Chapter 22: Climate Change

positive feedback loops

Changes caused by an initial event that then accentuate the original event

negative feedback loops

Changes caused by an initial event that trigger events which then reverse the response

Which of the following factors has low albedo and contributes to warming? A) glaciers B) meadows C) fresh snow D) asphalt E) aerosols

D) asphalt

Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas? A) carbon dioxide B) methane C) nitrous oxide D) halocarbons E) sulphur oxides

E) sulphur oxides

adaptation

Efforts intended to help deal with a problem that exists, such as climate change

What are the main climatological changes that are expected from anthropogenic climate change?

flowers and plants will begin to bloom earlier some species may move to higher altitudes species population expanding

Which of the following greenhouse gases has the LEAST heat-trapping capacity per molecule? A) carbon dioxide B) methane C) nitrous oxide D) halocarbons E) CFCs

A) carbon dioxide

Which of the following greenhouse gases, taking into account both the relative heat trapping ability per molecule and the amount present in the atmosphere, has the GREATEST impact on enhancing the greenhouse effect? A) carbon dioxide B) methane C) nitrous oxide D) halocarbons E) CFCs

A) carbon dioxide

Deliberately thinning out paper birches in an effort to cultivate more oaks and white pines in Minnesota, in light of massive paper birch die-offs, is an example of _______. A) resistance forestry B) a poor forestry technique C) facilitation D) command and control forestry E) None of the above

A) resistance forestry

Currently, __________ is the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide. A) the United States B) China C) Russia D) Mexico E) France

B) China

Which of the following does NOT directly contribute to a rise in sea level? A) melting of land-based ice B) melting of sea ice C) thermal expansion of water D) melting of glaciers E) All of the above

B) melting of sea ice

The meteorological conditions in a particular place over a few days refer to its ______. A) climate B) weather C) habitat D) ecosystem E) None of the above

B) weather

Why are volcanic eruptions and changes in solar irradiance not considered contributors to global warming?

Because these radiative forcers cool the planet, instead of warming it.

What is a negative feedback? Provide a climate change related example

Negative feedback is changes caused by an initial event that trigger events that reverse the response warm temperature --> high albedo clouds --> cooling

albedo

The ability of a surface to reflect away solar radiation

Name three radiative forcers

1. greenhouse gases 2. albedo 3. clouds

With the greenhouse effect, the average surface air temperature on Earth is ___, whereas without the greenhouse effect it would be ____

15C -18C

Different greenhouse gases have different heat trapping abilities. One molecule of CH4 traps ____ times the eat of one molecule of carbon dioxide.

23

Do radiative forcers act to cool, or warm, the planet?

A radiative forcer is anything that alters the balance of incoming solar radiation, there are different types of radiative forcers some act to cool and some act to warm the planet.

climate change

Alteration in the long-term patterns and statistical averages of meteorological events

define the term climate change

Alteration in the long-term patterns and statistical averages of meteorological events. Mostly happening due to the greenhouse effect. Evidence of this is rising global temperatures, earlier springs, late winters, and species dying off

Which of the following sources are NOT used to reconstruct past climate? A) ice cores B) sediment cores C) tree rings D) coral reef growth layers E) All of the above are used to reconstruct past climate.

E) All of the above are used to reconstruct past climate.

Which of the following is NOT an aspect of climate? A) long-term patterns or trends B) it is used to predict weather C) timing of seasonal shifts D) winter lows and summer highs hover close to expected norms E) a few warmer days here and there

E) a few warmer days here and there

mitigation

Efforts intended to minimize the extent or impact of a problem such as climate change

How do greenhouse gases interact with energy in Earth's atmosphere?

Greenhouse gases trap heat and help warm Earth in a process known as the greenhouse effect. Usually the greenhouse effect is a good thing, without the global temperature of the Earth would be very cold. But we are now seeing the effects of enhanced greenhouse effect, which warms the planet even more than usual as there are more greenhouse gases to trap more heat.

