Deck 11: Climate Change

Question 1

Ice cores provide a climate record for how many past years?

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

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which summarizes the key elements of climate change science?

A)Study of past climates,measurement of current climatic change,and projection of future climate scenarios.
B)Re-writing past climate summaries,dismissing statistical evidence,and espousing the status quo.
C)Establishing policy on CO2 emissions.
D)Quantifying the economic cost and benefits of climate warming.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Per capita emissions of total greenhouse gases are highest in which?

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.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following correctly lists the climate indicated by a lower 18O/16O ratio in ice cores and a climate indicated by a higher ice core 18O/16O ratio?

A)Cooler; warmer.
B)Warmer; cooler.
C)Cooler; cold.
D)Warmer; hot.

Question 5

Which of the following correctly lists the climate indicated by a higher 18O/16O ratio in ocean sediment cores and a higher 18O/16O ratio in ice cores?

A)Cooler; warmer.
B)Warmer; cooler.
C)Cooler; cooler.
D)Warmer; warmer.

Question 6

According to readings from the Mauna Loa Observatory,CO2 concentrations in May 2013 exceeded which of the following for the first time during the last 800 000 years?

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

Question 7

Which is the primary anthropogenic source of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2)?

A)Clearing and burning land.
B)Rice farming.
C)Respiration.
D)Burning of fossil fuels.

Question 8

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

A)Climate change science.
B)Meteorology.
C)Paleoclimatology.
D)Climate policy.

Question 9

Which correctly pairs the rate of evaporation for 16O as compared to 18O with how it condenses?

A)Less; more.
B)Less; less.
C)More; less.
D)More; more.

Question 10

Seasonal fluctuations in CO2 emissions reflect which of the following?

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 11

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

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

Which is a graph that plots monthly averages of CO2 concentrations since 1958?

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

Question 13

Which of the following correctly lists the climate indicated by a lower 18O/16O ratio in ocean sediment cores and a climate indicated by a higher ocean sediment core 18O/16O ratio?

A)Cooler; warmer.
B)Warmer; cooler.
C)Cooler; cold.
D)Warmer; hot.

Question 14

Which was the last interglacial period with temperatures similar to the present interglacial period?

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

Question 15

With reference to the above figure,which describes change over the span of 70 million years of Earth's climate?

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

Question 16

Which correctly describes carbon dioxide (CO2)concentrations over the past 800,000 years?

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

Question 17

The majority of human population growth is now occurring in which of the following?

A)Less-developed countries (LDCs).
B)More-developed countries (MDCs).
C)Evenly between LDCs and MDCs.
D)This statement is not correct,world populations are declining.

Question 18

Which of the following correctly pairs what scientists use to study past climates with what scientists use 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 19

Which is the science that studies the past climates of Earth?

A)Climate change science.
B)Meteorology.
C)Paleoclimatology.
D)Dendrochronology.

Question 20

For how many years past do ocean sediment cores provide a climate record?

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

Question 21

Which are mineral deposits with caves and caverns?

A)Earlywood.
B)Latewood.
C)Varves.
D)Speleothems.

Question 22

Which is the term for changes in the orientation of Earth's axis over a 26 000-year cycle?

A)Eccentricity.
B)Obliquity.
C)Precession.
D)Inclination.

Question 23

Which of the following accurately describes 18O/16O ratios of the world's 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 evapouration to be effective and both isotopes remain in the ocean.

Question 24

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 25

As air temperatures increase,evaporation increases.Warmer temperatures also increase the capacity to absorb water vapour.More water vapour in the atmosphere accelerates the greenhouse effect.As temperatures increase further,more water vapour can enter the atmosphere,causing temperatures to increase even more.Which best describes this process?

A)A positive feedback loop.
B)A negative feedback loop.
C)A dynamic equilibrium.
D)Homeoschedasity.

Question 26

To what does the term 'Milankovitch cycles' refer?

A)Changes in Earth-Sun relationships,namely Earth's orbit around the sun,Earth's axial rotation,and 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 27

Radiocarbon dating of organic material may provide a climate record for up to how many years before present?

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

Question 28

Which is the term for changes in elliptical orbit of Earth around the Sun?

A)Eccentricity.
B)Obliquity.
C)Precession.
D)Inclination.

Question 29

Increased cloud cover resulting from warming temperatures may lead to either cloud albedo forcing or cloud greenhouse forcing.Which correctly pairs the feedback loops for cloud albedo forcing and cloud greenhouse forcing?

A)Negative; negative.
B)Negative; positive.
C)Positive; negative.
D)Positive; positive.

Question 30

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.Which best describes this process?

A)A positive feedback loop.
B)A negative feedback loop.
C)A dynamic equilibrium.
D)Homeoschedasity.

Question 31

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 phytoplankton,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 32

What has happened 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 33

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

A)The oceans.
B)Rocks.
C)Forest and soils.
D)Farmlands.

Question 34

Which of the following is an example of methods used for short-term climate reconstructions?

A)Ice core analysis.
B)Ocean sediment core analysis.
C)Carbon isotope analysis.
D)Precambrian rock tectonics.

Question 35

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 the ages of a tree species 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 36

Changes in 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.Which best describes this process?

A)Positive feedback loop.
B)Negative feedback loop.
C)Dynamic equilibrium.
D)Homeoschedasity.

