Question 1

Biomes are primarily identified by their

Accepted Answer

A) precipitation patterns and soil types. 
B) temperature patterns and community structure. 
C) soil types and community structure. 
D) precipitation and temperature patterns. 
A) precipitation patterns and soil types. 
B) temperature patterns and community structure. 
C) soil types and community structure. 
D) precipitation and temperature patterns.

Question 2

Which one of the following best illustrates a type of adaptation to global climate change?

Accepted Answer

A) increasing the use of public transportation systems in cities 
B) building taller levees to hold back storm surges along ocean coastlines 
C) using solar and nuclear power to generate electricity instead of burning coal 
D) widening the Panama Canal to allow larger ships to move from China to Europe 
A) increasing the use of public transportation systems in cities 
B) building taller levees to hold back storm surges along ocean coastlines 
C) using solar and nuclear power to generate electricity instead of burning coal 
D) widening the Panama Canal to allow larger ships to move from China to Europe

Question 3

At the 2009 Copenhagen climate conference,

Accepted Answer

A) more than 180 nations signed non-binding GHG reduction pledges. 
B) binding resolutions signed by all attending nations. 
C) timetables were agreed upon for GHG reductions. 
D) most nations boycotted the meetings under pressure from fossil fuel companies. 
A) more than 180 nations signed non-binding GHG reduction pledges. 
B) binding resolutions signed by all attending nations. 
C) timetables were agreed upon for GHG reductions. 
D) most nations boycotted the meetings under pressure from fossil fuel companies.

Question 4

In North America,Halifax,Nova Scotia,will likely experience the least warming in the next 50 years due to global climate change because of

Accepted Answer

A) ocean thermal buffering. 
B) increased rainfall. 
C) warm polar melt water in the Atlantic Conveyor Current. 
D) changing albedo of the soils in the area. 
A) ocean thermal buffering. 
B) increased rainfall. 
C) warm polar melt water in the Atlantic Conveyor Current. 
D) changing albedo of the soils in the area.

Question 5

To prevent the tipping point after which catastrophic environmental change will happen,what needs to be done?

Accepted Answer

A) Carbon dioxide emissions must be eliminated in the next two years. 
B) Global greenhouse gas levels must peak no higher than 450 ppm and start declining by 2015. 
C) All greenhouse gases need to immediately be reduced below their levels in 1990. 
D) Carbon dioxide emissions must not rise more than 800 ppm,double the levels in the atmosphere today. 
A) Carbon dioxide emissions must be eliminated in the next two years. 
B) Global greenhouse gas levels must peak no higher than 450 ppm and start declining by 2015. 
C) All greenhouse gases need to immediately be reduced below their levels in 1990. 
D) Carbon dioxide emissions must not rise more than 800 ppm,double the levels in the atmosphere today.

Question 6

When an automobile heats up in bright sunlight with windows rolled up,the glass in the car functions most like

Accepted Answer

A) rain in the atmosphere. 
B) clouds in the atmosphere. 
C) sulfate aerosol in the atmosphere. 
D) carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 
A) rain in the atmosphere. 
B) clouds in the atmosphere. 
C) sulfate aerosol in the atmosphere. 
D) carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Question 7

Every day,tremendous amounts of the sun's energy strikes the Earth.Why doesn't the Earth overheat?

Accepted Answer

A) Much of the heat melts rocks,forming lava deep inside the Earth. 
B) Most of the energy is used in photosynthesis,to help plants grow and survive. 
C) The energy mostly is absorbed in various weather systems. 
D) The energy is ultimately radiated back to space. 
A) Much of the heat melts rocks,forming lava deep inside the Earth. 
B) Most of the energy is used in photosynthesis,to help plants grow and survive. 
C) The energy mostly is absorbed in various weather systems. 
D) The energy is ultimately radiated back to space.

Question 8

The sharp decrease in atmospheric ¹⁴C in the past decade is directly related to

Accepted Answer

A) a drop in global photosynthesis. 
B) increasing methane levels. 
C) decreasing temperatures in the troposphere. 
D) increase in fossil fuel use. 
A) a drop in global photosynthesis. 
B) increasing methane levels. 
C) decreasing temperatures in the troposphere. 
D) increase in fossil fuel use.

