environmental science exam 2

What has science identified as the clearest danger line of global temperature increase? 1.5 C 2 C 2.5 C 3 C

1.5 C

Going how far back in time do we have reliable data showing the correlation between CO2 and temperature data for the Earth's climate? 8,000 years ago 80,000 years ago 800,000 years ago 8,000,000 years ago

800,000 years ago

Of all the world's fresh water, nearly ___ percent is tied up in glaciers, ice caps, and snowfields. 25 50 75 90

90

What has been the biggest source of original climate change disinformation? A cluster of think tanks that are NOT applying scientific principles and steps, including transparency and peer review. Think tanks. Social media. Politicians.

A cluster of think tanks that are NOT applying scientific principles and steps, including transparency and peer review.

Which of the following would have the highest albedo? A field of black soil A snowfield A dark forest An asphalt parking lot A grass field

A snowfield

The results from various methods and sources of evidence (tree rings, deep sea mud cores, sedimentary rocks, and ice cores) for establishing Earth's climate history Disagree substantially as to the climate history, creating a challenge for climate scientists seeking a global baseline. Mostly agree, but deep sea mud cores suggest oceans have had larger temperature changes than suggested by rock and ice core analysis. Can't fundamentally agree because each line of evidence is very situational and contextual, both temporally and spatially. Agree substantially despite their different sources, providing high confidence that climate scientists have a good picture of the Earth's climate history.

Agree substantially despite their different sources, providing high confidence that climate scientists have a good picture of the Earth's climate history.

In general, water use worldwide is dominated by Agricultural use Domestic needs Industrial activities Use as drinking water All of these are sectors that use water about equally

Agricultural use

What sector emits the most nitrous oxide (N2O)? Agriculture, via livestock. Agriculture, via applying fertilizer. Waste, via landfills. Energy, via burning fossil fuels.

Agriculture, via applying fertilizer.

What sector emits the most methane (CH4)? Agriculture, via livestock. Agriculture, via applying fertilizer. Waste, via landfills. Energy, via burning fossil fuels.

Agriculture, via livestock.

______________ is an example of a natural process that is accelerated by human activities. Eutrophication The weathering and release of toxic inorganic minerals from rocks The mobilization and concentration of soluble salts from groundwater Sediment loading of rivers All of these are correct

All of these are correct

Davies thinks we can learn from COVID-19. What does he mean? We can pivot on a dime. We can afford whatever we can do. Without genuine public policy, changes dont last, and we wont do what needs to be done. Without genuine leadership there will be no public policy. Without citizen engagement there will be no leadership. All of these are correct.

All of these are correct.

Why is climate change a threat to growing food? Areas with suitable summer temperatures for crops will shift northward. Increased water scarcity will reduce water available for irrigation of crops. Heat waves are increasing in severity and frequency in some places, other places have increasing storm intensity and flooding, all of which can damage or destroy crops. All of these are correct; all of these threaten our ability to grow food.

All of these are correct; all of these threaten our ability to grow food.

Why is establishing a baseline for natural climate behavior important? So we can understand the impact of future human behavior on the climate system. So we can understand the major factors that drive the climate system. So we can compare the historical baseline with recent changes and detect trends. So we can compare historical factors with recent factors to detect what recent factors we should target for study. All of these are reasons why it's important.

All of these are reasons why it's important.

Secondary pollutants Harm only vulnerable members of a population Become dangerous after reacting in the atmosphere Are produced in lesser quantities than primary pollutants Are less dangerous than other pollutants Are classified by the EPA as the second-most dangerous and abundant

Become dangerous after reacting in the atmosphere

What food is responsible for the highest CO2-equivalent emissions? Pork. Chocolate. Nuts. Beef. Corn.

Beef.

