Envs Midterm Practice Questions

Scientists refer to man-made climate change as: A. Arthroscopic B. Anthropogenic C. Ancestral D. Annular

B. Anthropogenic

Using the same map, the highest anomalies are over which area? A. Ontario, 5-8 Deg C B. Manitoba, 5-8 Deg C C. Arctic, 5-6 Deg C D. Quebec, 5 Deg C

C. Arctic, 5-6 Deg C

Which current is responsible for creating a mild oceanic climate for Western Europe? A. Gulf Stream B. Canary Current C. North Atlantic Drift D. Labrador Current

C. North Atlantic Drift

The best indicator of the impact of climate change on sea ice is a change in: A. sea ice extent B. sea ice thickness C. sea ice volume D. sea ice albedo

C. sea ice volume

What is the importance of this fossil in Western Kansas? A. It helped coin the phrase " a fish out of water" B. it showed that if you dig deep enough you can find anything C. this large fish was once part of a great inland sea due to a "naturally occurring" warmer earth D. this large fish was able to survive all types of climatic change

C. this large fish was once part of a great inland sea due to a "naturally occurring" warmer earth

Using the ClimateRe-Analyzer Map, the data over the US (lower 48) indicates the warmest above normal surface temps over which region? A. MN and WI B. IL and IN C. GA and SC D. OK and MO

D. OK and MO

Using the Climate Re-Analyzer Map, the greatest Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly is over which region? A. Equatorial Pacific B. The Gulf of Alaska C. California Coast D. Southern California and Baja California

D. Southern California and Baja California

T/F Melting Arctic and Antarctic sea ice has contributed to significant sea level rise. (hint: consider the difference between sea ice and land based ice)

False

Which statement best describes this diagram? A. Energy imbalance establishes a temperature gradient between the tropics and the poles resulting in a net gain of energy at low latitudes and net loss at high latitudes. B. Temperature imbalance establishes a heat gradient between the tropics and the poles resulting in a net loss of energy at low latitudes and net loss at high latitudes. C. Energy imbalance establishes a temperature gradient between the tropics and the poles resulting in a net gain of energy at high latitudes and net loss at low latitudes. D. Moisture imbalance establishes a temperature gradient between the tropics and the poles resulting in a net gain energy at low latitudes and net loss at high latitudes.

A. Energy imbalance establishes a temperature gradient between the tropics and the poles resulting in a net gain of energy at low latitudes and net loss at high latitudes.

Which of the following organizations does NOT report global temperature anomaly data? A. The Weather Channel B. Goddard Institute for Space Sciences (GISS) C. Climate Research Unit (CRU) D. ) Remote Sensing Systems (RSS)

A. The Weather Channel

Weather and climate differ in that A. Weather is day to day while climate is long-term averages in weather. B. Weather is easier to predict than climate C. Climate is always getting warmer but weather can be warmer or colder. D. Weather includes precipitation while climate does not.

A. Weather is day to day while climate is long-term averages in weather.

As the global climate becomes increasingly warmer, ice caps and glaciers have been melting at accelerated pace. This lowers the global albedo and has a __________ effect. This mechanism therefore works as a ________ feedback to climate change. A. warming; positive B. warming; negative C. cooling; positive D. cooling; negative

A. warming; positive

Which of the following scenarios would lead to lower pressure at the surface? (hint: Think equator) A. Divergence at surface with divergence aloft B. Convergence at surface with divergence aloft C. Convergence at surface with convergence aloft D. Divergence at surface with convergence aloft

B. Convergence at surface with divergence aloft

What is the best statement that correctly describes this image: A. El Nino patterns can produce above normal temperatures everywhere in the US. B. El Nino patterns, when strong, are capable of producing above normal temperatures in the northern US. C. El Nino patterns, when strong, can produce violent storms on the East Coast. D. El Nino patterns can produce warm winters in the Midwest every year.

B. El Nino patterns, when strong, are capable of producing above normal temperatures in the northern US.

Which statement best describes the results. A. Higher % of people who think global warming is happening is in rural areas. B. Higher % of people who think global warming is happening is in more populated metro areas. C. Higher % of people who think global warming is happening is in cities with greater education rate D. Higher % of people who think global warming is happening is in areas with liberal thinking universities.

B. Higher % of people who think global warming is happening is in more populated metro areas.

Which of the following statements about Antarctica is true? A. It is about four times the size of Texas. B. It contains about 90% of the world's freshwater. C. Sea ice growth can add 50% to Antarctica's area. D. All of the above are true.

B. It contains about 90% of the world's freshwater.

These two maps indicate what type of weather scenario on a large scale: A. Seasonal variations in temperature become more dramatic in the late Winter B. Large area of low pressure is transporting warm, moist air northward while a large area of High Pressure is transporting cold, dry air southward C. Large area of low pressure is transporting cold moist air northward while a large area of High Pressure is transporting warm, dry air southward D. Large area of High Pressure is transporting warm, moist air northward while a large area of Low Pressure is transporting cold, dry air southward

B. Large area of low pressure is transporting warm, moist air northward while a large area of High Pressure is transporting cold, dry air southward

Using the global circulation map, which statement best describes this image: A. Large scale circulation of the earth's atmosphere changes every 20 years B. Large scale circulation of the earth's atmosphere helps creates biomes and ecosystems C. Large scale circulation of the earth's atmosphere changes every 6 months with the seasons D. Large scale circulation of the earth's atmosphere is different in the northern and southern hemisphere

B. Large scale circulation of the earth's atmosphere helps creates biomes and ecosystems

Choose the best statement that describes this diagram: A. Strong El Nino's typically result in widespread rain everywhere since the water is warmer. B. Strong El Nino's can help in sustaining long term dryness in Australia and parts of Indonesia. C. Strong El Nino have no affect on rainfall in Southeast Asia. D. Only strong El Nino's need to be monitored since rainfall is so abundant in Southeast Asia.

