Questions -
Part A -
Question 1 - The _______ is the layer of the atmosphere that contains _______ which protects the Earth from incoming ultraviolet radiation.
stratosphere/carbon dioxide
troposphere/carbon dioxide
troposphere/ozone
troposphere/argon
stratosphere/ozone
Question 2 - Which of the following are the most abundant gases in our atmosphere?
sulfur dioxide and nitrogen
oxygen and nitrogen
water vapor and oxygen
carbon dioxide and oxygen
nitrogen and carbon dioxide
Question 3 - The hydrosphere is made up of _______
oceans and lakes only.
all liquid water on Earth including oceans, lakes, streams and groundwater.
mainly frozen water such as the polar ice caps
groundwater, oceans and lakes only.
groundwater, lakes and streams only.
Question 4 - The cryosphere does NOT __________.
include glaciers, snow and sea ice.
cover about 10% of our land surface.
ever change it always remains constant.
exist entirely at the north and south poles.
store more than 75% of Earth's fresh water.
Question 5 - The biosphere _______ (choose all 3 correct answers)
does not significantly effect the climate system.
affects the climate system through absorpsion and release of greenhouse gases.
plays a central role in the carbon cycle.
comprises all living organisms on Earth.
does not include humans.
generates greenhouse gases but does not absorb them.
Question 6 - Without greenhouse gases, Earth would be _______.
much better off because we would have no global warming.
on average 33 degrees colder and covered in ice.
extremely hot and covered with magma.
just a little cooler and much more comfortable.
Question 7 - Choose the following TWO answers which are both forms of negative feedback in our Climate System.
plant growth feedback
radiative damping feedback
geoclynamo feedback
water vapor feedback
lithospheric feedback
albedo feedback
Question 8 - Greenhouse gases do NOT _______.
include ozone and methane.
make up about less than 5% of our atmosphere.
show an increase in concentration but have remained constant over the past 200 years.
include carbon dioxide and water vapor.
include nitrogen and oxygen.
Question 9 - When a change in one component is enhanced by the changes it induces in other components within a system, this is known as _______. These tend to _______ changes in a system.
positive feedback/stabilize
negative feedback/stabilize
positive feedback/amplify
negative feedback/amplify
Question 10 - What do scientists taking ice core drillings use the ratio of 18O/16O to determine?
calcium feedback at the time the ice formed
average surface temperature at the time the ice formed.
average temperature of the ice
methane concentration in the atmosphere at the time the ice formed.
level of CO2 concentration in the atmosphere at the time the ice formed.
Question 11 - Three of these statements about El Nino are true. Choose the ONE that is FALSE.
It involves warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean.
It was named by Peruvian fisherman and it means the boy child"
It is considered the main cause of global warming.
It is a short-term regional variation in climate that occurs every 3 to 7 years.
Question 12 - When a change in one component is reduced by the changes it induces in other components within a system, this is known as _______ . These tend to _______ changes in a system.
positive feedback/amplify
negative feedback/stabilize
negative feedback amplify
positive feedback/stabilize
Question 13 - A glacial cycle is made up of a warm period known as a(n) _______ and a cold period known as a(n) _______.
el nino cycle/la nina cycle
pleistocene period/milankovitch age
la nina cycle/el nino cycle
interglacial period/ice age
Question 14 - Thanks to ice-core drilling in Antarctica and Greenland at the Vostok Station, Russian and French scientists have uncovered evidence that strongly links _______.
volcanic cycles with carbon dioxide levels.
the Holocene with Wisconsin Glaciation
glacier levels with global warming.
Milankovitch cycles with glacial cycles.
Question 15 - How does an increase in cloud cover affect Earth's albedo?
Cloud cover increases Earth's albedo.
Cloud cover has no effect on Earth's albedo.
Cloud cover decreases Earth's albedo.
Earth has no albedo.
Question 16 - Which of the following is a correct residence time for the named molecule?
calcium in the ocean/600,000 years
sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere/20,000 years
oxygen in the atmosphere/200 years
nitrogen in the atmosphere/400,000 years
Question 17 - The lithosphere effects the climate system in all of the following ways EXCEPT:
The topography of the land affect wind and rain patterns.
Volcanism affects temperatures due to dust and gases produced.
The land surface absorbs and returns solar energy.
Movement of tectonic plates causes earthquakes.
Question 18 - Which of the following is FALSE regarding long-term global climate variations?
A glacial maximum can end abruptly.
The concentration of greenhouse gases decreases during ice ages.
It is unlikely that feedback mechanisms were involved with the ice ages.
During the past 500,000 years, glacial maxima occurred approximately every 100,000 years.
Question 19 - Which of the following is FALSE regarding the Carbon Cycle?
The ocean absorbs very little carbon dioxide.
Photosynthesis is the main pathway for carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Earth's atmosphere hasn't had levels of carbon dioxide this high for at least 1/2 a million years.
