EARTH SCIENCE EXAM REVIEW- CLIMATE CHANGE

What long-term impact could the destruction of large areas of forests have on Earth?

increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels

Which of the following BEST describes a change in Earth's atmosphere made by early photosynthetic life?

increased level of oxygen

The average temperature of Earth has increased approximately 0.8°C in the last one hundred years. Which of the following do researchers MOST attribute to this temperature increase?

increased use of fossil fuels

Estuaries are marine environments located in areas where fresh water from rivers flow into the ocean. Estuaries are one of the most biologically productive ecosystems. Birds, fish, turtles and many other organisms inhabit these ecosystems. Which will MOST likely cause changes to estuary habitats on a global scale?

increases in sea level

A student writes the following statement in a journal: "It was 84°F at 3 p.m. on Tuesday in the schoolyard." This statement BEST describes which system?

local weather

Over geologic time, global mean sea level has varied significantly. Which change is MOST likely responsible for an increase in global mean sea level?

melting of polar ice caps

Due to the increasing average temperature of the atmosphere, polar ice sheets melt at a greater rate than they form. Which of these will be an effect of the continued melting of polar ice?

A major reservoir of fresh water will decrease.

Historically, black sea bass lived in coastal waters from North Carolina to Massachusetts. They were rarely found as far north as the Gulf of Maine. In recent decades, black sea bass have become plentiful enough in the Gulf of Maine to be fished commercially. How could this increase in population of black sea bass be evidence of climate change?

Black sea bass prefer warmer water than was in the Gulf of Maine in the 1970s.

Some scientists have predicted that buildup of greenhouse gases will contribute to the occurrence of more hurricanes. Which is the MOST likely assumption used in making this prediction?

Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide will cause increased ocean surface temperatures.

The Torres Strait Islands are low islands off the coast of Australia. How would an increase in global temperature MOST likely make the islands uninhabitable?

It could cause glacial ice melt, raising sea levels until the islands were flooded.

Global warming affects sea levels. Which of these is a likely consequence if the trend of global warming continues in coming decades?

Melting glaciers will cause flooding of coastal towns and cities.

Which of these events is an example of a change in climate?

The average amount of annual precipitation decreases.

Climate

The average climate over time in a place

Which statement BEST describes the climate of an area?

The average yearly rainfall in Nevada is approximately 23 cm.

An iceberg breaks off of a glacier and floats into the ocean. In the ocean, the iceberg begins to melt. Which temporary effect does this melting have on ocean water in the immediate area of the iceberg?

The melting ice reduces the salinity of the ocean water.

Trees are carbon sinks, because they absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. Burning large stands of rainforest not only reduces the amount of photosynthesis on Earth, but it releases carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide gas.

The ocean water would become more acidic.

What will most likely influence global sea levels?

an increase in global temperatures

The average global ocean temperature in 1912 was 15.8°C, and in 2011 this temperature was 16.5°C. Corals are sensitive to the temperature of ocean water. The health of corals is a concern if the ocean temperature continues to rise. Which of these is a likely prediction based on the current trend in ocean temperature data?

bleaching of coral reefs

Which could increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

burning coal to produce electricity

The greenhouse effect is a process by which atmospheric gases, including CO2 help warm the atmosphere and surface of Earth. Most scientists think the greenhouse effect is increasing due to human activities. Which of these human activities has caused the greatest increase in concentrations of atmospheric CO2

burning fossil fuels

Certain lakes in the northeastern part of the United States have had decreases in pH levels, causing the deaths of many fish. What is the MOST likely reason for this change in pH levels?

coal-burning factories

It is hypothesized that in the next 200 years, the lowest land areas on Earth could be submerged beneath rising oceans. Which climate change would MOST likely cause this to occur?

global warming

Raising livestock, such as sheep and cattle, results in the production of large amounts of methane gas (CH4). Methane has a similar effect in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2). As more livestock are raised to provide food for humans, what is the MOST likely effect of the increase in methane?

global warming

Visible light reaches Earth's surface while infrared light is trapped as heat. Which characteristic of Earth's atmosphere causes this to happen?

the greenhouse effect

Which form of water, when present in the atmosphere, is MOST likely to contribute to global warming?

vapor