over time, but have been increasing since the Industrial Revolution.
D) reached its maximum about 325,000 years before present.

Question 5

The three key elements of climate change science include the following except

A) study of past climates.
B) measurement of current climatic change.
C) establishing policy on CO₂ emissions.
D) projection of future climate scenarios.

Question 6

Ocean sediment cores provide a climate record for the past ________ years.

A) 800,000
B) 2 million
C) 10 million
D) 70 million

Question 7

The last interglacial period with temperatures similar to the present interglacial period was the

A) Eemian interglacial.
B) Holstein interglacial.
C) Günz-Mindel interglacial.
D) Flandrian interglacial.

Question 8

A lower ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio in ice core indicates a ________ climate, whereas a higher ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio indicates a ________ climate.

A) cooler; warmer
B) warmer; cooler
C) cooler; cold
D) warmer; hot

Question 9

Scientists use ________ to study past climates, using ________ to reconstruct climates that extend back further than our present instrumentation allows.

A) proxy methods; climate proxies
B) direct measurements; historical records
C) indirect evidence; conjecture
D) computer models; algorithms

Question 10

Ice cores provide a climate record for the past ________ years.

A) 800,000
B) 2 million
C) 10 million
D) 70 million

Question 11

The rapid warming associated with the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) likely resulted from

A) several massive volcanic eruptions.
B) the sudden die off of photosynthetic organisms and associated increase in atmospheric CO₂.
C) a sudden (geologically speaking) increase in atmospheric carbon.
D) decreased surface albedo brought about by Paleocene afforestation.

Question 12

The ________ is a graph which plots monthly averages of CO₂ concentrations since 1958.

A) PETM
B) Younger Dryas
C) Keeling Curve
D) MCA

Question 13

The majority of human population growth is now occurring in

A) less-developed countries (LDCs).
B) more-developed countries (MDCs).
C) evenly between LDCs and MDCs.
D) neither LDCs or MDCs; world populations are declining.

Question 14

Seasonal fluctuations in CO₂ emissions reflect

A) increased fuel use for home and building heat in winter months.
B) seasonal changes in vegetation cover in the higher latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.
C) geothermal activity, which is highest in the fall.
D) summer melting in the tundra.

Question 15

Over the span of 70 million years, the Earth's climate

A) was much warmer in the distant past than the present.
B) was much cooler in the distant past than the present.
C) has remained fairly constant, only showing a warming trend during the past 200 years.
D) was warmest approximately 10 million years ago and coolest about 56 million years ago.

Question 16

According to readings from the Mauna Loa Observatory, CO₂ concentrations in May 2013 exceeded ________ for the first time during the last 800,000 years.

A) 100-ppm
B) 200-ppm
C) 300-ppm
D) 400-ppm

Question 17

The ¹⁶O evaporates ________ easily than ¹⁸O, and condenses ________ easily.

A) less; more
B) less; less
C) more; less
D) more; more

Question 18

The science that studies the Earth's past climates is

A) climate change science.
B) meteorology.
C) paleoclimatology.
D) dendrochronology.

Question 19

The primary anthropogenic source of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂ ) is

A) clearing and burning land.
B) rice farming.
C) respiration.
D) burning of fossil fuels.

Question 20

Per capita emissions of total greenhouse gases are highest in

A) less-developed countries (LDCs).
B) more-developed countries (MDCs).
C) neither LDCs and MDCs; they are approximately equal.
D) non-populated areas since greatest emissions associated with volcanic eruptions.

Question 21

Mineral deposits with caves and caverns are known as

A) earlywood.
B) latewood.
C) varves.
D) speleothems.

Question 22

As air temperatures increase, evaporation increases, leading to more condensation and cloud formation. Low, thick cloud cover increases the albedo of the atmosphere, thereby having a cooling effect on Earth. This is an example of a

A) positive feedback loop.
B) negative feedback loop.
C) neither a positive or negative feedback loop.

