Question 1

Global warming may cause changes in Earth's albedo.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

When did the supercontinent Pangaea exist?

Accepted Answer

A)  during the Pleistocene 
B)  during the Paleozoic 
C)  during the Holocene 
D)  during the Cenozoic 
A)  during the Pleistocene 
B)  during the Paleozoic 
C)  during the Holocene 
D)  during the Cenozoic

Question 3

Studies of past climates have shown that climate has varied only on time scales of tens of thousands to millions of years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

According to glacial ice records, the Earth was significantly cooler between 10,000 and 40,000 years ago than it is today.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

What term is used to describe the strategy used by scientists who are trying to predict the differing outcomes for a wide range of possible assumptions?

Accepted Answer

A)  varied input 
B)  scenarios 
C)  altering assumptions 
D)  ensemble forecasting 
A)  varied input 
B)  scenarios 
C)  altering assumptions 
D)  ensemble forecasting

Question 6

Measured variations in the Sun's emission of radiation and observed changes in the earth's climate:

Accepted Answer

A)  are well understood. 
B)  happen on a 22- year cycle. 
C)  happen on an 11- year cycle. 
D)  have not been clearly linked. 
A)  are well understood. 
B)  happen on a 22- year cycle. 
C)  happen on an 11- year cycle. 
D)  have not been clearly linked.

Question 7

The tilt of the earth's axis varies between 22.1 and 28.5 degrees.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of these is the most important cause of the increase in atmospheric CO2?

Accepted Answer

A)  burning of coal and petroleum 
B)  wetlands and swamps 
C)  decaying vegetation 
D)  deforestation 
E)  cattle 
A)  burning of coal and petroleum 
B)  wetlands and swamps 
C)  decaying vegetation 
D)  deforestation 
E)  cattle

Question 9

Variations in the shape of the earth's orbit:

Accepted Answer

A)  have a cycle of about 100,000 years. 
B)  are related to changes in sunspot activity on the surface of the Sun. 
C)  will eventually lead to the earth having a perfectly circular orbit. 
D)  have a cycle of about three million years. 
A)  have a cycle of about 100,000 years. 
B)  are related to changes in sunspot activity on the surface of the Sun. 
C)  will eventually lead to the earth having a perfectly circular orbit. 
D)  have a cycle of about three million years.

Question 10

The group assembled by the World Meteorological Organization for the purpose of assessing the known information related to human- induced climate change is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  The Climate Change Consortium. 
B)  The Human Induced Climate Change Panel. 
C)  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 
D)  The Expert Panel on Climate Change. 
A)  The Climate Change Consortium. 
B)  The Human Induced Climate Change Panel. 
C)  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 
D)  The Expert Panel on Climate Change.

Question 11

The continents have been in the exact same locations since the earth began.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Most experts agree that the process of global warming can be reversed within a few years if there is sufficient global cooperation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere as vegetation decays.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Sea floor sediments provide useful climate data because they contain:

Accepted Answer

A)  meteorite debris. 
B)  remains of living organisms. 
C)  material from Earth's mantle. 
D)  evidence of plate tectonics. 
A)  meteorite debris. 
B)  remains of living organisms. 
C)  material from Earth's mantle. 
D)  evidence of plate tectonics.

Question 15

We have not yet established the impact of solar variability on the Earth's climate system because:

Accepted Answer

A)  we have no way of measuring solar variability directly. 
B)  most scientists now agree that solar output is constant and does not vary. 
C)  satellites have not yet been around long enough to provide a data set of adequate length. 
D)  it is not a legitimate enough theory to gain much attention from the scientific community. 
A)  we have no way of measuring solar variability directly. 
B)  most scientists now agree that solar output is constant and does not vary. 
C)  satellites have not yet been around long enough to provide a data set of adequate length. 
D)  it is not a legitimate enough theory to gain much attention from the scientific community.

Question 16

Since the 1970s, the mean global temperature has risen by about 0.6°C.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

List four greenhouse gases.

