Question 1

Records indicating rapidly rising temperature of about 1°C since the the 1950s provides evidence for ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  uncertainties and errors in the data 
B)  volcanic activity 
C)  natural variability of Earth's climate 
D)  human-induced climate change 
A)  uncertainties and errors in the data 
B)  volcanic activity 
C)  natural variability of Earth's climate 
D)  human-induced climate change

Question 2

Scientists have been able to evaluate changes in ocean temperature profiles over more than 100 years by comparing modern instrument float records to data obtained during the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  HMS Challenger expedition 
B)  Glomar Explorer expedition 
C)  Beagle expedition 
D)  Meteor expedition 
A)  HMS Challenger expedition 
B)  Glomar Explorer expedition 
C)  Beagle expedition 
D)  Meteor expedition

Question 3

A decrease in pH of about 0.1 pH units is very small and is unlikely to have negative consequences on marine organisms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Climate models used in the IPCC Assessment Reports have been improved by including ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  more complex feedbacks 
B)  higher spatial resolution 
C)  higher temporal resolution 
D)  All of these choices are correct 
A)  more complex feedbacks 
B)  higher spatial resolution 
C)  higher temporal resolution 
D)  All of these choices are correct

Question 5

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that Earth's temperature will remain constant for the next few decades.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The process responsible for the majority of sea-level rise in the global ocean is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  albedo 
B)  photosynthesis 
C)  glacier melt 
D)  thermal expansion 
E)  El Niño 
A)  albedo 
B)  photosynthesis 
C)  glacier melt 
D)  thermal expansion 
E)  El Niño

Question 7

Potential sources of energy that can be obtained from the sea include all of the following except ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  tides 
B)  waves 
C)  currents 
D)  differences in temperature between deep and shallow water 
E)  polymetallic nodules 
A)  tides 
B)  waves 
C)  currents 
D)  differences in temperature between deep and shallow water 
E)  polymetallic nodules

Question 8

Increased CO2 in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution has resulted in lower surface ocean pH of about ________ pH units.

Accepted Answer

A)  0.01 
B)  0.1 
C)  1.0 
D)  5.0 
A)  0.01 
B)  0.1 
C)  1.0 
D)  5.0

Question 9

Geoengineering proposals to mitigate climate change include ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  large-scale iron fertilization 
B)  enhancement of deep-water formation 
C)  increasing rates of denitrification 
D)  development of wind turbine farms in the open ocean 
A)  large-scale iron fertilization 
B)  enhancement of deep-water formation 
C)  increasing rates of denitrification 
D)  development of wind turbine farms in the open ocean

Question 10

Ice cores, such as the Vostok ice core, can be used to reconstruct temperature patterns indirectly, using ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  dust content in ice 
B)  carbon dioxide concentration in gas bubbles 
C)  mercury concentrations in ice 
D)  methane concentrations in gas bubbles 
E)  oxygen isotopes of water in ice 
A)  dust content in ice 
B)  carbon dioxide concentration in gas bubbles 
C)  mercury concentrations in ice 
D)  methane concentrations in gas bubbles 
E)  oxygen isotopes of water in ice

Question 11

Carbon dioxide molecules last, on average, ________ years in the atmosphere

Accepted Answer

A)  2 
B)  12 
C)  100 
D)  200 
A)  2 
B)  12 
C)  100 
D)  200

Question 12

Decreasing ocean pH can directly result in all of the following except ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  increased metal solubility 
B)  changes in phytoplankton growth 
C)  expansion of hypoxic dead zones 
D)  declines in calcifying organisms 
A)  increased metal solubility 
B)  changes in phytoplankton growth 
C)  expansion of hypoxic dead zones 
D)  declines in calcifying organisms

Question 13

Rapid changes in Earth's climate are referred to as climate disruptions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The tilt of the Earth (or obliquity) can change rapidly, resulting in abrupt climate change.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Changes to any one component of Earth's climate system result in predictable changes to climate.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Polar bears are expected to lose less than 50 percent of their summer habitat by the year 2100.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Paleoproxies are direct measurements of historical environmental variables such as temperature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

The Greenhouse gas with the greatest greenhouse potential is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Carbon dioxide 
B)  Methane 
C)  Ozone 
D)  CFC-11 
E)  CFC-12 
A)  Carbon dioxide 
B)  Methane 
C)  Ozone 
D)  CFC-11 
E)  CFC-12

Question 19

The greenhouse effect refers to the warming of Earth's climate caused by increased plant respiration.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

If the Earth and oceans are warming at about 0.2°C per decade, we would expect the temperature 100 years from now to be ________ warmer than today.

