Question 1

Changes in global climate are predicted to have a negative impact on forests. Forests provide which of the following ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

Forests provide multiple ecosystem services, including soil stabilization, water purification, carbon sequestration, and oxygen production. Therefore, all of the given options are correct. The negative impact of climate change on forests may result in the loss of these critical ecosystem services.

Question 2

-Refer to Infographic 21.8. What is the scientific consensus regarding the cause of the recently observed changes in global climate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of 
-Refer to Infographic 21.8. What is the...

Question 3

List several techniques used by climate scientists to gather indirect data on climate (temperature, carbon dioxide levels, etc.) from the distant past.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List several techniques used by climate scientists...

Question 4

Describe how the recent changes in global climate are expected to impact biodiversity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how the recent changes in global...

Question 5

Deliberately thinning out paper birches in an effort to cultivate more oaks and white pines in Minnesota in light of massive paper birch die-offs is an example of ___________.

Accepted Answer

Resistance forestry involves actively managing a forest to resist changes caused by disturbance or stress, such as the die-off of paper birches due to climate change. Thinning out paper birches to cultivate more resilient species such as oaks and white pines is an example of resistance forestry.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Mitigation refers to efforts aimed at reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, in order to prevent or limit further climate change. This can include using renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and reducing deforestation, among other actions.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT an example of adaptation to climate change?

Accepted Answer

Consuming more fossil fuels is not an example of adaptation to climate change, in fact, it exacerbates climate change by increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The other options listed are all examples of adaptation measures.

Question 8

Accepting climate change as inevitable and adjusting as best as possible is referred to as __________.

Accepted Answer

Adaptation refers to adjusting to the effects of climate change that are already happening or expected to happen, rather than trying to prevent or reverse them. This can include measures like building sea walls to protect against rising sea levels, developing drought-resistant crops, or updating building codes to withstand more extreme weather events.

Question 9

Which of the following are factors that prevent migrating tree species from thriving in their new, more northerly habitats?

Accepted Answer

All of the factors listed can prevent migrating tree species from thriving in their new, more northerly habitats. Deer can overbrowse young trees, leading to stunted growth and reduced survival. Summer water deficits can limit tree growth and cause stress. Beetle infestations can kill large numbers of trees, especially if the trees have not evolved natural mechanisms to defend against the beetles. Dry conditions which favor intense fires can also reduce tree populations or prevent new trees from establishing.

Question 10

Species have responded to global climate change in various ways. Which of the following is an example of how species have responded?

Accepted Answer

All of these answers are correct. Many species have responded to global climate change by shifting their ranges to regions with more suitable climates, blooming or hatching earlier in the year, and migrating to higher altitudes where temperatures are cooler.

Question 11

How would applying the precautionary principle now to carbon dioxide emissions help to avoid, or at least lessen, some of the more serious outcomes of a changing global climate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How would applying the precautionary principle now...

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

All of these answers are plausible scenarios for the boreal forests of northern Minnesota within the next century. Warmer soil conditions could affect the growth and survival of paper birch trees, which are currently abundant in the region. The increasing temperatures could also encourage the migration of temperate species like red maple. Additionally, with the changing climate, spruce trees could expand their range northwards. Ultimately, if the impacts of climate change are severe and go unchecked, there could be a risk of total forest loss in the region.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT an example of current or probable benefits from climate change to people in certain places?

Accepted Answer

Increased maple syrup production is not a probable benefit of climate change; in fact, climate change threatens maple syrup production due to changing weather patterns affecting sap flow.

Question 14

Further changes in global climate will have a significant effect on world forests. Global climate changes will impact both mean annual ______ and ______, which will cause shifts in tree populations.

Accepted Answer

Changes in temperature and precipitation will have significant impacts on world forests. This can cause shifts in tree populations as some species may not be able to survive in the new conditions, while others may thrive. Logging, oxygen availability, nitrogen levels, carbon dioxide levels, and available sunlight may also have impacts on forests, but they are less directly related to global climate changes.

Question 15

Which of the following facilitate mitigation efforts on a national or global scale?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed can facilitate mitigation efforts on a national or global scale. However, certain options may be more effective or appropriate in certain contexts. For example, command and control regulations may be necessary for enforcing emissions standards, while tax breaks may incentivize businesses to adopt sustainable practices. Carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems can both help reduce emissions by imposing financial costs on polluters, but they operate in slightly different ways. Overall, a combination of approaches may be necessary to effectively mitigate climate change.

Question 16

Climate changes that impact freeze-thaw patterns are predicted to have a negative impact on what industry in the northeastern United States?

Accepted Answer

Maple syrup production relies on specific freeze-thaw patterns, and any changes to these patterns due to climate change could have a negative impact on the industry in the northeastern United States.

Question 17

Infographic 21.7.

-Refer to Temperature and Atmospheric CO₂ Concentration from the Vostok Ice Core graph in Infographic 21.7. The relationship between temperature and carbon dioxide is complex. Explain the relationship between these two variables (1) as Earth comes out of a glacial period (ice age) and increases in carbon dioxide lag temperature increases by hundreds of years, and (2) in reference to the recent warming over the last hundred years where increased carbon dioxide release is preceding the warming.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Infographic 21.7.

-Refer to Temperature and Atmospheric CO₂...

Question 18

Potential effects of climate change likely include all of the following EXCEPT _______.

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed (A through D) are potential effects of climate change. Climate change can lead to more severe droughts, heat extremes, colder winters in some regions due to disrupted weather patterns, and increased fire risk in boreal forests due to drier conditions and higher temperatures.

Question 19

In Minnesota's North Woods, moving tree species to entirely new ranges where they do not currently grow, based on the notion that the speed of climate change will make it impossible for natural tree migratory processes to occur, is called _________.

Accepted Answer

Facilitation is the process of intentionally assisting the migration of tree species to new ranges to adapt to the changing climate. This technique involves planting and watering seedlings, clearing pathways for new trees, and providing nutrients. It is believed that this approach can help forest ecosystems maintain their health and productivity by facilitating the movement of trees to regions where the climate is more favorable for their growth.

Question 20

Describe how Milankovitch cycles help explain past climate change. Explain why the current warming cannot be attributed to these cycles.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how Milankovitch cycles help explain past...

Quiz 21: Climate Change- When the Trees Leave: Scientists Grapple With a Shifting Climate- Alternatives to Fossil Fuels