Question 1

A greenhouse gas is one that __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  affects the color of the sky (tending it toward subtle green-blue, as viewed from the Earth's surface during daytime) 
B)  absorbs more of the sun's incoming radiation 
C)  increases plant and vegetation growth around the planet 
D)  absorbs more of the long-wave radiation emitted from the Earth's surface 
A)  affects the color of the sky (tending it toward subtle green-blue, as viewed from the Earth's surface during daytime) 
B)  absorbs more of the sun's incoming radiation 
C)  increases plant and vegetation growth around the planet 
D)  absorbs more of the long-wave radiation emitted from the Earth's surface

Question 2

Nearly all biological,physical,and chemical systems on Earth are disconnected and can be effectively studied in isolation from each other.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Which of these is NOT an example of biological changes that are recently occurring and attributable to warming of the northern hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  the elevations at which mosquitoes can survive 
B)  the average weight of polar bears 
C)  the southerly limit of reindeer in the Scandinavian countries and arctic Russia 
D)  the average spring date at which tree sap begins to flow 
A)  the elevations at which mosquitoes can survive 
B)  the average weight of polar bears 
C)  the southerly limit of reindeer in the Scandinavian countries and arctic Russia 
D)  the average spring date at which tree sap begins to flow

Question 4

Which of the following processes releases CO₂ to the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  photosynthesis 
B)  weathering of silicate rocks 
C)  volcanism 
D)  burial of organic matter 
A)  photosynthesis 
B)  weathering of silicate rocks 
C)  volcanism 
D)  burial of organic matter

Question 5

If a new form of plankton were to develop that converted CO₂ into oxygen as part of its natural metabolism,what would the likely effect be on global temperature?

Accepted Answer

A)  Global temperature would not rise as fast, because by removing CO₂, the plankton would be removing greenhouse gasses. 
B)  Global temperature would rise faster because plankton-produced oxygen has a greenhouse effect. 
C)  Global temperature would not be affected, because both CO₂ and oxygen are greenhouse gasses. 
D)  Global temperature would decrease because the total content of CO₂ in the atmosphere and hydrosphere would decrease. 
A)  Global temperature would not rise as fast, because by removing CO₂, the plankton would be removing greenhouse gasses. 
B)  Global temperature would rise faster because plankton-produced oxygen has a greenhouse effect. 
C)  Global temperature would not be affected, because both CO₂ and oxygen are greenhouse gasses. 
D)  Global temperature would decrease because the total content of CO₂ in the atmosphere and hydrosphere would decrease.

Question 6

Which is the most correct statement about the hydrologic cycle and the carbon cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both deal primarily with phase changes. 
B)  Both deal primarily with chemical changes. 
C)  Both include both organic and inorganic processes. 
D)  Only the hydrologic cycle includes volcanic activity. 
A)  Both deal primarily with phase changes. 
B)  Both deal primarily with chemical changes. 
C)  Both include both organic and inorganic processes. 
D)  Only the hydrologic cycle includes volcanic activity.

Question 7

Why would discovery of a large,previously unknown,ongoing source of seafloor methane probably result in lowering the estimated effects of human civilization on global warming?

Accepted Answer

A)  because it would mean that humans are producing less total methane than had been expected and modeled 
B)  because methane is an icehouse gas and promotes long-term cooling 
C)  because it would mean that humans are responsible for a smaller fraction of greenhouse gas production than was previously thought 
D)  because it would mean that humans are producing less of the other greenhouse gasses than had been expected 
A)  because it would mean that humans are producing less total methane than had been expected and modeled 
B)  because methane is an icehouse gas and promotes long-term cooling 
C)  because it would mean that humans are responsible for a smaller fraction of greenhouse gas production than was previously thought 
D)  because it would mean that humans are producing less of the other greenhouse gasses than had been expected

Question 8

Ice and snow reflect much more of the sun's energy than soils or vegetation.What effect would a permanent,complete covering of the Arctic Ocean by floating sea ice have on the extent of permafrost in arctic and high latitude lands?