In order to avoid producing thermal plumes, power plants often Increase the efficiency of their energy use Warm entire rivers to ease temperature gradients Chemically alter their effluent Build cooling towers or ponds All of these are correct

Build cooling towers or ponds

The purpose of ice core drilling is to analyze trapped ancient bubbles of atmosphere for ________ and ____________. Helium and Hydrogen CO and Hydrogen isotopes CO2 and Hydrogen isotopes CO2 and Oxygen isotopes Organic material

CO2 and Oxygen isotopes

The greenhouse effect in the atmosphere occurs because Clouds reflect sunlight back into space Oceans absorb heat, and then release it slowly at night Stratospheric ozone absorbs UV radiation CO2, water vapor, methanol, and other gases absorb infrared radiation All of these are correct

CO2, water vapor, methanol, and other gases absorb infrared radiation

Davies gives a hypothetical where we (Utahns, and broadly, Americans) all turn off all lights, eat no meat, and don't use cars or planes. By his calculations, we'd each still have about 6 GT CO2 footprint per year. What is his point with this hypothetical? Changing personal behavior is sufficient to reduce GHG emissions. Lighting, meat, and travel are the average American's top 3 sources of GHG emissions because of systemic infrastructure. Changing personal behavior alone is NOT sufficient to reduce GHG emissions, we need to make systemic changes to infrastructure to drop our GHG emissions further. Policy changes and systemic changes to infrastructure will be ineffective if we do NOT change our personal behavior.

Changing personal behavior alone is NOT sufficient to reduce GHG emissions, we need to make systemic changes to infrastructure to drop our GHG emissions further.

What country generates the most CO2 from coal? China United States India

China

What fossil fuel generates the most CO2? Coal Oil Gas All are the same per weight.

Coal

What two things does the hydrologic cycle do? Distributes and purifies water Distributes and warms water Distributes and contaminates water Distributes and increases the salinity of water

Distributes and purifies water

What is the biggest sector for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions? Energy Agriculture Transportation Food waste

Energy

When natural waters are overloaded with plant nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate ions, they become Oligotrophic Dystrophic Eutrophic Metatrophic Megatrophic

Eutrophic

What are the personal actions that Davies suggests we do? Eat only grass-fed beef, and eat it only a few times a year. Find ways to each drop our carbon footprint by 15% a year, every year. Buy carbon offsets with 15% of our income a year, every year. Lobby for companies and organizations, including universities, to divest of fossil fuel stocks.

Find ways to each drop our carbon footprint by 15% a year, every year.

The hydrologic compartment that contains the greatest amount of fresh water is Groundwater The Great Lakes Living organisms and biomass Ice and snow Clouds in the atmosphere

Ice and snow

What source of climate data has been overall the best for establishing the baseline for Earth's historical climate cycles? Tree rings. Deep sea mud cores. Ancient sedimentary rocks that have undergone chemical changes from interactions with the atmosphere. Ice cores from glaciers and ice sheets.

Ice cores from glaciers and ice sheets.

Where does the most spilled oil originate? Big oil spills like the Deep Water Horizon Spill Faulty and poorly-maintained oil extraction and storage equipment like tanks Natural processes that leech oil from desposits like shale oil Intentional oil dumping from ships, vehicle maintenance, urban runoff, and related activities

Intentional oil dumping from ships, vehicle maintenance, urban runoff, and related activities

When something is measured as "CO2 equivalent" what does that mean? It means that the CO2 released is equivalent to that amount of GHG (greenhouse gas). If 1 kg methane is released, we count it as 1 kg GHG, standardized as CO2 equivalent. It means that the warming effect of the GHG is measured as if it was CO2 that was warming. If 1 kg methane can warm 25 times as much as 1 kg CO2, it would count as that much CO2 equivalent: 25 kg. It means that the amount of the pollutant, once it reacts to solar radiation and molecules in the air, will result in the specified amount of CO2. It refers to the source material, usually fossil fuels, measured in equivalent CO2 release when burned as fuel under optimal conditions.

It means that the warming effect of the GHG is measured as if it was CO2 that was warming. If 1 kg methane can warm 25 times as much as 1 kg CO2, it would count as that much CO2 equivalent: 25 kg.

What does Davies and secretary-general of the United Nations Guterres mean by saying the climate situation is an emergency? It's a situation that requires an immediate response to prevent catastrophic outcomes. It's a situation that requires immediate intervention by trained professionals. It's a situation that requires immediate closure of all fossil fuel power plants, as if they were about to explode

It's a situation that requires an immediate response to prevent catastrophic outcomes.

What political affilitation is most susceptible to social cognitive mistakes, tendencies to favor one's social identity, and tendencies to listen to elites that align with one's identity? Liberals. Conservatives. So-called far-left. So-called far-right. It's a trick question; all humans are susceptible regardless of affiliation.

