Question 1

When did the Little Ice Age occur? Have there been any suggestions of a possible cause of the Little Ice Age?

Accepted Answer

The Little Ice Age occurred from approximately 1300 to 1850, although the exact dates can vary depending on the region. It was characterized by a period of cooler temperatures, particularly in Europe and North America, leading to colder winters and shorter growing seasons.

There have been several suggestions for the possible causes of the Little Ice Age. Some scientists believe that reduced solar activity, such as a decrease in sunspots, may have contributed to the cooling of the Earth's climate during this time. Others have pointed to volcanic activity as a potential cause, as large volcanic eruptions can release aerosols into the atmosphere, which can block out sunlight and lead to cooler temperatures.

Additionally, changes in ocean circulation patterns, such as a weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, have also been proposed as a contributing factor to the Little Ice Age. Overall, it is likely that a combination of these and other factors played a role in the onset and duration of this period of cooler temperatures.

Question 2

During a period when the earth's orbital tilt is at a minimum,which would probably not be true?

Accepted Answer

A)  There should be less seasonal variation between summer and winter. 
B)  More snow would probably fall during the winter in polar regions. 
C)  There would be a lesser likelihood of glaciers at high latitudes. 
D)  There would be less seasonal variations at middle latitudes. 
A)  There should be less seasonal variation between summer and winter. 
B)  More snow would probably fall during the winter in polar regions. 
C)  There would be a lesser likelihood of glaciers at high latitudes. 
D)  There would be less seasonal variations at middle latitudes. C

Question 3

If the average snowfall over an area of north central Canada is 100 cm per year,how long would it take for the snow to reach a depth of 1,000 meters? (Assume that there is no melting in summer and no compaction. )

Accepted Answer

A)  10 years 
B)  1,000 years 
C)  10,000 years 
D)  100,000 years 
E)  10,000,000 years 
A)  10 years 
B)  1,000 years 
C)  10,000 years 
D)  100,000 years 
E)  10,000,000 years B

Question 4

The much-studied temperature record of the past 140 years is derived from

Accepted Answer

A)  land-based observations only. 
B)  oceanic observations only. 
C)  both land-based and oceanic observations. 
A)  land-based observations only. 
B)  oceanic observations only. 
C)  both land-based and oceanic observations.

Question 5

Volcanoes that have the most impact on global climate seem to be those rich in

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen. 
B)  water vapor. 
C)  carbon dioxide. 
D)  sulfur. 
E)  oxygen. 
A)  nitrogen. 
B)  water vapor. 
C)  carbon dioxide. 
D)  sulfur. 
E)  oxygen.

Question 6

Over the past 100 years or so,it appears that average global temperatures have

Accepted Answer

A)  increased slightly. 
B)  fluctuated widely but shown no overall change. 
C)  decreased slightly. 
D)  remained constant. 
A)  increased slightly. 
B)  fluctuated widely but shown no overall change. 
C)  decreased slightly. 
D)  remained constant.

Question 7

The most recent warming trend experienced over the Northern Hemisphere could be the result of

Accepted Answer

A)  increasing volcanic eruptions. 
B)  light-colored particles in the stratosphere. 
C)  increasing levels of CO2. 
D)  a decrease in the energy emitted by the sun. 
E)  an observed decrease in snow cover. 
A)  increasing volcanic eruptions. 
B)  light-colored particles in the stratosphere. 
C)  increasing levels of CO2. 
D)  a decrease in the energy emitted by the sun. 
E)  an observed decrease in snow cover.

Question 8

Which of the following are external causes of climate change?

Accepted Answer

A)  changes of the earth's surface 
B)  changes in atmospheric composition 
C)  changes in incoming solar radiation 
D)  all of these 
A)  changes of the earth's surface 
B)  changes in atmospheric composition 
C)  changes in incoming solar radiation 
D)  all of these

Question 9

Explain how analysis of glacial and polar ice cores provides important clues about past climate.

Accepted Answer

The analysis of glacial and polar ice co

Question 10

If the earth were in a cooling trend,which process below would most likely act as a positive feedback mechanism?

