EARTH'S CLIMATE HISTORY

What is the relationship between Earth's temperature and the number of sunspots that occur? A. An increased number of sunspots causes an increase in Earth's temperature. B. A decreased number of sunspots causes an increase in Earth's temperature. C. An increased number of sunspots causes Earth's temperature to remain constant. D. A decreased number of sunspots causes Earth's temperature to remain constant.

An increased number of sunspots causes an increase in Earth's temperature.

What is one cause of long-lasting climate change? A. glacial deposits B. Earth's elliptical orbit C. Earth's rotation D. the Sun's elliptical orbit

Earth's elliptical orbit

Which is a natural factor that causes long-term climate change? A. Earth's position B. pollen grains C. fossils D. ice cores

Earth's position

Which is one way that analyzing ice benefits scientists who study ancient climates? A. Scientists can analyze frozen volcanic dust to help predict eruptions. B. Scientists can drill deep into the ice to collect ice cores. C. Scientists can use pollen grains in ice to make inferences about the climate area. D. Scientists can study tree rings in ice to learn more about past climates.

Scientists can drill deep into the ice to collect ice cores.

What statement is accurate based on the study of tree rings? A. Trees near the arctic will have thicker rings than those near the equator. B. Trees with a pattern of thin rings indicate a wet, warm climate. C. Size and density of tree rings can give information on past climates. D. The number of rings indicate how much fruit the tree can bear.

Size and density of tree rings can give information on past climates.

What happens when the Sun emits more energy than normal? A. Solar flares and sunspots occur, increasing Earth's temperature. B. Sunspots and volcanic eruptions occur, increasing Earth's temperature. C. Volcanic eruptions and movement of continents occur, decreasing Earth's temperature. D. Movement of continents and solar flares occurs, decreasing Earth's temperature.

Solar flares and sunspots occur, increasing Earth's temperature.

Which statement best explains how tectonic activity affects long-term climate change? A. Volcanic eruptions can cause both global warming and global cooling. B. The movement of continents changes wind patterns and ocean currents. C. The change in Earth's tilt and its orbit around the Sun cause climate change. D. The increase of sunspots increases Earth's temperature.

The movement of continents changes wind patterns and ocean currents.

Mt. Pinatubo, a volcano in the Philippines, erupted in 1991. The eruption resulted in the cooling of Earth's surface for two years. What can you deduce from the information given? A. Solar energy seeped through the atmosphere. B. The eruption caused sunspot activity to increase. C. The volcano released a lot of sulfur dioxide and ash. D. Greenhouse gases caused the cooling of Earth's surface.

The volcano released a lot of sulfur dioxide and ash.

How do scientists study pollen grains to help them understand climate change? A. by analyzing and making inferences about them B. by observing and listing facts about them C. by studying and reading more about them D. by writing hypothesis about them

by analyzing and making inferences about them

Pollen grains help scientists A. identify plants and make assumptions on past climate conditions. B. understand tree growth and make assumptions on past climate conditions. C. understand how Earth was shaped and make assumptions on past climate conditions. D. identify major ice ages and make assumptions on past climate conditions

identify plants and make assumptions on past climate conditions.

Which factors of Earth's position would contribute to long-term climate change? A. its elliptical orbit and the tilt on its axis B. its distance from other planets and the tilt on its axis C. the tilt on its axis and its distance from the moon D. its distance from the moon and its elliptical orbit

its elliptical orbit and the tilt on its axis

Which played a major role in altering wind patterns and ocean currents? A. volcanic eruptions B. ice ages C. movement of continents D. solar flares

movement of continents

What should scientists consider when studying tree rings to understand the variations in the local climate? A. patterns in their width, their density, and their composition B. odor from the wood, patterns in their width, and their density C. their composition, odor from the wood, and patterns in their width D. their density, composition, and location

patterns in their width, their density, and their composition

What do scientists study to reconstruct past climate conditions? A. tree branches, pollen grains, and rain water B. pollen grains, tree rings, and fossils C. rain water, tree rings, and fossils D. fossils, pollen grains, and tree branches

pollen grains, tree rings, and fossils

What do glaciers deposit that helps scientists study ancient climates? A. plants that produce pollen grains B. rocks formed from lava C. sediment that contains fossils D. animals that migrate

sediment that contains fossils

What are sunspots? A. storms on Earth's surface B. storms on the Sun's surface C. hot gases on the Sun D. holes in the Sun

storms on the Sun's surface

Which substance may lower air temperatures after a volcanic eruption? A. lava B. sulfur dioxide C. carbon dioxide D. water vapor

sulfur dioxide

What happens when volcanoes release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere? a. The climate gets warmer. b. The climate gets cooler. c. Winter becomes longer. d. Summer becomes longer.

the climate gets warmer

What is a fossil? A. the remains of an animal or plant preserved within a layer of rock B. a large body of compacted ice formed over thousands of years C. the energy radiated from the Sun D. a change in the structure of Earth's surface

the remains of an animal or plant preserved within a layer of rock

In what type of climate do trees produce narrower rings? A. cool and dry B. warm and wet C. cool and wet D. warm and dry

cool and dry

Which is one source that scientists use to reconstruct past climate conditions? A. fossils frozen in glaciers B. daily temperatures C. the tilt of Earth's axis D. running water

fossils frozen in glaciers

How can the process of climate change best be described? A. artificial and sporadic B. dangerous and quick C. natural and continuous D. unnatural and short-term

natural and continuous

What most likely caused the ice ages? A. the size of tree rings and the amount of pollen grains B. solar flares and gassy ejections from the Sun C. the tilt of the Earth's axis and the shape of its orbit D. the temperatures of the Sun and moon

the tilt of the Earth's axis and the shape of its orbit

How do scientists use ice to study ancient climates? A. through glacial deposits and ice cores B. through glacial deposits and ice ages C. through ice cores and and Earth's ellipse D. through Earth's ellipse and ice ages

through glacial deposits and ice cores

In what type of climate do trees produce wider rings? A. cool and dry B. warm and wet C. cool and wet D. warm and dry

warm and wet

Which correctly lists the three weather factors that are indicators of climate change? A. sunsets, wind patterns, clouds B. ocean currents, ice cores, temperature C. temperature, wind patterns, ice cores D. wind patterns, temperature, ocean currents

wind patterns, temperature, ocean currents