Global Climate Change Chapter 1-3 Quiz

• What's the difference between climate change and global warming?

"Global warming" refers to the long-term warming of the planet. "Climate change" encompasses global warming, but refers to the broader range of changes that are happening to our planet, including rising sea levels; shrinking mountain glaciers; accelerating ice melt in Greenland, Antarctica and the Arctic; and shifts in flower/plant blooming times.

Describe how melting Arctic permafrost causes a climate positive feedback.

Abundant organic material is exposed from the melting and produces more carbon dioxide. This can intensify global warming.

Sunspots vary in number along a cycle that lasts for: 5. A) 5.5 years 6. B) 11 years 7. C) 24 years 8. D) 42 years

B) 11 years

The term eccentricity refers to: 1. A) Changes in the tilt of the Earth's rotation axis 2. B) Changes in the distance Earth is from the sun 3. C) Changes in the direction the north pole points in space 4. D) Changes in the Earth's magnetic field

B) Changes in the distance Earth is from the sun

According to Milankovitch Cycles, Earth's climate should: 1. A) Warm for the next 100 years 2. B) Cool for the next 100 years 3. C) Warm for the next 8,000 years 4. D) Cool for the next 8,000 years

B) Cool for the next 100 years

16. Explain why the position of the continents relative to the poles is so important in determining global climate.

Back when all of the continents were connected as Pangea, large areas were hot and fry because they were isolated from the oceans. Now that the continents are more spread out, moisture is able to get to all but the deepest continental interiors. Antarctica is over the south pole and the North Pole is surrounded by landmasses, warm ocean current can't reach high altitudes which is why the poles are so cold.

11. Why are scientists confident that global warming has not stopped over the past decade?

Basic physics shows that average global temperature will increase at least 1.2 degrees Celsius when the level of C02 is doubled in the atmosphere. Climate models also predict an increase in global temperature of 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st century.

What percentage of the atmosphere by volume do greenhouse gases make up? 1. A) 1% 2. B) 5% 3. C) 20% 4. D) 25%

C) 20%

The greatest tilt of the Earth's rotation axis is: 22. A) 22.1° 23. B) 23.5° 24. C) 24.5° 25. D) 26.2°

C) 24.5 degrees

Obliquity varies over this time frame: 1. A) 11 years 2. B) 23,000 years 3. C) 41,000 years 4. D) 100,000 years

C) 41,000 years

Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas? 1. A) Nitrous oxide 2. B) Methane 3. C) Argon 4. D) Ozone

C) Argon

The term precession refers to: 1. A) Changes in the tilt of the Earth's rotation axis 2. B) Changes in the distance Earth is from the sun 3. C) Changes in the direction the north pole points in space 4. D) Changes in the Earth's magnetic field

C) Changes in the direction the north pole points in space

21. Why are climate models less accurate at a regional level than at a global level?

Climate models represent the world as a spherical lattice of 3D cells that are each 100 kilometers wide. This cannot be done at a regional level because the area of measure is smaller, so the data is not as accurate.

Greenhouse gases get their name because they: 1. A) Reflect incoming sunlight 2. B) Absorb incoming sunlight 3. C) Trap warm air on Earth 4. D) Decrease outgoing radiation from the top of the atmosphere

D) Decreasing outgoing radiation from the top of the atmosphere

• Are the land-based ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica continuing to lose mass (ice)?

Data from NASA's GRACE satellites, which measured Earth's gravity field, show that the land ice sheets in both Antarctica and Greenland have been losing mass (ice) since 2002. Both ice sheets have seen an acceleration of ice mass loss since 2009.

17. In your own words, describe how orbital cycles can influence global climate.

Earth's orbit follows cycles that affect how the amount of solar radiation reaching the top of the atmosphere changes as the seasons change. The energy changes when there are changes in the earth's axis of rotation, the direction of the Earth's tilt, and the shape of the orbit.

True or False: The minimum number of years to consider as a base period should be at least ten years.

False, 30 years

• How do we know what greenhouse gas and temperature levels were in the distant past?