Accepted Answer

A)  increasing the snow cover around the earth 
B)  increasing the water vapor content of the air 
C)  decreasing the amount of cloud cover around the globe 
D)  increasing the carbon dioxide content of the air 
A)  increasing the snow cover around the earth 
B)  increasing the water vapor content of the air 
C)  decreasing the amount of cloud cover around the globe 
D)  increasing the carbon dioxide content of the air

Question 11

Describe one positive and one negative feedback mechanism associated with human health or the human body.

Accepted Answer

One positive feedback mechanism associat

Question 12

A significant percentage of the observations comprising the much-studied temperature record of the past 140 years were not air temperatures,but rather were temperatures of ocean surface waters.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Evidence suggests that throughout much of the earth's history,the global climate was

Accepted Answer

A)  warmer than it is today. 
B)  colder than it is today. 
C)  about the same temperature as it is today. 
D)  more variable than it is today. 
A)  warmer than it is today. 
B)  colder than it is today. 
C)  about the same temperature as it is today. 
D)  more variable than it is today.

Question 14

The Maunder Minimum refers to a time when

Accepted Answer

A)  the earth was in the middle of an ice age. 
B)  the tilt of the earth's axis was less than it is now. 
C)  the earth was closer to the sun than it is now. 
D)  few snowstorms occurred over the United States. 
E)  there were fewer sunspots on the sun. 
A)  the earth was in the middle of an ice age. 
B)  the tilt of the earth's axis was less than it is now. 
C)  the earth was closer to the sun than it is now. 
D)  few snowstorms occurred over the United States. 
E)  there were fewer sunspots on the sun.

Question 15

For CO2 to produce a global warming of between 2C and 5C,climatic models predict that the concentration of this gas must also increase in the atmosphere:

Accepted Answer

A)  chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) 
B)  nitrous oxide (N2O) 
C)  water vapor (H2O) 
D)  ozone (O3) 
A)  chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) 
B)  nitrous oxide (N2O) 
C)  water vapor (H2O) 
D)  ozone (O3)

Question 16

An increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations will most likely lead to ____ in the troposphere and ____ in the upper atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A)  warming,warming 
B)  cooling,warming 
C)  warming,cooling 
D)  cooling,cooling 
A)  warming,warming 
B)  cooling,warming 
C)  warming,cooling 
D)  cooling,cooling

Question 17

The Milankovitch cycles in association with other natural factors explain how glaciers may advance and retreat over periods of

Accepted Answer

A)  hundreds of millions of years. 
B)  several million years. 
C)  hundreds of thousands of years. 
D)  ten thousand years to one hundred thousand years. 
E)  hundreds of years. 
A)  hundreds of millions of years. 
B)  several million years. 
C)  hundreds of thousands of years. 
D)  ten thousand years to one hundred thousand years. 
E)  hundreds of years.

Question 18

The warming trend that began in the 1970s

Accepted Answer

A)  extended to the 1990s. 
B)  ended during the mid-1980s. 
C)  has extended into the twenty-first century. 
A)  extended to the 1990s. 
B)  ended during the mid-1980s. 
C)  has extended into the twenty-first century.

Question 19

It appears that,as the number of sunspots increases,the sun's total energy output

Accepted Answer

A)  increases slightly. 
B)  decreases slightly. 
C)  begins to alternately increase and decrease above average values. 
D)  does not change. 
A)  increases slightly. 
B)  decreases slightly. 
C)  begins to alternately increase and decrease above average values. 
D)  does not change.

Question 20

Large volcanic eruptions with an ash veil that enters the stratosphere tend to ____ at the surface.

Accepted Answer

A)  increase temperatures 
B)  increase precipitation 
C)  decrease temperatures 
D)  have no effect 
A)  increase temperatures 
B)  increase precipitation 
C)  decrease temperatures 
D)  have no effect

When did the Little Ice Age occur? Have there been any suggestions of a possible cause of the Little Ice Age?

During a period when the earth's orbital tilt is at a minimum,which would probably not be true?

