Quiz 4: Climate Change - Causes, Evidence, Effects, and Solutions

Question 1

What would most likely have the greatest impact on the ocean circulation system in the Atlantic Ocean?

Answer 1

complete melting of polar ice cap in summer

Question 2

Most of the weather of the world is based upon changes in the moisture, pressure, and/or temperature of the

Answer 2

troposphere

Question 3

In Canada, summers are warmer than winters because

Answer 3

the sun’s rays shine more directly onto these regions in summer.

Question 4

What happens to water as it water warms

Answer 4

it expands

Question 5

_______ is the ability of a surface to reflect solar radiation

Answer 5

albedo

Question 6

Soot particles (“black carbon aerosols”) generally cause ________ of Earth’s atmosphere by ________ solar energy.

Answer 6

warming; absorbing

Question 7

Human sources of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere include all of the following except

Answer 7

burning fuel wood

Question 8

What is true regarding the greenhouse effect?

Answer 8

Increased levels of human-produced carbon dioxide have enhanced the greenhouse effect

Question 9

What is a source not used to reconstruct past climate

Answer 9

diameter of ozone hole

Question 10

The reports from Mauna Loa, Hawaii demonstrated a ______ in _________

Answer 10

an increase in CO2 from the 1950s to the present

Question 11

What is false regarding climate models?

Answer 11

Climate models are not testable.

Question 12

Using ice core samples that have been carefully analyzed, researchers have discovered that over the past 800,000 years,

Answer 12

there is a strong correlation between global temperatures and greenhouse gases

Question 13

Scientists use proxies to study climate to measure

Answer 13

climate conditions for hundreds and thousands of years ago

Question 14

What could happen to the boreal forests of northern Canada within the next century?

Answer 14

-Warmer soil could lead to fewer evergreen trees (e.g. cedar, pine, spruce)
-There could be a northward migration of spruce trees
-There could be an increased presence of temperate species such as the red maple
-These forest communities could vanish

Question 15

Potential effects of climate change likely exclude

Answer 15

a reduced frequency of extreme weather events

Question 16

There is an interesting connection reported between the wildfires in California and the melting of sea ice in the Arctic. Black soot particles from the California wildfires travel on long-distance air currents to the Arctic where they fall on ice surfaces creating ‘dark ice’ that absorbs solar radiation leading to faster melting. This situation is an example of

Answer 16

positive feedback loop

Question 17

Carbon dioxide combines with water to form a weak _____; this has caused the pH of seawater to go

Answer 17

acid; down

Question 18

Species have responded to global climate change in various ways. What is an example of how species have responded

Answer 18

-earlier blooming of flowering plants
-migrating to higher altitudes
-earlier hatching among many animal species
-shifting distribution ranges

Question 19

Species have responded to global climate change in various ways. What is not an example of how species have responded?

Answer 19

coordinating by pollinators to better match the flowering patterns of the plants they pollinate

Question 20

Small island nations in the Pacific Ocean (like the Maldives) are in the international spotlight because they

Answer 20

may be among the first nations to be completely flooded by rising sea levels

Question 21

Shifts in the ranges of tree species due to climate change are referred to as

Answer 21

tree range migrations

Question 22

A number of ecological consequences have been predicted for Canada as a result of the predicted climate change in coming decades. Which of the following is not an expected outcome?

Answer 22

The boreal forest will expand its range significantly by moving northward into the tundra and southward into temperate forest and grasslands

Question 23

What may result in a positive feedback mechanism that would intensify climate change

Answer 23

Warmer temperatures result in the melting of permafrost

Question 24

What global climate changes is most associated with increased hurricane activity

Answer 24

warmer oceans

Question 25

Some potential effects of climate change will likely exclude _______ in bleaching of coral reefs

Answer 25

reduction

Question 26

Global climate change has had numerous effects on the Earth. What is not considered to be as a result of global climate change?

Answer 26

decrease in volcanic activity

Question 27

What effect do acidic ocean waters have on shells made of calcium carbonate?

Answer 27

They cause increased dissolution (dissolving) of calcium carbonate shells

Question 28

What is not an example of adaptation to climate change?

Answer 28

consuming more fossil fuels

Question 29

Efforts intended to minimize the extent or impact of climate change are referred to as

Answer 29

mitigation

Question 30

What best illustrates a type of mitigation in response to global climate change?

Answer 30

constructing and using wind turbines to generate electricity