It's a trick question; all humans are susceptible regardless of affiliation.

Which of the following statements is FALSE? The likelihood of having radon gas in your home depends largely upon the geology and soil types in your region. According to the EPA, toxic air pollutants are generally much more concentrated indoors than outdoors. One of the reasons indoor air pollutants are so dangerous is the high amount of time people are indoors. In the less-developed countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, there is less indoor air pollution than in developed countries. It's a trick question; all of these statements are true.

It's a trick question; all of these statements are true.

Which of these are NOT part of Dr. Howe's advice on talking about climate change? (the "Big Five") It's real. It's us, humans. Experts agree; there's consensus. It's bad; it's harmful to humans. It's personal; we can make the right choice. There's hope; we can solve it.

It's personal; we can make the right choice.

Climate is a description of ________ weather conditions. Long-term regional Stable and unchanging Temporary Temporary local Annual

Long-term regional

Rising, expanding air masses create a region of Low pressure Warming air High pressure Dry air Cooling air

Low pressure

What seems to be the pattern (and correlation) with beliefs, by county, that global warming is mostly human-caused? More urban counties have majorities that believe that it is human-caused, more rural counties have smaller majorities or minorities; those in counties with substantial fossil fuel extraction believe less overall than other rural counties. More urban counties have majorities that believe it is NOT human-caused, more rural counties have smaller majorities or minorities; those in counties with substantial fossil fuel extraction are roughly the same as other rural counties. More urban and coastal counties believe that it is human-caused, more inland counties, which tend to be rural, believe less.

More urban counties have majorities that believe that it is human-caused, more rural counties have smaller majorities or minorities; those in counties with substantial fossil fuel extraction believe less overall than other rural counties.

How does the United States compare in CO2 emissions per capita to the other large-population countries in the world (e.g. China, India, Nigeria)? Much higher. Roughly equivalent. Much lower.

Much higher.

If all signatories follow the Paris agreement, is that sufficient for keeping the Earth below 1.5 C degrees warming? No. Yes. Yes, but the the IPCC's confidence is in it being sufficient is 50-70%. Yes, IF the methane amendment to the agreement is ratified by all original signing countries

No.

Atmospheric deposition of contaminants is an excellent example of The properties of water that allow it to disperse contaminants Nonpoint pollution A point source of pollution The relative ease in determining sources of contaminants A primary source of pollution

Nonpoint pollution

What is confirmation bias? A principle of good science where scientists confirm sources of bias and then attempt to eliminate them. Confirming your bias by thinking critically. Only paying attention to and believing things that agree with your beliefs and perspectives.

Only paying attention to and believing things that agree with your beliefs and perspectives.

What good science principles and steps does the IPCC follow? Open data transparency, releasing draft reports, and multiple stages of rigorous peer review by scientists. Climate scientists must use rigorous double-blind experiments when extracting, measuring, and assessing ice cores. Thorough review of the existing literature before designing experiments and studies to address the major gaps in climate knowledge, and peer review of the results of those experiments.

Open data transparency, releasing draft reports, and multiple stages of rigorous peer review by scientists.

For Americans, what are two big factors strongly related to climate change beliefs that involve social cognition? Self-interest and denial. People's estimation of scientific consensus and people's political affilitation. Personal experience and anecdotes from friends.

People's estimation of scientific consensus and people's political affilitation.

Ozone is produced by Incomplete burning of fuels Combustion of sulphur-containing fuel Decaying organic matter Photochemical oxidation The burning of coal

Photochemical oxidation

_________ sources of water pollution are relatively easy to monitor and regulate, while _____________ sources of water pollution are difficult to monitor and clean up. Domestic; industrial Primary; tertiary pollutant Nonpoint; point Tertiary pollutant; primary Point; nonpoint

Point; nonpoint

What is a tipping point example that Dr. Rob Davies gives? Polar ice melting, the water on top absorbing more heat, then melting more as a positive feedback. Black carbon release from tundra that absorbs solar radiation, thawing more tundra as a positive feedback. Greenland ice sheet melting and changing Pacific ocean currents, the changed currents then melting more ice as a positive feedback. All of these answers are correct.

