Quiz questions Flashcards
1 a) Explain the climate.
Climate is the general weather condition over a long period of time.
1 b) Explain the weather.
Weather is the current atmospheric condition, which includes: temperature, rainfall, wind and humidity at a given place.
1 c) Explain climate variability.
Climate variability is is variability on the average weather behaviour at a particular location from one year to another.
- Which of the following is not one of the major gases in the atmosphere:
a) Nitrogen
b) Carbon dioxide
c) Oxygen
d) Iron
e) Argon
d) Iron
- What is the approximate rate of global warming in °C over the past century?
roughly 0.85ºC from 1880 to 2012
- What are the consequences of global warming? Give three examples.
- Melting of sea ice / melting of glaciers
- Sea level increase.
- Increasing global temperatures.
- Extreme weather events occurring more frequently.
- Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas:
a) Carbon dioxide
b) Oxygen
c) Methane
d) Oxides of nitrogen
e) F-Gases
b) Oxygen
- What is the current global atmospheric CO2 concentration?
a) 395 ppm
b) 395 ppb
c) 3950 ppm
a) 395 ppm
* not the current conc. it’s actually over 400.
- Which statement of the following is true:
a) Global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions decreased over the past decades
b) Global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions increased over the past decades
c) Global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions did not change over the past
decades
b) Global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions increased over the past decades.
- Which statement of the following is incorrect:
a) CO2 is responsible for 60% of the GHG emissions
b) 4/5 of the CO2 emissions come from fossil fuel (oil, coal & gas) and wood burning
c) 1/5 of the CO2 emissions come from intestines from ruminants
c) 1/5 of the CO2 emissions come from intestines from ruminants
- With examples, list NATURAL contributions to the global methane emissions.
- 20% of methane:
- Anaerobic bacteria in wetlands and termite mounds.
- With examples, list HUMAN contributions to the global methane emissions.
- 60% of methane:
Human contributions via: - Paddy fields, coal mining, waste dumps and intestines of ruminants.
- True or false: Global warming potentials (GWPs) are used to compare the abilities of
different greenhouse gases to trap heat in the atmosphere.
True
- Which statement of the following is not true:
a) The global warming potential of nitrous oxide > methane > carbon dioxide
b) The global warming potential of carbon dioxide > methane > nitrous oxide
a) The global warming potential of nitrous oxide > methane > carbon dioxide
- What is a threshold event? Give one example.
A threshold event is when an abrupt and irreversible change that occurs at unexpectedly. Changes from one stable state to another stable state.
Example:
- List three examples of unique systems that are especially threatened by climate change.
- Glaciers
- Ecosystems
- Coastal settlements and communities
- Explain the difference between open and closed lakes. Which are specifically sensitive to
climate change?
Open lakes: Exorheic lake (open - drained by out-flowing rivers)
Closed lakes: Endorheic lake (closed - no outflow)
More sensitive to climate change.
Very dependent on the balance of inflows and evaporation (no outflow)
- List two consequences arising from melting glaciers.
- Will increase the sea level.
2. If melted - 40% of the earth’s population will run out of clean drinking water.
- Which statement of the following is not true:
a) Coral bleaching is a stress condition that involves a breakdown of the symbiotic
relationship between corals and algae.
b) Coral bleaching happens when water temperatures are decreasing
b) Coral bleaching happens when water temperatures are decreasing
- List three important facts about the Australian Great Barrier Reef.
- The world’s largest reef system.
- It’s world heritage listed.
- Home to a diverse range of organism.
- Generates millions of dollars per year.
- Give two examples how indigenous communities may be affected by climate change
- Threatened by sea-level rise
2. Threatened by loss of food supplies
- True or false: Extreme events such as heatwaves, heavy rain events, floods and
droughts will increase in the future in frequency but also in magnitude in many regions
of the world
True
- Explain the effects of increased carbon dioxide on plant performance and growth.
Increases the size of the plant because CO2 is key component in photosynthesis, however the plants will have a lower nutritional value.
21 a) Briefly describe a carbon tax policy.
Carbon Tax is a surcharge on the carbon content of fossil fuels that aims to discourage their use and thereby reduce carbon dioxide emissions, or a direct tax on CO2 emissions.