Ice cores are scientists' best source for historical climate data. Other tools for learning about Earth's ancient atmosphere include growth rings in trees, which keep a rough record of each growing season's temperature, moisture and cloudiness going back about 2,000 years. Corals also form growth rings that provide information about temperature and nutrients in the tropical ocean. Other proxies, such as benthic cores, extend our knowledge of past climate back about a billion years into the past.

20. If all the greenhouse gases were removed from the atmosphere in an instant, what would happen to Earth?

If all the greenhouses gases were removed, the Earth's radiant energy wouldn't be so close, and the troposphere wouldn't be so warm. This would help stop the global warming that has been occurring since the 1970s.

Why does increasing global temperature increase the intensity and frequency of floods?

If warmer air comes in contact with water, it becomes more humid, which increases precipitation. This causes the risk for extreme flooding events.

What are the only two factors that could have caused the observed warming over the past 100 years?

Increases in solar radiation and increases in greenhouse gases.

Describe four lines of evidence that the climate is warming.

Increasing global air temperatures, rising sea levels, melting permafrost, and melting ice sheets

How might melting glaciers influence society?

Melting glaciers may cause a decrease in freshwater availability.

• What's NASA got to do with climate change?

NASA's role is to make observations of our Earth system that can be used by the public, policymakers and to support strategic decisions. Its job is to do rigorous science. However, the agency does not promote particular climate policies.

• What happens if the next solar cycle becomes less active? Will we go into a new ice age?

No. Even if the amount of radiation coming from the Sun were to decrease as it has before, it would not significantly affect the global warming coming from long-lived, human-emitted greenhouse gases. Further, given our greenhouse gas emissions to date and those expected to come, the evidence points to the next "ice age" being averted altogether.

• Is the Sun causing global warming?

No. The Sun can influence the Earth's climate, but it isn't responsible for the warming trend we've seen over the past few decades.

• How are Earth's mountain glaciers faring in a warming world?

On average, most of Earth's mountain glaciers are continuing to melt. Scientists know this by calculating the glaciers' "average mass balance": taking accumulated snowfall on those glaciers and subtracting ice losses due to melting, meltwater runoff (drainage away from glaciers) and evaporation (when a liquid turns into a gas). Their calculations show decades of more ice losses than gains.

• What do volcanoes have to do with climate change?

Overall, volcanoes release less than 2 percent of the equivalent amount of CO2 released by human activities. Quite small.

Why is the historical record of climate change alarming to some scientists?

Scientists are alarmed because during the Medieval Climate Anomaly the climate was recorded to be warmer which resulted in good harvests in Europe that contributed to the expansion of trade and commerce. Then when the Little Ice Age came afterwards, the climate started to get colder, resulting in war, famine, and disease. These are two records of natural changes in climate without any human activity affecting it. This is disturbing because if these small changes in temperature had such a big effect on society, then what could happen with a large increase of global temperature that scientist project by the end of the 21st century?

How did scientists determine that the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and oceans comes mostly from the burning of fossils fuels?

Scientists determined through measuring the ratios of different carbon isotopes to show that the additional carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and oceans came from the burning of fossil fuels.

• Which measurement is more accurate: taking Earth's surface temperature from the ground or from space?

Since satellites technically measure neither temperature nor the surface (where people live), it's safe to say that ground thermometers are more accurate than satellite measurements.

What are some of the tools that climate scientists use to understand ancient climate change?

Some of the tools that climate scientists use to understand ancient climate change include ground stations, weather balloons, and weather satellites.

14. How do scientists measure the degree of radiative balance at the top of the atmosphere?

The degree of radiative balance is measured by instruments on satellites.

Why is the evidence for recent rapid climate change no longer in any doubt?

There is no longer any doubt for recent rapid climate change based on the hockey stick graph that was published in a paper by Michael Mann. The hockey stick graph was proxy data of sources from both hemispheres which showed a graph in the shape of a hockey stick. The data showed a gradual cooling over the past 1,000 years and then a rapid warming in the 20th century causing the numbers to increase dramatically, creating the end of the hockey stick. This data has been confirmed many times by other researchers making it clear that these recent changes in temperature were accurate.

