Deck 8: The Ever Changing Climate

Question 1

Weather and climate processes and disasters are fuelled by _________.

A) nuclear fusion
B) solar energy
C) radioactive decay
D) magnetization

Answer 1

B

Question 2

In the continental annual cycle of carbon exchange most of the carbon (measured in gigatonnes)is returned in the atmosphere during ___________.

A) fossil fuel burning
B) photosynthesis
C) wildfire
D) land cleaning
E) decaying of organics

Answer 2

E

Question 3

When meteorologists talk about the average temperature for a particular date and location they are referring to _________.

A) the 10-year average
B) the 30-year average
C) the 50-year average
D) the 75-year average

Answer 3

B

Question 4

All choices below are correct about this figure except:

A) the circulation of deep-ocean currents is the most important process in the global redistribution of solar energy.
B) the circulation is called thermohaline flow.
C) the circulation represents surface waters of the oceans.
D) seawater density is increased at high latitudes.
E) in warm climates the seawater is even saltier.

Question 5

The Older Dryas and Younger Dryas stages represented ________________________.

A) two cooling stages during warm-up from the last major glacial advance
B) two of the more abrupt warming stages during the last glaciation
C) one warming stage and one cooling stage during the last glaciation
D) periods of dry climate

Question 6

Which of the following greenhouse gases accounts for 60% of global warming?

A) Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)
B) Methane (CH₄)
C) Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)
D) Ozone (O₃)
E) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's)

Question 7

Likely global climate changes in the 21^st century include all but which of the following?

A) An increase in heat waves and drought in the mid-latitudes
B) Precipitation increase in high latitudes and decrease in the subtropics
C) World temperatures could increase by 1.1°C and 6.4°C
D) 30 metres rise in sea level

Question 8

In this figure the red line shows:

A) the Northwest Passage prediction for 2050.
B) current consequence of climate change.
C) the international trade route through the Arctic Ocean.
D) the Northwest airline route from England to Japan.
E) both the current consequence of climate change and the international trade route through the Arctic Ocean.

Question 9

Looking the planet as a whole,about _____ of the Sun's energy reaching the Earth is involved in creating activity in and out the Earth's systems,and about ____ is reflected back to space.

A) 10%;90%
B) 50%;50%
C) 70%;30%
D) 100%;0%
E) 90%;10%

Question 10

During the 20^th century,the average global surface temperature rose ________.

A) 0.07°C
B) 0.1°C
C) 0.6°C
D) 2°C
E) 6.5°C

Question 11

All of these choices are potential effects of a warmer climate on Ontario except for:

A) longer and more severe heat waves.
B) potential for worse air pollution in the form of smog and acid precipitation.
C) reduced water levels in Great Lakes and St.Lawrence River.
D) melting permafrost weakening and undermining infrastructure.

Question 12

One theory attributes the cycles of slow buildup and advance of glaciers followed by rapid shrinkage and retreat to changes in ______________________.

A) the eccentricity of the Earth's orbit around the Sun
B) the tilt of the Earth's axis
C) the Earth's wobble
D) all of these are correct
E) none of these are correct

Question 13

Deep ocean waters flow in an overturning circulation driven by _______________________.

A) hurricane force winds
B) the rotation of the Earth
C) the Coriolis effect
D) density contrasts

Question 14

The greenhouse effect results in __________________.

A) global cooling
B) global warming
C) lots of flowers
D) the growth of green algae on the shady side of houses worldwide

Question 15

The most important process in the global redistribution of solar energy on Earth is(are)______________________.

A) atmospheric winds
B) the circulation of deep-ocean currents
C) the Hadley,Ferrel,and polar convection cells
D) the polar and subtropical jet streams
E) the surface circulation of water through the oceans

Question 16

Over the last 7,000 years there has been a __________________________.

A) lowering of global average temperature totaling 2°C
B) raising of global average temperature totaling 2°C
C) constant global temperature,on average
D) none of these are correct

Question 17

Greenhouse gases include ____________________.

A) CO₂
B) H₂O vapor
C) methane (CH₄)
D) chlorofluorocarbons
E) all of these are correct

Question 18

Which of the following greenhouse gases has the highest global warming potential compared to CO₂?

A) Methane (CH₄)
B) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's)
C) Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)
D) Ozone (O₃)

Question 19

Weather refers to ___________,whereas climate is ___________.

A) short-term processes;the long-term atmospheric condition
B) long-term atmospheric condition;the short-term processes
C) what you expect;what to get
D) temperatures only;the expected precipitation pattern

Question 20

The temperature measurements from the satellites tell us that Earth's average temperature is - 16°C,however the Earth's average temperature is about 15°C.It is a large discrepancy,why is that.

A) The Earth is watery planet so absorbs the lots of Sun's energy.
B) Gases in atmosphere absorb the Earth's radiated energy and then reradiate it downward to Earth's surface.
C) Because of unbalance energy between Earth's interior and surface.
D) Too many active volcanoes warm up the Earth.

Question 21

Wild weather in the last a few years (frequent tornados,hurricanes,ice storms and heavy rains)undoubtedly show climate change.

Question 22

In Canada,global climate computer models forecast that winter temperature will increase the most.

Question 23

Beginning from a temperature peak at 55 million years ago,the Earth began a long-term warming trend that has carried us into our current climate.

Question 24

Water vapour is the Earth's most abundant greenhouse gas.

Question 25

Methane has about a 21-times stronger capacity to trap heat as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

Question 26

Reducing the albedo makes the polar climate warm up.

Question 27

Energy transfer in the Earth's atmosphere is accomplished by one large convection cell flowing between the equator and the pole.

Question 28

The major factor in glacial periods lasting tens of millions of years appear to be changes in the sun's heat output,rather than changes in shapes,sizes,and orientations of the continents and oceans.

Question 29

Increasing the albedo makes the cold polar climate warmer.

Question 30

The energy that flows from the Earth's interior is relatively huge when you compare with radiant energy received from the Sun.