Question 23

Milankovitch cycles refer to

A) changes in Earth-Sun relationships, namely the Earth's orbit around the sun, the Earth's axial rotation, and the Earth's axial tilt.
B) cyclical changes in solar irradiance caused by increases and decreases in sunspot activity.
C) increases and decreases in atmospheric gases and aerosols, primarily caused by natural activity such as volcanic activity and changes in net primary productivity.
D) tectonic changes in continental position and topographic changes from orogeny, erosion, and mass wasting.

Question 24

Changes in the orientation of the Earth's axis over a 26,000-year cycle is known as

A) eccentricity.
B) obliquity.
C) precession.
D) inclination.

Question 25

Since the Industrial Revolution

A) human population growth rates have decreased with a subsequent decrease in the warming trend that characterized pre-Industrial Revolution times.
B) global temperatures rapidly increased, then steadied out over the past 25 to 30 years.
C) global temperatures have continued to warm at accelerating rates.
D) no observable warming or cooling trends have occurred, rather temperatures have oscillated between warm and cold periods.

Question 26

Which of the following accurately describes ¹³C/¹²C ratios of plant materials and their use in climate reconstructions?

A) ¹³C is an unstable isotope, which decays at a constant rate. This is used to date plant material, which can then be used as a proxy for temperature and climate conditions at that time.
B) Different plants use different types of photosynthesis, each producing a different carbon isotope ratio in plant materials, which scientists use to determine past temperature and rainfall conditions.
C) By analyzing the ratio of ¹³C/¹²C in marine phyyoplsnkyon, the source of the water in which the organisms resided can be determined.
D) ¹²C is very rare in nature. When it does appear in plant material, it is indicative of climate anomalies. By measuring the ¹³C/¹²C ratios, scientists can determine whether the plants were alive during normal or anomalous conditions.

Question 27

As air temperatures increase, evaporation increases. Warmer temperatures also increase the capacity to absorb water vapor. More water vapor in the atmosphere accelerates the greenhouse effect. As temperatures increase further, more water vapor can enter the atmosphere, causing temperatures to increase even more. This is an example of a(n)

A) positive feedback loop.
B) negative feedback loop.
C) neither a positive or negative feedback loop.

Question 28

In which of the following ways is the study of tree rings, speleothems, and corals for understanding past climatic conditions similar?

A) All are composed of organic materials and are therefore good candidates for radiocarbon dating.
B) Each have growth bands, yielding evidence of the conditions under which they formed and grew.
C) The chronology each can provide only dates back to a maximum of 5,000 years and are, therefore, only useful for relatively recent climatic trends.
D) The fossilized form of each is used for understanding past climatic conditions.

Question 29

Which of the following is not an example of methods used for short-term climate reconstructions?

A) dendrochronology
B) ocean sediment core analysis
C) carbon isotope analysis
D) speleothems analysis

Question 30

Which of the following accurately describes the use of tree rings for studying past climates (dendroclimatology)?

A) The age of trees can be determined by tree ring analysis. By establishing the age of long-lived trees, one can determine the climate conditions of the area the year the tree sprouted.
B) The width of annual tree rings indicates the climatic conditions; wider rings suggest favorable conditions, whereas narrower rings suggest harsher conditions.
C) Dendrochronology is primarily used in the tropical regions, where one can easily correlate a tree species' age with the climatic conditions there.
D) Because most trees only live 60 to 100 years, dendrochronology can only serve as a climate record for recent history and are primarily used to supplement instrument data.

Question 31

Radiocarbon dating of organic material may provide a climate record for up to ________ years before present.

A) 10,000
B) 25,000
C) 50,000
D) 75,000

Question 32

Which of the following accurately describes ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratios of the worlds oceans?

A) Because ¹⁸O evaporates more readily than ¹⁶O, the oceans have a higher relative abundance of ¹⁶O during warm periods and a more balanced ratio when there is less evaporation.
B) The higher the ratio of oceanic ¹⁸O/¹⁶O, the warmer the temperatures because the ¹⁶O will have been mostly evaporated from ocean waters.
C) During periods of colder temperature ¹⁶O is locked up in snow and ice and the oceans have a higher preponderance of ¹⁸O; during warmer periods the isotope ratio is lower.
D) The ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio is low during colder temperatures because temperatures are too low for evaporation to be effective and both isotopes remain in the ocean.