Polar ice melting, the water on top absorbing more heat, then melting more as a positive feedback.

Withdrawal of groundwater often causes subsidence, a situation where Aquifer volume decreases sharply Withdrawals exceed recharge rates Water quality and water tables fall Porous rocks settle and ground level falls Wells dry up

Porous rocks settle and ground level falls

Primary sewage treatment involves Removing solids from water Removing all organic matter from water Making water transparent again Removing all bacteria Making water usable for agriculture

Removing solids from water

As a cold front advances, the warm air is forced to Rise, become warmer, and absorb more moisture Go under the mass of cold air Retreat laterally and become more dense Fall, condense, and lose its moisture Rise, cool, and release its moisture

Rise, cool, and release its moisture

The Coriolis effect is caused by the Jet stream Rotation of the Earth Heating and cooling of air masses Seasonal changes in air temperature and humidity Movement of tectonic plates

Rotation of the Earth

The different layers of the atmosphere are kept from mixing by Sharp temperature boundaries Contrasting gas compositions The extreme stillness within each layer Physical barriers composed of thick layers of atmospheric dust Sharp density boundaries

Sharp temperature boundaries

The most dangerous airborne particulates are those that are Large enough to damage the skin and eyes Small enough to be drawn into the lungs Anthropogenic Liquid Produced in industrial settings

Small enough to be drawn into the lungs

Even if we have the same amount of precipitation, if more of it is rain than snow, why is that an issue? Snow does not capture SO2 like rain does, and acid rain is particularly damaging to plants in winter. Snowmelt is an important water source that keeps streams flowing in the warmer months, replenishing reservoirs and providing water when there is little rain. The cooler air caused by snowpack is an important factor for storm fronts releasing their precipitation in the mountains, which keeps keeps streams flowing in the warmer months, replenishing reservoirs. Provided that municipalities build larger reservoirs to capture the rain, having increasingly more rain than snow isn't an issue.

Snowmelt is an important water source that keeps streams flowing in the warmer months, replenishing reservoirs and providing water when there is little rain.

Which of the following is NOT an important greenhouse gas? Methane Carbon dioxide Nitrous oxide Sulfur dioxide

Sulfur dioxide

When El Niño occurs every three to five years, a mass of warm Pacific water that is usually pushed westward by trade winds Surges back eastward toward South America Becomes much warmer than usual, strengthening trade winds Cools dramatically Sinks and therefore cools substantially Surges northward toward Japan

Surges back eastward toward South America

How does Americans' perceptions of consensus compare to actual (scientific) measures of consensus? Terrible. They are way off and answer far below the real value, which is 97%. Pretty well. They are close to the real value, which is 97%.

Terrible. They are way off and answer far below the real value, which is 97%.

The main reason that surface water pollution has largely decreased in the United States since 1950 is The Clean Water Act A series of epidemics that inspired action The discovery of newer technology that makes it cheaper not to pollute The decrease in water withdrawal for industrial uses The emphasis, in 1950, on watershed managemen

The Clean Water Act

Why is cement production a major worldwide factor in CO2 emissions? The chemical process to create clinker from limestone releases CO2; thus it's not possible to create cement without releasing CO2, even if we used renewables. Heating limestone to create cement is an energy-intensive process, and that energy production emits a lot of CO2. Mining limestone AND heating clinker to create cement is an energy-intensive process, and that energy production emits a lot of CO2.

The chemical process to create clinker from limestone releases CO2; thus it's not possible to create cement without releasing CO2, even if we used renewables.

Water scarcity occurs when Renewable water supplies are slow to recover. Populations are evenly dispersed. Renewable water supplies are slow to diminish. The demand for water exceeds the available amount or when poor quality restricts its use.

The demand for water exceeds the available amount or when poor quality restricts its use.