What do orbital eccentricity, axial tilt, and axial precession have in common?

They are all factors in the Milankovitch cycles that plays an important role in past climate change events. They are all long-term radiative forcers.

Due to human activities that influence the entire planet the ear in which we now exist is sometimes called the ____

anthropocene

What does 'ppm' stand for?

parts per million

Factors that alter the balance of incoming solar radiation relative to the amount of heat that escapes out into space are called what

radiative forcers

How can we know that the climate change we are seeing already, is not part of a natural trend?

we can confirm that theory using computer model reconstruction of past temperatures which have predicted that climate change is both related to natural and anthropogenic causes

Different greenhouse gases have different heat trapping abilities. One CFC molecule traps ______ times the heat of one molecule of carbon dioxide

3100-8100

Which of the following are factors that prevent migrating tree species from thriving in their new, more northerly habitats? A) proliferation of deer B) summer water deficits C) beetle infestation D) dry conditions that favour intense fires E) All of the above

E) All of the above

Which of the following facilitate(s) climate change mitigation efforts on a national or global scale? A) command and control regulations B) tax breaks C) carbon taxes D) cap and trade E) All of the above

E) All of the above

Which of the following phenomena is an sign of climate change? A) prairies turning into deserts B) coral reefs dying C) colder and longer winters D) an increase in the size of glaciers E) All of the above

E) All of the above

________ is/are anything that alters the balance of incoming solar radiation relative to the amount of heat that escapes out into space. A) A radiative forcer B) Albedo C) Radiation forcers D) Milankovitch cycles E) Climate enforcers

A) A radiative forcer

. _______ is the ability of a surface to reflect away solar radiation. A) Albedo B) Positive feedback C) Radiative force D) Greenhouse effect E) None of the above

A) Albedo

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the greenhouse effect? A) Increased levels of human-produced carbon dioxide have enhanced the greenhouse effect. B) The greenhouse effect did not exist before humans. C) Greenhouse gases work by magnifying incoming solar radiation onto Earth's surface, just like in a greenhouse. D) Volcanoes are the largest source of greenhouse gases. E) All of the above

A) Increased levels of human-produced carbon dioxide have enhanced the greenhouse effect.

All of the following are evidence of recent changes in global climate EXCEPT _______. A) a single weather event like a hurricane B) prairies giving way to deserts in Africa and the American west C) coral reefs dying off D) earlier springs and later winters E) more and longer heat waves

A) a single weather event like a hurricane

Accepting climate change as inevitable and adjusting as best as possible is called____. A) adaptation B) prescription C) mitigation D) stabilization E) None of the above

A) adaptation

Further changes in global climate will have a significant effect on world forests. Global climate changes will impact both mean annual ______ and ______, which will cause shifts in tree populations. A) temperature; precipitation B) logging; precipitation C) oxygen availability; temperature D) nitrogen levels; carbon dioxide levels E) temperature; available sunlight

A) temperature; precipitation

Currently, ___________ releases more carbon dioxide per person than any other country in the world. A) the United States B) China C) Russia D) Mexico E) France

A) the United States

. Governmental fees imposed on activities that release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, usually on fossil fuel use, are called _________. A) cap-and-trade B) tax breaks C) carbon taxes D) green cards E) None of the above

C) carbon taxes

An increase of only a few degrees in average global temperature will result in more frequent, strong heat waves. Which of the following best describes this phenomenon? A) habitat destruction B) weather change C) climate change D) ozone formation E) None of the above

C) climate change

Efforts to minimize the extent or impact of climate change are referred to as _______. A) adaptation B) facilitation C) mitigation D) stabilization E) None of the above

C) mitigation

The air temperature on any one day is _________, while the range of expected temperatures, based on location and time of year, is the __________. A) climate; weather B) albedo; radiative forcer C) weather; climate D) prediction; weather E) forecast; reality

C) weather; climate

What changes to regional climate have been observed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resource's climatology office? A) Over the past two decades, springtime has come a week or two sooner than the historical average. B) Eight of the state's 20 warmest years have been recorded since 1981. C) Minnesota logged three mild winters in a row, each with record highs. D) All of the above E) None of the above

D) All of the above

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding climate models? A) Climate models are not testable. B) Climate models project future climate conditions. C) Climate models take into account many variables including global air circulation patterns and carbon dioxide levels. D) Climate models that exclude anthropogenic factors are most accurate. E) None of the above

D) Climate models that exclude anthropogenic factors are most accurate.