Accepted Answer

A)  0°C 
B)  1°C 
C)  2°C 
D)  5°C 
E)  10°C 
A)  0°C 
B)  1°C 
C)  2°C 
D)  5°C 
E)  10°C

Records indicating rapidly rising temperature of about 1°C since the the 1950s provides evidence for ________.

Scientists have been able to evaluate changes in ocean temperature profiles over more than 100 years by comparing modern instrument float records to data obtained during the ________.

A decrease in pH of about 0.1 pH units is very small and is unlikely to have negative consequences on marine organisms.

Climate models used in the IPCC Assessment Reports have been improved by including ________.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that Earth's temperature will remain constant for the next few decades.

The process responsible for the majority of sea-level rise in the global ocean is ________.

Potential sources of energy that can be obtained from the sea include all of the following except ________.

Increased CO₂ in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution has resulted in lower surface ocean pH of about ________ pH units.

Geoengineering proposals to mitigate climate change include ________.

Ice cores, such as the Vostok ice core, can be used to reconstruct temperature patterns indirectly, using ________.

Carbon dioxide molecules last, on average, ________ years in the atmosphere

Decreasing ocean pH can directly result in all of the following except ________.

Rapid changes in Earth's climate are referred to as climate disruptions.

The tilt of the Earth (or obliquity) can change rapidly, resulting in abrupt climate change.

Changes to any one component of Earth's climate system result in predictable changes to climate.

Polar bears are expected to lose less than 50 percent of their summer habitat by the year 2100.

Paleoproxies are direct measurements of historical environmental variables such as temperature.

The Greenhouse gas with the greatest greenhouse potential is ________.

The greenhouse effect refers to the warming of Earth's climate caused by increased plant respiration.

If the Earth and oceans are warming at about 0.2°C per decade, we would expect the temperature 100 years from now to be ________ warmer than today.

The Water Planet

Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics

The Sea Floor and Its Sediments

The Physical Properties of Water

The Chemistry of Seawater

The Atmosphere and the Oceans

Ocean Structure and Circulation

The Waves

The Tides

Coasts, Beaches, and Estuaries

The Living Ocean

The Plankton, Productivity, and Food Webs

The Nekton: Swimmers of the Sea

The Benthos: Living on the Sea Floor

Environmental Issues

Filters

Exam 16: The Oceans and Climate Disruption

Records indicating rapidly rising temperature of about 1°C since the the 1950s provides evidence for ________.

Scientists have been able to evaluate changes in ocean temperature profiles over more than 100 years by comparing modern instrument float records to data obtained during the ________.

A decrease in pH of about 0.1 pH units is very small and is unlikely to have negative consequences on marine organisms.

Climate models used in the IPCC Assessment Reports have been improved by including ________.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that Earth's temperature will remain constant for the next few decades.

The process responsible for the majority of sea-level rise in the global ocean is ________.

Potential sources of energy that can be obtained from the sea include all of the following except ________.

Increased CO2 in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution has resulted in lower surface ocean pH of about ________ pH units.

Geoengineering proposals to mitigate climate change include ________.

Ice cores, such as the Vostok ice core, can be used to reconstruct temperature patterns indirectly, using ________.

Carbon dioxide molecules last, on average, ________ years in the atmosphere

Decreasing ocean pH can directly result in all of the following except ________.

Rapid changes in Earth's climate are referred to as climate disruptions.

The tilt of the Earth (or obliquity) can change rapidly, resulting in abrupt climate change.

Changes to any one component of Earth's climate system result in predictable changes to climate.

Polar bears are expected to lose less than 50 percent of their summer habitat by the year 2100.

Paleoproxies are direct measurements of historical environmental variables such as temperature.

The Greenhouse gas with the greatest greenhouse potential is ________.

The greenhouse effect refers to the warming of Earth's climate caused by increased plant respiration.

If the Earth and oceans are warming at about 0.2°C per decade, we would expect the temperature 100 years from now to be ________ warmer than today.

The Water Planet

Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics

The Sea Floor and Its Sediments

The Physical Properties of Water

The Chemistry of Seawater

The Atmosphere and the Oceans

Ocean Structure and Circulation

The Waves

The Tides

Coasts, Beaches, and Estuaries

The Living Ocean

The Plankton, Productivity, and Food Webs

The Nekton: Swimmers of the Sea

The Benthos: Living on the Sea Floor

Environmental Issues

Filters

Increased CO₂ in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution has resulted in lower surface ocean pH of about ________ pH units.