If the average snowfall over an area of north central Canada is 100 cm per year,how long would it take for the snow to reach a depth of 1,000 meters? (Assume that there is no melting in summer and no compaction. )

The much-studied temperature record of the past 140 years is derived from

Volcanoes that have the most impact on global climate seem to be those rich in

Over the past 100 years or so,it appears that average global temperatures have

The most recent warming trend experienced over the Northern Hemisphere could be the result of

Which of the following are external causes of climate change?

Explain how analysis of glacial and polar ice cores provides important clues about past climate.

If the earth were in a cooling trend,which process below would most likely act as a positive feedback mechanism?

Describe one positive and one negative feedback mechanism associated with human health or the human body.

A significant percentage of the observations comprising the much-studied temperature record of the past 140 years were not air temperatures,but rather were temperatures of ocean surface waters.

Evidence suggests that throughout much of the earth's history,the global climate was

The Maunder Minimum refers to a time when

For CO₂ to produce a global warming of between 2C and 5C,climatic models predict that the concentration of this gas must also increase in the atmosphere:

An increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations will most likely lead to in the troposphere and in the upper atmosphere.

The Milankovitch cycles in association with other natural factors explain how glaciers may advance and retreat over periods of

The warming trend that began in the 1970s

It appears that,as the number of sunspots increases,the sun's total energy output

Large volcanic eruptions with an ash veil that enters the stratosphere tend to ____ at the surface.

Earth and Its Atmosphere

Energy: Warming the Earth and the Atmosphere

Seasonal and Daily Temperatures

Atmospheric Humidity

Condensation: Dew, Fog, and Clouds

Stability and Cloud Development

Precipitation

Air Pressure and Winds

Wind: Small Scale and Local Systems

Wind: Global Systems

Air Masses and Fronts

Middle-Latitude Cyclones

Weather Forecasting

Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

Hurricanes

Global Climate

Air Pollution

Light, Color, and Atmospheric Optics

Filters

Exam 16: Earths Changing Climate

When did the Little Ice Age occur? Have there been any suggestions of a possible cause of the Little Ice Age?

During a period when the earth's orbital tilt is at a minimum,which would probably not be true?

If the average snowfall over an area of north central Canada is 100 cm per year,how long would it take for the snow to reach a depth of 1,000 meters? (Assume that there is no melting in summer and no compaction. )

The much-studied temperature record of the past 140 years is derived from

Volcanoes that have the most impact on global climate seem to be those rich in

Over the past 100 years or so,it appears that average global temperatures have

The most recent warming trend experienced over the Northern Hemisphere could be the result of

Which of the following are external causes of climate change?

Explain how analysis of glacial and polar ice cores provides important clues about past climate.

If the earth were in a cooling trend,which process below would most likely act as a positive feedback mechanism?

Describe one positive and one negative feedback mechanism associated with human health or the human body.

A significant percentage of the observations comprising the much-studied temperature record of the past 140 years were not air temperatures,but rather were temperatures of ocean surface waters.

Evidence suggests that throughout much of the earth's history,the global climate was

The Maunder Minimum refers to a time when

For CO2 to produce a global warming of between 2C and 5C,climatic models predict that the concentration of this gas must also increase in the atmosphere:

An increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations will most likely lead to ____ in the troposphere and ____ in the upper atmosphere.

The Milankovitch cycles in association with other natural factors explain how glaciers may advance and retreat over periods of

The warming trend that began in the 1970s

It appears that,as the number of sunspots increases,the sun's total energy output

Large volcanic eruptions with an ash veil that enters the stratosphere tend to ____ at the surface.

Earth and Its Atmosphere

Energy: Warming the Earth and the Atmosphere

Seasonal and Daily Temperatures

Atmospheric Humidity

Condensation: Dew, Fog, and Clouds

Stability and Cloud Development

Precipitation

Air Pressure and Winds

Wind: Small Scale and Local Systems

Wind: Global Systems

Air Masses and Fronts

Middle-Latitude Cyclones

Weather Forecasting

Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

Hurricanes

Global Climate

Air Pollution

Light, Color, and Atmospheric Optics

Filters

For CO₂ to produce a global warming of between 2C and 5C,climatic models predict that the concentration of this gas must also increase in the atmosphere:

An increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations will most likely lead to in the troposphere and in the upper atmosphere.