Global Warming Quiz 1
On average, the incoming solar radiation at the top of Earth's atmosphere is ~ 342 W/m2. Because Earth's average albedo is 0.3, the average amount of incoming solar radiation that is absorbed by the Earth is then approximately ______W/m2.
239
Total amount of radiation absorbed by earth
240w/m^2
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are human-made organic compounds that are commonly used in air conditioning and as refrigerants. One example of a HFC is fluoroform (CHF3), which has a global warming potential of 14,800 (over a 100-year timeframe) and stays in the atmosphere for about 260 years after it is emitted. This means that fluoroform is:
Better at absorbing terrestrial longwave radiation than CO2 (higher radiative efficiency)
The Northern and Southern Hemispheres would receive an equal amount of sunlight year-round. There would be no seasons
b
The lowest albedo is found in square ___
b
Inspect the diagram below, which shows the flux of radiation incident on two pieces of paper (flux = amount of energy that hits a unit surface area per unit time). The flux of radiation that strikes the paper is reduced when the paper is tilted at an angle to the incoming light. The _______ image better represents sunlight hitting the polar latitudes, while the other image is more akin to the tropical latitudes
bottom
Seasons would be very extreme in both hemispheres: Winter would be very cold and dark. Summer would be very hot and experience constant sunlight
c
The highest albedo is found in square ____
c
Changes in sunspots __________ explain global temperature increases since the pre-industrial era (since 1750).
cannot
Since the 1970s, changes in the Sun's strength _____ explain most of the increase in global average temperature.
cannot
The graph indicates that between 1880 and 1940, changes in the Sun's strength ______ explain most of the variability in Earth's global average temperature.
cannot
Keeling Curve
graph that represents the concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere since 1958
Consider a scenario where the Earth is initially in energy balance and has a steady average global temperature. If the Sun suddenly began to put out MORE solar radiation, the Earth would no longer be in energy balance: the Energy In would be _______ the Energy Out of the Earth system. In response, the Earth would _____ until energy balance was restored.
greater than, warm
Absorbing and re-emitting longwave radiation
greenhouse gases/ the greenhouse effect
The Clean Air Act of 1970 (and amendments in 1990) has dramatically reduced sulfate aerosol emissions in the US. This has likely saved and/or lengthened thousands of lives, by reducing Americans' exposure to pollutants. This reduction in sulfate aerosols has also allowed _____ incoming solar shortwave radiation to reach the Earth's surface.
more
Suppose that low clouds always form where sea ice has melted. This would initiate a ______ feedback.
negative
The aerosol indirect effect leads to a _______ shortwave radiative forcing--more incoming sunlight is reflected away.
negative
Increase in forested vegetation → decrease in planet's albedo:
negative coupling
Does the following scenario describe a forcing or a feedback? Positive or negative? As the surface temperature of Earth increases, this leads to increased evaporation from the ocean surface. This increased evaporation results in the formation of more clouds in the lower atmosphere. These clouds have a high albedo, so reflect away more solar radiation back to space. Therefore, less incoming solar energy is absorbed and the surface temperature cools.
negative feedback
If the eruption is large, and especially if it is close to equatorial latitudes, the effect described by statement _________ above has the strongest impact on global temperatures in the short term (a few years).
negative shortwave radiative forcing
Volcanic eruptions emit sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere, which leads to a
negative shortwave radiative forcing
In ______ report(s), there is a very likely chance that the climate sensitivity is 7 degrees oC
neither
The following statement is FALSE. Select the best explanation from below to refute this statement. The Global Warming Potential (GWP) of nitrous oxide is 298. Therefore, nitrous oxide is contributing more to the unnatural/anthropogenic greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide.
Even though nitrous oxide has a higher GWP, its concentration in the atmosphere is much lower than carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide, therefore, contributes more to the unnatural greenhouse effect.
The Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemispheres would receive the same amount of sunlight during their respective summer seasons.
a
Greenhouse gases_______
absorb and re-emit outgoing terrestrial long wave radiation
The figure above shows the seasonal cycle of global temperature for every year since 1880. The anomalies are with respect to the 1980-2015 global annual average temperature. From this figure, you can infer that the global warming signal over the past 140 years has occurred ______
throughout the year
This is because the high concentration of these tiny aerosols gives rise to clouds that are composed of many ______ water droplets, resulting in high-albedo cloud tops.
tiny
What is the correct ranking for the following portions of the EM spectrum in terms of wavelength from shortest to longest wavelength
ultraviolet, visible, infrared
Shortwave Radiation
visible light, "near infrared" radiation, small amount of ultraviolet radiation=shortwave radiation, it is the radiation the sun puts out
Energy emitted by warm bodies
warmer things emit more energy
The intensity of the sun's radiation peaks at approximately _____ micrometers , which is in the _____ portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
0.5, visible
Recall the equation that describes climate sensitivity: Δ𝑇=𝜆ΔF If the change in temperature is 5 oC and the change in radiative forcing is 3.5 W/m2 what is the approximate value for the climate sensitivity parameter (lambda) in oC/(W/m2)?
