Exam 21: Climate Change

Models of climate are only able to reproduce the warming over the last century only if _____ are added.

Which of the following is a factor in the Earth's atmosphere?

The study of ancient climates is called paleoclimatology.

By what means do we know that greenhouse gas concentrations have varied quite dramatically over the geologic record?

The ionosphere plays little role in determining climate.

The orbital theory of climate is also known as _____.

The month in which the Earth makes its closest approach to the Sun is known as the _____, which varies on a 19,000 year cycle.

Volcanic activity releases particles and particle forming gases into the atmosphere each year.

The most straightforward way to decrease emissions of CO₂ is to _____.

_____ is the most abundant and important greenhouse gas.

What is the role of the ozone layer?

The Sun transmits its energy to Earth in the form of _____.

Which of the following is released by volcanic activity into the atmosphere?

NO₂ and CH₄ are important greenhouse gases due to their strong _____ of solar radiation.

Between 1961 and 2003 mean sea level rose _____.

Nitrogen and oxygen make up <50% of the atmosphere.

_____ can alter the surface albedo of the Earth and affect ocean circulation on a million-year time scale.

Thermal expansion can cause sea level rise.

_____ has been responsible for around 50% of the sea level rise over the last century.

The Earth's average climate is determined by its _____, the balance between the amount of energy entering and exiting the Earth system.