Earth Science - Chapter 20 Activity

Which of the following statements are true regarding the processes involved in transitioning from Image A to Image B to Image C? Choose one or more: - During the summer months, plumes of carbon monoxide stream from fires in Africa, South America, and Australia, contributing to high concentrations in the atmosphere. - During spring and summer in the northern hemisphere, plants absorb a substantial amount of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, thus removing some of the gas from the atmosphere. - As summer transitions to fall, plant photosynthesis decreases, causing carbon dioxide to accumulate in the atmosphere. - During fall and winter in the northern hemisphere, plants absorb a substantial amount of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, thus removing some of the gas from the atmosphere. - During the summer months, plumes of carbon monoxide stream from fires in North America, Europe, and Asia, contributing to high concentrations in the atmosphere.

- During the summer months, plumes of carbon monoxide stream from fires in Africa, South America, and Australia, contributing to high concentrations in the atmosphere. - During spring and summer in the northern hemisphere, plants absorb a substantial amount of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, thus removing some of the gas from the atmosphere. - As summer transitions to fall, plant photosynthesis decreases, causing carbon dioxide to accumulate in the atmosphere.

Which of the following are reasons why rainforests form near the equator? Choose one or more: - The Hadley cells force air to rise. - The Hadley cells force air to descend. - There is a lot of warm, moist air at the equator. - There is more surface area covered by oceans along the equator. - The trade winds converge at the equator. - The trade winds diverge at the equator.

- The Hadley cells force air to rise. - There is a lot of warm, moist air at the equator. - The trade winds converge at the equator.

The graph below shows oxygen isotope ratios measured in an ice core. Which of the following statements best describe the climate during the time shown in the graph? Choose one or more: - The periods between 36-42 Ka and 62-66 Ka had similar climates. - The coldest period occurred around 75 Ka. - The coldest period occurred around 41 Ka. - The periods between 28-36 Ka and 62-66 Ka had similar climates. - There was a sharp increase in temperatures at ~36 Ka. - There was a sharp decrease in temperatures at ~36 Ka.

- The coldest period occurred around 75 Ka. - The periods between 28-36 Ka and 62-66 Ka had similar climates. - There was a sharp decrease in temperatures at ~36 Ka.

The two maps above show the distribution of plant hardiness zones in the United States for 1990 and 2012. Blue colors show areas with shorter growing seasons, whereas red colors show areas with longer growing seasons. Select possible consequences of the change in growing season shown by comparing the maps. Choose one or more: - Water shortages will occur in areas that do not rely on snowpack melt. - Winter blizzards will occur more frequently. - The spring season will arrive sooner. - Farmers can grow more crops throughout the year. - The winter season will last longer. - Water shortages will occur in areas that rely on snowpack melt.

- Water shortages will occur in areas that do not rely on snowpack melt. - The spring season will arrive sooner. - Farmers can grow more crops throughout the year. - Water shortages will occur in areas that rely on snowpack melt

The numbers in the diagram below represent arbitrary units of energy. They show the relative amounts of energy involved in each energy transfer. Use the diagram to answer the following questions: Where does the majority of the energy absorbed by the atmosphere come from? ​​​​​​ Where does the majority of the energy that heats the Earth's surface come from?

- energy re-radiated by the Earth - the greenhouse effect

Global atmospheric carbon dioxide fluctuations are measured today by satellites. Prior to the advent of satellites, we depended on field instrument records. Who was the scientist who first recorded very accurate annual CO2 concentrations, showing seasonal carbon dioxide changes? Choose one: - Al Gore - Michael Mann - Charles Darwin - Charles Keeling

Charles Keeling

Sort the following statements based on whether they describe weather or climate.

Weather: - A hurricane forms in the tropics and moves into the Gulf of Mexico. - A freak snowstorm occurs in the summer. - A series of snow storms affects the east coast during one winter season. Climate: - Florida is wet and humid. - Texas is hot and dry. - The Pacific Northwest receives a lot of rain every year.

The maps above show the numbers of days with temperatures above 32ºC for 1961-1971 (left) and the projected numbers of days for 2080-2099 (right). Using the maps as a guide, select the possible consequences of the predicted change in the numbers of days with temperatures above 32ºC. Choose one or more: - shorter summers - more droughts - cooler summers - more heat waves - longer summers - decreased snowpack

- more droughts - more heat waves - longer summers - decreased snowpack

The images above show the change in the number of days of the year during which melting occurred in Greenland in 1979-2007 (left) and 2012 (right). What are consequences of this change? Choose one or more: - lower sea level - more melting of glacial ice - higher sea level - less rainfall in the tropics

- more melting of glacial ice - higher sea level

Use the maps of average global precipitation shown above to answer the following questions. Which latitude range receives the most precipitation in January? Which latitude range receives the most precipitation in July?

0º-30ºS 0º-30ºN

Use this graph to rank the sources of anthropogenic CO2 in 2010 based on their relative contribution.

Largest Contribution: - Coal - Petroleum - Natural Gas - Cement Production

Sort each of the following causes based on whether it is a long-term or short-term cause of climate change.

Long-Term Cause: - changes in the positions of Earth's continents - mountain-building processes - formation of continental seas Short-Term Cause - eccentricity of Earth's orbit - changes in ocean circulation - increase in the amount of area covered by glaciers - abrupt increase in greenhouse gases

Reservoirs in the carbon cycle are often described as being sources or sinks of carbon, depending upon whether they release or absorb carbon, respectively. Sort the various statements based on whether they describe a carbon source or sink.

Source: - Limestone rock weathers on a hillside. - A volcano erupts. - Leaf litter on the forest floor decays. - Electricity is produced at a coal-burning power plant. Sink: - A clam builds a new layer of shell. - Living trees in a forest undergo photosynthesis.