Accepted Answer

carbon dioxide, meth

Question 18

Carbon dioxide is the only greenhouse gas that has displayed increasing concentrations over the last century.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

CO2 concentrations today are not any higher than they have been during past high points over the last 400,000 years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

It is believed that the temperature rise caused by increased atmospheric carbon dioxide will be greater in the tropics than in the polar regions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Global warming may cause changes in Earth's albedo.

When did the supercontinent Pangaea exist?

Studies of past climates have shown that climate has varied only on time scales of tens of thousands to millions of years.

According to glacial ice records, the Earth was significantly cooler between 10,000 and 40,000 years ago than it is today.

What term is used to describe the strategy used by scientists who are trying to predict the differing outcomes for a wide range of possible assumptions?

Measured variations in the Sun's emission of radiation and observed changes in the earth's climate:

The tilt of the earth's axis varies between 22.1 and 28.5 degrees.

Which of these is the most important cause of the increase in atmospheric CO₂?

Variations in the shape of the earth's orbit:

The group assembled by the World Meteorological Organization for the purpose of assessing the known information related to human- induced climate change is known as:

The continents have been in the exact same locations since the earth began.

Most experts agree that the process of global warming can be reversed within a few years if there is sufficient global cooperation.

Carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere as vegetation decays.

Sea floor sediments provide useful climate data because they contain:

We have not yet established the impact of solar variability on the Earth's climate system because:

Since the 1970s, the mean global temperature has risen by about 0.6°C.

List four greenhouse gases.

Carbon dioxide is the only greenhouse gas that has displayed increasing concentrations over the last century.

CO₂concentrations today are not any higher than they have been during past high points over the last 400,000 years.

It is believed that the temperature rise caused by increased atmospheric carbon dioxide will be greater in the tropics than in the polar regions.

Introduction to the Atmosphere

Heating Earths Surface and Atmosphere

Temperature

Moisture and Atmospheric Stability

Forms of Condensation and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Winds

Circulation of the Atmosphere

Air Masses

Weather Patterns

Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

Hurricanes

Weather Analysis and Forecasting

Air Pollution

World Climates

Optical Phenomena of the Atmosphere

Filters

Exam 14: The Changing Climate

Global warming may cause changes in Earth's albedo.

When did the supercontinent Pangaea exist?

Studies of past climates have shown that climate has varied only on time scales of tens of thousands to millions of years.

According to glacial ice records, the Earth was significantly cooler between 10,000 and 40,000 years ago than it is today.

What term is used to describe the strategy used by scientists who are trying to predict the differing outcomes for a wide range of possible assumptions?

Measured variations in the Sun's emission of radiation and observed changes in the earth's climate:

The tilt of the earth's axis varies between 22.1 and 28.5 degrees.

Which of these is the most important cause of the increase in atmospheric CO2?

Variations in the shape of the earth's orbit:

The group assembled by the World Meteorological Organization for the purpose of assessing the known information related to human- induced climate change is known as:

The continents have been in the exact same locations since the earth began.

Most experts agree that the process of global warming can be reversed within a few years if there is sufficient global cooperation.

Carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere as vegetation decays.

Sea floor sediments provide useful climate data because they contain:

We have not yet established the impact of solar variability on the Earth's climate system because:

Since the 1970s, the mean global temperature has risen by about 0.6°C.

List four greenhouse gases.

Carbon dioxide is the only greenhouse gas that has displayed increasing concentrations over the last century.

CO2 concentrations today are not any higher than they have been during past high points over the last 400,000 years.

It is believed that the temperature rise caused by increased atmospheric carbon dioxide will be greater in the tropics than in the polar regions.

Introduction to the Atmosphere

Heating Earths Surface and Atmosphere

Temperature

Moisture and Atmospheric Stability

Forms of Condensation and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Winds

Circulation of the Atmosphere

Air Masses

Weather Patterns

Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

Hurricanes

Weather Analysis and Forecasting

Air Pollution

World Climates

Optical Phenomena of the Atmosphere

Filters

Which of these is the most important cause of the increase in atmospheric CO₂?

CO₂concentrations today are not any higher than they have been during past high points over the last 400,000 years.