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ATM 005 > Quiz Questions > Flashcards

Quiz Questions Flashcards

1
Q

Which of the following are statements related to CLIMATE (as opposed to weather)?

A

-A persistent downward trend has been observed in Sierra Nevada snowpack since 1980
-The likelihood of a very wet year following a very dry year in California is increasing

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2
Q

Where on Earth has the HIGHEST precipitation?

A

Near the equator, in the summer hemisphere

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3
Q

Averaged across all longitudes, where on Earth has the LOWEST precipitation?

A

The polar regions (90N and 90S)

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4
Q

Why does rain in the MIDLATITUDES tend to fall along the WEST coast of continents?

A

The storm track pushes air from west to east in the midlatitudes

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5
Q

What are some ways to describe MEDITERRANEAN climates?

A

-Wet winter
-Hot, dry summer

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6
Q

Which of the following is NOT a major component of the Earth system?

A

The Sun

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7
Q

Which of the following is NOT impacted (directly or indirectly) by human activity?

A

Volcanoes

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8
Q

Is more intense, rainer hurricanes a cliamte threat in North America?

A

No

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9
Q

Where on Earth is warming faster than average global temperatures?

A
  • The Arctic
  • Over land
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10
Q

As a result of climate change, what kind of biome might we expect to find in the Sierra Nevada by end of century?

A

Woodland/shrubland

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11
Q

Which of the following statements are FALSE?

A

Temperatures are higher at the top of mountains because you are closer to the sun

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12
Q

Snow pillows are an example of…

A

a climate observation system

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13
Q

Among the following options, which region of the world is MOST VULNERABLE to drought?

A

Central Africa

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14
Q

Which of the following are likely to INCREASE everywhere under climate change?

A

-Intensity of tropical cyclones (when they occur)
-Rainfall from tropical cyclones (when they occur)

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15
Q

Which of the following statements are FALSE?

A

-A 1000-year flood event is weaker than a 100-year flood event
-California’s Great Flood of 1862 was only possible because of climate change

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16
Q

What is the ORDER OF LAYERS in the Earth’s atmosphere (from bottom to top)?

A

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere

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17
Q

At present and FROM LARGEST PROPORTION TO SMALLEST PROPORTION what is the order of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

A

water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous dioxide, CFCs

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18
Q

What is the MAIN REASON global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration varies seasonally?

A

Vegetation takes up CO2 to grow, and there is more vegetation in the northern hemisphere so when plants in this region are growing there is less atmospheric CO2

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19
Q

Where is the ozone layer located?

A

In the stratosphere between 20-30km altitude

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20
Q

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A

Nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapor are well mixed in the atmosphere (found in roughly equal proportion everywhere)

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21
Q

How many circulation cells (such as the Hadley cell) does the Earth have in each hemisphere?

A

3

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22
Q

What climatological feature is associated with the subtropics (30N and 30S)?

A

Subsiding (descending) air

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23
Q

Which of the following statements are FALSE?

A

In the Hadley cell, air rises in the subtropics and sinks near the equator

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24
Q

Which of the following IS NOT a feature of glacial periods in Earth’s history?

A

High humidity

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25
Q

In brief, what are Milankovitch cycles?

A

Variations in Earth’s orbit and tilt that drive differences in energy received from the sun

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26
Q

Which of the following can be used to estimate Antarctic temperatures from 50 million years ago?

A

Benthic δ18O from ocean sediments

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27
Q

Which of the following can we learn from ice cores?

A

-How atmospheric carbon dioxide and temperature are related
-The chemistry of the atmosphere over the past 800 thousand years

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28
Q

Despite atmospheric carbon dioxide levels being 20-30 times present day values in the distance past, why did the Earth not overheat?

A

Because the sun was much weaker in the distant past, higher CO2 levels were needed to keep the planet warm

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29
Q

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the greenhouse climates of Earth’s past?

A

Lower atmospheric carbon dioxide

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30
Q

Which mechanism allows the sun to warm the Earth?