Accepted Answer

A)  The areal extent of permafrost would increase. 
B)  The areal extent of permafrost would decrease. 
C)  The areal extent of permafrost would correlate more closely with the extent of the Arctic "ozone hole." 
D)  The areal extent of permafrost would correlate more closely with the extent of Arctic glaciers. 
A)  The areal extent of permafrost would increase. 
B)  The areal extent of permafrost would decrease. 
C)  The areal extent of permafrost would correlate more closely with the extent of the Arctic "ozone hole." 
D)  The areal extent of permafrost would correlate more closely with the extent of Arctic glaciers.

Question 9

Ice cores from continental glaciers provide geologists opportunities to study past atmospheric conditions such as air temperature and greenhouse gas content.The reliable record available from coring ice in the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets gives information back to approximately ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  65 million years ago 
B)  5 million years ago 
C)  800,000 years ago 
D)  150,000 years ago 
A)  65 million years ago 
B)  5 million years ago 
C)  800,000 years ago 
D)  150,000 years ago

Question 10

The factors that affect Earth's long-term climate are different from those that affect climate on shorter time scales.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The warmest global temperatures since the end of the last ice age occurred ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  approximately 11 Ka, in the Younger Dryas 
B)  approximately 6 Ka, in the Holocene 
C)  approximately 1 Ka, in the Medieval Warm Period 
D)  in 1972, at the time that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPE
C)  imposed quotas and heavy price increases on the sale of oil to Western nations 
A)  approximately 11 Ka, in the Younger Dryas 
B)  approximately 6 Ka, in the Holocene 
C)  approximately 1 Ka, in the Medieval Warm Period 
D)  in 1972, at the time that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPE
C)  imposed quotas and heavy price increases on the sale of oil to Western nations

Question 12

Warmer temperatures generally mean that the ratio of oxygen-18 to oxygen-16 ____________ in both ice forming and in the calcite shells grown by plankton.

Accepted Answer

A)  decreases a relatively small amount 
B)  does not change 
C)  increases a relatively small amount 
D)  increases a large amount 
A)  decreases a relatively small amount 
B)  does not change 
C)  increases a relatively small amount 
D)  increases a large amount

Question 13

Which of these has not been noted as an indicator of recent global warming?

Accepted Answer

A)  the increased frequency of volcanic eruption since the industrialization of human society 
B)  changes in the volumes of glaciers 
C)  the southerly limits of Arctic permafrost 
D)  increased water vapor in the atmosphere 
A)  the increased frequency of volcanic eruption since the industrialization of human society 
B)  changes in the volumes of glaciers 
C)  the southerly limits of Arctic permafrost 
D)  increased water vapor in the atmosphere

Question 14

A runaway greenhouse effect is an example of what kind of feedback mechanism?

Accepted Answer

A)  positive 
B)  negative 
A)  positive 
B)  negative

Question 15

An example of worldwide climatological and ecosystem change caused by a geologic event is the____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Permo-Triassic meteorite impact event 
B)  impact of a meteor at the end of the Cretaceous 
C)  increase in the atmospheric oxygen content from approximately 1 to 22%, at the end of the Cretaceous 
D)  Cambrian eruption of approximately 3 million cubic km of basalt in what is now Siberia 
A)  Permo-Triassic meteorite impact event 
B)  impact of a meteor at the end of the Cretaceous 
C)  increase in the atmospheric oxygen content from approximately 1 to 22%, at the end of the Cretaceous 
D)  Cambrian eruption of approximately 3 million cubic km of basalt in what is now Siberia

Question 16

A biogeochemical cycle means the ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  movement of biogeochemical minerals over time through the rock cycle 
B)  exchange of chemicals among magmatic and solid-phase systems 
C)  transitioning and residence of specific chemicals among living and nonliving systems 
D)  Both a and b are correct. 
A)  movement of biogeochemical minerals over time through the rock cycle 
B)  exchange of chemicals among magmatic and solid-phase systems 
C)  transitioning and residence of specific chemicals among living and nonliving systems 
D)  Both a and b are correct.

Question 17

Which of the following types of global change is reversible?

