Deck 30: Global Climate Change

Question 1

Plants exposed to higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels often partially close the ________ in their leaves to reduce water loss.

Answer 1

stomata

Question 2

The atmospheric concentration of ________ has increased by more than 25 percent in the past century,due largely to the burning of fossil fuels.

Answer 2

carbon dioxide

Question 3

Which of the following gases in the atmosphere is not considered a greenhouse gas?

A)carbon dioxide
B)nitrogen
C)water vapor
D)ozone

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Recent analyses of daily maximum and minimum temperatures from 1950 to 2000 indicate a decrease in the ________ temperature range.

Question 5

According to general circulation models,warming is expected to be most significant during the ________ season and in northern latitudes.

Question 6

Samples of pollen taken from ________ cores in lake beds have allowed scientists to reconstruct the vegetation of many regions existing during the past 20,000 years.

Question 7

Decomposition proceeds faster under warm and ________ conditions.

Question 8

General circulation models consistently predict an increase in both average global ________ and average global precipitation.

Question 9

Atmospheric scientists have developed complex computer models of Earth's climate system called general ________ models.

Question 10

________ levels were about 100 meters lower during the last glacial maximum than they are today,and they are expected to rise higher in the future as a consequence of global warming.

Question 11

The absorption of thermal (long-wave)radiation emitted by the Earth's surface and atmosphere by naturally occurring chemical compounds in the atmosphere is a phenomenon referred to as the ________ effect.

Question 12

Deforestation is a major cause of increased atmospheric concentrations of

A)carbon dioxide.
B)ozone.
C)oxygen.
D)chlorofluorocarbons.

Question 13

Distributions of many infectious diseases are expected to spread more into temperate zones due to greater survival of ________ vectors.

Question 14

When carbon dioxide dissolves in ocean water,much of it is transformed into ________.

Question 15

At higher atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations,greater rates of diffusion and photosynthesis are collectively called the ________ effect.

Question 16

A 1°C increase in daily temperature is predicted to shift the U.S.corn belt significantly to the ________.

Question 17

The process of ________ controls uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the oceans.

Question 18

In the 1990s,if 8.5 Gt of carbon were released annually from the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation,why was the increase in the atmosphere only 3.2 Gt of carbon?

A)There were losses up and out of the atmosphere.
B)There was absorption by oceans and terrestrial ecosystems.
C)Carbon was converted to other atmospheric chemicals.
D)Major reforestation in northern temperate regions absorbed the difference.

Question 19

At elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels,downregulation is

A)plants allocating more energy to root development.
B)a reduced number of leaf stomata.
C)a reduction in transpiration rates.
D)lower production of rubisco,which reduces the uptake rate of carbon dioxide by plant leaves.

Question 20

Within the past century,the major source of carbon emissions into the atmospheric has been

A)deforestation.
B)volcanic eruptions.
C)the combustion of fossil fuels.
D)forest fires.

Question 21

As a consequence of global climate change,crop production is likely to

A)increase in both developed and developing countries.
B)increase in developed countries and decrease in developing countries.
C)decrease in developed countries and increase in developing countries.
D)decrease in both developed and developing countries.

Question 22

Several greenhouse gases are more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat.

Question 23

In response to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations,plants generally

A)decrease their water-use efficiency.
B)increase their rate of photosynthesis.
C)open their stomata more.
D)experience increased water loss from transpiration.

Question 24

In response to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels,primary productivity is more likely to increase in seasonally dry environments than in seasonally moist environments.

Question 25

Which of the following is most likely to occur as a consequence of global climate change?

A)increases in sea levels,coastal erosion,flooding,and salinity of aquifers
B)increases in sea levels,coastal erosion,and flooding,and a decrease in salinity of aquifers
C)increases in sea levels and coastal erosion and decreases in flooding and salinity of aquifers
D)an increase in sea levels and decreases in coastal erosion,flooding,and salinity of aquifers

Question 26

The thermocline causes most oceans to have a reduced capacity to absorb carbon dioxide.

Question 27

Most plants respond to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations by partially closing their stomata,reducing water loss due to transpiration.

Question 28

Deforestation causes a decrease in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.

Question 29

Which of the following biomes is most likely to increase its primary productivity in response to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels?

A)temperate coniferous forest
B)tropical rain forest
C)temperate grassland
D)temperate deciduous forest

Question 30

Humans are causing the first instances of significant climate change in Earth's history.

Question 31

Pre-industrial carbon dioxide levels of 280 ppm in the atmosphere are expected to double by the year 2020 at current emission rates.

Question 32

The Earth's terrestrial ecosystems are net producers of carbon.

Question 33

Greenhouse gases existed naturally in the atmosphere before the Industrial Revolution.

Question 34

General circulation models predict stabilizing climates worldwide.

Question 35

As a consequence of global climate change,human populations in low-lying coastal areas will become threatened by rising sea levels.

Question 36

The general circulation models developed by atmospheric scientists predict that in the future,

A)temperatures,sea levels,variability of climate,and precipitation will all increase.
B)temperatures,sea levels,and variability of climate will increase while precipitation will decrease.
C)temperatures and sea levels will increase while variability of climate and precipitation will decrease.
D)temperatures and precipitation will increase while sea levels and variability of climate will decrease.

Question 37

Warmed soils result in greater emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

Question 38

Carbon dioxide is the only greenhouse gas that is increasing in concentration as a result of human activities.

Question 39

Which of the following is most likely to occur as a consequence of global climate change?

A)The distributions of plants and animals will move closer toward the equator.
B)The distributions of plants and animals in mountains will move downward to lower elevations.
C)The rates of decomposition and microbial activity will increase,thus increasing emissions of carbon dioxide.
D)The distribution of tropical rain forests will increase.

Question 40

As a consequence of global climate change,plant and animal distributions will generally shift toward higher latitudes and elevations.

Question 41

The albedo of vegetation is higher than it is for snow and ice.

Question 42

The proportion of the world's population exposed to malarial infection is expected to increase as a consequence of global climate change.

Question 43

Species diversity tends to decrease in plant communities subjected to increases in carbon dioxide concentrations,temperature,precipitation,and nitrogen deposition.

Question 44

Most species of agricultural crops will benefit from a rise in carbon dioxide concentrations by increasing crop yields.

Question 45

Minimum,or night,temperatures have increased more dramatically than maximum,or day,temperatures within the past century.