Why is the incoming tide a good analogy for recent climate change?

This is a good analogy because if someone just standing on the beach noticed the waves crashing against the shore they wouldn't be able to figure out how the tide is moving simply based on that. They would have to watch the waves for a longer time to figure out the direction of the tide. This is the same for the increase in temperature, the change in temperature isn't drastic enough for someone to easily notice it. They would have to take some time to look at the data of the rising global temperature to see the gradual increase in temperature.

• Why does the temperature record shown on your "Vital Signs" page begin at 1880?

Three of the world's most complete temperature tracking records - from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climactic Data Center and the UK Meteorological Office's Hadley Centre - begin in 1880. Prior to 1880, temperature measurements were made with instruments like thermometers. The oldest continuous temperature record is the Central England Temperature Data Series, which began in 1659, and the Hadley Centre has some measurements beginning in 1850, but there are too few data before 1880 for scientists to estimate average temperatures for the entire planet.

How is a warming climate expected to affect hurricanes?

Warmer sea surface temperatures allow more water vapor to evaporate into rising air over the oceans. When this water condenses and forms rain, it releases latent heat that feeds the intensity of growing storms.

Explain how we know that global climate has been relatively stable over the past 8,000 years?

We know that global climate has been relatively stable over the past 8,000 years from proxy climate data. Proxy climate data is a historical temperature record that scientists created based on tree rings, ice cores, and sediment cores. Based on this data, the global average temperature has been stable the past 8,00 years.

• Can you explain the urban heat island effect?

While urban areas are warmer than surrounding rural areas, the urban heat island effect has had little to no effect on our warming world, because scientists have accounted for it in their measurements.

• Is the ozone hole causing climate change?

Yes and no. The ozone hole is not causing global warming, but it is affecting atmospheric circulation.

• Has Earth continued to warm since 1998?

Yes, evidence shows warming from 1998 to the present, with the four most recent years (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017) being the four warmest years globally since 1880.

• Is the ocean continuing to warm?

Yes, the ocean is continuing to warm. Notably, all ocean basins have been experiencing significant warming since 1998, with more heat being transferred deeper into the ocean since 1990.

• Do scientists agree on climate change?

Yes, the vast majority of actively publishing climate scientists - 97 percent - agree that humans are causing global warming and climate change.

• What's the difference between weather and climate?

"Weather" refers to the more local changes in the climate we see around us, on short timescales from minutes to hours to days to weeks. Examples are familiar - rain, snow, clouds, winds, thunderstorms, heat waves and floods. "Climate" refers to longer-term averages (they may be regional or global), and can be thought of as the weather averaged over several seasons, years or decades.

Which of the following is NOT considered part of the Earth's climate system? 1. A) Asthenosphere 2. B) Lithosphere 3. C) Cryosphere 4. D) Biosphere

A) Asthenosphere

The term obliquity refers to: 1. A) Changes in the tilt of the Earth's rotation axis 2. B) Changes in the distance Earth is from the sun 3. C) Changes in the direction the north pole points in space 4. D) Changes in the Earth's magnetic field

A) Changes in the tilt of the Earth's rotation axis

13. How are oxygen isotopes been used to track global temperature?

Global temperature is recorded in the concentration of oxygen 18 which is a heavy isotope of oxygen found in the shells of marine organisms.

Why did global temperature stop rising during the middle of the 20th century?

The global temperatures stopped rising during the middle of the 20th century due to a combination of solar cycles, volcanism, and air pollution from industrial aerosols.

18. How does deep ocean circulation affect global climate?

The great ocean global conveyor isolates heat and greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, This conveyor starts in the cold Arctic waters, circulates around the globe, and then returns to high altitudes as warm surface currents that heat the atmosphere and moderate the climate.

