Question 1

Which of the following controls the ocean's conveyor belt circulation?

Accepted Answer

A) gradients in algae concentration 
B) gradients in particulates concentration 
C) gradients in water salinity 
D) gradients in water turbidity 
A) gradients in algae concentration 
B) gradients in particulates concentration 
C) gradients in water salinity 
D) gradients in water turbidity

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

A predicted increase in global temperatu

Question 3

The greatest surface warming is projected for which of the following regions during the next 100 years?

Accepted Answer

A) polar regions 
B) tropics 
C) middle latitudes 
D) equator 
A) polar regions 
B) tropics 
C) middle latitudes 
D) equator

Question 4

Discuss the changes that occur in the Earth's orbit and the orientation of the Earth in its orbit. Over what time scales do these different changes occur?

Accepted Answer

The Earth's orbit and its orientation in

Question 5

Which of the following represents the most recent time that thick sheets of ice advanced over North America as far south as New York?

Accepted Answer

A) 18,000 to 22,000 years ago 
B) 45,000 to 50,000 years ago 
C) 250,000 to 500,000 years ago 
D) 2 million years ago, at the beginning of the Pleistocene epoch 
A) 18,000 to 22,000 years ago 
B) 45,000 to 50,000 years ago 
C) 250,000 to 500,000 years ago 
D) 2 million years ago, at the beginning of the Pleistocene epoch

Question 6

In association with other natural factors, the Milankovitch cycles explain the advance and retreat of glaciers according to which of the following time periods?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

Which of the following factors relates to explanations of climatic changes as provided by the theory of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

A) the position of the oceans 
B) the amount of CO2 and H2O removed from the atmosphere 
C) the paths taken by ocean winds 
D) mountain building 
A) the position of the oceans 
B) the amount of CO2 and H2O removed from the atmosphere 
C) the paths taken by ocean winds 
D) mountain building

Question 8

Asia and the North American continent have been connected by a land bridge at various times during the past. When was the Bering land bridge most recently exposed? Did this coincide with a warm or cool climatic period?

Accepted Answer

The Bering land bridge, also known as Be

Question 9

Which of the following statements describes the mid-Holocene climatic optimum?

Accepted Answer

A) Continental ice sheets began to melt. 
B) Alpine glaciers began to advance down river valleys. 
C) Average temperatures were colder than at present. 
D) The climate favoured the development of certain plants. 
A) Continental ice sheets began to melt. 
B) Alpine glaciers began to advance down river valleys. 
C) Average temperatures were colder than at present. 
D) The climate favoured the development of certain plants.

Question 10

Which of the following statements applies to the biogeophysical feedback mechanism that occurs in the Sahel?

Accepted Answer

A) Reduced cloud cover relates to an increase in both surface temperatures and rainfall. 
B) Reduced vegetation relates to a lower surface albedo and an increase in rainfall. 
C) Reduced vegetation relates to a decrease in both surface temperatures and rainfall. 
D) Increased vegetation relates to an increase in surface temperatures and a decrease in rainfall. 
A) Reduced cloud cover relates to an increase in both surface temperatures and rainfall. 
B) Reduced vegetation relates to a lower surface albedo and an increase in rainfall. 
C) Reduced vegetation relates to a decrease in both surface temperatures and rainfall. 
D) Increased vegetation relates to an increase in surface temperatures and a decrease in rainfall.

Question 11

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the Younger Dryas?

Accepted Answer

A) It occurred approximately 100,000 years ago. 
B) It lasted approximately 20 years. 
C) Temperatures were relatively warm in the northern hemisphere. 
D) It was likely caused by melting ice sheets. 
A) It occurred approximately 100,000 years ago. 
B) It lasted approximately 20 years. 
C) Temperatures were relatively warm in the northern hemisphere. 
D) It was likely caused by melting ice sheets.

Question 12

Which of the following conditions occurred during the Little Ice Age?

Accepted Answer

A) Alpine glaciers grew in size and advanced. 
B) The climatic optimum occurred. 
C) The Bering land bridge formed. 
D) Continental glaciers covered large portions of North America. 
A) Alpine glaciers grew in size and advanced. 
B) The climatic optimum occurred. 
C) The Bering land bridge formed. 
D) Continental glaciers covered large portions of North America.

Question 13

Which of the following temperature changes will most likely coincide with an increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations?

Accepted Answer

A) warming in the troposphere and warming in the upper atmosphere 
B) warming in the troposphere and cooling in the upper atmosphere 
C) cooling in the troposphere and cooling in the upper atmosphere 
D) cooling in the troposphere and warming in the upper atmosphere 
A) warming in the troposphere and warming in the upper atmosphere 
B) warming in the troposphere and cooling in the upper atmosphere 
C) cooling in the troposphere and cooling in the upper atmosphere 
D) cooling in the troposphere and warming in the upper atmosphere

Question 14

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 approxi

Question 15

Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere have been increasing steadily since the beginning of the industrial revolution and may double by the middle of the next century. Why is this of concern?

