Question 1

Increasing ratios of oxygen-18 to oxygen-16 in glacial ice indicate ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  advancing ice sheets 
B)  warming temperatures 
C)  increased volcanic emissions 
D)  uplift of land surfaces 
A)  advancing ice sheets 
B)  warming temperatures 
C)  increased volcanic emissions 
D)  uplift of land surfaces B

Question 2

The graph below is the Keeling Curve,a record of carbon dioxide measured at Mauna Loa beginning in 1958.What can be learned from this graph? What do the two lines (black and grey)tell us?

Accepted Answer

The Keeling Curve shows atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide.The zig-zagging grey line shows annual seasonal fluctuations that are the result of changes in plant respiration.The black line clearly shows a steady increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Question 3

The figure below shows parts of the global carbon cycle.Which chemicals are also parts of the carbon cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  CO (carbon monoxide),C (graphite or diamond),and CO3 (carbon trioxide) 
B)  CH4 (methane),O3 (ozone),and C (graphite or diamond) 
C)  CH4 (methane),HCO3- (bicarbonate),and CaCO3 (calcite) 
D)  CO (carbon monoxide),CO3 (carbon trioxide),and CaCO3 (calcite) 
A)  CO (carbon monoxide),C (graphite or diamond),and CO3 (carbon trioxide) 
B)  CH4 (methane),O3 (ozone),and C (graphite or diamond) 
C)  CH4 (methane),HCO3- (bicarbonate),and CaCO3 (calcite) 
D)  CO (carbon monoxide),CO3 (carbon trioxide),and CaCO3 (calcite) C

Question 4

Milankovitch cycles describe variation in the Earth's ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  sea level 
B)  orbit and tilt 
C)  atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations 
D)  cosmic-ray flux 
A)  sea level 
B)  orbit and tilt 
C)  atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations 
D)  cosmic-ray flux

Question 5

What is a biogeochemical cycle? Provide an example.

Accepted Answer

A biogeochemical cycle involves the pass

Question 6

Models used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change show that by the year 2100,the average annual temperature will have increased in some parts of the world by as much as ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  1°C 
B)  2°C 
C)  4°C 
D)  8°C 
A)  1°C 
B)  2°C 
C)  4°C 
D)  8°C

Question 7

Identify five probable outcomes of global climate change.

Accepted Answer

Student answers will vary,but can includ

Question 8

The hydrologic cycle includes which of these?

Accepted Answer

A)  the advance and retreat of glaciers 
B)  the accumulation of methane in the atmosphere 
C)  the secretion of carbonate shells by marine organisms 
D)  photosynthesis 
A)  the advance and retreat of glaciers 
B)  the accumulation of methane in the atmosphere 
C)  the secretion of carbonate shells by marine organisms 
D)  photosynthesis

Question 9

The figure below shows changes in sea level since the last ice age ended.Based on this,if the Earth were to enter another ice age similar to the last one,what would the sea level most likely do?

Accepted Answer

A)  rise about 120 m 
B)  rise about 20 m 
C)  fall about 20 m 
D)  fall about 120 m 
A)  rise about 120 m 
B)  rise about 20 m 
C)  fall about 20 m 
D)  fall about 120 m

Question 10

How are greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane different from other atmospheric gases like nitrogen and oxygen?

Accepted Answer

A)  Greenhouse gases absorb thermal energy from the Sun and reradiate it,whereas other atmospheric gases reflect it. 
B)  Greenhouse gases are more efficient at absorbing thermal energy and reradiating it than the other atmospheric gases. 
C)  Greenhouse gases are found at higher levels of the atmosphere,where ozone is found. 
D)  Greenhouse gases are found at lower levels of the atmosphere,where ozone is found. 
A)  Greenhouse gases absorb thermal energy from the Sun and reradiate it,whereas other atmospheric gases reflect it. 
B)  Greenhouse gases are more efficient at absorbing thermal energy and reradiating it than the other atmospheric gases. 
C)  Greenhouse gases are found at higher levels of the atmosphere,where ozone is found. 
D)  Greenhouse gases are found at lower levels of the atmosphere,where ozone is found.

Question 11

Compare and contrast unidirectional change with cyclic change.Include an example of each in your answer.

Accepted Answer

While both describe pathways of change o

Question 12

The warmest global temperatures since the last ice age occurred in the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  recent period of human-induced global warming 
B)  Younger Dryas,approximately 13,000 years ago 
C)  Little Ice Age,approximately 400 years ago 
D)  Holocene Maximum,approximately 6,000 years ago 
A)  recent period of human-induced global warming 
B)  Younger Dryas,approximately 13,000 years ago 
C)  Little Ice Age,approximately 400 years ago 
D)  Holocene Maximum,approximately 6,000 years ago

Question 13

The evolution of the Earth's atmosphere has been a(n)__________.

