APES Unit 3

A greenhouse gas that is exclusively anthropogenic

CCl2F2

Which of the following environmental problems is most directly linked to ocean warming?

Coral bleaching

This region of the world is currently experiencing the largest average annual temperature increase because of anthropogenic climate change.

D

Which of the following not only results from greenhouse warming but also contributes to additional warming of Earth (i.e., is a positive feedback process)?

Decreased size of snowpack

Which of the following best describes the greenhouse effect on Earth?

Greenhouse gases trap heat near Earth's surface, keeping the average surface temperature constant.

The most abundant nonanthropogenic greenhouse gas

H2O

Possible effects of a warmer atmosphere include which of the following? I. Expanded ranges of tropical diseases II. More intense hurricanes and typhoons III. Increased crop damage from pests and diseases

I, II, and III

All of the following gases have been implicated in contributing to the increase in global temperature via the greenhouse effect EXCEPT

O2

The solid arrows and the dashed arrows indicate the direction of solar radiation and infrared radiation, respectively, which flow to and from Earth, the atmosphere, and space. The numbers express units, in relative terms, of the total incoming solar or outgoing infrared energy. How many units of energy return to space from Earth and its atmosphere?

100

The solid arrows and the dashed arrows indicate the direction of solar radiation and infrared radiation, respectively, which flow to and from Earth, the atmosphere, and space. The numbers express units, in relative terms, of the total incoming solar or outgoing infrared energy. How many units of energy are absorbed by Earth's surface?

120

The solid arrows and the dashed arrows indicate the direction of solar radiation and infrared radiation, respectively, which flow to and from Earth, the atmosphere, and space. The numbers express units, in relative terms, of the total incoming solar or outgoing infrared energy. How many units of energy do greenhouse gases contribute to the greenhouse effect?

60

If Earth had no atmosphere, the mean surface temperature would be approximately -15°C. With our present atmosphere, Earth's mean surface temperature is approximately +15°C. Which of the following is the best explanation for this difference?

Absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases

Which of the following represents a positive feedback loop in the Arctic that is associated with anthropogenic climate change?

Arctic Ocean ice melts -> ocean surface water temperature increases -> more ice melts

The location where the greatest number of people would be directly affected by a rise in ocean level

B

Carbon dioxide and particulates are emitted by volcanoes. Particulates form stratospheric aerosols that reflect sunlight. Which of the following best describes the impact of atmospheric carbon dioxide and stratospheric aerosols?

Carbon dioxide contributes to global warming, and aerosols cause cooling.

Global warming is most likely to directly cause which of the following?

Coastal flooding and submersion of low-lying areas

Large quantities of methane hydrates are located in this region and if released will contribute significantly to global climate change.

D

Which of the following best describes the primary cause of global ocean warming?

Increased global temperature from an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Which of the following scenarios is NOT likely to result from increased temperatures in the Arctic?

Increased melting of sea ice decreases the sea level and leads to more arable land area that can be farmed.

Which of the following types of releases of greenhouse gases from an anthropogenic source is shown in the diagram?

Industrial and agricultural practices releasing CH4 into the atmosphere

Which of the following best describes the mechanism of the greenhouse effect in Earth's atmosphere?

Infrared radiation from Earth's surface is absorbed by gases in the atmosphere.

Which of the following is part of a positive feedback mechanism associated with global climate change?

Melting of Arctic sea ice

Sixty-five percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are made up of carbon dioxide, while only sixteen percent are made up of methane gas. Which of the following best explains why scientists are increasingly concerned about the effect of methane gas emissions on global climate if they are a relatively small percent of greenhouse gases released?

Methane gas has a higher global warming potential (GWP) than carbon dioxide does, so it can trap more heat in the atmosphere.

Based on the data above, which of the following is the most likely conclusion of a study addressing the following scientific question.What will happen to methane levels in the atmosphere at 60°N to 75°N latitude from 2018 to 2027 if the trend from 2011 to 2017 continues?

Methane levels in the atmosphere will increase because melting or thawing permafrost will lead to an increase in the amount of organic matter that will decompose.

A greenhouse gas that, in the lower troposphere, is formed by photochemical reactions

O3

Based on the data above, which of the following hypotheses about the future conditions in the Arctic is most plausible if the trend seen from 2011 to 2017 continues?

The albedo will decrease.

Based on the data above, which of the following best supports the hypothesis that the Arctic (latitudes greater than 66°N) experienced accelerated warming compared to the rest of the planet from 2011 to 2017 ?

The largest areas with surface-temperature changes greater than a 4°C increase are found in the Arctic.

Based on the diagram, which of the following best predicts how an increase in greenhouse gases would affect the ocean?

The oceans would be warmed because of increased solar radiation being absorbed by the water, causing expansion and sea level rise.

Which of the following will occur if the trend of global temperature increase continues?

The troposphere will contain more water vapor.

Which of the following best describes why water vapor, a greenhouse gas, is not considered a significant contributor to global climate change?

Water vapor has a relatively short residence time in the atmosphere.

Although levels of CFCs in the atmosphere are much lower than those of CO2 , CFCs are still potent greenhouse gases because they

are much more efficient at absorbing thermal radiation

Water vapor is a greenhouse gas and is produced by burning fossil fuels. However, anthropogenic water vapor does not contribute significantly to global warming because water vapor

has a short residence time in the atmosphere

The data in the graph can be useful in explaining the greenhouse effects when they are compared with

mean global temperatures

Global climate change occurs because increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in

the troposphere absorb outgoing IR radiation

In models of global warming, the most important factor contributing ot an increase in sea level is

thermal expansion of the oceans

The spread of infectious diseases is expected to increase with climate change, mainly because

warmer temperatures allow disease-carrying insects to survive in areas that were once too cold