Question 1

Why is it that oxygen isotopes in glacial ice can be used to estimate mean ocean surface temperatures in the past?

Accepted Answer

A)  Large glaciers and ice sheets tend to be near the oceans. 
B)  The ratio of  18  O to  16  O in vapor from warm water tends to be higher. 
C)  Most of the atmospheric water vapor that falls as snow had evaporated from seawater. 
D)  Water that contains  16  O is lighter. 
A)  Large glaciers and ice sheets tend to be near the oceans. 
B)  The ratio of  18  O to  16  O in vapor from warm water tends to be higher. 
C)  Most of the atmospheric water vapor that falls as snow had evaporated from seawater. 
D)  Water that contains  16  O is lighter.

Question 2

Many organisms absorb a high ratio of  18  O/  16  O at low temperatures, but the ratio decreases with ____________________ temperature.

Accepted Answer

Question 3

Marine corals and shelled organisms ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as they convert carbonate ions to hard shells 
B)  convert carbon from the remains of dead plants and animals to hard shells 
C)  extract carbon from the lower crust and upper mantle 
D)  absorb calcium and carbonate ions from seawater and convert them to hard shells 
A)  release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as they convert carbonate ions to hard shells 
B)  convert carbon from the remains of dead plants and animals to hard shells 
C)  extract carbon from the lower crust and upper mantle 
D)  absorb calcium and carbonate ions from seawater and convert them to hard shells

Question 4

The  18  O/  16  O ratio in glacial ice reflects water temperature at the time the water evaporated.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Weathering of carbonate rocks removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and cools Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Why is it that oxygen isotopes in glacial ice can be used to estimate mean ocean surface temperatures in the past?

Many organisms absorb a high ratio of ¹⁸ O/ ¹⁶ O at low temperatures, but the ratio decreases with ____________________ temperature.

Marine corals and shelled organisms ____.

The ¹⁸ O/ ¹⁶ O ratio in glacial ice reflects water temperature at the time the water evaporated.

Weathering of carbonate rocks removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and cools Earth.

Earth Systems

Minerals

Rocks

Geologic Time: a Story in the Rocks

Geologic Resources

The Active Earth: Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes and the Earths Structure

Volcanoes and Plutons

Mountains

Weathering, Soil, and Erosion

Fresh Water: Streams, Lakes, Ground Water, and Wetlands

Water Resources

Glaciers and Ice Ages

Deserts and Wind

Ocean Basins

Oceans and Coastlines

The Atmosphere

Energy Balance in the Atmosphere

Moisture, Clouds, and Weather

Climate

Motions in the Heavens

Planets and Their Moons

Stars, Space, and Galaxies

Filters

Exam 21: Climate Change

Why is it that oxygen isotopes in glacial ice can be used to estimate mean ocean surface temperatures in the past?

Many organisms absorb a high ratio of 18 O/ 16 O at low temperatures, but the ratio decreases with ____________________ temperature.

Marine corals and shelled organisms ____.

The 18 O/ 16 O ratio in glacial ice reflects water temperature at the time the water evaporated.

Weathering of carbonate rocks removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and cools Earth.

Earth Systems

Minerals

Rocks

Geologic Time: a Story in the Rocks

Geologic Resources

The Active Earth: Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes and the Earths Structure

Volcanoes and Plutons

Mountains

Weathering, Soil, and Erosion

Fresh Water: Streams, Lakes, Ground Water, and Wetlands

Water Resources

Glaciers and Ice Ages

Deserts and Wind

Ocean Basins

Oceans and Coastlines

The Atmosphere

Energy Balance in the Atmosphere

Moisture, Clouds, and Weather

Climate

Motions in the Heavens

Planets and Their Moons

Stars, Space, and Galaxies

Filters

Many organisms absorb a high ratio of ¹⁸ O/ ¹⁶ O at low temperatures, but the ratio decreases with ____________________ temperature.

The ¹⁸ O/ ¹⁶ O ratio in glacial ice reflects water temperature at the time the water evaporated.