Deck 12: Global Atmospheric Change

Question 1

A key value of ozone in the stratosphere is its ability to interact with and prevent ___ from reaching the Earth's inhabitants.

A)alpha rays
B)beta rays
C)X-rays
D)ultraviolet light

Answer 1

D

Question 2

An environmental issue of global importance is ozone depletion of the

A)troposphere
B)stratosphere
C)thermosphere
D)ionosphere

Answer 2

B

Question 3

An increase of 2 deg C in the Earth's average temperature by the year 2100

A)would not be a problem since that is a small change
B)would be a problem because it would occur unevenly throughout the planet
C)would occur mostly over water
D)could help save on heating bills

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A single chlorine atom such as a product of the breakdown of CFCs, can destroy ___ ozone molecules in the stratosphere.

A)10
B)100
C)1000
D)100,000

Question 5

Atmospheric gases that produce air quality problems on a global rather than on a local scale have residence times that are measured in

A)minutes
B)hours
C)months
D)years

Question 6

Atmospheric gases that produce air quality problems on a global scale are generally considered locally, to be

A)harmful
B)harmless
C)radioactive
D)flammable

Question 7

Chlorinated fluorinated hydrocarbons (CFCs) are

A)very unstable in the lower atmosphere (troposphere)
B)harmful to human life and therefore not found in normal household products
C)harmful in the stratosphere where they break down ozone molecules
D)none of these

Question 8

Climate change, or global warming, would not affect the polar ice caps, glaciers, or sea levels

Question 9

Compared to carbon dioxide (CO₂), the greenhouse gas methane (CH₄) is

A)more effective and more concentrated
B)less effective but more concentrated
C)less effective and less concentrated
D)more effective but less concentrated

Question 10

In 1990, representatives of 93 countries signed the London Agreement to phase out all __- by the year 2000.

A)chlorinated fluorinated hydrocarbons (CFCs)
B)aromatic hydrocarbons
C)oxides of carbon
D)ozone

Question 11

Islands such as some in the Pacific Ocean could be wiped out by a significant rise in sea level.

Question 12

Over time, since 1880,

A)global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations have decreased
B)global temperatures have decreased but carbon dioxide concentrations have increased
C)global temperatures have increased but carbon dioxide concentrations have decreased
D)global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations have increased

Question 13

State two ways to decrease our planet's carbon dioxide production.

A)consume less energy and shift to burning more coal
B)consume more energy and burn more gasoline
C)consume less energy and find alternative ways to produce energy
D)shift to electricity and stop burning methane

Question 14

The ability of the Earth to trap the sun's heat (allowing it to enter but not to exit) is known as the

A)Coriolis Effect
B)Greenhouse Effect
C)Infrared Spectrum
D)Second Law of Thermodynamics

Question 15

Chlorinated fluorinated hydrocarbons (CFCs) are

A)weak greenhouse gases
B)powerful greenhouse gases
C)seeing increasing use throughout the world
D)useful ozone replacements

Question 16

The greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂O)

A)is a very unstable compound with a brief residence time
B)is a lacrimatory (causes the eyes to produce tears)
C)is called "laughing gas"
D)is a tetra-atomic (4-atom) molecule

Question 17

The inability of humans to accurately predict the results of all of their actions is known as the Law of

A)Conservation of Mass
B)Equilibrium
C)Unintended Consequences
D)Diminishing Returns

Question 18

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that by the year 2100, the Earth's climate will be

A)significantly cooler than it is at the present
B)significantly warmer than it is at the present
C)essentially the same as it is at the present
D)not applicable - no such predictions have been made y this group

Question 19

The permanently frozen layer of the ground a short distance under the surface is called the

A)ice shelf
B)lithosphere
C)Fisher Glacier
D)permafrost

Question 20

To date, no international agreements to combat climate change have been made.

Question 21

Warming of the climate could affect wind patterns, which affect rainfall, which affect agriculture.

Question 22

Which of the following contribute to global warming?

A)oxygen, nitrogen, Teflon, and hydrogen
B)carbon monoxide, hydrogen peroxide, nylon, and propane
C)water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and CFCs (Freon)
D)helium, neon, and argon

Question 23

Which of the following can affect the Earth's climate?

A)the atmosphere's components
B)the Earth's surface and vegetation
C)the oceans and their great currents
D)clouds
E)all of these