Question 33

Changes in the Earth's orbital configuration may lead to warming temperatures. These warming temperatures, in turn, may lead to the release of both CO₂ and CH₄. Increases in these gases may further warm the planet. This is an example of a

A) positive feedback loop.
B) negative feedback loop.
C) neither a positive or negative feedback loop.

Question 34

The Younger Dryas refers to a(n)

A) interglacial period, characterized by a general warming trend, lasting since the last glacial maximum (LGM) to the present.
B) brief return to near-glacial conditions during the transition period from the last glacial period to the present interglacial period.
C) 400 year, from A.D. 800 to 1200, period characterized by warmer than normal conditions in the North Atlantic region (e.g. Greenland and Iceland).
D) global cooling episode, lasting from approximately A.D. 1250 to 1850.

Question 35

Which of the following accurately describes ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratios of ice sheets?

A) During warmer periods, ¹⁸O evaporates more readily and therefore the ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio is higher.
B) The higher the ratio of ice core ¹⁸O/¹⁶O, the cooler there temperatures because the ¹⁸O will be locked up in ice sheets.
C) During periods of colder temperature, the ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio is higher because only the ¹⁸O isotope is being evaporated.
D) During warmer periods, ¹⁶O evaporates more readily and therefore the ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio is significantly lower than colder periods.

Question 36

The________ is the most recent epoch of repeated glaciation on the Earth.

A) Holocene
B) Pleistocene
C) Pliocene
D) Miocene

Question 37

Increased cloud cover resulting from warming temperatures may lead to either either cloud albedo forcing or cloud greenhouse forcing. Cloud albedo forcing is an example of a ________ feedback loop and cloud greenhouse forcing is an example of a ________ feed book loop.

A) negative; negative
B) negative; positive
C) positive; negative
D) positive; positive

Question 38

The last glacial maximum (LGM) occurred approximately ________ years ago.

A) 10,000
B) 20,000
C) 50,000
D) 110,000

Question 39

Changes in the Earth's elliptical orbit around the Sun is called

A) eccentricity.
B) obliquity.
C) precession.
D) inclination.

Question 40

Which of the following is not considered an important carbon sink?

A) the oceans
B) rocks
C) forest and soils
D) farmlands

Question 41

Which of the following is not an indicator of current climatic warming?

A) increased tropospheric, land, and ocean surface temperatures
B) decreases in relative humidity
C) melting glacial ice and sea ice
D) rising sea levels

Question 42

Since 1990, CO₂ emissions

A) have increased for all fuel types, with projections of future increases for all fuel types.
B) increased through the 1990s and 2000s, but are projected to decrease in the coming decades.
C) increased overall. However, these increases varied by fuel type, with coal actually showing a decrease.
D) decreased through the 1990s and 2000s, but are projected to increase again in the coming decades due to rapid population growth in less developed nations.

Question 43

Scientists attribute the recent rise in atmospheric concentrations of nitrous oxide (N₂O) primarily to

A) automobile combustion.
B) agricultural activity.
C) wastewater management.
D) industrial practices.

Question 44

During the last century, sea level

A) dropped 3 to 5 cm (1.18 to 3.15 in.).
B) remained fairly constant, though some areas (such at the Atlantic coast) experienced moderate rises.
C) rose 30 to 46 cm (11.8 to 18 in.).
D) rose 17 to 21 cm (6.7 to 8.3 in.).

Question 45

The most abundant greenhouse gas in the Earth's atmosphere is

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

Question 46

Which of the following has a negative radiative forcing (i.e. cools the planet)?

A) carbon dioxide (CO₂)
B) nitrous oxides (N₂O)
C) stratospheric ozone (O₃)
D) methane (CH₄)

Question 47

Of the following anthropogenic methane (CH₄) sources, which is the largest?