21 b) Briefly describe a cap policy.
“cap” meaning a legal limit on the quantity of a certain type of chemical an economy can emit each year.
21 c) Briefly describe a trade policy.
is a set of rules and regulations that are intended to change international trade flows, particularly to restrict imports.
22 a) What is direct climate data?
Direct climate data is data that we can record through instruments accurately now. E.g. Temperature, rainfall and wind.
Also we use direct data is used to calibrate indirect data.
22 b) What is indirect climate data?
Indirect climate data is proxy data. Which is gathered from natural sources that record climate change. This calibrated against direct data.
- Which of the following is not a cause of past climate change:
a. Solar eclipses
b. Volcanic eruptions
c. Greenhouse gas concentrations
d. Variations in Earth’s orbit
a. Solar eclipses
- Milankovitch Cycles explain:
a. The amount of energy released due to nuclear fusion
b. How the dinosaur megafauna died out
c. The fluctuation of CO2 in the atmosphere during the year
d. Regular variations in earth’s orbit
d. Regular variations in earth’s orbit
- Variations in solar output are a key driver in climate change. True or False?
False
- Explain how volcanic eruptions can cool the earth’s surface.
When the volcano erupts, the ash from the volcano forms clouds that reflect the sun’s rays.
27 a) With examples, explain positive feedback
mechanism.
Positive feedback system: when a stimulus creates a response that creates more of the stimulus which continues the cycle. e.g. ice sheets melting - earth gets warmer - less reflection of sun rays - earth gets warmer - ice sheets melt.
27 b) With examples, explain negative feedback
mechanism.
Negative: When a stimulus induces a response which works against that stimulus. E.g. Earth’s temp increases - creating more precipitation which makes clouds - clouds reflect suns rays which cools the earth.
- Climate change in the past has always been gradual. True or False?
False
- Thermohaline circulation describes:
a. The way in which energy can be stored in a saline solution
b. The efficiency of tidal electricity generators
c. The pattern of ocean currents
d. The mechanism of carbon sequestration in deep oceans
c. The pattern of ocean currents
- The impact of the cosmic collision that formed Earth’s moon still affects the climate
today. True or False?
True
- IPCC stands for
a. International Policy on Climate Change
b. Indian-Pakistani Cricket Council
c. Inter-Pacific Climate Council
d. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
d. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- Climate predictions are as unreliable as weather predictions. True or False?
True
- What are three uncertainties affecting climate models?
- Lack of historical data
- Lack of complexities in models
- Lack of fine-level resolution.
- How do the differing IPCC climate scenario families differ from one another?
They use include different variable - which makes them have different results.
- What was the range in temperature rises projected by the IPCC in 2007 based upon
those scenario families?
2-8 C
- Explain in your own words the meaning of the Precautionary Principle that was adopted
at the Rio Earth Summit.
Even if we don’t fully understand what will happen in the future if there is a chance that it can negatively affect our environment we need to act.
- By 2100, global average precipitation is projected to:
a. Rise between 1 and 9%
b. Remain constant
c. Fall between 1 and 9%
d. Rise between 10 and 19%
a. Rise between 1 and 9%
- It is difficult to project precipitation in southern Australia because of the uncertain
response of the ENSO climate system to changes in sea temperature. True or False?
True
- Extreme weather events are likely to:
a. Increase in frequency and intensity
b. Decrease in frequency but increase in intensity
c. Decrease in frequency and intensity
d. Increase in frequency but decrease in intensity
a. Increase in frequency and intensity
- Which one of the following is not likely to occur due to climate change
a. More intense precipitation events
b. Increased risk of drought in mid-latitude areas
c. Reduced diurnal temperature range
d. Less severe coastal storm surges and flooding
c. Reduced diurnal temperature range
- Climate change will have a negative impact on all global rangelands, making grazing less
productive. True or False?
False - because temps in Aus will increase making it not suitable for grazing but in places like Russia where its cold the temp will increase making it perfect for grazing.
- Which type of grass is better adapted to tropical conditions, C3 or C4, and which
produces better quality fodder?
C4 is better for tropical regions.
C3 produces better quality fodder.
