Question 1

In the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Peru, winds are pushing warm surface water away from the shore and allowing cold, nutrient-rich water to reach the surface, resulting in a surge of productivity and a very rich season for sardine fishermen.This region of the ocean is experiencing
A) ocean upwelling.
B) a rain shadow.
C) climate change.
D) a temperature inversion.
E) a change in topography.

Accepted Answer

The description matches the phenomenon of ocean upwelling, which occurs when winds push surface water away from shore, allowing deeper nutrient-rich water to rise to the surface. This results in increased productivity and abundance of marine organisms.

Question 2

A large area is deforested and remains bare.The loss of evapotranspiration from this forest will likely leave the regional climate
A) unchanged.
B) cooler and drier.
C) cooler and wetter.
D) warmer and drier.
E) warmer and wetter.

Accepted Answer

Deforestation results in the loss of vegetation that would have transpired large amounts of water into the atmosphere. This loss of evapotranspiration reduces the overall moisture content in the air, making it drier. Additionally, without the shading effect of the trees, more sunlight will be absorbed, increasing the temperature. Therefore, the regional climate will be warmer and drier.

Question 3

The continent of Europe is much warmer on average than similar latitudes in North America.This warmth is primarily a result of
A) a gyre in the North Pacific Ocean.
B) the shape of the European continent.
C) warm tropical water carried by the Gulf Stream.
D) deflection of the prevailing westerlies by the Coriolis effect.
E) warm tropical winds directed toward the Eastern Hemisphere.

Accepted Answer

The warmth in Europe is primarily due to the warm tropical water carried by the Gulf Stream, a strong ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and flows northeast along the eastern coast of North America before crossing the Atlantic Ocean towards Europe. This warm water helps moderate the temperatures in Europe, particularly in winter when the polar air masses would otherwise cause much colder temperatures.

Question 4

In the winter of 2011-2012, parts of Europe had more than double their normal snowfall.What conclusion can be drawn from this information?
A) Both the weather and the climate changed.
B) Neither the weather nor the climate changed.
C) The climate changed, but it was most likely temporary.
D) The weather changed, but no conclusion can be drawn about climate.
E) The climate changed, but no conclusion can be drawn about weather.

Accepted Answer

This information only pertains to one winter season and does not provide enough evidence of a long-term change in climate. However, it does suggest a temporary change in weather patterns, resulting in increased snowfall.

Question 5

Which topic is more closely aligned with environmentalism than ecology?
A) The dispersal of plant seeds by bats
B) How frequent fires affect the diversity of plants
C) The kinds of insects that pollinate geranium flowers
D) Whether an invasive ant species interferes with a native ant species
E) The effect of a forest management plan on the economy of a region

Accepted Answer

Environmentalism is more concerned with human activities and their impacts on the environment, including economic aspects, whereas ecology focuses on the interactions and relationships between organisms and their environment. The effect of a forest management plan on the economy of a region (E) directly ties into environmentalism by considering economic outcomes of environmental actions.

Question 6

The species diversification rate hypothesis for latitudinal differences in species diversity is that stable climates and larger geographical areas decrease extinction rates and result in the highest species diversity in the _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The species diversification rate hypothesis for latitudinal...

Question 7

Deforestation decreases the amount of sunlight absorbed by Earth, causing a cooling effect, in contrast to the heating caused by the loss of evapotranspiration.The change in sunlight absorbed is a result of the _______ effect.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Deforestation decreases the amount of sunlight absorbed...

Question 8

The term describing the continual movement of continents over time is _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The term describing the continual movement of...

Question 9

Ocean topography nearshore is flat and sloped, forming the continental shelf.Farther from shore, the continental shelf drops off steeply to abyssal environments that are several miles deep.Which characteristic is not present in these open ocean zones that include pelagic, benthic, and abyssal environments?
A) Life
B) Nutrients
C) Photosynthesis
D) Swimming organisms
E) Decaying organic matter

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis requires light and is not possible in the deep ocean where sunlight cannot penetrate.

Question 10

The gases in the atmosphere that maintain Earth's temperature by trapping heat radiating up from the surface and keeping it in the atmosphere are called _______ gases.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The gases in the atmosphere that maintain...

Question 11

Circulation patterns of surface ocean waters are called _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Circulation patterns of surface ocean waters are...

Question 12

Sunlight extends to the bottom of an ocean region, which has highly productive plankton populations at the surface, an extensive pelagic fish population, and bottom-dwelling organisms in seagrass beds and reefs.Which zone or zones are included in this region?
A) Photic zone only
B) Photic and coastal zones only
C) Photic, benthic, and coastal zones
D) Coastal, benthic, and abyssal zones
E) Coastal, ocean, and intertidal zones

Accepted Answer

This region includes the photic zone, where sunlight penetrates and supports productive plankton populations at the surface; the benthic zone, where bottom-dwelling organisms live in seagrass beds and reefs; and the coastal zone, which includes the interface between land and sea and extends out to the continental shelf. The abyssal zone, which is the deepest and least productive part of the ocean, and the intertidal zone, which is the area between high and low tide, are not included in this region.

Question 13

Air masses moving northwest and southwest toward the equator are called _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Air masses moving northwest and southwest toward...

