Question 1

If the earth's orbit around the Sun were more elliptical than now with the same inclination angle

Accepted Answer

A) the northern hemisphere would be warmer. 
B) the southern hemisphere would be about the same in yearly temperature. 
C) storms in both hemispheres would be stronger. 
D) there would be no change because the Sun's energy is constant. 
A) the northern hemisphere would be warmer. 
B) the southern hemisphere would be about the same in yearly temperature. 
C) storms in both hemispheres would be stronger. 
D) there would be no change because the Sun's energy is constant.

Question 2

Trace the major changes in temperature during the Holocene,with a special emphasis on the last 1,000 or so years.Also discuss evidence for the temperature changes.

Accepted Answer

Warming began about 15,000 years ago (pr

Question 3

Changes in the output from the Sun

Accepted Answer

A) are significant and account for varying climatic cycles. 
B) are totally insignificant. 
C) do effect the earth-atmospheric temperature but the total impact is not fully understood. 
D) account for the periods of drought and wetness over North America. 
A) are significant and account for varying climatic cycles. 
B) are totally insignificant. 
C) do effect the earth-atmospheric temperature but the total impact is not fully understood. 
D) account for the periods of drought and wetness over North America.

Question 4

During the last glaciations,what were the moisture conditions like?

Accepted Answer

A) very wet 
B) the same as today 
C) a little drier 
D) more than 50% drier in the northern latitudes 
A) very wet 
B) the same as today 
C) a little drier 
D) more than 50% drier in the northern latitudes

Question 5

The specific humidity in a warmer atmosphere ________ that of a cooler atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) is generally similar to 
B) is usually much larger than 
C) is usually much smaller than 
A) is generally similar to 
B) is usually much larger than 
C) is usually much smaller than

Question 6

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding how clouds affect global climate?

Accepted Answer

A) Clouds can act to both warm and cool the Earth. 
B) Thick clouds strongly reflect solar radiation. 
C) Thick clouds strongly absorb longwave radiation from the Earth. 
D) Clouds are a powerful cooling agent for the Earth. 
A) Clouds can act to both warm and cool the Earth. 
B) Thick clouds strongly reflect solar radiation. 
C) Thick clouds strongly absorb longwave radiation from the Earth. 
D) Clouds are a powerful cooling agent for the Earth.

Question 7

As sea ice melts,

Accepted Answer

A) the albedo increases. 
B) the albedo decreases. 
C) the albedo remains constant but land area is exposed. 
A) the albedo increases. 
B) the albedo decreases. 
C) the albedo remains constant but land area is exposed.

Question 8

This is an example of a

Accepted Answer

A) positive feedback. 
B) negative feedback. 
C) boundary condition. 
D) proxy indicator. 
A) positive feedback. 
B) negative feedback. 
C) boundary condition. 
D) proxy indicator.

Question 9

Glaciers do all of the following,except

Accepted Answer

A) move large boulders long distances. 
B) leave scratch marks on rock. 
C) polish rock. 
D) create v-shaped valleys. 
A) move large boulders long distances. 
B) leave scratch marks on rock. 
C) polish rock. 
D) create v-shaped valleys.

Question 10

Roughly one-fourth of anthropogenic carbon dioxide ends up here: ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Roughly one-fourth of anthropogenic carbon dioxide ends...

Question 11

Milankovitch cycles

Accepted Answer

A) explain little of the Pleistocene climate variation. 
B) explain ancient climate change better than more recent climate change. 
C) have not yet been tested due to inadequate amounts of data. 
D) have difficulty in accounting for effects caused by changes in Earth's eccentricity. 
A) explain little of the Pleistocene climate variation. 
B) explain ancient climate change better than more recent climate change. 
C) have not yet been tested due to inadequate amounts of data. 
D) have difficulty in accounting for effects caused by changes in Earth's eccentricity.

Question 12

Aerosols

Accepted Answer

A) typically enter the atmosphere as solid particles. 
B) come entirely from nonbiological sources. 
C) do not absorb incoming sunlight to a significant extent. 
D) can lead to higher nighttime temperatures. 
A) typically enter the atmosphere as solid particles. 
B) come entirely from nonbiological sources. 
C) do not absorb incoming sunlight to a significant extent. 
D) can lead to higher nighttime temperatures.

Question 13

The relative humidity in a warmer atmosphere ________ that of a cooler atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) is generally similar to 
B) is usually much larger than 
C) is usually much smaller than 
A) is generally similar to 
B) is usually much larger than 
C) is usually much smaller than

Question 14

The eccentricity of Earth's orbit

Accepted Answer

A) has been increasing. 
B) changes cyclically on several scales. 
C) is currently zero, meaning Earth has a circular orbit. 
D) varies between 3 and 8 percent. 
A) has been increasing. 
B) changes cyclically on several scales. 
C) is currently zero, meaning Earth has a circular orbit. 
D) varies between 3 and 8 percent.

