Question 1

Which of the following substances is particularly abundant in volcanoes that have the most impact on global climate?

Accepted Answer

A) carbon dioxide 
B) nitrogen 
C) sulphur 
D) water vapour 
A) carbon dioxide 
B) nitrogen 
C) sulphur 
D) water vapour C

Question 2

Everything else being equal, which of the following will most likely result from a gradual increase in global CO2?

Accepted Answer

A) a decrease in evaporation from the Earth's oceans 
B) no change in global climate 
C) an increase in surface air temperature 
D) a marked decrease in plant growth 
A) a decrease in evaporation from the Earth's oceans 
B) no change in global climate 
C) an increase in surface air temperature 
D) a marked decrease in plant growth C

Question 3

Which of the following has been used to reconstruct past climates?

Accepted Answer

A) study of the Earth's mantle 
B) analysis of water bubbles trapped in ice 
C) the ratio of oxygen 18 to sulfur 34 in the shells of marine organisms 
D) study of documents describing floods, droughts, and crop yields 
A) study of the Earth's mantle 
B) analysis of water bubbles trapped in ice 
C) the ratio of oxygen 18 to sulfur 34 in the shells of marine organisms 
D) study of documents describing floods, droughts, and crop yields D

Question 4

Suppose a high concentration of oxygen 16 was found in the ice caves of Antarctica and Greenland. Which of the following conditions likely occurred at the time the ice was formed?

Accepted Answer

A) cold air temperatures 
B) intense ultraviolet radiation 
C) the caves were under the ocean 
D) mild winters 
A) cold air temperatures 
B) intense ultraviolet radiation 
C) the caves were under the ocean 
D) mild winters

Question 5

Briefly describe the climatic variations that have occurred since the beginning of the Pleistocene epoch to the present day.

Accepted Answer

The Pleistocene epoch, which began about

Question 6

What are some of the possible consequences of climate change?

Accepted Answer

Climate change, driven by the increasing

Question 7

If the Earth was in a cooling trend, which of the following processes would most likely act as a positive feedback mechanism?

Accepted Answer

A) increasing the snow cover around the Earth 
B) increasing the water vapour content of the air 
C) decreasing the amount of cloud cover around the Earth 
D) increasing the carbon dioxide content of the air 
A) increasing the snow cover around the Earth 
B) increasing the water vapour content of the air 
C) decreasing the amount of cloud cover around the Earth 
D) increasing the carbon dioxide content of the air

Question 8

In what ways might climate change benefit the planet?

Accepted Answer

Climate change is predominantly associat

Question 9

Referring to the much studied temperature record of the past 140 years, significantly more observations were made of which of the following temperature records?

Accepted Answer

A) ocean bottom waters temperatures 
B) air temperatures over the oceans 
C) air temperatures 
D) freshwater lakes temperatures 
A) ocean bottom waters temperatures 
B) air temperatures over the oceans 
C) air temperatures 
D) freshwater lakes temperatures

Question 10

Suppose the average snowfall over an area of Nunavut is 100 cm per year. How many years will it take for the snow to reach a depth of 1000 metres? (Assume there is no melting in summer and no compaction)

Accepted Answer

A) 1000 years 
B) 10,000 years 
C) 100,000 years 
D) 10 years 
A) 1000 years 
B) 10,000 years 
C) 100,000 years 
D) 10 years

Question 11

Which of the following describes the concentration of CO2 in the lower atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) It is 30 percent higher than it was 300 years ago. 
B) It has stabilized. 
C) It is not related to the amount of forest cover on Earth. 
D) The present average measurement is 150 ppm. 
A) It is 30 percent higher than it was 300 years ago. 
B) It has stabilized. 
C) It is not related to the amount of forest cover on Earth. 
D) The present average measurement is 150 ppm.

Question 12

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 13

Although sea level glaciers probably never before existed near sea level at the equator, which of the following theories explains how glacial material can be observed there today?

Accepted Answer

A) theory of plate tectonics 
B) Maunder theory 
C) Milankovitch theory 
D) volcanic dust theory 
A) theory of plate tectonics 
B) Maunder theory 
C) Milankovitch theory 
D) volcanic dust theory

Question 14

Which of the following functions do the general circulation models provide?

Accepted Answer

A) simulation of local climate 
B) prediction of temperature changes 
C) daily forecasts of severe weather 
D) predictions of hurricane intensity 
A) simulation of local climate 
B) prediction of temperature changes 
C) daily forecasts of severe weather 
D) predictions of hurricane intensity

Question 15

Compared to a period when the Earth's orbital tilt has an intermediate value, which of the following statements probably refers to a period when the Earth's orbital tilt is at a minimum?

Accepted Answer

A) There would be a greater likelihood of glaciers at high latitudes. 
B) There would be more seasonal variations at middle latitudes. 
C) There would be more seasonal variations between summer and winter. 
D) Less snow would probably fall during the winter in the polar regions. 
A) There would be a greater likelihood of glaciers at high latitudes. 
B) There would be more seasonal variations at middle latitudes. 
C) There would be more seasonal variations between summer and winter. 
D) Less snow would probably fall during the winter in the polar regions.

