Quiz #10
What must scientists do to ensure model output is better? Question 15 options: 1) Reduce errors 2) Overcome uncertainty 3) Use more input data 4) Both a and b are correct.
4) Both a and b are correct.
Why is drought so troubling in relation to climate? Question 49 options: 1) A minimal increase in temperatures would increase the areas that are affected by drought 2) A minimal increase in temperatures would decrease the areas that are affected by drought 3) A minimal increase in temperatures would increase the duration of drought 4) None of the above is correct.
1) A minimal increase in temperatures would increase the areas that are affected by drought
Which of the following best describes the scale of a climate model? Question 11 options: 1) A few kilometers 2) A few thousand kilometers 3) Either a or b depending on who is running the model 4) None of the above is correct.
1) A few kilometers
What is the general relationship between heavy precipitation events and climate change? Question 41 options: 1) As temperature warms, more frequent heavy precipitation events occur 2) As temperature warms, less frequent heavy precipitation events occur 3) As temperature warms, more frequent small precipitation events occur 4) None of the above is correct.
1) As temperature warms, more frequent heavy precipitation events occur
Why will all locations on the globe not see the increase in temperatures predicted by climate models? Question 24 options: 1) Climate change is geographically non-uniform in both magnitude and sign 2) The greatest change will always be seen at the equator, regardless of the forcing mechanism 3) Climate change is only uniform along lines of latitude 4) None of the above is correct.
1) Climate change is geographically non-uniform in both magnitude and sign
In order to map ECVs, global climate models do which of the following first? Question 10 options: 1) Compute ECVs for every point 2) Break the map into a gridded coordinate that includes only the ocean 3) Break the map into a gridded coordinate that includes only the atmosphere 4) Break the map into a gridded coordinate that includes both the atmosphere and the ocean
1) Compute ECVs for every point
Which of the following is a reason that the future of climate is such a concern? Question 1 options: 1) Dramatic changes may disrupt society 2) More money must be spent to monitor the change 3) Both a and b are correct. 4) None of the above is correct.
1) Dramatic changes may disrupt society
What happens to the general latitude locations of tornado occurrences as the seasons change? Question 39 options: 1) Follows increases and decreases in solar declination 2) Moves opposite to the increases and decreases in solar declination 3) There is no change in location 4) None of the above is correct.
1) Follows increases and decreases in solar declination
Who developed the tornado rating scale? Question 35 options: 1) Saffir Simpson 2) Fujita 3) Newton 4) None of the above is correct.
1) Saffir Simpson
In a transient model run, how is CO2 added? Question 18 options: 1) Slowly 2) All at once 3) It depends on the scientist generating the run 4) None of the above is correct.
1) Slowly
Why is climate modeling so difficult? Question 17 options: 1) There are many interacting sub-systems 2) Feedbacks and systems occur on many different spatial scales 3) There is no one equation that explains climate 4) All of the above are correct.
1) There are many interacting sub-systems
Researchers at the University of Miami have been trying to relate occurrence of tornado outbreaks to which of the following? Question 40 options: 1) TransNino phase of the ENSO cycle 2) La Nina 3) PDO 4) NAO
1) TransNino phase of the ENSO cycle
In which basin has a trend been identified in terms of storm development? Question 45 options: 1) Tropical North Atlantic 2) Tropical Pacific 3) Indian 4) Arctic
1) Tropical North Atlantic
Which of the following are causes for uncertainty in climate modeling, according to the AR5 report? Question 16 options: 1) Volcanic eruptions 2) Short records of ECVs in the ocean 3) Increased industry 4) Both a and b are correct.
1) Volcanic eruptions
How common are the most catastrophic tornadoes rated EF5? Question 36 options: 1) 10% of all tornadoes 2) 1% of all tornadoes 3) 0.1% of all tornadoes 4) 0.01% of all tornadoes
3) 0.1% of all tornadoes
Which of the following is characterized by long duration changes in SST in the Atlantic? Question 46 options: 1) PDO 2) NAO 3) Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation c. None of the above is correct.
3) Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation c. None of the above is correct.
When are tornadoes most likely to occur during the day? Question 38 options: 1) In the early morning 2) In the late evening 3) Between 10am and 6pm 4) None of the above is correct.
3) Between 10am and 6pm
What type of model can be described as a statement of a fundamental law or relationship? Question 6 options: 1) Numerical 2) Conceptual 3) Graphical 4) Physical
2) Conceptual
What has been the general trend in terms of snow and ice storms? Question 48 options: 1) There has been a decreased frequency in extreme events 2) There has been an increased frequency in extreme events 3) There has been no change in frequency 4) There have been changes in location only
2) There has been an increased frequency in extreme events
Which of the following is the term used to describe a storm where the vortex touches the ground? Question 33 options: 1) Funnel cloud 2) Tornado 3) Either, depending on geographic location 4) None of the above is correct.
2) Tornado
In an equilibrium run, how long is the model output observed? Question 19 options: 1) Moment to moment for a set period of time 2) Until the model reaches a new equilibrium 3) It depends on the scientists generating the run 4) None of the above is correct.
2) Until the model reaches a new equilibrium
When air is dry, when is a funnel cloud visible? Question 34 options: 1) All the time 2) When it lifts dust and debris off the ground 3) Never 4) Only under specific conditions that are not typically found
2) When it lifts dust and debris off the ground
What variable is primarily used to rate hurricanes? Question 44 options: 1) SST 2) Wind Speed 3) Size 4) Surge
2) Wind Speed
How does climate model skill vary? Question 13 options: 1) ECV to ECV 2) Region to region 3) Both a and b are correct. 4) None of the above is correct.
3) Both a and b are correct.
Which ECVs are studied in thunderstorms? Question 31 options: 1) Temperature 2) Moisture 3) Both a and b are correct. 4) None of the above is correct.