What percentage of the increase in global average temperature since 1980 are orbital changes likely responsible for? 1. A) 0% 2. B) 25% 3. C) 33% 4. D) 50%

A) 0%

The dark portion of sunspots: 1. A) Are cooler than surroundings 2. B) Are warmer than surroundings 3. C) Are the same temperature as surroundings 4. D) Vary between warmer and cooler than surroundings

A) Are cooler than surroundings

Which of the following statements is most accurate? 1. A) Earth's orbital shape can range from being nearly circular to very elliptical. 2. B) Earth's orbital is normally very elliptical. 3. C) Earth's orbital is normally very close to being circular. 4. D) None of the above

A) Earth's orbital shape can range from being nearly circular to very elliptical

The lowest portion of the atmosphere is known as: 1. A) Troposphere 2. B) Stratosphere 3. C) Ionosphere 4. D) Lithosphere

A) Troposphere

Describe two aspects of measured Arctic sea ice that show the Arctic has been warming over the past few decades.

Arctic sea ice declined on average by 2.7% per decade from 1978-1996. Satellite data has shown a rapid decline in multiyear ice volume from 62% of the total in 2003 to 32% in 2008.

• How is Earth's sea ice faring in our warming world?

Arctic sea ice volume and extent have been declining since record-keeping began in the late 1970s and prior. Antarctic sea ice extent is currently below the long-term average of prior decades since 1979.

Why does increasing global temperature increase the frequency and intensity of drought?

Combination of global pattern of atmospheric and oceanic circulation and regional patterns of temperature, precipitation, evaporation, soil moisture, and wind speed make a big difference in an area's ability to withstand changes in climate.

Antarctica is divided into three regions. List each region and briefly describe the stability of the ice in each region.

East Antarctic Ice Sheet: 30 million years old and very stable West Antarctic Ice Sheet: very unstable, has the potential to melt today Antarctic Peninsula: very unstable, collapsed in 2002 over a period of just a few days

True or False: Global air temperature change is plotted as actual physical temperature in degrees Celsius—the international standard.

False

True or False: The National Weather Service is one of six organizations that publishes global temperature anomaly data.

False

• Is it too late to prevent climate change?

Humans have caused major climate changes to happen already, and we have set in motion more changes still. Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases today, global warming would continue to happen for at least several more decades, if not centuries.

How much of the additional heat added to Earth's climate system is locked up in the oceans?

Recent observations in the oceans show that the oceans of the world have absorbed up to 90% of the additional heat added to Earth's climate system.

• What is the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is the way in which heat is trapped close to the surface of the Earth by "greenhouse gases."

19. Using the incoming tide as an analogy for recent climate change, how would you represent these decadal cycles?

The incoming tide as an analogy for recent climate change would be if the tide was at low tide when suddenly, the tide rushed up the beach and became high tide in almost an instant. Climate change has not been it's usually gradually changing self, it is a more significant change now just like the sudden change of tides.

What two factors are causing the rise in sea-level over the past several decades? Explain how each increases sea level.

The oceans have absorbed as much as 90% of the additional energy added to the Earth's climate system. This heat causes the water to expand, an increase of volume of .1% can cause to sea level to rise 1 meter. Another factor is the melting cryosphere. The warming of the atmosphere over Greenland, the Antarctic Peninsula, and other mountain glaciers is adding to sea level by increasing the amount of summer meltwater.

22. What are the main sources of uncertainty in climate models?

There are three sources of uncertainty in climate models; internal variability, model uncertainty, and scenario uncertainty. Internal variability refers to the internal variability of the climate system. Model uncertainty is the problem associated with the scaling and zonation effects of each individual model. Scenario uncertainty comes from the difficulty of projecting the future level of emission from economic models.

1. In your own words, describe the difference between weather and climate.

Weather is the day to day temperature and conditions. One day it can rain, one day it could be cold, one day it could be hot, but this varies from each day. Climate is a more permanent thing. A regions climate is what it's like all the time for example in Massachusetts the winters are always cold, and the summers are always warm. However, in a place like California it is warm and sunny all year. This is because they have different climates.