Question 1

Why is it warmer in the northern hemisphere in July than it is in December?
A)Earth is closer to the sun in the summer than the winter.
B)The sun's rays shine more directly on the northern hemisphere in the summer than in the winter.
C)There are more greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere in the summer than in the winter.
D)The sun's energy output is greater in the summer than it is in the winter.
E)The size and shape of Earth's elliptical orbit changes from nearly circular in the summer to highly elliptical in the winter.

Accepted Answer

The sun's rays shine more directly on the northern hemisphere in July (summer) than in December (winter) due to the tilt of Earth's axis. This direct sunlight results in warmer temperatures.

Question 2

Researchers estimate that black carbon may account for about one-half of all global warming.

Accepted Answer

Black carbon is a significant contributor to global warming, but it is not estimated to account for about one-half of all global warming. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane are the primary drivers of global warming.

Question 3

Incoming solar radiation is short-wave, while radiation outward from the Earth is long-wave.

Accepted Answer

Incoming solar radiation primarily consists of short-wave radiation, including visible light and ultraviolet light, while the Earth re-radiates energy back into space as long-wave radiation, primarily in the form of infrared radiation.

Question 4

The amount of water vapor in the clouds contributes to changing albedo.

Accepted Answer

Clouds with a high water vapor content tend to reflect more sunlight, increasing the albedo, which is the measure of how much light that hits a surface is reflected without being absorbed.

Question 5

Non-greenhouse gases make up more than 99.9% of the dry atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

Non-greenhouse gases, primarily nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2), make up about 78% and 21% of the Earth's atmosphere, respectively, totaling around 99% of the dry atmosphere, with argon and other gases making up the remainder. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor are present in much smaller concentrations.

Question 6

In the best-case scenario (strict mitigation), temperatures in the U.S. desert southwest are predicted to rise 5 degrees Celsius by late century.

Accepted Answer

In the best-case scenario, which involves strict mitigation efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, temperature increases would be less severe than a 5 degrees Celsius rise by late century, aiming to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Question 7

Major eruptions of volcanoes emit large amounts of CO₂ and CH₄, but their total contribution to atmospheric levels is small.

Accepted Answer

Volcanic eruptions do emit carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), but compared to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, their contribution to the total atmospheric levels of these greenhouse gases is relatively small.

Question 8

Past and future human actions influence the rate at which temperatures will rise in the future.

Accepted Answer

Past and future human actions, particularly those related to the emission of greenhouse gases, have a significant impact on the rate of temperature increase due to the enhanced greenhouse effect, which leads to global warming and climate change.

Question 9

The amount of solar radiation reaching the top of Earth's atmosphere changes in 30-year cycles.

Accepted Answer

The amount of solar radiation reaching the top of Earth's atmosphere does not change in strict 30-year cycles. Instead, it is influenced by the 11-year solar cycle, Earth's orbit and tilt, and other complex factors, but not in a predictable 30-year pattern.

Question 10

What do the vast majority of climatologists who have carefully examined the data agree on regarding human-induced global warming?
A)Human-induced global warming has begun and is increasing.
B)Human-induced global warming has begun, but it is decreasing.
C)Human-induced global warming has not yet begun, but should start by 2050.
D)Global warming has begun, but it is not human-induced.
E)Global warming has not begun.

Accepted Answer

The vast majority of climatologists agree that human-induced global warming has begun and is increasing, based on extensive research and data analysis showing rising global temperatures and climate changes attributed to human activities, especially the emission of greenhouse gases.

Question 11

An expanding sunspot reduces solar radiation.

Accepted Answer

Sunspots, despite being cooler and darker areas on the sun's surface, do not significantly reduce the overall solar radiation; the surrounding areas often become brighter, compensating for the decrease in radiation from the sunspots themselves.

Question 12

Based on a stringent mitigation scenario for future fossil fuel consumption, temperatures in the Arctic are expected to rise by at least 2°C, and under a minimal mitigation scenario would rise by about 5°C by mid-century.

Accepted Answer

Under stringent mitigation scenarios aimed at limiting global warming, Arctic temperatures are still expected to rise significantly due to the region's sensitivity to climate change. In scenarios with minimal mitigation efforts, the temperature increase is projected to be even more pronounced, reflecting the Arctic's vulnerability to changes in global fossil fuel consumption patterns.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a layer of Earth's atmosphere?
A)Mesosphere
B)Allosphere ​
C)Troposphere
D)Stratosphere
E)Ionosphere

Accepted Answer

The Earth's atmosphere is composed of several layers, including the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and the ionosphere (which overlaps with parts of the mesosphere and thermosphere). The term "allosphere" is not recognized as a layer of Earth's atmosphere, making it the correct choice for the layer that does not exist.

Question 14

Negative radiative forcing refers to more outgoing than incoming radiation.

Accepted Answer

Negative radiative forcing means that the Earth's system is losing more energy to space than it is receiving from the sun, leading to a cooling effect on the planet's climate.

Question 15

Judge the following sentence: Even though water vapor has the greatest effect as a greenhouse gas, it is not normally discussed as one BECAUSE water vapor is completely natural and we have no control over it.
A)The assertion and reason are both correct.
B)The assertion is correct and the reason is incorrect.
C)The assertion is incorrect and the reason is correct.
D)Both the assertion and the reason are incorrect.

Accepted Answer

The assertion is correct because water vapor does indeed have a significant greenhouse effect, more so than other gases like carbon dioxide or methane. The reason is also correct because water vapor is part of the natural water cycle, and its concentration in the atmosphere is not directly controlled by human activities, unlike emissions of CO2 or other anthropogenic greenhouse gases.

Question 16

Natural gas was the largest fuel source in the United States in 2013.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Natural gas was the largest fuel source...

Question 17

Tree-ring patterns from desert areas are not useful for climate studies because moisture is more determinative for tree growth than temperature.

Accepted Answer

Tree-ring patterns in desert areas are primarily influenced by moisture availability, which is a more significant factor in tree growth than temperature in these arid environments.

Question 18

What contains the largest reservoir of carbon?
A)atmosphere
B)deep ocean
C)shallow ocean
D)rock
E)soil

Accepted Answer

The largest reservoir of carbon is found in rocks, particularly in the form of carbonate minerals and fossil fuels.

Question 19

The atmosphere was 25°C to 30°C cooler during the last ice age relative to modern times.

Accepted Answer

During the last ice age, the global average temperature was about 4°C to 7°C cooler than today, not 25°C to 30°C cooler.

Question 20

Decreasing SO₂ pollution, which contributes to acid rain and respiratory diseases, will decrease the rate of global warming.

Accepted Answer

SO2 and NOx contribute to acid rain and respiratory diseases, but they do not have a direct warming effect like greenhouse gases (e.g., CO2, CH4). Reducing them primarily impacts acid rain and air quality, not global warming rates.

Quiz 11: Climate Change Processes and History

Why is it warmer in the northern hemisphere in July than it is in December?