11-20

Question 1

What is the name of the phenomenon since 400 thousand years ago, where the global surface temperature oscillated between warm and cold every ∼100 thousand years, pre- sumably due to the variations in the Earth’s orbital eccentricity?

Answer 1

The Glacial-Interglacial Oscillation

Question 2

The glacial-interglacial transition during the ice ages in the last 800,000 years (which was the theme of the Hollywood animation series) is believed to be driven by

Answer 2

the Milankovitch cycles.

Question 3

What is the major source of energy in the pre-historical period?

Answer 3

Wood

Question 4

Who is Thomas Newcomen?

Answer 4

The inventor of steam engines.

Question 5

Thomas Friedman says substantial energy is required to sustain globalization due to the GDP growth and

Answer 5

the global population growth.

Question 6

Human’s impact on climate is most obvious when we look at the past climate on the time scale of

Answer 6

millions of years.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a negative consequence of technological advances on human’s well-being?

Answer 7

Increase of stratospheric ozone

Question 8

The early Earth was much warmer than today’s climate. One commonly accepted hy- pothesis was that the huge amount of atmospheric CO2 in the ancient time was regulated by

Answer 8

weathering and tectonics.

Question 9

What is the Holocene?

Answer 9

The current interglacial pe- riod.

Question 10

kWh is a common unit of energy used in your utility bills. What does it mean?

Answer 10

D. 1 kWh is equivalent to the energy used by running a 100 W light bulb for 10 hour