Question 9

In our world,something with the greatest heat capacity is able to

Accepted Answer

A) evaporate the most water from its surface. 
B) retain its heat the longest. 
C) insulate the best. 
D) reflect the greatest amount of sunshine. 
A) evaporate the most water from its surface. 
B) retain its heat the longest. 
C) insulate the best. 
D) reflect the greatest amount of sunshine.

Question 10

Winds we experience in our daily lives are mainly the result of

Accepted Answer

A) the rotation of the Earth. 
B) changes in the direction of ocean currents and tides. 
C) jet streams produced by Hadley cells. 
D) the movement of air between lower pressure and higher pressure regions. 
A) the rotation of the Earth. 
B) changes in the direction of ocean currents and tides. 
C) jet streams produced by Hadley cells. 
D) the movement of air between lower pressure and higher pressure regions.

Question 11

In Alaska,some coastal areas are under threat from climate change because

Accepted Answer

A) warmer air temperatures have drastically altered agricultural patterns. 
B) much of the Aleutian archipelago has already been submerged. 
C) summer sea ice and permafrost have melted,increasing wave action and soil instability. 
D) traditional food fish have migrated elsewhere because of warmer ocean temperatures. 
A) warmer air temperatures have drastically altered agricultural patterns. 
B) much of the Aleutian archipelago has already been submerged. 
C) summer sea ice and permafrost have melted,increasing wave action and soil instability. 
D) traditional food fish have migrated elsewhere because of warmer ocean temperatures.

Question 12

-The steep increase in global carbon emissions since 1950,shown in the figure above,most closely parallels the

Accepted Answer

A) rise in pH of the ocean over this same period. 
B) size of the polar ice caps over this same period. 
C) global surface temperatures over this same period. 
D) increases in the speed of the Atlantic Ocean conveyor system over this same period. 
A) rise in pH of the ocean over this same period. 
B) size of the polar ice caps over this same period. 
C) global surface temperatures over this same period. 
D) increases in the speed of the Atlantic Ocean conveyor system over this same period.

Question 13

The precautionary principle,the polluter pays principle,and the equity principle are all reflections of

Accepted Answer

A) sound science. 
B) sustainability. 
C) adaptation. 
D) stewardship. 
A) sound science. 
B) sustainability. 
C) adaptation. 
D) stewardship.

Question 14

Which of the following represents an alarming positive feedback loop of global warming?

Accepted Answer

A) Increasing temperatures raise humidity,which further increases temperatures. 
B) Decreased pH of the ocean increases the rate at which carbon dioxide is absorbed by the oceans from the atmosphere. 
C) Increased use of fossil fuels adds ozone to the stratosphere,which traps more heat. 
D) Increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide decreases photosynthesis,which further increases carbon dioxide atmospheric levels. 
A) Increasing temperatures raise humidity,which further increases temperatures. 
B) Decreased pH of the ocean increases the rate at which carbon dioxide is absorbed by the oceans from the atmosphere. 
C) Increased use of fossil fuels adds ozone to the stratosphere,which traps more heat. 
D) Increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide decreases photosynthesis,which further increases carbon dioxide atmospheric levels.

Question 15

The developed countries of the world have contributed the most to global climate change.By applying the polluter pays and equity principles,we would expect that the

Accepted Answer

A) developed countries will provide funds for adaptations in the developing countries such as the Maldive Islands. 
B) developing countries will provide funds for adaptations in the developed countries. 
C) precautionary principle will guide the payment of compensation to developed countries. 
D) stabilization wedge approach to global climate change will help to equalize the funds for adaptations. 
A) developed countries will provide funds for adaptations in the developing countries such as the Maldive Islands. 
B) developing countries will provide funds for adaptations in the developed countries. 
C) precautionary principle will guide the payment of compensation to developed countries. 
D) stabilization wedge approach to global climate change will help to equalize the funds for adaptations.

