Question 1

Discuss the significance of a predicted increase in global temperatures of 3oC,as opposed to a predicted increase of 1oC.

Accepted Answer

A predicted increase in global temperatu

Question 2

In what ways might global warming benefit the planet?

Accepted Answer

Global warming, defined as the long-term

Question 3

The higher the ratio of oxygen 18 to oxygen 16 in the shells of organisms that lived in the sea during the geologic past,the ____ the climate at that time.

Accepted Answer

A)  colder 
B)  warmer 
C)  wetter 
D)  drier 
A)  colder 
B)  warmer 
C)  wetter 
D)  drier

Question 4

Plate tectonics "explains" certain climatic changes by showing that these changes may be related to

Accepted Answer

A)  mountain building. 
B)  the amount of CO2 and H2O released into the atmosphere. 
C)  the paths taken by ocean currents. 
D)  the position of the continents. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  mountain building. 
B)  the amount of CO2 and H2O released into the atmosphere. 
C)  the paths taken by ocean currents. 
D)  the position of the continents. 
E)  all of the above

Question 5

A biogeophysical feedback mechanism in the Sahel relates

Accepted Answer

A)  reduced cloud cover to increasing surface temperatures and an increase in rainfall. 
B)  reduced vegetation to a decrease in surface temperatures and a reduction in rainfall. 
C)  an increase in vegetation to an increase in surface temperatures and a reduction in rainfall. 
D)  a decrease in vegetation to a lowering of surface albedo and an increase in rainfall. 
A)  reduced cloud cover to increasing surface temperatures and an increase in rainfall. 
B)  reduced vegetation to a decrease in surface temperatures and a reduction in rainfall. 
C)  an increase in vegetation to an increase in surface temperatures and a reduction in rainfall. 
D)  a decrease in vegetation to a lowering of surface albedo and an increase in rainfall.

Question 6

Ice cores record both the record of past temperatures and the causes of climate change.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The Viking colony in Greenland perished during

Accepted Answer

A)  the Pleistocene epoch. 
B)  the climatic optimum. 
C)  the Little Ice Age. 
D)  the explosion of Mount Pinatubo. 
A)  the Pleistocene epoch. 
B)  the climatic optimum. 
C)  the Little Ice Age. 
D)  the explosion of Mount Pinatubo.

Question 8

Indications of past climates in tree rings are determined by examination of the:

Accepted Answer

A)  thickness of growth rings. 
B)  density of growth rings. 
C)  presence of frost rings. 
D)  both thickness and density of growth rings. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  thickness of growth rings. 
B)  density of growth rings. 
C)  presence of frost rings. 
D)  both thickness and density of growth rings. 
E)  all of the above

Question 9

The Milankovitch Theory proposes that climatic changes are due to

Accepted Answer

A)  variations in the earth's orbit as it travels through space. 
B)  volcanic eruptions. 
C)  changing levels of CO2 in the earth's atmosphere. 
D)  particles suspended in the earth's atmosphere. 
A)  variations in the earth's orbit as it travels through space. 
B)  volcanic eruptions. 
C)  changing levels of CO2 in the earth's atmosphere. 
D)  particles suspended in the earth's atmosphere.

Question 10

The quasi-biennial oscillation is a pattern of

Accepted Answer

A)  ice advances and retreats spanning 2 million years. 
B)  22 year-long sunspot cycles. 
C)  reversing stratospheric winds above the tropics. 
D)  increases and decreases in carbon dioxide concentrations. 
E)  solar activity that takes about 2 years to complete its cycle. 
A)  ice advances and retreats spanning 2 million years. 
B)  22 year-long sunspot cycles. 
C)  reversing stratospheric winds above the tropics. 
D)  increases and decreases in carbon dioxide concentrations. 
E)  solar activity that takes about 2 years to complete its cycle.

Question 11

General circulation models

Accepted Answer

A)  simulate global climate. 
B)  predict temperature changes. 
C)  provide daily forecasts of severe weather. 
D)  all of these 
E)  simulate global climate and predict temperature changes. 
A)  simulate global climate. 
B)  predict temperature changes. 
C)  provide daily forecasts of severe weather. 
D)  all of these 
E)  simulate global climate and predict temperature changes.

Question 12

The ocean's conveyor belt circulation is controlled by

Accepted Answer

A)  gradients in temperature. 
B)  gradients in salinity. 
C)  gradients in density. 
D)  all of the above 
A)  gradients in temperature. 
B)  gradients in salinity. 
C)  gradients in density. 
D)  all of the above

Question 13

What combination of the earth's orbital eccentricity,and precession and obliquity of the earth's axis would produce hottest summer temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

The hottest summer temperatures in the N

Question 14

Precession of the equinox refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  changes in the shape of the earth's orbit as the earth revolves around the sun. 
B)  changes in the tilt of the earth as it orbits the sun. 
C)  changes in the seasons,especially from winter to summer. 
D)  the wobble of the earth on its axis. 
A)  changes in the shape of the earth's orbit as the earth revolves around the sun. 
B)  changes in the tilt of the earth as it orbits the sun. 
C)  changes in the seasons,especially from winter to summer. 
D)  the wobble of the earth on its axis.