B. Strong El Nino's can help in sustaining long term dryness in Australia and parts of Indonesia.

What was so important about these organisms to the beginning of life? A. They helped create carbon B. They helped create oxygen C. They broke down dangerous levels of acid D. They sold well in a jewelry aisle at the duty free store

B. They helped create oxygen

The map shows the normal onset of the Indian Monsoon. Given that over 1 billion people live in this country why is a changing climate more important to them? A. Farmers depend on government subsidies to assist when rainfall does not arrive on time so they can deal with climate change. B. Water resources are dependent on the arrival of monsoonal rain so understanding climate change is imperative C. It rains a great deal so a short delay is not a big concern D. There is still not enough data to back up any mitigation efforts needed

B. Water resources are dependent on the arrival of monsoonal rain so understanding climate change is imperative

What was the approximate age of stromatolites? A. 3.5 million years B. 350 million years C. 3.5 billion years D. 35 billion years

C. 3.5 billion years

Who is this woman? Why was she in the news? A. She thinks that going green is wearing a green scarf B. She is the latest confirmed Trump nominee to the EPA C. Her nomination to lead the Council on Environmental Quality was recently withdrawn due to her poor showing at the hearing D. She refused to answer questions about her financial holdings

C. Her nomination to lead the Council on Environmental Quality was recently withdrawn due to her poor showing at the hearing

This temperature graph is a concern to climate scientists since: A. The temperature change will eventually decrease again in the future B. The temperature increase has been primarily over the land C. The global temperature change has been rapid since the late 1970s D. The temperature change was neutral in the past thus cancelling out any current increase

C. The global temperature change has been rapid since the late 1970s

Chicago is a large urban area that can change weather conditions, especially during the summer. This is called: A. Large heat island B. City Heat Island C. Urban Heat Island D. Land Heat Island

C. Urban Heat Island

The Feb 18 2018 Ice Analysis Update shows: A. rapid increase in ice due to cold temperatures in the Arctic B. Flat line or no increase in ice since the beginning of the year C. Very little if any increase in sea ice since the first week of February. D. Normal increase in sea ice since the first week of February.

C. Very little if any increase in sea ice since the first week of February.

If incoming vs. outgoing radiation at the top of the atmosphere is balanced, then climate change is likely due to: A. a decrease in greenhouse gases B. an increase in greenhouse gases C. internal variability D. stochastic variability

C. internal variability

In the movie Making of North America PT2, why did the scientists go to the Bahamas? A. to look for coral impacted by the warmer oceans B. to see how high levels of acidity are killing coral reefs C. to look for stromatolites D. to take a day of filing Making of North America Part 3

C. to look for stromatolites

The region in the Northern Hemisphere showing the greatest evidence of climate change is: A. tropics B. mid-latitude land C. mid-latitude ocean D. arctic

D. arctic

The general climate at the surface between the Hadley and Ferrel cells is typically: A. warm and wet B. warm and dry C. cool and wet D. cool and dry

D. cool and dry

Which gas is released when permafrost melts? A. nitrous oxide B. carbon dioxide C. ethylane D. methane

D. methane

T/F The Climate System diagram represents a "closed system" since this occurs only on earth.

False

T/F The United States provides a relatively high quality of life but fails on every measure of sustainability in the study. For example, it emits 2.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide per person per year, while the study's sustainability threshold is 1.6 metric tons.

False

T/F The church's "Lent Plastic Challenge" arrives on a wave of anti-plastic sentiment and legislation in Britain and across Europe, as more people conclude that the first element of the motto "recycle, reduce, reuse"...

False

T/F : Observations from this map are at airports which are quality controlled 24 hours a day/365 days a year and represent excellent climate diagnostics.

True

T/F Climate change can cause both drought and floods.

True

T/F Climate positive feedback is any mechanism that increases the climate change already underway.

True

T/F In the movie "Making of North America", this scene shows that volcanoes can have a short tern negative impact on the environment by destroying forests and blocking out sunlight due to extensive dust and clouds.

True

T/F It was revealed in a recent NY Times article that, after looking at data on quality of life and use of resources from some 150 countries, it was found that no nation currently meets the basic needs of its citizens in a sustainable way.

True

T/F Melting permafrost can act as a positive climate feedback

True

T/F Not every positive feedback is beneficial to the environment.

True

T/F Rick is entering the Badlands in South Dakota, once home to the Great Inland Sea and dinosaurs!

True

T/F Sea surface temperature is a good approximation of air temperatures within 1-2 meters above the ocean.

True

T/F The Church of England asked people to give up what for Lent? Specifically, the church wants people to avoid the plastic consumer products and packaging that have become a major environmental problem, polluting oceans and rivers, fouling beaches, killing wildlife and clogging landfills.

True

T/F The global increase in temperature closely matches the global increase in Carbon Dioxide.

True

T/F The greatest uncertainty in projecting global temperatures for the year 2100 is due to economic and technological unknowns.

True

T/F This graph shows a slight increase in temperature for Illinois winter since 1895.

True

T/F This map shows where large scale tropical weather systems such as hurricanes and typhoons form due to the movement of the earth's ocean currents.

True

T/F Using this map, typhoons form in the Western Pacific while hurricanes form in the Western Atlantic

True

T/F: The area of blue near the equatorial Pacific represents below normal sea surface temperatures. This is representative of a La Nina event.

True