Question 1

Changes in Earth's elliptical orbit around the Sun (eccentricity)varies over a ____year cycle.

Accepted Answer

A) 12.000 
B) 175,000 
C) 41,000 
D) 100,000 
E) 26,000 
A) 12.000 
B) 175,000 
C) 41,000 
D) 100,000 
E) 26,000

Question 2

Which of the following accurately describes 18O/16O ratios of the world's oceans?

Accepted Answer

A) A higher ratio of oceanic 16O to 18O,the colder the temperatures because 18O will have been mostly evaporated from the oceans. 
B) Because 18O evaporates more readily than 16O,the oceans have a higher relative abundance of 16O during warm periods and a more balanced ration when evaporation is less. 
C) Neither the 16O nor 18O isotopes are common in water,so when either is present,it shows a disequilibrium in normal climatic conditions. 
D) During periods of colder temperatures,16O is locked up in snow and ice and 18O concentrations are highest in the oceans. 
E) The 16O/18O ratio is low during colder temperatures because temperatures are too low for evaporation to be effective and both isotopes remain in the ocean. 
A) A higher ratio of oceanic 16O to 18O,the colder the temperatures because 18O will have been mostly evaporated from the oceans. 
B) Because 18O evaporates more readily than 16O,the oceans have a higher relative abundance of 16O during warm periods and a more balanced ration when evaporation is less. 
C) Neither the 16O nor 18O isotopes are common in water,so when either is present,it shows a disequilibrium in normal climatic conditions. 
D) During periods of colder temperatures,16O is locked up in snow and ice and 18O concentrations are highest in the oceans. 
E) The 16O/18O ratio is low during colder temperatures because temperatures are too low for evaporation to be effective and both isotopes remain in the ocean.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A) Carbon is such a rare element on Earth that the 13C/12C ratios help scientists deduce glacial and interglacial cycles. 
B) 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. 
C) 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. 
D) Scientists can determine if conditions were wetter or drier,warmer or cooler,but analyzing the ratio of 12C to 13C. 
E) By analyzing the ratio of 13C/12C in marine phytoplankton,the source of the water in which the organisms resided can be determined. 
A) Carbon is such a rare element on Earth that the 13C/12C ratios help scientists deduce glacial and interglacial cycles. 
B) 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. 
C) 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. 
D) Scientists can determine if conditions were wetter or drier,warmer or cooler,but analyzing the ratio of 12C to 13C. 
E) By analyzing the ratio of 13C/12C in marine phytoplankton,the source of the water in which the organisms resided can be determined.

Question 4

Describe methods that individuals and communities are taking to mitigate against climate change.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary,but may include not pr

Question 5

A lower 18O/16O ratio in ocean sediment cores indicates a(n)___ climate,whereas a higher 18O/16O ratio indicates a(n)_____climate.

Accepted Answer

A) cooler;warmer 
B) warmer;cooler 
C) cooler;cold 
D) imbalanced;balanced 
E) stable;unstable 
A) cooler;warmer 
B) warmer;cooler 
C) cooler;cold 
D) imbalanced;balanced 
E) stable;unstable

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

Approximately____ of total atmospheric methane comes from anthropogenic sources.

Accepted Answer

A) half 
B) two-thirds 
C) one-eighth 
D) one-third 
E) 25% 
A) half 
B) two-thirds 
C) one-eighth 
D) one-third 
E) 25%

Question 8

During the last century,sea level

Accepted Answer

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. ). 
E) dropped 10 to 13 cm (3.93 to 5.12 in. ). 
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. ). 
E) dropped 10 to 13 cm (3.93 to 5.12 in. ).

Question 9

The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report concludes

Accepted Answer

A) that while climate change is occurring,it is largely natural climate fluctuations. 
B) much uncertainty still remains related to the warming of the climate. 
C) scientists are 95 to 100% certain that human activities are the primary cause of present climate change. 
D) no consensus exists on whether current climate change is natural or anthropogenic. 
E) the observed climatic changes of the past half century are similar to changes that have occurred throughout the past couple hundreds of years. 
A) that while climate change is occurring,it is largely natural climate fluctuations. 
B) much uncertainty still remains related to the warming of the climate. 
C) scientists are 95 to 100% certain that human activities are the primary cause of present climate change. 
D) no consensus exists on whether current climate change is natural or anthropogenic. 
E) the observed climatic changes of the past half century are similar to changes that have occurred throughout the past couple hundreds of years.