A) livestock
B) wastewater treatment
C) agriculture associated fires
D) rice paddies

Question 48

Which of the following is correct regarding Arctic sea ice?

A) Until recently, seasonal variations in sea ice extent were rare.
B) Summer sea ice reached its minimum extent in 2001 and has gradually increased since then.
C) Since 1979, summer sea ice minimum extent and winter sea ice maximum extent have declined.
D) In the summer, most to all sea ice melts, only to refreeze in the winter. However, less water has been refreezing over the past decade.

Question 49

Which of the following gases accounts for the largest amount of radiative forcing?

A) carbon dioxide (CO₂)
B) nitrous oxides (N₂O)
C) chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
D) methane (CH₄)

Question 50

How is ocean acidification possibly linked to increased anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂)?

A) Oceans may absorb up to 50% of rising concentrations of rising carbon. When dissolved CO₂ mixes with saltwater, carbonic acid forms (H₂CO₃).
B) Atmospheric CO₂ combines with atmospheric moisture forming a light carbonic acid forms (H₂CO₃), that is precipitated over the world's oceans.
C) Increased photosynthetic activity in phytoplankton resulting from increased atmospheric CO₂ concentrations results in acidification due to a complex chemical reaction during plant decay.
D) Thermohaline circulation exchanges carbon between surface dissolved organic carbon and deep layers of dissolved inorganic carbon.

Question 51

Which of the following is not a primary factor contributing to sea-level rise?

A) melting of glaciers
B) melting of ice sheets
C) melting of sea ice
D) thermal expansion of seawater

Question 52

The world's largest reserve of carbon-based fuel is likely

A) coal.
B) oil.
C) methane hydrates.
D) shale gas.

Question 53

Present atmospheric methane (CH₄) concentrations are at approximately________ ppb.

A) 750
B) 1000
C) 1500
D) 1800

Question 54

Of the following greenhouse gases, which have actually decreased in atmospheric concentrations during the past 30 years?

A) methane (CH₄)
B) carbon dioxide (CO₂)
C) chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
D) nitrous oxides (N₂O)

Question 55

Fossil fuel burning accounts for over ________ percent of CO₂ emissions.

A) 20
B) 50
C) 70
D) 85

Question 56

How have scientists used isotopic analysis to determine the rise of atmospheric CO₂ is mostly from the burning of fossil fuels?

A) Since ¹⁴C is an unstable isotope, scientists have dated the atmospheric carbon to the period since the Industrial Revolution.
B) Both coal and oil contain a high proportion of ¹⁴C. By analyzing, ¹⁴C/¹²C ratios, scientists have been able to determine the source based on this fact.
C) The low proportions of ¹³C and ¹⁴C within atmospheric CO₂ indicates the source is fossil carbon.
D) ¹⁴C concentrations are much higher in urban areas than in rural areas, indicating fossil fuels must have a higher ¹⁴C/¹²C ratio than carbon from other sources.

Question 57

Since 1880, the two years with the highest land surface temperature were

A) 1990 and 2000.
B) 2005 and 2010.
C) 1985 and 1992.
D) 1900 and 1940.

Question 58

Radiative forcing (climate forcing) refers to

A) the power of electromagnetic radiation per unit area.
B) the amount by which some perturbation causes Earth's energy balance to deviate from zero.
C) a measurement of solar radiation energy received on a give surface area.
D) the contribution of each greenhouse gas to global warming.

Question 59

During the last 800,000, climate reconstructions show that CO₂ Never changed more than ________ ppm upward or downward in any span of less than 1,000 years, though it has risen by this amount in the last 13 years.

A) 30
B) 60
C) 120
D) 240

Question 60

The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report concludes

A) that while climate change is occurring, it is largely natural climate fluctuations.
B) it is highly doubtful that recent climate trends represent anything more than a temporary perturbation in the long term climate signal.
C) humans are likely (95% certainty) responsible for the temperature increase from 1951 to 2010.
D) there is no consensus on recent climate trends; some maintain it is mostly human-caused, others maintain it is natural fluctuations.