A

Radiation

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31
Q

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A

Warmer objects emit less long wavelength radiation than cooler objects

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32
Q

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A

-Over the course of a year, a solar panel placed at the equator will generally produce more energy than a solar panel in the Sahara Desert
-The sun only emits radiation in the visible part of the radiative spectrum

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33
Q

From LEAST ENERGETIC to MOST ENERGETIC order the following types of electromagnetic radiation:

A

-Radio : Infrared : Visible : Ultraviolet

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34
Q

Which of the below factors DIRECTLY AFFECTS the wavelengths of radiation EMITTED by a black body?

A

The temperature of the black body

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35
Q

Consulting the plot on slide 21 of the Lecture 05 slide deck (reproduced below), under a cloudless sky approximately how much energy (in Watts per square meter) would you expect to receive at the equator on December 21st?

A

400 W/m2

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36
Q

Which of the below processes is PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE for the sky being blue?

A

Scattering

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37
Q

What is the basic scientific premise of the greenhouse effect?

A

Greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere absorb more terrestrial radiation, some of which is re-emitted back to the surface

38
Q

Which of the following land types has the lowest albedo?

A

Oceans

39
Q

Which of the following statement is FALSE?

A

-Outside of the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum, solar radiation is negligible.
-Outside of the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum, the atmosphere is mostly opaque to radiation.

40
Q

Approximately what percentage of incident solar radiation on the Earth is reflected back to space?

A

30%

41
Q

Which of the following IS NOT a type of aerosol?

A

CFCs

42
Q

Why is PM2.5 dangerous?

A

PM2.5 aerosols are small enough to pass through the lungs into the blood stream and cause damage to DNA

43
Q

Which of the following, when in the atmosphere, has a net cooling effect on surface temperatures?

A

Organic carbon

44
Q

Which of the following regions IS NOT a substantial source of aerosols?

A

Antarctica

45
Q

What is ONE DIFFERENCE between aerosols and greenhouse gases?

A

Aerosols generally reflect solar radiation, whereas greenhouse gases do not interact with solar radiation

46
Q

What are ship tracks most closely associated with?

A

Aerosol indirect effect

47
Q

Which of the following is an example of weather modification that is being done today?

A

Precipitation suppression from airborne aerosol dispersal

48
Q

How many working groups are part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change?

A

3

49
Q

The sixth IPCC assessment report (AR6) states that human influence on the climate system is …?

A

unequivocal

50
Q

Match the greenhouse gas with its primary source

A

Water vapor = Evaporation
Carbon dioxide = Burning of Fossil Fuels
Methane = Ag.
CFCs = Refrigeration

51
Q

Which of the following statements about carbon dioxide is FALSE?

A

-Volcanic eruptions ARE NOT a significant source of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
-In the past 800,000 years, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have frequently risen above 300 ppm

52
Q

Which of the following quantities have DECREASED over the past 50 years

A

Global sea ice area

53
Q

Under the high-emission “fossil fueled development” scenario (SSP5-8.5), changes in surface temperatures between 1995-2014 and 2100 are estimated to be

A

3 to 5 degrees C (6 to 9 degrees F)

54
Q

Which changes to the climate system are expected over the next 80 years?

A

-Sea level rise of 12 to 30 inches
-Increasing acidity of the oceans

55
Q

Among the following list, which expect should be consulted first if you’re planning to project climate change over the next 80 years?

A

Economist

56
Q

What is the water cycle?

A

The movement and recycling of water through ocean, land and atmospheric reservoirs

57
Q

If air is saturated, which of the following statements is INCORRECT?

A

Absolute humidity equals saturation absolute humidity

58
Q

Roughly where on Earth has the highest specific humidity?

A

At the equator

59
Q

Assume you have an air parcel at 100% relative humidity. Which of the following will NOT lead to formation of clouds or fog?

A

Heating of the air parcel from solar radiation

60
Q

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A

Global warming will lead to more precipitation in the deserts of the world

61
Q

Where on Earth can you often find relative humidity above 60%?

A

-The equator near the surface
-The North pole near the surface

62
Q

Which of the following indicate that a region is currently very humid?

