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PHS 103 > Chapter 14 > Flashcards

Chapter 14 Flashcards

1
Q

A paleoclimatologist uses _________ in studying Earth’s climate.

carbon dioxide emissions of coal-fired powerplants

recent satellite photos

proxy data

all the above

A

proxy data

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2
Q

What would cause the ratio of 18O in seawater to increase?

formation of glaciers

increased river discharge

volcanic activity

high temperatures

A

formation of glaciers

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3
Q

Which is not a form of proxy data?
Incorrect Response
ancient pollen

ice cores

tree rings

ocean temperature

A

ocean temperature

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4
Q

Oxygen isotope analysis to determine past temperatures can be performed on:

calcium carbonate sediments on the ocean floor

cores of glacial ice

tree rings

a and b

all the above

A

a and b

calcium carbonate sediments on the ocean floor

cores of glacial ice

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5
Q

The Earth’s atmosphere atmosphere contains:

gases

suspended solid particles

water vapor

all the above

A

all the above

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6
Q

What is the approximate percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

10%

less than 1%

5%

20%

A

less than 1%

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7
Q

Compared to the Earth’s radiation, the sun’s is:

primarily in the range of short-wave radio waves

the same

shorter in wavelength

longer in wavelength

A

shorter in wavelength

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8
Q

Earth’s lower atmosphere is kept warm by:

solar radiation

short-wave radiation

volcanic eruptions

terrestrial radiation

A

terrestrial radiation

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9
Q

The greenhouse effect gets its name from the florist’s greenhouse, where glass prevents reradiated solar energy from escaping. Glass is transparent to visible waves, and opaque to ultraviolet and infrared. Glass acts as a sort of one-way valve, allowing

infrared light to enter, and preventing visible light from leaving.

Incorrect Response
ultraviolet light to enter, and preventing longer waves from leaving.

infrared light to enter, and preventing short waves from leaving.

visible light to enter, and preventing longer waves from leaving.

A

visible light to enter, and preventing longer waves from leaving.

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10
Q

The two principal “greenhouse” gases in the atmosphere are:

nitrogen and carbon dioxide

carbon monoxide and methane

water vapor and carbon dioxide

carbon monoxide and oxygen

A

water vapor and carbon dioxide

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11
Q

What is the main difference between weather and climate?

weather is the study of natural atmospheric conditions, and climate is the study of the human impact on weather

nothing really, the terms are interchangeable

weather is the state of the atmosphere at particular time and place, and climate is the general pattern of weather over a period of years

weather is concerned with the atmosphere, and climate is concerned with deep sea sediments

A

weather is the state of the atmosphere at particular time and place, and climate is the general pattern of weather over a period of years

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12
Q

What is thought to have caused the “year without summer” in 1816?

changes in the Earth

’

s orbit about the sun

burning of fossil fuels

movements of the lithospheric plates

eruption of an Indonsian volcanoe

A

eruption of an Indonsian volcanoe

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13
Q

After the 1991 Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines, Earth’s average global temperature dropped 0.5 degrees celsius. What caused this phenomenon?

The eruption added large amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

Sulfur dioxide and other erupted gases formed aerosols in the stratosphere.

Radioactive atoms blown into the atmosphere glowed red as they decayed.

The eruptive cloud destroyed parts of the Earth

’

s protective ozone layer.

A

Sulfur dioxide and other erupted gases formed aerosols in the stratosphere.

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14
Q

The variability in the energy output of the sun has been suggested as a possible cause of climate change. Which of the following are not true?

physical mechanisms have been recently discovered to explain the link between solar activity and long-term climate change

sunspots numbers seem to vary regularly over a 11 year cycle

some droughts that occur every 22 years coincide with a 22 year magnetic sunspot cycle

sunspot activity has been correlated with temperature changes

A

physical mechanisms have been recently discovered to explain the link between solar activity and long-term climate change

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15
Q

The Cretaceous Period is thought to be one of the warmest times in Earth history. What is believed to be the cause of the high temperatures?

the great abundance of phytoplankton in Earth

’

s oceans absorbed more incoming solar radiation

sunspots were nonexistent for this period causing an increase in energy output from the sun

great outpourings of volcanic lava flows warmed the Earth

’

s surface

an intense greenhouse condition due to increased levels of volcanic carbon dioxide

A

an intense greenhouse condition due to increased levels of volcanic carbon dioxide

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16
Q

What kind of wine do I drink?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

17
Q

Will you get smacked if you pinch my nipples?