Accepted Answer

A)  static condition 
B)  Earth system 
C)  unidirectional change 
D)  cyclic change 
A)  static condition 
B)  Earth system 
C)  unidirectional change 
D)  cyclic change

Question 14

With the increased data collected in recent years,scientists have become increasingly certain that the Earth's climate is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  not warming because carbon dioxide levels are decreasing 
B)  not warming because the Sun's activity is at a minimum 
C)  warming solely as a result of increased solar output 
D)  warming as a result of human inputs of atmospheric greenhouse gases 
A)  not warming because carbon dioxide levels are decreasing 
B)  not warming because the Sun's activity is at a minimum 
C)  warming solely as a result of increased solar output 
D)  warming as a result of human inputs of atmospheric greenhouse gases

Question 15

The evolution of life on the Earth is an example of a(n)______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  static condition 
B)  Earth system 
C)  unidirectional change 
D)  cyclic change 
A)  static condition 
B)  Earth system 
C)  unidirectional change 
D)  cyclic change

Question 16

Which geologic event is NOT suspected as a source of major climate change and mass-extinction events?

Accepted Answer

A)  the massive eruption of flood basalts 
B)  the eruption of supervolcanoes 
C)  the impact of asteroids 
D)  very large earthquakes 
A)  the massive eruption of flood basalts 
B)  the eruption of supervolcanoes 
C)  the impact of asteroids 
D)  very large earthquakes

Question 17

The hole in the ozone layer has been brought about by anthropogenic emissions of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dioxide 
B)  methane 
C)  chlorofluorocarbons 
D)  water vapor 
A)  carbon dioxide 
B)  methane 
C)  chlorofluorocarbons 
D)  water vapor

Question 18

A basic history of global climate change is preserved in the stratigraphic record because

Accepted Answer

A)  characteristics of igneous rocks depend on climate because of variations in cooling rates. 
B)  the amount of sediment deposited is a function of climate. 
C)  the amount of fossils preserved in the rock record is dependent on climate. 
D)  depositional setting and the assemblages of organisms depend on the climate. 
A)  characteristics of igneous rocks depend on climate because of variations in cooling rates. 
B)  the amount of sediment deposited is a function of climate. 
C)  the amount of fossils preserved in the rock record is dependent on climate. 
D)  depositional setting and the assemblages of organisms depend on the climate.

Question 19

blogger writes that global warming is not real,noting that his or her city had its coldest ever-recorded temperature last winter.The correct statement would be that the blogger is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  correct,because global warming is not occurring 
B)  correct,because global warming is occurring only in the polar regions 
C)  incorrect,because the blogger is confusing weather with climate 
D)  incorrect,because global warming is measured only during the summer 
A)  correct,because global warming is not occurring 
B)  correct,because global warming is occurring only in the polar regions 
C)  incorrect,because the blogger is confusing weather with climate 
D)  incorrect,because global warming is measured only during the summer

Question 20

How has the Earth's climate changed in the past? What are some natural causes of long-term climate change? Short-term climate change?

Accepted Answer

Student answers should contain some of t

Exam 23: Global Change in the Earth System

Increasing ratios of oxygen-18 to oxygen-16 in glacial ice indicate ________.

The graph below is the Keeling Curve,a record of carbon dioxide measured at Mauna Loa beginning in 1958.What can be learned from this graph? What do the two lines (black and grey)tell us?

The figure below shows parts of the global carbon cycle.Which chemicals are also parts of the carbon cycle?

Milankovitch cycles describe variation in the Earth's ________.

What is a biogeochemical cycle? Provide an example.

Models used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change show that by the year 2100,the average annual temperature will have increased in some parts of the world by as much as ________.

Identify five probable outcomes of global climate change.

The hydrologic cycle includes which of these?

The figure below shows changes in sea level since the last ice age ended.Based on this,if the Earth were to enter another ice age similar to the last one,what would the sea level most likely do?

How are greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane different from other atmospheric gases like nitrogen and oxygen?

Compare and contrast unidirectional change with cyclic change.Include an example of each in your answer.

The warmest global temperatures since the last ice age occurred in the ________.

The evolution of the Earth's atmosphere has been a(n)__________.

With the increased data collected in recent years,scientists have become increasingly certain that the Earth's climate is ________.

The evolution of life on the Earth is an example of a(n)______________.

Which geologic event is NOT suspected as a source of major climate change and mass-extinction events?

The hole in the ozone layer has been brought about by anthropogenic emissions of ________.

A basic history of global climate change is preserved in the stratigraphic record because

blogger writes that global warming is not real,noting that his or her city had its coldest ever-recorded temperature last winter.The correct statement would be that the blogger is ________.

How has the Earth's climate changed in the past? What are some natural causes of long-term climate change? Short-term climate change?

Cosmology and the Birth of the Earth

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Drifting Continents and Spreading Seas

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

Pages of Earths Past: Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism: a Process of Change

The Wrath of Vulcan: Volcanic Eruptions

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Crags,cracks,and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Deep Time: How Old Is Old

A Biography of the Earth

Squeezing Power From a Stone: Energy Resources

Riches in Rock: Mineral Resources

Unsafe Ground: Landslides and Other Mass Movements

Streams and Floods: the Geology of Running Water

Restless Realm: Oceans and Coasts

A Hidden Reserve: Groundwater

An Envelope of Gas: the Earths Atmosphere and Climate

Dry Regions: the Geology of Deserts

Amazing Ice: Glaciers and Ice Ages

Introducing Rocks

a Surface Veneer: Sediments and Soils

the Rock Cycle in the Earth System

the Earths Interior, Revisited: Seismic Layering, Gravity, and the Magnetic Field

Memories of Past Life: Fossils and Evolution

Ever-Changing Landscapes and the Hydrologic Cycle

Prelude: and Just What Is Geology

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