Question 16

Cap-and-trade programs

Accepted Answer

A) were already in use by the European Union before 2010. 
B) have never been utilized because of their high costs. 
C) were first widely used in the United States for power companies in 1990. 
D) only apply to non-GHG emitting forms of electrical generation. 
A) were already in use by the European Union before 2010. 
B) have never been utilized because of their high costs. 
C) were first widely used in the United States for power companies in 1990. 
D) only apply to non-GHG emitting forms of electrical generation.

Question 17

Discussing the consequences of global climate change at a conference,representatives of a developing nation suggest that those nations that contribute the most greenhouse gases (GHGs)to the atmosphere should contribute the most to paying for adaptive responses worldwide.Further,this representative pointed out that her poor country contributes less than 1% of the annual GHGs and has less than 0.1% of the world's wealth.This representative's appeal represents

Accepted Answer

A) the precautionary principle. 
B) the polluter pays and equity principles. 
C) an argument for mitigation instead of adaptation. 
D) stages 2 and 3 of the climate change skeptics' responses. 
A) the precautionary principle. 
B) the polluter pays and equity principles. 
C) an argument for mitigation instead of adaptation. 
D) stages 2 and 3 of the climate change skeptics' responses.

Question 18

If the Earth had no atmosphere,

Accepted Answer

A) less of the sun's energy would strike the Earth. 
B) all regions of the Earth would be considerably warmer. 
C) the Earth would experience much larger and more severe storms. 
D) the biogeochemical cycles on Earth would be much different. 
A) less of the sun's energy would strike the Earth. 
B) all regions of the Earth would be considerably warmer. 
C) the Earth would experience much larger and more severe storms. 
D) the biogeochemical cycles on Earth would be much different.

Question 19

In general,temperatures along an ocean coastline vary less than temperatures 100 miles inland.This moderation of temperatures along coastlines is because

Accepted Answer

A) as the oceans evaporate it cools off the coastlines. 
B) the sun shines more intensely away from the ocean coastlines. 
C) ocean temperatures change more quickly than air temperatures. 
D) ocean temperatures do not change as quickly as air temperatures. 
A) as the oceans evaporate it cools off the coastlines. 
B) the sun shines more intensely away from the ocean coastlines. 
C) ocean temperatures change more quickly than air temperatures. 
D) ocean temperatures do not change as quickly as air temperatures.

Question 20

Which one of the following has a net negative forcing effect on global climate?

Accepted Answer

A) ozone in the troposphere 
B) industrial sulfate aerosols 
C) carbon dioxide in the troposphere 
D) low clouds in the troposphere 
A) ozone in the troposphere 
B) industrial sulfate aerosols 
C) carbon dioxide in the troposphere 
D) low clouds in the troposphere

Exam 18: Global Climate Change

Biomes are primarily identified by their

Which one of the following best illustrates a type of adaptation to global climate change?

At the 2009 Copenhagen climate conference,

In North America,Halifax,Nova Scotia,will likely experience the least warming in the next 50 years due to global climate change because of

To prevent the tipping point after which catastrophic environmental change will happen,what needs to be done?

When an automobile heats up in bright sunlight with windows rolled up,the glass in the car functions most like

Every day,tremendous amounts of the sun's energy strikes the Earth.Why doesn't the Earth overheat?

The sharp decrease in atmospheric ¹⁴C in the past decade is directly related to

In our world,something with the greatest heat capacity is able to

Winds we experience in our daily lives are mainly the result of

In Alaska,some coastal areas are under threat from climate change because

-The steep increase in global carbon emissions since 1950,shown in the figure above,most closely parallels the

The precautionary principle,the polluter pays principle,and the equity principle are all reflections of

Which of the following represents an alarming positive feedback loop of global warming?

The developed countries of the world have contributed the most to global climate change.By applying the polluter pays and equity principles,we would expect that the

Cap-and-trade programs

If the Earth had no atmosphere,

In general,temperatures along an ocean coastline vary less than temperatures 100 miles inland.This moderation of temperatures along coastlines is because

Which one of the following has a net negative forcing effect on global climate?

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