1.4
Average global temperature
15 degrees celsius or 59 degrees fahrenheit (earth)
Absorbed and re-emitted(sun)
20% absorbed by the atmosphere, 50% is absorbed at the surface
The rate of change tells us how quickly a variable (in this case, methane concentration) increases or decreases over time. The rate of change in methane concentrations is slowest in which cluster of years?
2000-2005
Ignoring the error ranges (in square brackets), the approximate size of the radiative forcing when you sum carbon dioxide with the other well-mixed greenhouse gases is ______ W/m2. This value is higher than the "total anthropogenic" forcing! The reason for this is that _______ forcings offset some of the positive radiative forcings caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
3.3, negative anthropogenic
Between 1980 and 2000, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have increased by about
30 ppm
Reflected back to space(sun)
30% of suns radiation
From the year 2000 to 2020, they increased by approximately
45 ppm
Based on their structures, which of the following molecules are greenhouse gases? (atoms of the same kind are the same color)
A, C
Presence of greenhouse gases
makes the earth habitable
Out of all factors discussed by Dr. Hayhoe, which global warming impact has been shown to increase human mortality directly?
Air pollution worsens as temperatures rise.
Below there are several explanations for why the average global absorbed energy is less than 1366 W/m2. What explanation is INCORRECT?
As Earth orbits around the sun, it is farther during the Northern Hemisphere wintertime and closer in the Northern Hemisphere summertime.
Which option would make the Earth's seasons more exaggerated
B
Albedo
Ability of a surface to reflect light
Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and CFCs all contribute to the anthropogenic greenhouse effect and are all associated with positive radiative forcings (compared to 1750). Rank the three greenhouse gases from smallest total radiative impact to largest.
CFCs, Methane, Carbon Dioxide
Ozone is found in both the troposphere and the stratosphere: Which one of the following statements regarding ozone in our atmosphere is TRUE?
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) break down ozone molecules in the stratosphere and are responsible for the ozone hole over the Antarctic region.
What is a true statement about water vapor feedback?
Global warming leads to an increase in the atmosphere's water vapor content
Which statement accurately describes how an increase in greenhouse gases affects the radiation entering or leaving the Earth system?
Greenhouses gases absorb and re-emit longwave radiation in all directions
Therefore the rate of change has _______ in the past 20 years, compared to the 20 years prior.
Increased
In addition to the units degrees C or degrees F, why do scientists estimate the amount of climate change in terms of the unit Joules?
Joules are a measure of energy; a small increase in temperature corresponds to an enormous addition of energy to the climate system.
_______ feedbacks are especially dominant in the Arctic. Therefore, in the coming decades, the Arctic is expected to _____ more quickly than the rest of the planet.
Negative, warm
Are these statements correct? The ozone hole is caused by global warming, global warming is caused by the ozone hole
No
In the lecture, I showed images of the optical depth and climatic impact of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines. Based on location alone, which volcanic event do you think had a bigger global climatic impact (in terms of short-term temperature drop)?
Pinatubo in the Philippines(attitude of 15 degrees N)
Notice how the albedo in the Arctic (high northern polar latitudes) significantly decreased during this time period. Which of the following is the most likely reason for this decrease in albedo? Though we have not yet gone over any details of Arctic change, only one of the options below makes sense!
The extent/coverage of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean declined
Focus on volcanic emissions. They clearly have a large signal! There are particularly big drops in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Why do these volcanic eruptions fail to have a big impact on the temperature difference between 1750 and 2019?
The temperature changes due to volcanic eruptions are short lived--once the aerosols fall out of the atmosphere, the temperature will return to its previous baseline.
The annual average temperature in Australia (based on 1961-1990 data) is 22 degrees C (71 degrees F)
climate
Australia's annual average temperatures have warmed by 1.4 degrees C since 1910.
climate change
Under a high greenhouse-gas emissions scenario, by 2090, temperatures in Southern Australia are expected to warm by an additional 2.7 - 4.2 degrees C
climate change
The Sherwood et al. report narrows the possible range for climate sensitivity. Based on what you learned in the lecture, this is, in part, because scientists now have a better understanding of the size and direction of _______ feedbacks.
cloud
The amount of incoming solar radiation remains fixed, and the amount of shortwave radiation absorbed by Earth stays constant. Greenhouse gas concentrations decrease rapidly, suddenly increasing the amount of longwave radiation emitted to space. o compensate, the temperature at the Earth's surface will ________ until energy balance is restored, and the energy in is equal to the energy out to space.
cool
Anatares is therefore a _____ star
cooler
Energy emitted by cold bodies
cooler things emit less energy
There would be no difference in the amount of incoming sunlight compared to Earth's present orbital configuration. However, the spring and autumn equinoxes would occur at opposite times of the year!
d
Eyjafjallajökull Volcano is glaciated, and therefore, under normal circumstances, covered in ice and snow. The ash from the eruption blanketed the nearby glaciers in a layer of dark gray material. The ash deposition on the ice led to a local _______ in the surface albedo.
