Question 1

How will explosive volcanic eruptions affect global temperatures?

Accepted Answer

A)  Temperatures will raise
B)  Temperatures will lower
C)  Temperatures will remain the sameD) B) and C)
E) All of the above

Question 2

Computer models are not infallible at predicting climate change because they use simplified versions of the Earth to create the model.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

When eccentricity, obliquity, and precession are all overlapping to have the most significant impact on the Earth's climate, what is happening to the climate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Climate is cooling
B)  Climate is warming
C)  Climate is stagnantD) B) and C)
E) All of the above

Question 4

Which of the following best illustrates the connection between climate and geologic processes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Water coming off a cooling magma emplaces metallic ores
B)  Hydrothermal vents near a mid-ocean rift create chimneys of mineral deposits
C)  Heavy rainfalls trigger debris flows
D)  Arid climates make sea level dropE) C) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 5

The climate system involves energy and moisture exchanges between five Earth spheres: biosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which coastline will be more significantly impacted by sea level change: the Pacific Coast or the Atlantic Coast?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Pacific Coast - there are more people living there
B)  The Atlantic Coast - it has a gently sloping shoreline
C)  The Pacific Coast - it has a steeply sloping shoreline
D)  The Atlantic Coast - there are more buildings along the shorelineE) A) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 7

Which oxygen isotope would be concentrated in glacial ice?

Accepted Answer

A)  16O
B)  17O
C)  18OD) A) and B)
E) A) and C)

Question 8

Which of the following is not one of the three paths taken by incoming solar radiation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Radiation passes through the atmosphere and is absorbed by the surface.
B)  Radiation is deflected by the magnetic field.
C)  Radiation is reflected back into space by clouds, atmosphere, snow, and ice.
D)  Radiation is absorbed by clouds and atmospheric gases.E) B) and C)
F) C) and D) B

Question 9

Why is the Earth heated primarily by radiation from the Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

Although shortwave radiation can penetrate the atmosphere, longwave radiation such as that radiated by the Earth cannot and gets trapped by certain gases in the atmosphere.

Question 10

The higher temperatures during the Cretaceous Period were the result of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the Milankovich Cycle
B)  additional carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
C)  increased sunspot activity
D)  changing locations of continentsE) C) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 11

Why is the use of proxy data necessary when studying past climate change?

Accepted Answer

A)  Modern recording instruments are skewed by pollutants in the atmosphere
B)  Modern data has been biased by religious influence or political ideologies
C)  Instrumental records only go back a couple of centuries and are more incomplete the older they are
D)  Geological and atmospheric changes occurring at the time work differently than todayE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 12

What percentage of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.0400%
B)  0.152%
C)  1%
D)  5%E) None of the above
F) A) and C)

Question 13

How can tree rings provide information about past climates?

Accepted Answer

A)  Thickness and spacing of tree rings reflect environmental conditions
B)  Tree rings turn colors depending on the climate
C)  Tree rings trap gas bubbles that can be used to interpret atmospheric conditions
D)  Tree rings can measure past CO2 concentrationsE) A) and B)
F) All of the above

Question 14

What are sunspots? How can sunspots affect the climate on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Sunspots appear as dark blemishes on the...

Question 15

Is the greenhouse effect a completely bad thing for the planet? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

No; some greenhouse warming is good for ...

Question 16

Explain why even small changes in sea level will have a profound effect on human civilizations.

Accepted Answer

Humans living low-lying island...

Question 17

How will seasonal changes affect the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  There will be less CO2 in the atmosphere in winter than in summer
B)  The levels of CO2 are constant no matter the season
C)  There will be more CO2 in the atmosphere in winter than in summerD) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 18

What is the source of black carbon aerosols?

Accepted Answer

A)  Petroleum
B)  Soot
C)  Bacteria
D)  Mineral depositsE) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 19

Which decade (so far) has seen the most significant total increase in temperature so far?

Accepted Answer

A)  1960s
B)  1980s
C)  2000s
D)  2010sE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 20

Nitrogen makes up the largest percentage of the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Exam 21: Global Climate Change

How will explosive volcanic eruptions affect global temperatures?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Computer models are not infallible at predicting climate change because they use simplified versions of the Earth to create the model.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When eccentricity, obliquity, and precession are all overlapping to have the most significant impact on the Earth's climate, what is happening to the climate?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following best illustrates the connection between climate and geologic processes?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The climate system involves energy and moisture exchanges between five Earth spheres: biosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which coastline will be more significantly impacted by sea level change: the Pacific Coast or the Atlantic Coast?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which oxygen isotope would be concentrated in glacial ice?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is not one of the three paths taken by incoming solar radiation?

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Why is the Earth heated primarily by radiation from the Earth's surface?

Correct AnswerverifiedAlthough shortwave radiation can penetrate the atmosphere, longwave radiation such as that radiated by the Earth cannot and gets trapped by certain gases in the atmosphere.

The higher temperatures during the Cretaceous Period were the result of ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is the use of proxy data necessary when studying past climate change?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What percentage of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How can tree rings provide information about past climates?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What are sunspots? How can sunspots affect the climate on Earth?

Correct AnswerverifiedSunspots appear as dark blemishes on the...View AnswerShow Answer

Is the greenhouse effect a completely bad thing for the planet? Why or why not?

Correct AnswerverifiedNo; some greenhouse warming is good for ...View AnswerShow Answer

Explain why even small changes in sea level will have a profound effect on human civilizations.

Correct AnswerverifiedHumans living low-lying island...View AnswerShow Answer

How will seasonal changes affect the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the source of black carbon aerosols?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which decade (so far) has seen the most significant total increase in temperature so far?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Nitrogen makes up the largest percentage of the atmosphere.

Correct AnswerverifiedTrue

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B

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Although shortwave radiation can penetrate the atmosphere, longwave radiation such as that radiated by the Earth cannot and gets trapped by certain gases in the atmosphere.

Correct Answer
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Sunspots appear as dark blemishes on the...
View Answer

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No; some greenhouse warming is good for ...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Humans living low-lying island...
View Answer

How will seasonal changes affect the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere?

Correct Answer
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True