Question 1

The combined effect of trace greenhouse gases (such as methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and CFCs) in enhancing the greenhouse effect is about equal to carbon dioxide.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

If the earth were in a warming trend, which of the processes below would most likely act as a negative feedback mechanism?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

During the climatic optimum, ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  the climate favored the development of certain plants 
B)  average temperatures were colder than at present 
C)  continental ice sheets began to melt 
D)  alpine glaciers began to advance down river valleys

Question 4

It is now known that, overall, clouds ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  have a net warming effect on climate 
B)  have a net cooling effect on climate 
C)  have no net effect on climate 
D)  are the single most important feature in determining climate

Question 5

Climate models predict that oceans will warm more rapidly than landmasses in the northern high latitudes will warm under future climate conditions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. Human activities add aerosols to the atmosphere; the overall effect of these particles on climate appears to be a net COOLING | WARMING of surface temperatures.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair...

Question 7

Which decade was the warmest on record?

Accepted Answer

A)  1930-1939 
B)  1960-1969 
C)  1990-1999 
D)  2000-2009

Question 8

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. Volcanic eruptions rich in sulfur tend to WARM | COOL the surface?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair...

Question 9

Ozone is a greenhouse gas that ____ role in the enhancement of the greenhouse effect.

Accepted Answer

A)  plays a minor 
B)  plays a major 
C)  plays the most important 
D)  has no

Question 10

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. Analysis of the oxygen-isotope ratio in ancient ice cores tells us the COLDER | WARMER the air was, the richer the concentration of oxygen 16 in the core.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair...

Question 11

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. Global mean surface temperatures appear to have increased slightly since the early 1900s. The greatest increase has occurred over the CONTINENTS | OCEANS in winter and spring.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair...

Question 12

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

Question 13

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

Question 14

Briefly explain radiative equilibrium.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly explain radiative equilibrium....

Question 15

Additional clouds in a warmer world ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  would have a net warming effect 
B)  would have a net cooling effect 
C)  would have no warming or cooling effect 
D)  could enhance or reduce warming

Question 16

Some scientists believe the earth is in a comparatively warm part of an ice age.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

How many degrees did the globe warm in the 20th century? Why is this amount considered significant?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How many degrees did the globe warm...

Question 18

Define the snow-albedo positive feedback mechanism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define the snow-albedo positive feedback mechanism....

Question 19

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

Question 20

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. The more elliptical the earth's orbit is, the GREATER | SMALLER the variation in solar energy received by the earth between its closest and farthest distance from the sun.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair...

Exam 13: Global Climate

The combined effect of trace greenhouse gases (such as methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and CFCs) in enhancing the greenhouse effect is about equal to carbon dioxide.

If the earth were in a warming trend, which of the processes below would most likely act as a negative feedback mechanism?

During the climatic optimum, ____.

It is now known that, overall, clouds ____.

Climate models predict that oceans will warm more rapidly than landmasses in the northern high latitudes will warm under future climate conditions.

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. Human activities add aerosols to the atmosphere; the overall effect of these particles on climate appears to be a net COOLING | WARMING of surface temperatures.

Which decade was the warmest on record?

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. Volcanic eruptions rich in sulfur tend to WARM | COOL the surface?

Ozone is a greenhouse gas that ____ role in the enhancement of the greenhouse effect.

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. Analysis of the oxygen-isotope ratio in ancient ice cores tells us the COLDER | WARMER the air was, the richer the concentration of oxygen 16 in the core.

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. Global mean surface temperatures appear to have increased slightly since the early 1900s. The greatest increase has occurred over the CONTINENTS | OCEANS in winter and spring.

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

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.

Briefly explain radiative equilibrium.

Additional clouds in a warmer world ____.

Some scientists believe the earth is in a comparatively warm part of an ice age.

How many degrees did the globe warm in the 20th century? Why is this amount considered significant?

Define the snow-albedo positive feedback mechanism.

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

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. The more elliptical the earth's orbit is, the GREATER | SMALLER the variation in solar energy received by the earth between its closest and farthest distance from the sun.