GEOS 218 Exam 4

Is earth currently in radiative balance?

No

What changes does EL Nino bring Australia and California?

Australia is hot and dry and California is wet and rainy

During the 20th century, the average global surface temperature rose about...? A. 0.06 C (.1 F) B. 0.6 C (1 F) C. 1.6 C (3 F) D. 6.0 C (10 F)

B. .6 C (1 F)

During the last Ice Age, the average global temperature was about: A. 1 C (2 F) colder B. 5 C (9 F) colder C. 15 C (30 F) colder D. 30 C (60 F) colder

B. 5 C (9 F) colder

In the pictures above, the trade winds are weak and there is warm water near Peru. What condition is occurring here? A. La Nina B. El Nino C. Nothing -- this is normal

B. El Nino

Sea level does NOT depend on: A. Melting of glaciers and ice caps B. Melting Arctic sea ice C. Temperature of the ocean D. Shape of the ocean basins

B. Melting of Arctic sea ice

El Nino is associated with... A. Stronger trade winds are the Tropical Pacific B. Warmer temperatures off the coast of Peru C. Flooding in Indonesia/Australia D. All of these

B. Warmer temperatures off the coast of Peru

How do greenhouse gases affect the climate system?

By trapping outgoing infrared energy (heat), they make the planet's surface warmer than it would be otherwise

How can volcanoes affect the climate? A. They warm the planet by emitting Co2 into the atmosphere which traps heat B. They cool the planet by emitting SO2 into the atmosphere which blocks sunlight C. Both A and B D. Neither A nor B

C. Both A and B

El Nino occurs: A. Every winter B. Every other year C. Every 3-7 years D. About every 10 years

C. Every 3-7 years

Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are increasing in the last 150 years -- Why? A. Ocean circulation has changed B. Atmospheric circulation has changed C. Fossil fuel burning (oil, coal) and destruction of forests that take up CO2 D. We don't know

C. Fossil fuel burning(oil, coal) and destruction of forests that take up CO2

What is the likely effect of increasing greenhouse gas emissions? A.Lower global temperatures B. No change C. Higher global temperatures

C. Higher global temperatures

Changes we might expect in a warming world do NOT include: A. spring arriving early B. Increased ocean temperatures C. Increased sea ice concentrations D. Poleward movement of species

C. Increased sea ice concentration

Which is a case of subsidence? A. Land slips down a hill B. Land increases in elevation due to water flow C. Land drops in elevation due to removal of groundwater D.Land is washed out at sea

C. Land drops in elevation due to removal of groundwater

The image to the left (picture of a graph increasing till April then decreasing drastically to October) shows the annual cycle of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The reason it goes up every winter and down every summer is: A. People burn more gas and oil in the winter to heat their homes B. People in the US drive more around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays C. Trees and plants grow in the summer and then decompose in the winter D. We still dont know why

C. Trees and plants grow in the summer and then decompose in the winter

Since the year 1800, atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased from: A. zero to about 280 ppm B. about 180 to 280 ppm C. about 280 to 400 ppm D. about 280 to 1000 ppm

C. about 280 to 400 ppm

Which of the common greenhouse gases are responsible for most of the global warming so far?

Carbon Dioxide -- is responsible for about 60% of the observed warming

Scientists have concluded that humans are responsible for: A. Increasing CO2 in the atmosphere B. Increasing Methane in the atmosphere C. Increasing nitrous oxide in the atmosphere D. Humans are responsible for all of these E. Humans are responsible for none of these

D. Humans are responsible for all of these

Which of these does NOT affect the chance of a landslide? A.The steepness of the slope B. The amount of water in the ground C. The type of material in the ground D. The elevation above sea level

D. The elevation above sea level

What is the main form of outgoing radiation on Earth?

Infrared thermal radiation

How is La Nina different from El Nino?

La Nina is marked by stronger than normal Easterlies so extra wet in west, and extra dry/cold in east

Name two ways in which a rising sea level can negatively affect people

Many people live near coast and could be under water Higher storm surge Saltification of aquifers

Do greenhouse gases affect incoming radiation, outgoing radiation or both?

Outgoing only

As the massive continental ice sheets melted at the end of the last ice age, what happened to the global sea level -- did it rise or fall?

Rise by about 120m

If the ice in Antarctic and Greenland were to melt entirely, how much would sea level change? Is this likely over the next century?

Rise by about 65 m (200ft). Total melting is extremely unlikely although a 1m rise, possibly a 2m rise, is likely

Describe what is meant by the "radiative balance" on Earth.

The amount of energy from the sun absorbed by the earth is equal to the amount of energy emitted by the earth into space

How do the Milankovitch Cycles affect the radiative balance on Earth?

They affect the total strength and relative timing of solar heating over the course of a year.

What is the main form of incoming solar radiation on Earth?

Visible solar radiation

Name three of the common greenhouse gases.

Water vapor (H2O), Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O) or CFCs The amount of water vapor isnt changing due to human activity

What is a greenhouse gas?

A greenhouse gas is a gas that is invisible to visible light, letting sunlight through, but absorbs infrared energy (heat) like the glass in a greenhouse.

Without the greenhouse effect, the earth's surface would be about: A. 60 F colder B. 10 F colder C. The same as it is now D. 20 F warmer

A. 60 F colder

Which of the following are greenhouse gasses? A.CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, water vapor B. Oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen C. Argon, Xenon, Krypton D. Only CO2

A. CO2,methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, water vapor

Milankovitch Cycles affect climate by: A. Changing the amount of solar radiation received by the earth B. changing the amount of heat that escapes back out to space C. Moving heat from the equator to the poles more efficiently D. All of the above

A. Changing the amount of solar radiation received by the earth

When massive ice sheets on land melt, what happens to the ocean? A. Sea level will rise B. Sea level will decrease C. Sea level wont change

A. Sea level will rise

During an El Nino year, which of the following is true? A. The waters off the coast of Peru are warmer B. The Easterlies (Trade WInds) increase in strength C. The winters are drier in Peru and the southwest U.S. D. The winters are wetter in Australia

A. The waters off the coast of Peru are warmer

The greenhouse effect causes...... A. Warmer surface temperatures B. Colder surface temperatures C. Continuously increasing surface temperatures D. None of these -- the greenhouse effect is a myth

A. Warmer surface temperatures

Describe the changes in the surface winds, the sea surface temperatures and the precipitation patterns over the tropical Pacific that occur during an El Nino. What changes can be expected in Tucson during El Nino winters?

During El Nino: 1. Surface winds weaken 2. Warm water sloshes eastward, warm water at surface near Peru -- covers "cold tongue" 3. Rain follows warm water so Indonesia/Australia is dry and Peru is wet 4.Tucson is wet during El Nino winters

What are the approximate time scales for each of the Milankovitch Cycles? (Hint: They are all in the thousands of years.)

Eccentricity has a cycle of 100,000 years Tilt has a cycle of 40,00 years Wobble has a cycle of 20,000 years

What are the three Milankovitch Cycles called?

Eccentricity, tilt or obliquity, and wobble or precession

Which of the following does NOT provide evidence of past climates A. Glacial Deposits B. Ice cores C. Ocean sediments D. Tree rings E. Archaeology F. Old broken thermometers

F. Old broken thermometers