Question 14

Which region of Earth receives the most heat and light per unit area?
A) The tropics
B) The North Pole
C) The South Pole
D) The temperate zones in winter
E) The temperate zones in summer

Accepted Answer

The tropics receive the most direct sunlight and heat per unit area because they are located near the equator where the sun's rays are most concentrated, resulting in higher temperatures and longer daylight hours throughout the year. The North and South Poles receive much less sunlight due to their location at extreme latitudes, while the temperate zones in winter have shorter daylight hours and lower sun angles. The temperate zones in summer may have longer daylight hours, but the sun's rays are spread out over a larger area, resulting in less heat per unit area.

Question 15

Urban landscapes are known to produce "heat islands," which increase urban temperatures significantly above temperatures in surrounding rural areas.These high temperatures result from all urban factors except
A) burning of fossil fuels by vehicles.
B) burning of fossil fuels by industries.
C) presence of parks that increase evapotranspiration.
D) absorption and radiation of heat by concrete and asphalt.
E) decrease in vegetation that carries out evapotranspiration.

Accepted Answer

The presence of parks would actually decrease urban temperatures as they increase evapotranspiration, which cools the surrounding area. All of the other factors listed contribute to the urban heat island effect.

Question 16

Earth's axis is tilted by 23.5 degrees.What would be the most likely effect on polar climates if the axis were tilted by just 10 degrees?
A) The poles would not be affected.
B) Neither pole would have seasonal changes.
C) Both poles would have less-pronounced seasonal changes.
D) Both poles would have more-pronounced seasonal changes.
E) Both poles would have warmer-than-average annual temperatures.

Accepted Answer

The tilt of the Earth's axis affects the intensity of seasonal changes at the poles. A smaller tilt would result in less-pronounced seasonal changes, meaning that the poles would experience milder winters and less extreme temperature fluctuations throughout the year.

Question 17

Plastic pollution entering the oceans tends to collect and swirl in vast circles within the major oceans and remain there for years.This is due to the presence of circulation patterns called _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Plastic pollution entering the oceans tends to...

Question 18

In the Amazon rainforest, cutting forests increases hazards around the remaining fragments, including fires, hunting, and disease.These increased hazards are the result of _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the Amazon rainforest, cutting forests increases...

Question 19

Which situation is an example of an interaction at the ecosystem level of organization?
A) A snake eats field mice.
B) Field mice nest in grasses.
C) Field mice mate with each other.
D) Ticks suck blood from field mice.
E) Field mice breathe oxygen from the air.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which situation is an example of an...

Question 20

The Amazon rainforest continues to be cut down.What change in Earth's albedo results from this deforestation?
A) Albedo increases, lowering the absorption of solar radiation and warming Earth.
B) Albedo increases, increasing the absorption of solar radiation and warming Earth.
C) Albedo decreases, lowering the absorption of solar radiation and cooling Earth.
D) Albedo decreases, increasing the absorption of solar radiation and warming Earth.
E) Albedo may increase or decrease and thus may either warm or cool Earth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Amazon rainforest continues to be cut...

Quiz 53: The Physical Environment and Biogeography of Life

In the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Peru, winds are pushing warm surface water away from the shore and allowing cold, nutrient-rich water to reach the surface, resulting in a surge of productivity and a very rich season for sardine fishermen.This region of the ocean is experiencing

A large area is deforested and remains bare.The loss of evapotranspiration from this forest will likely leave the regional climate

The continent of Europe is much warmer on average than similar latitudes in North America.This warmth is primarily a result of

In the winter of 2011-2012, parts of Europe had more than double their normal snowfall.What conclusion can be drawn from this information?

Which topic is more closely aligned with environmentalism than ecology?

The species diversification rate hypothesis for latitudinal differences in species diversity is that stable climates and larger geographical areas decrease extinction rates and result in the highest species diversity in the _______.

Deforestation decreases the amount of sunlight absorbed by Earth, causing a cooling effect, in contrast to the heating caused by the loss of evapotranspiration.The change in sunlight absorbed is a result of the _______ effect.

The term describing the continual movement of continents over time is _______.

The gases in the atmosphere that maintain Earth's temperature by trapping heat radiating up from the surface and keeping it in the atmosphere are called _______ gases.

Circulation patterns of surface ocean waters are called _______.

Sunlight extends to the bottom of an ocean region, which has highly productive plankton populations at the surface, an extensive pelagic fish population, and bottom-dwelling organisms in seagrass beds and reefs.Which zone or zones are included in this region?

Air masses moving northwest and southwest toward the equator are called _______.

Which region of Earth receives the most heat and light per unit area?

Urban landscapes are known to produce "heat islands," which increase urban temperatures significantly above temperatures in surrounding rural areas.These high temperatures result from all urban factors except

Earth's axis is tilted by 23.5 degrees.What would be the most likely effect on polar climates if the axis were tilted by just 10 degrees?

Plastic pollution entering the oceans tends to collect and swirl in vast circles within the major oceans and remain there for years.This is due to the presence of circulation patterns called _______.

In the Amazon rainforest, cutting forests increases hazards around the remaining fragments, including fires, hunting, and disease.These increased hazards are the result of _______.

Which situation is an example of an interaction at the ecosystem level of organization?

The Amazon rainforest continues to be cut down.What change in Earth's albedo results from this deforestation?