Question 10

What is some of the evidence establishing that climate change is currently occurring?

Accepted Answer

Temperature data showing an undeniable w

Question 11

Climate reconstructions using oxygen isotopes (18O)over two timescales

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

Accepted Answer

A) was much warmer 70 m.y.a.compared to the present. 
B) was warmest approximately 10 million years ago and coolest about 56 million years ago. 
C) has remained fairly constant,only showing a warming trend during the past 200 years. 
D) was much cooler 70 m.y.a.compared to the present. 
E) did not fluctuate greatly from approximately 500 m.y.a.to 65 m.y.a. ,then widely fluctuated until the current stable period. 
A) was much warmer 70 m.y.a.compared to the present. 
B) was warmest approximately 10 million years ago and coolest about 56 million years ago. 
C) has remained fairly constant,only showing a warming trend during the past 200 years. 
D) was much cooler 70 m.y.a.compared to the present. 
E) did not fluctuate greatly from approximately 500 m.y.a.to 65 m.y.a. ,then widely fluctuated until the current stable period.

Question 12

Which climate reconstruction methods provides the longest record of Earth's climate history?

Accepted Answer

A) carbon isotope analysis 
B) dendrochronology 
C) speleothem analysis 
D) ice cores 
E) ocean sediment cores 
A) carbon isotope analysis 
B) dendrochronology 
C) speleothem analysis 
D) ice cores 
E) ocean sediment cores

Changes in Earth's elliptical orbit around the Sun (eccentricity)varies over a ____year cycle.

Which of the following accurately describes 18O/16O ratios of the world's oceans?

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

Describe methods that individuals and communities are taking to mitigate against climate change.

A lower 18O/16O ratio in ocean sediment cores indicates a(n)_ climate,whereas a higher 18O/16O ratio indicates a(n)___climate.

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

Approximately____ of total atmospheric methane comes from anthropogenic sources.

During the last century,sea level

The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report concludes

What is some of the evidence establishing that climate change is currently occurring?

Climate reconstructions using oxygen isotopes (^{18O)over two timescales} Over the span of 70 million years,the Earth's climate

Which climate reconstruction methods provides the longest record of Earth's climate history?

Essentials of Geography

Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons

Earth’s Atmosphere

Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures

Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations

Water and Atmospheric Moisture

Weather

Water Resources

Earth’s Climatic Regions

The Dynamic Planet

Tectonics, Earthquakes, and Volcanism

Weathering, Karst Landscapes, and Mass Movement

River Systems

Aeolian Processes and Arid Landscapes

Oceans and Coastal Systems

Glacial Landscapes and the Cryosphere

The Geography of Soils

Ecosystem Essentials

Terrestrial Biomes

Filters

Exam 10: Climate Change

Changes in Earth's elliptical orbit around the Sun (eccentricity)varies over a ____year cycle.

Which of the following accurately describes 18O/16O ratios of the world's oceans?

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

Describe methods that individuals and communities are taking to mitigate against climate change.

A lower 18O/16O ratio in ocean sediment cores indicates a(n)___ climate,whereas a higher 18O/16O ratio indicates a(n)_____climate.

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

Approximately____ of total atmospheric methane comes from anthropogenic sources.

During the last century,sea level

The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report concludes

What is some of the evidence establishing that climate change is currently occurring?

Climate reconstructions using oxygen isotopes (18O)over two timescales Over the span of 70 million years,the Earth's climate

Which climate reconstruction methods provides the longest record of Earth's climate history?

Essentials of Geography

Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons

Earth’s Atmosphere

Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures

Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations

Water and Atmospheric Moisture

Weather

Water Resources

Earth’s Climatic Regions

The Dynamic Planet

Tectonics, Earthquakes, and Volcanism

Weathering, Karst Landscapes, and Mass Movement

River Systems

Aeolian Processes and Arid Landscapes

Oceans and Coastal Systems

Glacial Landscapes and the Cryosphere

The Geography of Soils

Ecosystem Essentials

Terrestrial Biomes

Filters

A lower 18O/16O ratio in ocean sediment cores indicates a(n)_ climate,whereas a higher 18O/16O ratio indicates a(n)___climate.

Climate reconstructions using oxygen isotopes (^{18O)over two timescales} Over the span of 70 million years,the Earth's climate