decrease
On average, the incoming solar radiation at the top of Earth's atmosphere is ~ 342 W/m2. If the planet's albedo increased, then the average amount of radiation that the Earth absorbs would ______
decrease
On average, the incoming solar radiation at the top of Earth's atmosphere is ~ 342 W/m2. If the planet's albedo stayed the same, but the Sun dimmed (putting out less energy), then the average amount of radiation that the Earth absorbs would _____
decrease
More solar radiation would be absorbed by the surface of our planet, and the Earth would warm if the planetary albedo decreased .
decreased
Weather
describes the atmospheric conditions at a specific place at a specific point in time, time frame short: minutes, hours, days, week
Increase in methane concentrations in the atmosphere --> increase in CFC concentrations in the atmosphere
does not accurately describe a coupling
Increase in oxygen concentrations in the atmosphere --> increase in strength of greenhouse effect:
does not accurately describe a coupling
Scientists estimate that it is likely that the global average temperature will increase by 3 oC if CO2 concentrations double (compared to pre-industrial temperatures and concentrations). There is uncertainty within this estimate though. It is _________ that the temperature would warm by only 1.5 oC in response to a doubling of CO2.
extremely unlikely
Low albedo
forests, vegetation, ocean: not very reflective, more absorbent
The visible-light images above come from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. On the left is an image from 2019; on the right, from 2014. You can observe that 2019 has fewer sunspots. Therefore, 2019 was a year that the Sun was emitting _____ radiation (compared to 2014).
less
This graph suggests that there was, on average, __________ incoming solar radiation between 1650-1700 compared with 1950-2000.
less
The amount of incoming solar radiation remains fixed, and the amount of shortwave radiation absorbed by Earth stays constant. Greenhouse gas concentrations decrease rapidly, suddenly increasing the amount of longwave radiation emitted to space. n this scenario, the amount of shortwave energy entering the system would be _______ the amount of outgoing longwave radiation
less than
Anatares emits radiation at a ____ peak(maximum) wavelength than Sirius
longer
Suppose that low clouds always form where sea ice has melted. There is ______ that this feedback is occurring.
no evidence
The figure above shows a slightly modified version of the ice-albedo feedback. In the third (bottom) step, instead of saying "surface albedo", the variable is "Amount of incoming solar radiation absorbed at the surface." Consider the new couplings, and decide if the ice-albedo feedback is still positive, if it is now negative, or if there is not enough information.
now a negative feedback
Is this a positive or negative feedback?
positive
The couplings in the feedback loop are all _____
positive
The figure above shows a generic feedback loop. There is no information about the components within the loop. Using the rule of multiplication alone, is this a positive or negative feedback?
positive
The surface of the Earth warms as a result of a ______ radiative forcing
positive
This process describes a ______ feedback
positive
Increase in methane concentrations in the atmosphere → increase in strength of greenhouse effect:
positive coupling
Does the following scenario describe a forcing or a feedback? Positive or negative? Due to failure in storage tanks, a huge amount of methane was released into Aliso Canyon, CA in 2015/2016, increasing atmospheric concentrations of the greenhouse gas.
positive forcing
Volcanic eruptions emit CO2 into the atmosphere, which leads to a
positive longwave radiative forcing
Volcanic eruptions can deposit soot on nearby snow, which alters albedo, and leads to
positive shortwave radiative forcing
Scientists estimate that it is likely that the global average temperature will increase by 3 oC if CO2 concentrations double (compared to pre-industrial temperatures and concentrations). There is uncertainty within this estimate though. It is ______ that the temperature could warm by 4 oC in response to a doubling of CO2.
possible
Climate
refers to the average pattern of weather over a longer time period; can refer to different scales(local, regional, global), time frame is longer: months, years, decades or more
High albedo
snow, ice, clouds: highly reflective
Tropospheric ozone forms when...
sunlight hits pollutants (like nitrogen oxides) and sets of ozone-producing chemical reactions.
In ______ report(s), there is a likely chance that the climate sensitivity is 1.75 oC
the IPCC
Do you think that the albedo of the area captured in this image increased or decreased once the winds stopped blowing dust over the Mediterranean?
the albedo of the region decreases when there is no airborne dust present
Inspect the figure closely and note the axes. The temperature anomaly for 2020 was +1.02oC. In 2021 it was +0.84oC These anomalies are compared to a reference value of ...
the average of the global mean temperatures between 1951 and 1980
Longwave radiation
the energy the earth gives back to the atmosphere/space(infrared light)
The figure above shows temperature anomalies over Earth's land surfaces vs. Earth's ice-free ocean surfaces, from 1880 to 2021. The anomaly is with reference to the 1951-1980 averages. The term "Lowess Smoothing" indicates that the bold lines are a 5-year running average. From this plot, you can infer that _______
the land surface has warmed more than the ocean
This final figure shows temperature anomalies from 1880-2021 in the Northern vs. Southern Hemisphere, based on data from both land and ocean. From this graph, you can infer that the northern hemisphere has warmed more than the southern hemisphere .
the northern hemisphere has warmed more than the southern hemisphere
Physically, a lower sensitivity parameter indicates that the positive feedbacks are
weaker
Jan 4, 2023, the high temperature in Perth, Australia was 35.5 degrees C (96 degrees F).
weather