Question 16

Which of the following could be responsible for the most recent warming trend in the northern hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

A) increase in levels of CO2 
B) increase in volcanic eruptions 
C) light-coloured particles in the stratosphere 
D) decrease in energy emitted by the sun 
A) increase in levels of CO2 
B) increase in volcanic eruptions 
C) light-coloured particles in the stratosphere 
D) decrease in energy emitted by the sun

Question 17

When did the current warming trend observed on Earth start?

Accepted Answer

A) about 500 years ago 
B) about 100 years ago 
C) about 1,000 years ago 
D) about 10,000 years ago 
A) about 500 years ago 
B) about 100 years ago 
C) about 1,000 years ago 
D) about 10,000 years ago

Question 18

Which of the following describes the climate of the Medieval Climatic Optimum?

Accepted Answer

A) It was a relatively warm period. 
B) It was a relatively wet period. 
C) It was a relatively cold period. 
D) It was a relatively dry period. 
A) It was a relatively warm period. 
B) It was a relatively wet period. 
C) It was a relatively cold period. 
D) It was a relatively dry period.

Question 19

What percentage of the Earth's surface does ice presently cover?

Accepted Answer

A) less than 1% 
B) about 5%% 
C) about 66% 
D) about 10% 
A) less than 1% 
B) about 5%% 
C) about 66% 
D) about 10%

Question 20

Which of the following describes the most favourable northern hemisphere climate for the formation of continental glaciers over vast areas of North America?

Accepted Answer

A) summers are warm and winters are extremely cold 
B) summers are cool and winters are extremely cold 
C) summers are cool and winters are mild 
D) summers are warm and winters are mild 
A) summers are warm and winters are extremely cold 
B) summers are cool and winters are extremely cold 
C) summers are cool and winters are mild 
D) summers are warm and winters are mild

Which of the following substances is particularly abundant in volcanoes that have the most impact on global climate?

Everything else being equal, which of the following will most likely result from a gradual increase in global CO2?

Which of the following has been used to reconstruct past climates?

Suppose a high concentration of oxygen 16 was found in the ice caves of Antarctica and Greenland. Which of the following conditions likely occurred at the time the ice was formed?

Briefly describe the climatic variations that have occurred since the beginning of the Pleistocene epoch to the present day.

What are some of the possible consequences of climate change?

If the Earth was in a cooling trend, which of the following processes would most likely act as a positive feedback mechanism?

In what ways might climate change benefit the planet?

Referring to the much studied temperature record of the past 140 years, significantly more observations were made of which of the following temperature records?

Suppose the average snowfall over an area of Nunavut is 100 cm per year. How many years will it take for the snow to reach a depth of 1000 metres? (Assume there is no melting in summer and no compaction)

Which of the following describes the concentration of CO2 in the lower atmosphere?

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

Although sea level glaciers probably never before existed near sea level at the equator, which of the following theories explains how glacial material can be observed there today?

Which of the following functions do the general circulation models provide?

Compared to a period when the Earth's orbital tilt has an intermediate value, which of the following statements probably refers to a period when the Earth's orbital tilt is at a minimum?

Which of the following could be responsible for the most recent warming trend in the northern hemisphere?

When did the current warming trend observed on Earth start?

Which of the following describes the climate of the Medieval Climatic Optimum?

What percentage of the Earth's surface does ice presently cover?

Which of the following describes the most favourable northern hemisphere climate for the formation of continental glaciers over vast areas of North America?

Earth and Its Atmosphere

Energy: Warming 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

Tornadoes

Hurricanes

Global Climate

Air Pollution

Filters

Exam 17: Earths Changing Climate

Which of the following substances is particularly abundant in volcanoes that have the most impact on global climate?

Everything else being equal, which of the following will most likely result from a gradual increase in global CO2?

Which of the following has been used to reconstruct past climates?

Suppose a high concentration of oxygen 16 was found in the ice caves of Antarctica and Greenland. Which of the following conditions likely occurred at the time the ice was formed?

Briefly describe the climatic variations that have occurred since the beginning of the Pleistocene epoch to the present day.

What are some of the possible consequences of climate change?

If the Earth was in a cooling trend, which of the following processes would most likely act as a positive feedback mechanism?

In what ways might climate change benefit the planet?

Referring to the much studied temperature record of the past 140 years, significantly more observations were made of which of the following temperature records?

Suppose the average snowfall over an area of Nunavut is 100 cm per year. How many years will it take for the snow to reach a depth of 1000 metres? (Assume there is no melting in summer and no compaction)

Which of the following describes the concentration of CO2 in the lower atmosphere?

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

Although sea level glaciers probably never before existed near sea level at the equator, which of the following theories explains how glacial material can be observed there today?

Which of the following functions do the general circulation models provide?

Compared to a period when the Earth's orbital tilt has an intermediate value, which of the following statements probably refers to a period when the Earth's orbital tilt is at a minimum?

Which of the following could be responsible for the most recent warming trend in the northern hemisphere?

When did the current warming trend observed on Earth start?

Which of the following describes the climate of the Medieval Climatic Optimum?

What percentage of the Earth's surface does ice presently cover?

Which of the following describes the most favourable northern hemisphere climate for the formation of continental glaciers over vast areas of North America?

Earth and Its Atmosphere

Energy: Warming 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

Tornadoes

Hurricanes

Global Climate

Air Pollution

Filters