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Geology 300 Study Questions > Chapter 19 - Climate Change > Flashcards

Chapter 19 - Climate Change Flashcards

1
Q

If Earth had no greenhouse gases, the planet would be _______ ?

a. Too hot to support life.

b. Cooler but still able to support life.

c. Too cold to support complex life

d. It depends on the species of aerosol in the GHG-free atmosphere.

A

c. Too cold to support complex life

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2
Q

With the increased amount of information that has been gathered in recent years, scientists have become increasingly certain that:

a. Earth’s climate is not warming to any significant degree

b. Earth’s climate is warming due to changes in solar output and human inputs of GHG have not had a significant influence

c. Earth’s climate is warming at an alarming rate and human inputs of GHGs are the cause of the increased rate of warming

A

c. Earth’s climate is warming at an alarming rate and human inputs of GHGs are the cause of the increased rate of warming

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3
Q

That periodic changes in Earth’s orbital eccentricity, change in axial tilt, and precession of the axial tilt affect the advance and retreat of ice sheets was first proposed by:

a. Richter

b. Milankovitch

c. Lyell

d. Bono

A

b. Milankovitch

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4
Q

An important example of a positive feedback loop in the polar climate system is:

a. scientists in remote places check on each other’s instruments

b. warming ocean water opens up new areas for marine species

c. warmer winters cause more plant growth, providing more food

d. sea ice melt opens up more ocean to sunlight causing more melt

A

d. sea ice melt opens up more ocean to sunlight causing more melt

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5
Q

Which of these types of radiation has the shortest wavelength?

a. microwaves

b. gamma radiation

c. radio waves

d. x rays

A

b. gamma radiation

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6
Q

(T/F) Aerosols in the atmosphere lead to a negative feedback loop with regards to atmospheric warming.

A

True

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7
Q

Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?

a. carbon dioxide

b. water vapor

c. argon

d. methane

A

c. argon

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8
Q

(T/F) Carbon dioxide absorbs most efficiently in Earth’s atmospheric window.

A

False

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9
Q

(T/F) Ozone is a pollutant at ground level.

A

True

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10
Q

Which of the following would be a positive feedback mechanism?

a. cloud albedo effect

b. aerosols

c. stratospheric ozone

d. black soot on snow

A

d. black soot on snow

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11
Q

The current level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is approximately:

a. 350 ppm

b. 200 ppm

c. 500 ppm

d. approximately 422 ppm as of Jan 2023

A

d. approximately 422 ppm as of Jan 2023

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12
Q

Proxy climate information can be obtained from:

a. ancient pollen

b. tree ring analysis

c. ice cores

d. all these

A

d. all these

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13
Q

(T/F) Milankovitch cycles are considered to be natural cycles that result in alternating warming and cooling of Earth’s temperatures.

A

True

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14
Q

(T/F) The thawing of permafrost is a negative feedback effect.

A

False

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15
Q

The highest percentage of radiation the Earth receives from the Sun is in these wavelengths.

a. infrared

b. ultraviolet

c. visible light

d. microwaves

A
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16
Q

Ozone:

a. is 3 oxygen atoms chemically bonded

b. absorbs ultraviolet in the stratosphere

c. is a pollutant at ground level

d. all of these

A

d. all of these

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17
Q

Which of the following processes removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?

a. photosynthesis

b. exhalation by animals

c. burning of coal and other fossil fuels

d. volcanism

A

a. photosynthesis

18
Q

Currently, global warming appears to be most strongly affecting the climate and wildlife of _____________regions.

a. equatorial

b. polar

c. deep sea

d. temperate

A

b. polar

19
Q

The last time carbon dioxide levels were as high as now was:

a. 800,000 years ago

b. 1 billion years ago

c. 200 years ago

d. 10,000 years ago

A

a. 800,000 years ago

20
Q

Which of the following is NOT a piece of information that the Earth’s temperatures are warming?

a. sea level is rising

b. glaciers are melting

c. earthquake activity is increasing

d. permafrost is thawing

A

c. earthquake activity is increasing

21
Q

(T/F) One way of looking at greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is that they are too much of a good thing.