A

-Relative humidity near 100%
-High dew point temperature

63
Q

Which of the following types of clouds are primarily caused by active convection? Note that planes will tend to avoid these kind of clouds.

A

Cumulonimbus

64
Q

Which of the following statements are FALSE?

A

-Convection (rising air) will always lead to precipitation
-When air reaches the lifting condensation level it will stop rising

65
Q

Which of the below mechanisms is a primary driver for precipitation in California from atmospheric rivers?

A

Topographic uplift

66
Q

Which of the following statements are FALSE?

A

-Clouds entirely consist of water vapor and liquid water
-When present, aerosols make it more difficult for water to condense

67
Q

Which of the following statements are FALSE?

A

-When it rises, moist air cools more rapidly than dry air
-Raindrops are easily suspended by turbulent motion in the cloud

68
Q

Which of the following is an example of WATER CONVEYANCE?

A

California Aqueduct

69
Q

Which of the following sources of water are at the GREATEST RISK from climate change?

A

Natural storage

70
Q

Which of the following factors are important for California being the source of 50% of the nation’s fruits and vegetables?

A

-The warm Mediterranean climate
- A flat nutrient-rich Central Valley
-Mountainous topography that supports a natural snowpack

71
Q

What is the term for a California water right earned because a parcel of land is adjacent to water?

A

-Riparian right

72
Q

Which regions of the Sierra Nevada are at GREATEST RISK of snowpack lo

A

-The Sierra foothills

73
Q

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A

-Climate change is increasingly shifting precipitation from the Winter into the Spring and Fall
-Wet periods in California provide enough water to compensate for groundwater loss during dry periods

74
Q

Which region of California is experiencing the greatest loss of groundwater?

A

Tulare Basin

75
Q

Which of the following approaches is UNLIKELY to significantly help with water supply issues in the future?

A

Building more surface reservoirs

76
Q

Under RCP8.5, how many extreme heat days (more than 40 degrees C or 103.9 degrees F) per year are expected in Sacramento by end of century?

A

30-50

77
Q

In the future, annual precipitation is expected to become more variable. What are the consequences of this? Select all that apply.

A

-Higher likelihood of an extremely dry year following an extremely wet year
-More frequent dry years
-More frequent wet years

78
Q

Which of the following are responsible for increased wildfire activity?

A

-More frequent extreme summertime winds
-Soil drying
-More human activity in wildland areas

79
Q

Which of the following statements are FALSE?

A

Almost all increases in wildfire burned area since the 1980s has been due to climate change

80
Q

Which of the following is expected to DECREASE in the future?

A

Frequency of Santa Ana wind events

81
Q

Which of the following is NOT an example of geoengineering?

A

Improved vehicle fuel efficiency

82
Q

How can one improve the adaptive capacity of California?

A

Implement residential health programs

83
Q

The Paris Agreement aims to keep average global temperature increase above pre-industrial levels below…

A

2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F)

84
Q

Which of the following statements are FALSE?

A

-Current policies are sufficient to hit the Paris Agreement warming target
-The European Union is currently aiming for zero carbon emissions by 2050

85
Q

Which of the following has UC Davis done to tackle climate change?

A

-Supporting research into technologies for addressing climate change
-Construction of the UC Davis Solar Farm
-Construction of the UC Davis Anaerobic Biodigester
-Improving building energy efficiency

86
Q

As of this year, which single country is emitting the most total CO2, despite its modest CO2 per capita?

A

China

87
Q

Which regions of the world are likely to obtain more agricultural land and higher agricultural productivity because of climate change?

A

-Europe
-Canada

88
Q

Of the past four years (2020-2023), how many have experienced a below average number of billion-dollar weather disasters?

A

0

89
Q

Which communities are likely to be disproportionately impacted by climate change?

A

-Countries with underdeveloped infrastructure
-Low-income groups
-Communities of color

90
Q

Which of the following is an example of an environmental justice issue that is NOT a climate justice issue?

A

Farm workers in California’s Central Valley being frequently exposed to contaminated soils

ATM 005 (2 decks)

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