Aerosols are Gases produced by industry Tiny particles and droplets suspended in the air The principal gas involved in the greenhouse effect Tiny droplets of a very specific chemical composition The principal gas involved in global warming

Tiny particles and droplets suspended in the air

With deforestation, what process of the hydrologic cycle is diminished? Transpiration moving water into the atmosphere Evaporation of surface water Movement of moist air from ocean to land Runoff from precipitation Evaporation from oceans

Transpiration moving water into the atmosphere

The atmospheric zone where most weather events occur is the ________________. Stratosphere Thermosphere Troposphere Mesosphere Stratopause

Troposphere

___________ ozone is harmful, damaging plants and human health while ozone at the _________ level screens out mutagenic ultraviolet radiation. Stratospheric; troposphere Thermospheric; mesosphere Tropospheric; stratosphere Mesospheric; thermosphere Stratospheric; mesosphere

Tropospheric; stratosphere

What country generates the most CO2 from oil, and also the most from natural gas? United States China India

United States

When an area of the Earth's surface becomes very hot, the air above it Condenses and cools Warms, expands, and rises Warms, condenses, and releases rain Expands and sinks Condenses and sinks

Warms, expands, and rises

For Americans, what are two big factors in climate change belief that are related to non-social cognition? (select two) We believe personal experiences, and weigh them heavily compared to impersonal data. We are very bad at perceiving and understanding stock-and-flow problems. We are very bad at understanding the greenhouse effect. We are easily swayed by reports from experts.

We believe personal experiences, and weigh them heavily compared to impersonal data. We are very bad at perceiving and understanding stock-and-flow problems.

What are the implications Dr. Rob Davies gives for global society's use of fossil fuels? Should we be expending energy and effort on finding new fossil fuel resources? While we cannot afford to burn any more fossil fuels, we will need to continue fossil fuel prospecting because of the manufacture of plastics and other polymers. We should only be expanding our natural gas prospecting; coal and oil emit too much CO2 and we must cease using them immediately. We don't need to find more; we can use 50% of our proven reserves before 1.5 C warming. We don't need to find more; we can only use 5% of what we've already found if we are to avoid higher than 1.5 C warming.

We don't need to find more; we can only use 5% of what we've already found if we are to avoid higher than 1.5 C warming.

What is the issue with waiting until the near future to reduce carbon emissions, so that our peak use of fossil fuels is higher? (how does the decline we would need change?) It's a trick question: technology is such a key factor in emissions we can't know how the decline would change. We would need to decline less steeply. We would need to decline much more steeply.

We would need to decline much more steeply.

Milankovitch cycles involve the periodic ___________ and could be responsible for ________ weather changes. Convection currents in the lower atmosphere; drastic Summer/winter seasonality on the Earth; gradual Wobbling of the earth's axis and orbital shifts; cyclic Tidal cycles from month to month; seasonal Seasons; daily

Wobbling of the earth's axis and orbital shifts; cyclic

For Americans, what are the two variables related to social cognition that seem to be driving climate skepticism and denial? (select two) Worldviews, related to social identity. Elite cues amplified by media. Group meta-perceptions. Mob mentality.

Worldviews, related to social identity. Elite cues amplified by media.

Is there evidence that Exxon knew that burning fossil fuels would result in cause climate change, and that climate change could harm the public? Yes, theres documented evidence from their own records. No, there's no evidence, only hearsay.

Yes, theres documented evidence from their own records.

Does telling people about the true percentage of scientific consensus on climate change (about 97%) have any impact? Yes, they increase their beliefs about consensus. No, their beliefs rarely, if ever, change.

Yes, they increase their beliefs about consensus.

Do Americans, overall, support rebates for electric vehicles, solar panels, and a carbon tax? Yes, yes, yes. Yes, no, no. Yes, yes, no. No, no, no.

Yes, yes, yes.

Do most Americans think global warming is happening? Yes. 2/3rds do. No. Less than 1/2 do.

Yes. 2/3rds do.

Carbon dioxide is a major factor in the global warming story since it creates its own heat through a poorly understood reaction. releases energy as a result of molecular decay. absorbs more infrared radiation than it emits. is present in the atmosphere in incredibly large quantity.

absorbs more infrared radiation than it emits.

Sea-level rise in the past 20 years has accelerated; it's happening faster slowed; it's happening slower stabilized; it's happening at the same rate fluctuated rapidly; it's fast some years, slow others

accelerated; it's happening faster

Air pollution can contribute to water pollution through a process called point source pollution. atmospheric deposition. precipitation. oxygen sag. eutrophication.

atmospheric deposition.