3) Both a and b are correct.
Which of the following are challenges to finding and using analog data for global climate? Question 20 options: 1) Sparating the signal from the noise 2) Scrutiny of the climate record 3) Both a and b are correct. 4) None of the above is correct.
3) Both a and b are correct.
Which of the following describes why the CO2 level during the PETM is significant? Question 23 options: 1) Estimated rate of carbon release is comparable to modern anthropogenic release levels 2) Estimate rate of carbon release is comparable to anticipated modern anthropogenic release levels 3) Both a and b are correct. 4) None of the above is correct.
3) Both a and b are correct.
Which of the following is true with regards to climate model output being like life expectancy? Question 28 options: 1) They do not give precise values at a specific location 2) They help to quantify future change that may occur 3) Both a and b are correct. 4) None of the above is correct.
3) Both a and b are correct.
Why do hurricanes slow as the storm moves inland? Question 43 options: 1) Lack of moisture 2) Increased friction from the land surface 3) Both a and b are correct. 4) None of the above is correct.
3) Both a and b are correct.
Why must we look at instrument-based and reconstructed climate records with scrutiny? Question 3 options: 1) To identify statistically significant trends 2) To find points of data that can be extrapolated into the future 3) Both a and b are correct. 4) None of the above is correct.
3) Both a and b are correct.
Why would we not see an immediate drop in atmospheric CO2 levels if emissions were to drop? Question 25 options: 1) Removing CO2 depends on physical, chemical and biological processes 2) These processes take centuries to work 3) Both a and b are correct. 4) None of the above is correct.
3) Both a and b are correct.
Why will it take time for Earth's climate system to recover from CO2 already being put into the atmosphere? Question 4 options: 1) There is no way to stop CO2 emissions 2) CO2 has a short lifetime 3) CO2 has a long lifetime 4) None of the above is correct.
3) CO2 has a long lifetime
Which of the following is the hardest area to accurately model? Question 29 options: 1) Temperatures 2) Precipitation 3) Clouds 4) None of the above is correct.
3) Clouds
Which of the following compiles and displays data in a format that readily coveys meaning? Question 7 options: 1) Numerical 2) Conceptual 3) Graphical 4) Physical
3) Graphical
Which tornadoes are the most destructive? Question 32 options: 1) Short-duration storms 2) Long duration storms 3) Multi-vortex storms 4) None of the above is correct.
3) Multi-vortex storms
How do scientists attempt to answer questions about future climate? Question 2 options: 1) They don't 2) They take a guess 3) They use models run by super computers 4) They look for a time when the event happened previously
3) They use models run by super computers
The equalizing of temperature change in response to changes in external forces and boundary conditions of climate is known as ______. Question 27 options: 1) climate change 2) climate vulnerability 3) climate sensitivity 4) None of the above is correct.
3) climate sensitivity
A map on which mean values of temperature and/or precipitation are plotted would be an example of _____ model. Question 8 options: 1) numerical 2) conceptual 3) graphical 4) physical
3) graphical
Where did greenhouse gases come from during the PETM? Question 22 options: 1) Decomposition of deposits on the seafloor 2) Volcanic activity 3) Oxidation of organic-rich sediments 4) All of the above are correct.
4) All of the above are correct.
Which of the following best describes how climate models predict over a long time scale without losing accuracy? Question 12 options: 1) They are driven by feedbacks that do no influence the weather 2) They predict how climate adjusts to different conditions 3) They focus on specific broad regions of positive and negative anomalies 4) All of the above are correct.
4) All of the above are correct.
Which of the following is true about the PETM, making it the best geological analog for future ocean and biological responses? Question 21 options: 1) Widespread warming associated with large buildup of CO2 and methane 2) Oceans acidified 3) Global temps rose several degrees 4) All of the above are correct.
4) All of the above are correct.
Which of the following could be considered to be a singularity? Question 50 options: 1) Indian Summer 2) January Thaw 3) Change in SST 4) Both a and b are correct.
4) Both a and b are correct.
Which of the following is the most dominant factor in determining frequency and intensity of winter storms in the US? Question 47 options: 1) ENSO 2) NAO 3) PDO 4) Both a and b are correct.
4) Both a and b are correct.
When applying chaos theory to climate model input, which of the following is true? Question 14 options: 1) Slight change in the input could lead to errors in the output 2) Changes to the input have no impact on output 3) Climate systems are highly sensitive to changes 4) Both a and c are correct.
4) Both a and c are correct.
What does the complex nature of removing CO2 from the atmosphere mean in terms of global climate change? Question 26 options: 1) There is no hope of reversing the changes already made 2) Making a change will require a serious and prolonged commitment to reducing emissions 3) There will still be warming even after emissions are reduced, possible for decade to centuries 4) Both b and c are correct.
4) Both b and c are correct.
Which of the following locations are synoptic conditions ideal for tornado development? Question 37 options: 1) Atlantic coast of the U.S. 2) Australia 3) Central U.S. 4) Both b and c are correct.
4) Both b and c are correct.
Which of the following models is less common now due to the use of supercomputers? Question 9 options: 1) Numerical 2) Conceptual 3) Graphical 4) Physical
4) Physical
What is the most devastating result of a tropical cyclone? Question 42 options: 1) Wind 2) Rain 3) Tornadoes 4) Storm surge
4) Storm surge
Which of the following is a type of model? Question 5 options: 1) Numerical 2) Conceptual 3) Graphical 4) Physical 5) All of the above are correct.
5) All of the above are correct.
Which of the following variables was a focus of the Kunkel et al paper? Question 30 options: 1) Thunderstorms 2) Extreme precipitation 3) Tropical cyclones 4) Winter storms 5) All of the above are correct.
5) All of the above are correct.