Question 37

Which is the most recent epoch of repeated glaciation on Earth?

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

Question 38

The Younger Dryas refers to which of the following?

A)An interglacial period,characterized by a general warming trend,lasting since the last glacial maximum (LGM)to the present.
B)A brief return to near-glacial conditions during the transition period from the last glacial period to the present interglacial period.
C)A 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)A global cooling episode,lasting from approximately A.D.1250 to 1850.

Question 39

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 has 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 5000 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 40

The last glacial maximum (LGM)occurred approximately how many years ago?

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

Question 41

Which is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere of Earth?

A)Carbon dioxide (CO2).
B)Methane (CH4).
C)Water vapour (H2O).
D)Nitrous oxide (N2O).

Question 42

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 43

To which does radiative forcing (climate forcing)refer?

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 44

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 45

How have scientists used isotopic analysis to determine that 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 46

Which describes CO2 emissions since 1990?

A)These have increased for all fuel types,with projections of future increases for all fuel types.
B)These increased through the 1990s and 2000s,but are projected to decrease in the coming decades.
C)These increased overall.However,these increases varied by fuel type,with coal actually showing a decrease.
D)These 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 47

During the last century,what happened to sea level?

A)It dropped 3 to 5 cm.
B)It remained fairly constant,though some areas (such as the Atlantic coast)experienced moderate rises.
C)It rose 30 to 46 cm.
D)It rose 17 to 21 cm.

Question 48

Since 1880,which two years had the highest land surface temperature?

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

Question 49

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 50

Which of the following is an indicator of current climatic warming?

A)Decreased tropospheric,land,and ocean surface temperatures.
B)Decreases in relative humidity.
C)Melting glacial ice and sea ice.
D)Falling sea levels.

Question 51

Which is likely the world's largest reserve of carbon-based fuel?

A)Coal.
B)Oil.
C)Methane hydrates.
D)Shale gas.

Question 52

Which of the following is the likely link between ocean acidification and 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 (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 53

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 54

To which do scientists primarily attribute the recent rise in atmospheric concentrations of nitrous oxide (N2O)?

A)Automobile combustion.
B)Agricultural activity.
C)Wastewater management.
D)Industrial practices.

Question 55

With which does the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report conclude?

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 56

Present atmospheric methane (CH4)concentrations are at approximately how many ppb?

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

Question 57

During the last 800 000,climate reconstructions show that CO2 never changed more than how many ppm upward or downward in any span of less than 1000 years,though it has risen by this amount in the last 13 years?

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

Question 58

Fossil fuel burning accounts for over how many percent of CO2 emissions?

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

Question 59

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 60

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

A)Livestock.
B)Wastewater treatment.
C)Agriculture associated fires.
D)Rice paddies.

Question 61

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

Question 62

Which of the following is an example of individuals and communities working to mitigate climate change?

A)Tree clearing in exchange for greenhouse gas credits.
B)Leaving the decision-making to elected officials.
C)Farmers selling their properties to agribusiness.
D)Protecting and restoring natural habitats.

Question 63

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.

Question 64

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

A)RCP6.0-continued use of fossil fuels.
B)RCP2.6-efforts to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and major reductions in emissions.
C)RCP4.5-stabilization of forcing by year 2100.
D)RCP8.5-continued heavy fossil fuel use.

Question 65

Which is the legally binding international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

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

Question 66

Which of the following is a stated ancillary benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

A)Deterioration of air quality.
B)Increase in renewable and sustainable energy development.
C)Greater dependence on imported oil.
D)Elimination of all oil tanker spills.

Question 67

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

Question 68

Approximately how many people could be displaced by a sea level rise of 1.0 m?

A)1 300 000.
B)13 000 000.
C)100 300 000.
D)130 000 000.

Question 69

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

Question 70

The rate of population growth decreased after 1950.

Question 71

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

Question 72

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

A)0)2 m.
B)0)5 m.
C)1)2 m.
D)2)0 m.

Question 73

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

Question 74

Which of the following is an example of an action an individual can take to help mitigate against climate change?

A)Using a dishwasher after every meal.
B)Improving regional land use practices.
C)Eating imported foods.
D)Using energy efficient light bulbs.

Question 75

There are many hypotheses about overall climate change.Which of the following is correct?

A)In agreement with Milankovitch forcing,increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2)causes temperatures to cool.
B)Scientists can definitively (100% certainty)attribute climate changes to anthropogenic causes alone.
C)Global warming affects the climate at tropical and equatorial regions,while not affecting the polar latitudes.
D)Human activities have increased the amount of atmospheric greenhouse gases.

Question 76

According to the RCP scenarios,which of the following represents major reductions in CO2 emissions and actions to remove CO2 from the atmosphere?

A)RCP8.5.
B)RCP6.0.
C)RCP4.5.
D)RCP2.6.

Question 77

According to the U.S.Department of Energy,how might the U.S.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 78

What are general circulation models (GCMs)of the atmosphere?

A)These are pre-computer based models that estimated atmospheric and oceanic circulation and are now being used to study climate change.
B)These 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)These are based on statistical three-dimensional grids that characterize portions of the atmosphere and ocean in terms of climate-related variables.
D)These are used to calculate the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere based on data from weather stations located around the globe.

Question 79

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

Question 80

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