Question 15

The earth has been in a warming trend for

Accepted Answer

A)  more than 100 years. 
B)  more than 500 years. 
C)  more than 1,000 years. 
A)  more than 100 years. 
B)  more than 500 years. 
C)  more than 1,000 years.

Question 16

Presently glaciers cover ____ of the earth's surface.

Accepted Answer

A)  about 10 percent 
B)  less than 1 percent 
C)  approximately two thirds 
D)  none 
A)  about 10 percent 
B)  less than 1 percent 
C)  approximately two thirds 
D)  none

Question 17

Observations of ground-level and tropospheric temperature trends have always been found to be similar.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

In a warmer world,higher latitudes would have a ____ growing season.

Accepted Answer

A)  shorter 
B)  longer 
A)  shorter 
B)  longer

Question 19

Which below is not one of the possible consequences of global warming predicted by climate models?

Accepted Answer

A)  accumulations of additional snow in Antarctica 
B)  a reduction in average precipitation over certain areas 
C)  lowering of sea levels 
D)  a cooling of the upper atmosphere 
E)  a drop in the rate of ozone destruction in the stratosphere 
A)  accumulations of additional snow in Antarctica 
B)  a reduction in average precipitation over certain areas 
C)  lowering of sea levels 
D)  a cooling of the upper atmosphere 
E)  a drop in the rate of ozone destruction in the stratosphere

Question 20

The formation of continental glaciers over vast areas of North America is most favorable when Northern Hemisphere summers are ____ and winters are ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  cool,extremely cold 
B)  cool,mild 
C)  warm,extremely cold 
D)  warm,mild 
A)  cool,extremely cold 
B)  cool,mild 
C)  warm,extremely cold 
D)  warm,mild

Discuss the significance of a predicted increase in global temperatures of 3^oC,as opposed to a predicted increase of 1^oC.

In what ways might global warming benefit the planet?

The higher the ratio of oxygen 18 to oxygen 16 in the shells of organisms that lived in the sea during the geologic past,the ____ the climate at that time.

Plate tectonics "explains" certain climatic changes by showing that these changes may be related to

A biogeophysical feedback mechanism in the Sahel relates

Ice cores record both the record of past temperatures and the causes of climate change.

The Viking colony in Greenland perished during

Indications of past climates in tree rings are determined by examination of the:

The Milankovitch Theory proposes that climatic changes are due to

The quasi-biennial oscillation is a pattern of

General circulation models

The ocean's conveyor belt circulation is controlled by

What combination of the earth's orbital eccentricity,and precession and obliquity of the earth's axis would produce hottest summer temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere?

Precession of the equinox refers to

The earth has been in a warming trend for

Presently glaciers cover ____ of the earth's surface.

Observations of ground-level and tropospheric temperature trends have always been found to be similar.

In a warmer world,higher latitudes would have a ____ growing season.

Which below is not one of the possible consequences of global warming predicted by climate models?

The formation of continental glaciers over vast areas of North America is most favorable when Northern Hemisphere summers are and winters are .

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

Discuss the significance of a predicted increase in global temperatures of 3oC,as opposed to a predicted increase of 1oC.

In what ways might global warming benefit the planet?

The higher the ratio of oxygen 18 to oxygen 16 in the shells of organisms that lived in the sea during the geologic past,the ____ the climate at that time.

Plate tectonics "explains" certain climatic changes by showing that these changes may be related to

A biogeophysical feedback mechanism in the Sahel relates

Ice cores record both the record of past temperatures and the causes of climate change.

The Viking colony in Greenland perished during

Indications of past climates in tree rings are determined by examination of the:

The Milankovitch Theory proposes that climatic changes are due to

The quasi-biennial oscillation is a pattern of

General circulation models

The ocean's conveyor belt circulation is controlled by

What combination of the earth's orbital eccentricity,and precession and obliquity of the earth's axis would produce hottest summer temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere?

Precession of the equinox refers to

The earth has been in a warming trend for

Presently glaciers cover ____ of the earth's surface.

Observations of ground-level and tropospheric temperature trends have always been found to be similar.

In a warmer world,higher latitudes would have a ____ growing season.

Which below is not one of the possible consequences of global warming predicted by climate models?

The formation of continental glaciers over vast areas of North America is most favorable when Northern Hemisphere summers are ____ and winters are ____.

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

Discuss the significance of a predicted increase in global temperatures of 3^oC,as opposed to a predicted increase of 1^oC.

The formation of continental glaciers over vast areas of North America is most favorable when Northern Hemisphere summers are and winters are .