Accepted Answer

The increasing concentrations of carbon

Question 16

Which of the following atmospheric aerosols can be found in the stratosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) sulphate aerosols 
B) smoky soot 
C) soil dust 
D) automobile emissions 
A) sulphate aerosols 
B) smoky soot 
C) soil dust 
D) automobile emissions

Question 17

In which of the following periods did the Viking colony in Greenland perish?

Accepted Answer

A) climatic optimum 
B) Pleistocene epoch 
C) Mt.Pinatubo explosion 
D) Little Ice Age 
A) climatic optimum 
B) Pleistocene epoch 
C) Mt.Pinatubo explosion 
D) Little Ice Age

Question 18

Which of the following defines a positive feedback mechanism?

Accepted Answer

A) an action that weakens or opposes an initial change 
B) an action that reinforces an initial change 
C) an action that causes a positive change 
D) an action that causes a negative change 
A) an action that weakens or opposes an initial change 
B) an action that reinforces an initial change 
C) an action that causes a positive change 
D) an action that causes a negative change

Question 19

Which of the following conditions will likely occur if global temperatures continue to rise?

Accepted Answer

A) The oceans will increase the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. 
B) The oceans will have no effect on atmospheric CO2 concentrations. 
C) The oceans will reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. 
D) The oceans could increase or reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. 
A) The oceans will increase the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. 
B) The oceans will have no effect on atmospheric CO2 concentrations. 
C) The oceans will reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. 
D) The oceans could increase or reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Question 20

What combination of the Earth's orbital eccentricity and the precession and obliquity of the Earth's axis produces the hottest summer temperatures in the northern hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

The hottest summer temperatures in the N

Which of the following controls the ocean's conveyor belt circulation?

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

The greatest surface warming is projected for which of the following regions during the next 100 years?

Discuss the changes that occur in the Earth's orbit and the orientation of the Earth in its orbit. Over what time scales do these different changes occur?

Which of the following represents the most recent time that thick sheets of ice advanced over North America as far south as New York?

In association with other natural factors, the Milankovitch cycles explain the advance and retreat of glaciers according to which of the following time periods?

Which of the following factors relates to explanations of climatic changes as provided by the theory of plate tectonics?

Asia and the North American continent have been connected by a land bridge at various times during the past. When was the Bering land bridge most recently exposed? Did this coincide with a warm or cool climatic period?

Which of the following statements describes the mid-Holocene climatic optimum?

Which of the following statements applies to the biogeophysical feedback mechanism that occurs in the Sahel?

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the Younger Dryas?

Which of the following conditions occurred during the Little Ice Age?

Which of the following temperature changes will most likely coincide with an increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations?

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

Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere have been increasing steadily since the beginning of the industrial revolution and may double by the middle of the next century. Why is this of concern?

Which of the following atmospheric aerosols can be found in the stratosphere?

In which of the following periods did the Viking colony in Greenland perish?

Which of the following defines a positive feedback mechanism?

Which of the following conditions will likely occur if global temperatures continue to rise?

What combination of the Earth's orbital eccentricity and the precession and obliquity of the Earth's axis produces the hottest summer temperatures in the northern hemisphere?

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 controls the ocean's conveyor belt circulation?

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

The greatest surface warming is projected for which of the following regions during the next 100 years?

Discuss the changes that occur in the Earth's orbit and the orientation of the Earth in its orbit. Over what time scales do these different changes occur?

Which of the following represents the most recent time that thick sheets of ice advanced over North America as far south as New York?

In association with other natural factors, the Milankovitch cycles explain the advance and retreat of glaciers according to which of the following time periods?

Which of the following factors relates to explanations of climatic changes as provided by the theory of plate tectonics?

Asia and the North American continent have been connected by a land bridge at various times during the past. When was the Bering land bridge most recently exposed? Did this coincide with a warm or cool climatic period?

Which of the following statements describes the mid-Holocene climatic optimum?

Which of the following statements applies to the biogeophysical feedback mechanism that occurs in the Sahel?

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the Younger Dryas?

Which of the following conditions occurred during the Little Ice Age?

Which of the following temperature changes will most likely coincide with an increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations?

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

Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere have been increasing steadily since the beginning of the industrial revolution and may double by the middle of the next century. Why is this of concern?

Which of the following atmospheric aerosols can be found in the stratosphere?

In which of the following periods did the Viking colony in Greenland perish?

Which of the following defines a positive feedback mechanism?

Which of the following conditions will likely occur if global temperatures continue to rise?

What combination of the Earth's orbital eccentricity and the precession and obliquity of the Earth's axis produces the hottest summer temperatures in the northern hemisphere?

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