Question 61

According to models developed by NOAA, by the end of the 21st Century, global sea level may rise as high as

A) 0.2 m (0.7 ft)
B) 0.5 m (1.6 ft)
C) 1.2 m (3.9 m)
D) 2.0 m (6.6 ft)

Question 62

Which of the following is not an example of individuals and communities working to mitigate climate change?

A) Tree planting in exchange for greenhouse gas credits
B) Leaving the decision-making to elected officials
C) Farmers using no-till agriculture
D) Protecting and restoring natural habitats
E) Using renewable energy sources

Question 63

Climate change science is an integral part of physical geography and Earth system science.

Question 64

General circulation models (GCMs) of the atmosphere

A) are pre-computer based models that estimated atmospheric and oceanic circulation and are now being used to study climate change.
B) are highly simplistic models that use one or two variables to test the veracity of climate proxies, such as ice core and ocean sediment core samples.
C) are based on statistical three-dimensional grids that characterize portions of the atmosphere and ocean in terms of climate-related variables.
D) calculate the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere based on data from weather stations located around the globe.

Question 65

The legally binding international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is known as the

A) Montreal Protocol.
B) Kyoto Protocol.
C) CITES.
D) ICRW.

Question 66

More-developed countries (MDCs) currently emit the greatest amount of greenhouse gases per capita.

Question 67

Which of the following is not an example of an action an individual can take to help mitigate against climate change?

A) placing dishes in dishwater without pre-washing
B) improving regional land use practices
C) eating locally sourced foods
D) using energy efficient light bulbs
E) driving a vehicle with high fuel economy

Question 68

The rate of population growth decreased after 1950.

Question 69

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. could meet the carbon emission reduction targets in the Kyoto Protocol

A) at a cost of approximately $5 to $10 billion a year.
B) at a savings of $7 to $37 billion a year.
C) at a cost of approximately $10 to $15 billion a year and with a risk of higher unemployment.
D) without any economic benefits or detriments.

Question 70

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) produced from human activities is amplifying Earth's natural greenhouse effect.

Question 71

Many scientists consider climate change to be one of the most critical issues facing humankind in the twenty-first century.

Question 72

Which scenario predicts the lowest level of warming during the 21st Century?

A) A1F1-continued use of fossil fuels
B) B1-use of greater amounts of new and clean energy technologies.
C) B2-lower levels of economic growth and technological change, emphasis on local solutions.
D) A2-continuous population growth and lower level of economic growth and technological change.

Question 73

Which of the following is not a stated ancillary benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

A) Improved air quality.
B) Increase in renewable and sustainable energy development.
C) Greater dependence on imported oil.
D) Fewer oil tanker spills.

Question 74

In May 2013, the Mauna Loa Observatory recorded the highest CO₂ concentrations on record.

Question 75

An estimated ________ people could be displaced by a sea level rise of 1.0 m (3.2 ft).

A) 1,000,000
B) 10,000,000
C) 100,000,000
D) 130,000,000

Question 76

Which of the following is incorrect?

A) Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) causes warming temperatures.
B) Scientists can definitively (100% certainty) attribute climate changes to anthropogenic causes alone.
C) Global warming affects overall climate.
D) Human activities have increased the amount of atmospheric greenhouse gases.

Question 77

The majority of human population growth is now occurring in more-developed countries (MDCs).

Question 78

According to the A2 scenario, which represents continuous population growth and lower level of economic growth and technological change?

A) global surface temperatures will cool during the most of the 21st Century.
B) global surface temperatures will increase until about mid-century, then steadily decrease.
C) global surface temperatures will increase throughout the 21st Century, perhaps by as much as 4 C° (7.2 F°) by 2100.
D) global surface temperatures will increase throughout the 21st Century, but at a very gradual rate.

Question 79

The physical evidence for global climate change is limited, based primarily on conjecture and indirect evidence.

Question 80

Climate has fluctuated naturally over Earth's long history. As a result, most scientists are skeptical that human activity has contributed to recent trends in global climate.