The use of water to cool industrial facilities can result in a thermal plume. can attract certain fish, birds, and marine mammals. was banned as a result of the Clean Water Act. can result in a thermal plume and attract certain fish, birds, and marine mammals.

can result in a thermal plume.

Since the 1986 ban on leaded gasoline in the United States, there have been no appreciable improvements as a result of this legislation. children's average blood lead levels have dropped and average IQ's have risen. children's blood lead levels have continued to rise, calling into question the effectiveness of the legislation.

children's average blood lead levels have dropped and average IQ's have risen.

As aggregate emissions of the six criteria pollutants ______________ since 1970, gross domestic product has _____________. decreased, stayed the same decreased, increased decreased, decreased increased, decreased

decreased, increased

The Keeling graph, although it has yearly oscillations, shows that the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere __________. is remaining constant. is slowly decreasing. has sharp increases about every five years. is steadily rising.

is steadily rising.

The main activity of the IPCC is to _______. refute any evidence that climate change exists make recommendations to UN member nations on climate change. make general assessments of all climate change research at regular intervals of time. make policies to combat climate change

make general assessments of all climate change research at regular intervals of time.

Convection currents move energy within the atmosphere. are the main cause of evaporation of water. are particularly strong ocean currents having substantial effects on coastal weather. create electrostatic discharge along cold fronts that lead to lightning.

move energy within the atmosphere.

Obtaining usable freshwater by processing seawater is not cost-effective in most places. not technically possible on a large scale. widely expected to resolve the water crisis in most developing countries that front on oceans. not practical because the technology doesn't exist.

not cost-effective in most places.

The largest single use of water for industrial purposes is for canning and food processing. cooling. power production. washing produce in food processing industries.

power production.

The movement of energy from the tropics toward the pole is accomplished principally by all of the following except the movement of water vapor toward the poles. ocean currents. the movement of air masses toward the poles. seasonal changes.

seasonal changes.

In the process of hydraulic fracturing (fracking), water mixed with chemicals is used to break rock to access natural gas. Because of the added chemicals, this water cannot be returned to surface waters. This wastewater is injected deep underground to be stored away from groundwater resources that could be contaminated. This is an example of water withdrawal. water consumption. water use. water stress. water scarcity.

water consumption.

Models of climate change are most in agreement with observed data ______. none of the models agree with observations. when both natural and anthropogenic causes of warming are included. when only anthropogenic causes of climate change are used. when only natural causes of climate change are used.

when both natural and anthropogenic causes of warming are included.

Intense sunlight causes a band of hot, rising air laden with evaporated water near the equator. This moisture then falls because Its potential energy increases with height Warm air cannot hold much moisture The rising air cools and loses its ability to hold water vapor Moisture is condensed as convection currents carry air over hotter, drier regions The moisture evaporates as convection currents carry air over hotter, drier regions

The rising air cools and loses its ability to hold water vapor

The IPCC releases reports that show different scenarios. What does this mean? The scenarios are methods of seeing what may result from different general policy approaches. The scenarios are each sets of different scientific views so policy-makers can assess the range of possible estimations of warming with different scientifically-valid baselines. The scenarios are ways of assessing tipping points in the system because tipping points are challenging for policy-makers to understand otherwise.

The scenarios are methods of seeing what may result from different general policy approaches.

What does it mean that IPCC's reports are "policy relevant but not policy-prescriptive"? They describe relevant policies that policy-makers should make. They recommend relevant polices that policy-makers should make by ranking policies with best practices. They assess many potential policies, but do not recommend particular ones. They assess many relevant policies, but do not recommend all of them, only the ones that are likely to have impacts.

They assess many potential policies, but do not recommend particular ones.

How do climate change scenarios show that, even as we miss emissions reduction targets, reducing emissions is still very important? They show that if we take immediate action we can make up for missing those targets. They show that even if we miss emissions targets for climate change, we can still reduce mortality from air pollution by curbing emissions. They show that even if we miss targets, reducing emissions will still result in less severe climate change, whereas doing nothing will result in the most severe climate change. They show that emissions will begin to catastrophically decouple from climate change unless we take a longer-term view.

They show that even if we miss targets, reducing emissions will still result in less severe climate change, whereas doing nothing will result in the most severe climate change.