Accepted Answer

A)  orogenic uplift 
B)  melting and crystallization of sedimentary rock to form igneous rock 
C)  evolution of life on Earth 
D)  flooding of the continents due to global warming 
A)  orogenic uplift 
B)  melting and crystallization of sedimentary rock to form igneous rock 
C)  evolution of life on Earth 
D)  flooding of the continents due to global warming

Question 18

Which of the following chemicals is NOT a cause of acidification of the atmosphere or surface waters?

Accepted Answer

A)  minerals containing sulfides 
B)  bicarbonate 
C)  carbon dioxide 
D)  minerals containing silicates 
A)  minerals containing sulfides 
B)  bicarbonate 
C)  carbon dioxide 
D)  minerals containing silicates

Question 19

Which of the following processes removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  respiration (breathing) of animals 
B)  burning of coal and other fossil fuels 
C)  volcanism 
D)  photosynthesis 
A)  respiration (breathing) of animals 
B)  burning of coal and other fossil fuels 
C)  volcanism 
D)  photosynthesis

Question 20

Based on the last approximately 130 years of solar energy reaching the top of Earth's atmosphere in the figure below,do you think the solar energy reaching Earth's atmosphere should rise or fall in the next 10 years?

Accepted Answer

A)  rise 
B)  fall 
A)  rise 
B)  fall

Exam 19: Global Change in the Earth System

A greenhouse gas is one that __________.

Nearly all biological,physical,and chemical systems on Earth are disconnected and can be effectively studied in isolation from each other.

Which of these is NOT an example of biological changes that are recently occurring and attributable to warming of the northern hemisphere?

Which of the following processes releases CO₂ to the atmosphere?

If a new form of plankton were to develop that converted CO₂ into oxygen as part of its natural metabolism,what would the likely effect be on global temperature?

Which is the most correct statement about the hydrologic cycle and the carbon cycle?

Why would discovery of a large,previously unknown,ongoing source of seafloor methane probably result in lowering the estimated effects of human civilization on global warming?

Ice and snow reflect much more of the sun's energy than soils or vegetation.What effect would a permanent,complete covering of the Arctic Ocean by floating sea ice have on the extent of permafrost in arctic and high latitude lands?

Ice cores from continental glaciers provide geologists opportunities to study past atmospheric conditions such as air temperature and greenhouse gas content.The reliable record available from coring ice in the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets gives information back to approximately ____________.

The factors that affect Earth's long-term climate are different from those that affect climate on shorter time scales.

The warmest global temperatures since the end of the last ice age occurred ____________.

Warmer temperatures generally mean that the ratio of oxygen-18 to oxygen-16 ____________ in both ice forming and in the calcite shells grown by plankton.

Which of these has not been noted as an indicator of recent global warming?

A runaway greenhouse effect is an example of what kind of feedback mechanism?

An example of worldwide climatological and ecosystem change caused by a geologic event is the____________.

A biogeochemical cycle means the ____________.

Which of the following types of global change is reversible?

Which of the following chemicals is NOT a cause of acidification of the atmosphere or surface waters?

Which of the following processes removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?

Based on the last approximately 130 years of solar energy reaching the top of Earth's atmosphere in the figure below,do you think the solar energy reaching Earth's atmosphere should rise or fall in the next 10 years?

The Earth in Context

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

The Wrath of Vulcan: Volcanic Eruptions

Pages of Earths Past: Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism: a Process of Change

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Crags, cracks, and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Deep Time: How Old Is Old

A Biography of Earth

Riches in Rock: Energy and Mineral Resources

Unsafe Ground: Landslides and Other Mass Movements

Streams and Floods: the Geology of Running Water

Restless Realm: Oceans and Coasts

A Hidden Reserve: Groundwater

Dry Regions: the Geology of Deserts

Amazing Ice: Glaciers and Ice Ages

Rock Groups

A Surface Veneer: Sediments and Soils

The Rock Cycle

The Earths Interior Revisited: Insights From Geophysics

Memories of Past Life: Fossils and Evolution

An Introduction to Landscapes and the Hydrologic Cycle

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