Which of the following is FALSE regarding the Kyoto Protocol? A) The treaty set different, but specific, targets of reductions of carbon dioxide release for various nations. B) Some critics of the treaty argued it would hurt the economy because it would place industries at a disadvantage compared with countries that had lower reduction targets under the treaty. C) Some critics of the treaty argued that reduction targets needed to be set much higher to make any dent in the problem. D) The protocol was signed by China and the United States. E) All of the above are true.

D) The protocol was signed by China and the United States.

Which is FALSE regarding positive feedback loops? A) They are changes caused by an initial event that then accentuates that original event. B) An example is melting sea ice in the Arctic. C) They can cause rapid changes. D) They always indicate a beneficial effect. E) None of the above

D) They always indicate a beneficial effect.

A variety of factors can warm or cool the planet. Which of the following is a positive (warming) forcer? A) cloud albedo effect B) aerosols C) stratospheric ozone D) black soot on snow E) deforestation

D) black soot on snow

Long-term patterns or trends of meteorological conditions in an area refer to its _______. A) weather B) variability C) forecast D) climate E) albedo

D) climate

All of the following are examples of adaptation to climate change EXCEPT _________. A) shoring up coastlines against rising sea levels B) preparing for heat waves, cold spells, and outbreaks of infectious diseases C) taking steps to ensure a sufficient water supply in areas where freshwater supplies may dry up D) consuming fewer fossil fuels E) All of the above

D) consuming fewer fossil fuels

In Minnesota's North Woods, moving tree species to entirely new ranges where they do not currently grow, based on the notion that the speed of climate change will make it impossible for natural tree migratory processes to occur, is called _________. A) mitigation B) stabilization C) the precautionary principle D) facilitation E) None of the above

D) facilitation

What international group of scientists evaluates scientific research related to any aspect of climate change, to give thorough and objective assessment of findings? A) the World Health Organization B) the Montreal Procession C) the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency D) the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change E) the Climate Change Forecasters United

D) the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Which of the following is not a possible benefit of climate change? A) warmer temperatures in Greenland, which allow farmers to grow a wider variety of crops B) the Northwest Passage opening during the summer months, reducing the transport time for ships C) the incidence of cold-related health problems and deaths likely decreasing in high-latitude land in Canada and Siberia D) the increased maple syrup production in the southern Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick E) All of the above are examples of possible benefits.

D) the increased maple syrup production in the southern Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick

What aspect of the fire in Minnesota's North Woods was unusual for the climate there? A) the magnitude of the fire B) that it had not burned since 1801 C) how quickly the fire was extinguished D) the timing of the fire being so early in the year E) the timing of the fire being in late summer

D) the timing of the fire being so early in the year

How does the role of ozone in climate change differ depending upon where in Earth's atmosphere it is?

Due to ozone depletion, there are areas in the world that have varying levels of ozone. Ozone is considered a greenhouse gas and contributes to the warming effect on Earth.