Question 15

How many ice ages occurred in the first 2 billion years of Earth's history?

Accepted Answer

A) 0 
B) 1 
C) 2 
D) 5 
A) 0 
B) 1 
C) 2 
D) 5

Question 16

Explain how caves are used to analyze past climates.

Accepted Answer

Dripping water in caves leaves

Question 17

General circulation models have all of the following characteristics,except

Accepted Answer

A) they are mathematical representations of the atmosphere. 
B) they make certain assumptions about what conditions will lead to certain atmospheric phenomena. 
C) they use known laws of physics. 
D) they achieve roughly the same results. 
A) they are mathematical representations of the atmosphere. 
B) they make certain assumptions about what conditions will lead to certain atmospheric phenomena. 
C) they use known laws of physics. 
D) they achieve roughly the same results.

Question 18

During the last glacial maximum

Accepted Answer

A) there were four main pulses of glaciation. 
B) Scandinavia was relatively ice-free. 
C) sea level was about 20 feet lower than now. 
D) higher latitude regions were drier than they are now. 
A) there were four main pulses of glaciation. 
B) Scandinavia was relatively ice-free. 
C) sea level was about 20 feet lower than now. 
D) higher latitude regions were drier than they are now.

Question 19

________ involves long-distance flows of ocean water at deep depths and is driven by both temperature differences and salinity differences.

Accepted Answer

Thermohali

Question 20

The Cretaceous period was in this era

Accepted Answer

A) Cenozoic. 
B) Mesozoic. 
C) Paleozoic. 
D) Precambrian. 
A) Cenozoic. 
B) Mesozoic. 
C) Paleozoic. 
D) Precambrian.

If the earth's orbit around the Sun were more elliptical than now with the same inclination angle

Trace the major changes in temperature during the Holocene,with a special emphasis on the last 1,000 or so years.Also discuss evidence for the temperature changes.

Changes in the output from the Sun

During the last glaciations,what were the moisture conditions like?

The specific humidity in a warmer atmosphere ________ that of a cooler atmosphere.

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding how clouds affect global climate?

As sea ice melts,

This is an example of a

Glaciers do all of the following,except

Roughly one-fourth of anthropogenic carbon dioxide ends up here: ________.

Milankovitch cycles

Aerosols

The relative humidity in a warmer atmosphere ________ that of a cooler atmosphere.

The eccentricity of Earth's orbit

How many ice ages occurred in the first 2 billion years of Earth's history?

Explain how caves are used to analyze past climates.

General circulation models have all of the following characteristics,except

During the last glacial maximum

________ involves long-distance flows of ocean water at deep depths and is driven by both temperature differences and salinity differences.

The Cretaceous period was in this era

Energy and Mass

Solar Radiation and the Seasons

Energy Balance and Temperature

Atmospheric Pressure and Wind

Atmospheric Moisture

Cloud Development and Forms

Precipitation Processes

Atmospheric Circulation and Pressure Distributions

Air Masses and Fronts

Midlatitude Cyclones

Lightning, thunder, and Tornadoes

Tropical Storms and Hurricanes

Weather Forecasting and Analysis

Human Effects on the Atmosphere

Earths Climates

Atmospheric Optics Online Only in Masteringmeteorology

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Exam 16: Climate Changes: Past and Future

If the earth's orbit around the Sun were more elliptical than now with the same inclination angle

Trace the major changes in temperature during the Holocene,with a special emphasis on the last 1,000 or so years.Also discuss evidence for the temperature changes.

Changes in the output from the Sun

During the last glaciations,what were the moisture conditions like?

The specific humidity in a warmer atmosphere ________ that of a cooler atmosphere.

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding how clouds affect global climate?

As sea ice melts,

This is an example of a

Glaciers do all of the following,except

Roughly one-fourth of anthropogenic carbon dioxide ends up here: ________.

Milankovitch cycles

Aerosols

The relative humidity in a warmer atmosphere ________ that of a cooler atmosphere.

The eccentricity of Earth's orbit

How many ice ages occurred in the first 2 billion years of Earth's history?

Explain how caves are used to analyze past climates.

General circulation models have all of the following characteristics,except

During the last glacial maximum

________ involves long-distance flows of ocean water at deep depths and is driven by both temperature differences and salinity differences.

The Cretaceous period was in this era

Energy and Mass

Solar Radiation and the Seasons

Energy Balance and Temperature

Atmospheric Pressure and Wind

Atmospheric Moisture

Cloud Development and Forms

Precipitation Processes

Atmospheric Circulation and Pressure Distributions

Air Masses and Fronts

Midlatitude Cyclones

Lightning, thunder, and Tornadoes

Tropical Storms and Hurricanes

Weather Forecasting and Analysis

Human Effects on the Atmosphere

Earths Climates

Atmospheric Optics Online Only in Masteringmeteorology

Filters