A

True

22
Q

Outgoing radiation from the Earth is emitted in what wavelength?

a. ultraviolet

b. infrared

c. visible light

d. microwaves

A

b. infrared

23
Q

(T/F) Today’s global average warming is a result of natural climate cycles.

A

False

24
Q

The first climate refugees in the United States were impacted by sea level rise in which state?

a. Florida

b. Texas

c. Louisiana

d. South Carolina

A

c. Louisiana

25
Q

(T/F) Radiative forcing is the difference between the amount of insolation received at the Earth’s surface and energy radiated back to space.

A

True

26
Q

The sky is blue because:

a. reflection from the oceans

b. absorption of blue wavelengths of light

c. sunlight is a blue color

d. blue wavelengths of visible light are most selectively scattered.

A

d. blue wavelengths of visible light are most selectively scattered.

27
Q

Ozone absorbs:

a. ultraviolet radiation

b. gamma radiation

c. radio waves

d. microwaves

A

a. ultraviolet radiation

28
Q

Dendrochronology is the study of:

a. ice cores

b. tree rings

c. pollen

d. ocean sediments

A

b. tree rings

29
Q

In the stratosphere why does temperature increase?

a. higher albedo

b. lower albedo

c. ozone absorbs Ultraviolet radiation

d. the temperature does not increase in the stratosphere

A

c. ozone absorbs Ultraviolet radiation

30
Q

Compared to historical trends, what is the MAJOR difference about contemporary climate change?

a. it is happening faster

b. it is a warming trend

c. it is affecting plants and animals

d. it is caused by atmospheric changes

A
31
Q

People can get badly sunburned while playing in the snow on a sunny day. The reason for this is;

a. absorption of sunlight by something with a high albedo

b. reflection of sunlight by something with a high albedo

c. absorption o sunlight by something with a low albedo

d. reflection of sunlight by something with a low albedo

A

b. reflection of sunlight by something with a high albedo

32
Q

Volcanic eruptions:

a. release sulfate particles in the air that can result in cooling temperatures

b. can release GHGs in the air which can lead to warming of Earth’s Temperatures

c. release much less greenhouse gases than human contribution

d. all these

A

d. all these

33
Q

(T/F) A material with a high albedo would absorb more sunlight than it reflects.

A

False

34
Q

The IPCC 4th Assessment states that it is extremely likely that human influence is the reason for the warming the Earth has experienced since:

a. 1987

b. 1770

c. 2005

d. 1950

A

d. 1950

35
Q

Oil and gas form from:

a. plants

b. microscopic marine organisms

c. dinosaurs

d. water

A

b. microscopic marine organisms

36
Q

Which of the following does NOT directly contribute to sea level rise?

a. melting of land-based ice

b. melting of sea ice

c. thermal expansion of water

d. melting of glaciers

A

b. melting of sea ice

37
Q

The most abundant greenhouse gas is:

a. carbon dioxide

b. methane

c. water vapor

d. nitrous oxide

A

c. water vapor

38
Q

Which statistic is most related to climate?

a. average snowfall in Denver is 55 inches

b. last February was unusually warm in the Northeast

c. Georgia was in drought last year

d. wind speeds in Denver topped 30 mph today

A

a. average snowfall in Denver is 55 inches

39
Q

We can learn about the climate of different periods in Earth’s history by studying what aspect of the bubbles trapped in core samples?

a. the temperature of the air inside the bubbles

b. the average volume of the bubbles

c. the levels of the different gases in the bubbles

d. the average pressure of the air in the bubbles

A

c. the levels of the different gases in the bubbles

40
Q

Today’s global average warming is a result of:

a. the ozone hole

b. natural climate cycles

c. aliens

d. human caused increase in greenhouse gases

A

d. human caused increase in greenhouse gases

Geology 300 Study Questions (4 decks)

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