Since climatologists started keeping records in 1850, the warmest decade globally was A) 1850 to 1860 B) 1950 to 1960 C) 1980 to 1990 D) 1990 to 2000 E) 2000 to 2010

E) 2000 to 2010

. Many climate scientists set the upper limit of carbon dioxide that we should not cross at 560 ppm. In 2011, the atmospheric concentration was 390 ppm. Unless dramatic changes are put into place, we will probably surpass the 560 ppm threshold before the end of this century. What predicted effects is this likely to bring? A) melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet B) glacier and permafrost melt C) ocean acidification D) rapidly accelerated warming E) All of the above

E) All of the above

Changes in global climate are predicted to have a negative impact on forests. Forests provide which of the following ecosystem services? A) soil stabilization B) water purification C) sink for carbon D) oxygen production E) All of the above

E) All of the above

Global climate change has had numerous impacts. Which of the following has been a result of global climate change? A) increase in insect pest populations B) rise in infectious tropical diseases C) uncoupling of community connections D) increase in coastal flooding E) All of the above

E) All of the above

Potential effects of climate change include _______. A) an increase in the proportion of land area in severe drought B) heat extremes in some areas C) colder winters in some regions D) an increased fire risk in boreal North America E) All of the above

E) All of the above

Species respond to global climate change in various ways. Which of the following is an example of how species have responded? A) shifting ranges B) earlier blooming C) migrating to higher altitudes D) hatching earlier E) All of the above

E) All of the above

What could happen to the boreal forests of northern Minnesota within the next century? A) Warmer soil could lead to fewer paper birch trees. B) There could be an increase in temperate species such as the red maple. C) There could be a northward migration of spruce trees. D) They could vanish. E) All of the above

E) All of the above

Describe what the four different lines in the following graph represent

Represent different responses, projected warming Red: slow economic growth and spread of technology Orange: balanced use of variety of energy sources, including continued use of fossil fuels Yellow: Improved technology decreases greenhouse gas emissions Green: Expected temperatures if greenhouse gases were held at 2000 levels

Describe two ecological changes that are expected from anthropogenic climate change in Canada

increased glacier/permafrost melt: rising sea levels boreal forest shift north: cause pest outbreak

RAG stands for _____

radiatively active gases

radiative forcer

Anything that alters the balance of incoming solar radiation relative to the amount of heat that escapes out into space

Which of the following is an anthropogenic forcer? A) volcanic eruptions B) fossil fuel combustion C) sunspot cycles D) orbital eccentricity E) None of the above

B) fossil fuel combustion

Climate changes that impact freeze-thaw patterns are predicted to have a negative impact on what industry in southern Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick? A) logging B) maple syrup C) tourism D) nut E) Christmas tree

B) maple syrup

Shifts in the ranges of tree species due to climate change are called ________. A) derooting events B) tree range migrations C) uncoupling events D) seed dispersal phenomena E) None of the above

B) tree range migrations

anthropogenic

Caused by or related to human action

How do clouds interact with radiation in the atmosphere, and what does this mean for the greenhouse effect?

Clouds are a radiative forcer that can promote either warming or cooling They can have high albedo and cool the planet or they can trap reradiated heat from the planet's surface and have a warming effect.

Name the key issue, driven by climate change, that will be on the forefront of global conflict and an axis issue?

Freshwater crisis

What is the difference between global warming and climate change?

Global warming refers to the rise in global temperatures mainly due to the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases Climate change refers to the increasing changes in the measures of climate over a long period of time. Global warming is an aspect of climate change.

climate

Long-term patterns or trends of meteorological conditions

What is the difference between mitigation and adaption, in a climate change context? Provide an example of each

Mitigation is efforts intended to minimize the extent or impact of climate change (release fewer greenhouse gasses) Adaptation is actions to prepare for, or respond to climate change impacts (increase energy efficiency)

greenhouse gases

Molecules in the atmosphere that absorb heat and reradiate it back to Earth

What is positive feedback? Provide a climate change related example

Positive feedback is changes cause by an initial event that then accentuates that original event temperatures rise --> ice melting --> temperatures continue to rise

in a climate change context, what two important roles does ozone play in Earth's atmosphere?

Ozone is considered a greenhouse gas, and plays a role in warming the planet and with ozone depletion there are more harmful UV rays reaching Earth's surface

weather

The meteorological conditions in a given place on a given day