A

Nah, go for it ;-) (as long as they aren’t tender)

18
Q

Will I get angry if you pinch my ass?

A

Yes it hurts : (

19
Q

How do scientists determine the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere 1000 years ago?

tree ring analysis

air bubbles in ice cores

oxygen isotope analysis

fossil pollen

A

air bubbles in ice cores

20
Q

The rapid increase in carbon dioxide in the past 100 years has been can be attributed to:

burning fossil fuels

deforestation

volcanic eruptions

only a and b

all the above

A

only a and b

burning fossil fuels

deforestation

21
Q

Which of the following was not__ reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on climate Change (IPCC)?

evidence exists that most of the warming in the past 50 years is due to human a influence

the future rate of warming is likely to be much greater than the past century

the average global temperature increases by 1 degree F during the 20th century

AlGore should be awarded an honorary degree in meteorology and climatology

A

AlGore should be awarded an honorary degree in meteorology and climatology

22
Q

Which of the following gases is the most effective at absorbing heat radiation (terrestrial) emitted by the earth?

nitrogen dioxide

chlorofluorocarbons

methane

ozone

A

methane

23
Q

Which of the following is added to the atmosphere by the application of agricultural fertilizers?

CFC

’

s

O3

CH4

N2O

A

N2O

24
Q 
What percent of the time do I like it kinky, rough, or want to role play?
A) 25%
B) 50%
C) 75%
D) 100%
A

25% (despite my kinky talk I am still girly when it comes to making love…the other 25% please have your way with me…unless you are the one in the cuffs..then you will do as you are told of course)

25
Q

Warmer temperatures at high latitudes are expected to melt sea ice thus decreasing the reflectivity and increasing the amount of solar radiation absorbed. This is and example of a:

anaerobic mechanism

negative-feedback mechanism

positive-feedback mechanism

Aerosol-enhancement mechanism

A

positive-feedback mechanism

26
Q

Which of the following are aerosols in Earth’s atmosphere?

sea salt

soil

volcanic ash

sulfuric acid

all of the above

A

all of the above

27
Q

There are import differences between greenhouse warming and aerosol cooling. Which of the following statements are not true?

CO2 stays in the atmosphere for many decades

aerosols remain concentrated in industrial areas and regions that burn plant material

CO2 remains concentrated in areas that burn fossil fuels

aerosols have a relatively short lifetime in the atmosphere

A

CO2 remains concentrated in areas that burn fossil fuels

28
Q

Sea level rise is expected continue and possibly accelerate due to:

melting of glaciers

ocean water volume expanding as it warms

CO2 dissolving in ocean water

b and c

all of the above

A

b and c

melting of glaciers

ocean water volume expanding as it warms

29
Q

Thawing of permafrost due to warming could possibly result in a positive -feedback mechanism because:

decomposition of organic matter will release CO2 and methane

decreased reflectivity will result in more solar radiation being absorbed

meltwater runoff will accelerate the rise in sea level

herds caribou will migrate south and consume vast amount of plants that absorb CO2

A

decomposition of organic matter will release CO2 and methane

30
Q

You have just purchased a charming beach cottage on the Atlantic coast that is 5 feet above sea level. What may your grandchildren want to consider doing?

who cares, the little brats don

’

t derserve all your hard-earned assests!

move the house because sea level is expected to rise 5 feet in the next 100 years

reinforcing the foundation because of accelerated beach erosion

adding a basement

A

reinforcing the foundation because of accelerated beach erosion

31
Q

Most scientists agree that the only significant human impact on climate is due to the burning of fossil fuels with the start of the industrial age.
True or False

A

False

32
Q

Atmospheric modeling shows that cooling from increased cloud cover is not enough to offset a temperature increase caused by greenhouse warming from CO2 and trace gases.
True or False

A

True

33
Q

The temperature increase from global warming will probably be the smallest near the equator and increase near the poles.
True or False

A

True

34
Q

Due to the complexity of the climate system, there remains the possibility of some sudden, unexpected changes that could have severe consequences.
True or False

A

True

PHS 103 (7 decks)

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