Metabolism, burning of fuels and decomposition are adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
In the past 200 years, carbon dioxide concentrations in our atmosphere have risen close to 50%.
Question 20 - What is one result of anthropogenic carbon emissions during this century?
Geochemical reservoirs of carbon in the lithosphere are increasing.
Milankovitch cycles are speeding up.
Excess CO2 is being dissolved in the ocean causing acidification which is harming marine organisms.
The amount CO2 dissolved in the ocean is becoming less and less.
Sea levels are sinking as glaciers and ice sheets have been growing.
Question 21 - Over the last century, the annual average surface temperature of the Earth has
decreased by 2.3oC
increased by 3.1oC
increased by 2.0oC
increased by 0.6oC
remained unchanged.
Question 22 - Over the past 200 years, concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere has increased significantly due mainly to _______ and _______.
formation of calcium carbonate and meteorite collisions
deforestation and burning of fossil fuels
photosynthesis and cellular respiration
reforestation and volcanic eruptions
air-sea gas exchange and calcification
Question 23 - Patterns of fluxes of chemicals from one component of the Earth system to another are known as _______.
residence times
glacial cycles
geochemical cycles
chemical reservoires
Question 24 - What is believed to have been the most likely cause for the ice ages over the past 1.8 million years to occur?
Sunspots and gamma radiation produced by solar forcing.
Variations in Earth's eccentricity, tilt and axis.
Collision of comets with Earth.
Dense ozone which decreased Earth' albedo.
Part B - Typhoon Questions
Q1. All of the snow and ice on Earth together make up the _____________
atmosphere
hydrospere
cryosphere
stratosphere
lithosphere
biosphere
Q2. All of the fresh and salt water on the earth together make up the _____________
atmosphere
hydrospere
cryosphere
stratosphere
lithosphere
biosphere
Q3. The crust and uppermost mantle together make up the_____________
atmosphere
hydrospere
cryosphere
stratosphere
lithosphere
biosphere
Q4. The layer of the atmosphere which absorbs UV radiation due to its high ozone concentration is the_____________
hydrospere cryosphere
stratosphere atmosphere
lithosphere biosphere
Q5. All of the living organisms on the earth together make up the_____________
atmosphere
hydrospere
cryosphere
stratosphere
lithosphere
biosphere
Q6. Climate is defined as:
long-term average of temperature and precipitation.
long-term precipitation trends.
long-term changes in the composition of the atmosphere.
daily fluctuations in localized temperature and precipitation.
Q7. Which of the following is not a major component of the climate system?
atmosphere
hydrospere
cryosphere
stratosphere
lithosphere
biosphere
Q8. The most abundant gases in our atmosphere are:
Carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
Oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Nitrogen and oxygen.
Methane and water vapor.
Q9. Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?
ozone
carbon dioxide
methane
oxygen
Water vapor
Q10. What percent of the hydrosphere is made of freshwater sources?
55%
25%
10%
1%
Q11. Major volcanic eruptions impact the climate system primarily by:
raising atmospheric temperatures by producing so much heat.
lowering atmospheric temperatures due to ash and dust blocking solar radiation.
Q12. Photosynthesis in the biosphere plays a key factor in modulating the:
carbon cycle.
calcium cycle.
rock cycle.
nitrogen cycle.
Q13. Without greenhouse gases, the average Earth surface temperature would be:
100oC
33oC
0oC
-19oC
50oC
Q14. Which of the following are positive feedback(s) in the climate system?
water vapor feedback
radiative damping feedback
albedo feedback
plant growth feedback
lithospheric feedback
Q15. How frequently do El Niño events occur?
annually
3-7 years
10-15 years
once a century
Q16. True or False: The Pleistocene is the only time in Earth's history when continental glaciers accumulated.
True
False
Q17. The Pleistocene glaciations are believed to have been caused by:
anthropogenic climate change.
Milankovitch cycles.
methane gas eruptions.
asteroid impacts.
Q18. True or False: Global warming and the greenhouse effect are the same thing.
True
False
Q19. A precise estimate of paleotemperatures can be measured from marine sediments and ice cores using:
18O/16O ratio.
13C/12C ratio.
15N/14N ratio.
34S/32S ratio.
Q20. Which of the following are negative feedback(s) in the climate system?
water vapor feedback
radiative damping feedback
albedo feedback
plant growth feedback
lithospheric feedback
Q21. How much has average global temperature increased in the past 100 years? (known as 20th century warming)
18oC
8oC
0.6oC
0oC
2oC
4oC
Q22. Increased uptake of CO2 by the oceans is currently causing ocean_________.
acidification.
oxidation.
nitrification.
cooling.
Q23. The cycling of carbon is of particular interest today, as increased production of atmospheric carbon dioxide gas has been linked to:
melting of polar ice.
intensifying of the greenhouse effect.
global warming.
All of the above.
None of the above.
Q24. Which of the following cause an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
Plant Growth
Burning Fossil Fuels
Carbon Dioxide dissolves in the ocean
Deforestation.