- What will be three effects of climate change on the Australian grazing industry?
- Heat stroke will be more prominent in cows.
- Pastures for grazing will be less nutrient.
- Pest and diseases will increase
- Increased CO2 concentration depresses grass growth. True or False?
False
- Which of the following aspects of climate change will improve pasture growth:
a. Increased drought periods
b. Increased rainfall
c. Higher evapotranspiration
d. Higher wind velocity
b. Increased rainfall
- How will climate change affect pasture quality?
Increased CO2 emissions will make the pasture grow larger and more rapidly, however the quality of nutrients in the pasture will decrease.
- Which of the following statements about tropical breeds of cattle is false?
a. They are more hardy
b. They are more disease resistant
c. They have higher quality of meat
d. They are more resistant to cattle ticks
a. They are more hardy
- Why is heat stress of livestock an issue in climate change?
Because cattle can’t stand heat of more than 26 C regardless of the humidity, therefore an increase in temperatures will increase the heat stress days for cattle.
- The temperature-humidity index is:
a. A meteorological measurement
b. A measure of the effects of cattle ticks on livestock
c. A measure to test insulation effectiveness of buildings
d. A robust measure for heat stress in cattle
d. A robust measure for heat stress in cattle
- What is the major source of greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants?
Methane from their digestive system.
- How does uncertainty affect efforts to adapt to climate change?
If we are uncertain about how climate change will proceed then we don’t exactly know how respond to the impacts.
- Efficient adaptation relies on an understanding of the magnitude and rate of climate
change. True or False?
True
- Which of the following is a common adaptation strategy?
a. Work harder
b. Implement a carbon tax
c. Create losses
d. Share losses
d. Share losses
- Adaptations are often not straightforward. What may be negative impacts of building a
seawall to protect a low-lying tropical city prone to storm-surges?
- The city may go in debt after building the sea wall.
2. The may loose their tourism industry.
- Explain with an example what unplanned adaptation is.
Unplanned adaptation is through naturally occurring systems that are already in place.
E.g. Species migrating to more suitable environments.
- The countries that have emitted the most greenhouse gases are those that will be
impacted the most with climate change. True or False?
False
58. Which of the following countries are in the top 10 greenhouse gas emitting nations in terms of total volume? a. Malawi b. Australia c. China d. New Zealand
c. China
- In terms of paying for mitigation and adaptation, The Copenhagen Accord details that
the Developed nations will give the Developing nations:
a. $100 billion/year
b. $100 million/year
c. $1 billion/year
d. $1 trillion/year
a. $100 billion/year
- What are three things that improve adaptive capacity?
the reduction of poverty, an increase in education, and the protection of environments.
- Give an example of maladaptive climate change project.
- Increased emissions of greenhouse gases.
- What is the difference between Climate Change Mitigation and Climate Change
Adaptation?
Adaptation is finding a way to live along side the problem.
Mitigation is slowing and hoping to reverse the problem.
- Is Climate Change Mitigation necessary, and why?
It’s necessary if we want to maintain our ecosystems and climate.
- What are three mitigation strategies?
- Reducing CO2 emissions.
- Using renewable energy
- Carbon sequestration (carbon trapping)
- Carbon sequestration is:
a. Removal and storage of CO2from the atmosphere
b. Changing the chemical nature of carbon
c. A political group against carbon pollution
d. A law passed in Europe to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
a. Removal and storage of CO2from the atmosphere
- Give three examples of mitigation using energy efficiency.
- Nuclear energy
- Wind energy
- Solar energy
- Name three alternative energy sources.
- Nuclear energy
- Wind energy
- Solar energy
- Nuclear fission is:
e. A weapon of mass destruction
f. Splitting of atoms to release energy
g. Harvesting fish using a single large boat
h. Fusing two atoms to release energy
f. Splitting of atoms to release energy
- One of the problems of solar voltaic systems is that they do not generate electricity at
night. True or False?
True
70. Which one of the following is considered a future method for transferring energy from remote locations: i. Helium j. Algal biomass k. Hydrogen l. Lead-acid batteries
k. Hydrogen
- Regulations are an efficient policy mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. True
or False?
True
