GPH 314 Final
According to Muggah, refugees often flee from poor cities to even poorer cities.
True
According to the IPCC, the scientific consensus is that Earth's climate is definitely being affected by human activities.
True
Which of the following is NOT recommended in "Preparing for Resettlement Associated with Climate Change?" -Researching climate change-specific resettlement -Involving those in the original areas and the intended resettlement areas in decisions regarding their resettlement -Training resettlement professional in categories including economics, public health, anthropology, and case studies -Resettling communities in areas in which marginalized communities reside
All of these but "resettling communities in areas in which marginalized communities reside" are recommended in the article.
The current geological age in which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and environment is known as the... -Anthropocene -Bioclimatic age -Holocene -Global urban change
Anthropocene
Which of the following INCORRECTLY pairs a step in the carbon cycle with the process taking place in that step? -Atmosphere to oceans: dissolution -Atmosphere to plants: exhalation -Living things to soil: decay -Living things to atmosphere: respiration
Atmosphere to plants: photosynthesis
The geosphere (sometimes also called the lithosphere), the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and the _______ are the four major subsystems of Earth. Select the answer that best fills in the blank. Cryosphere Plasmosphere Biosphere Organosphere
Biosphere
Which of the following is NOT an example of a fast feedback mechanism? -Changes in Earth's ice sheet quantities -Changes in atmospheric water vapor quantities -All of these are examples of fast feedback mechanisms. -Changes in atmospheric cloud quantities.
Changes in Earth's ice sheet quantities. (this is a slow feedback mechanism)
A system where the individual parts cannot be easily summed up to understand the overall system. -Complicated adaptive system -Complex adaptive system -None of the choices are correct. -Adaptive system
Complex adaptive system: A complex adaptive system is one where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Strategies intended to deal with stormwater management issues generally have no significant effect on urban heat islands.
False
The rankings of countries that are the most significant contributors to global warming is pretty much the same whether one considers per capita CO2 emissions or country-totals of CO2 emissions.
False
True or False: Air quality problems can generally be solved through local regulatory actions irrespective of regulations and the state of air quality in nearby cities, states, or countries.
False
T or F: Solar radiation management is the best choice for geo-engineering methods because it has no potential negative consequences.
False: Potential negative consequences include droughts and delaying the recovery of the ozone layer. SRM is the favored geo-engineering method because of the shorter time it takes to produce results.
True or False: Due to its exorbitant cost, remote sensing is only practical for a few environmental applications.
False: Remote sensing can be applied to many different areas and is practical for numerous situations because of the ability to capture information on a continuous and a repeated basis.
Select the FALSE statement concerning the use of remote sensing: -It can only record and collect data from that is in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. -It can produce spectral images in different bands and specific wavelengths of electromagnetic energy creating images of different colors including black and white. -It can image large areas quickly with a varying resolution -All other choices are true
It can only record and collect data from that is in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
All of the following are among the six EPA-regulated "criteria pollutants" except... -Ground-level ozone -Monoterpines -Lead -Particulate matter
Monoterpines: The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six common air pollutants: Carbon Monoxide, Ground-level Ozone, Lead, Nitrogen Oxides, Particulate Matter, and Sulfur Dioxide.
What is true about air temperature measurements in urban areas such as Phoenix, Arizona over the past 50 years? -Daytime temperatures have increased, but nighttime temperatures have decreased. -Temperatures have generally decreased due to urban bias. -Temperatures have remained relatively constant. -Nighttime temperatures have increased much more than have daytime temperatures.
Nighttime temperatures have increased much more than have daytime temperatures.
In cold areas that were too dry for glaciers to develop during the last ice age, what features covered these locations? -Solifluction and pingoes -Patterned ground -Ice wedges polygons -All of these
Periglacial features grew in extent during ice ages, and these include all of the choices listed
Using sediment cores, scientists discovered a time in the past when carbon dioxide levels were about the same as they are today. How far back in Earth's history do we have to go to see this? -500,000 years -15 million years -35 million years ago -25 million years ago
Sediment cores contain evidence that CO2 levels were the same today as they were about 15 million years ago
The Chesapeake Bay was once a ________ during the last ice age. -Deposit of glacial loess -Glacial Valley -All of these are correct -River Valley
The Chesapeake Bay was a regular river valley, and when sea level rose after the last ice age, the sea covered the lowlands of the river valley giving it its shape seen today.
Lassiter makes 3 observations regarding the EIA projections of CO2 emissions after the Paris climate treaty. These include: Each year 10 gigatons of Carbon are added to the atmosphere. CO2 emissions will increase over the next 30 years. Which of the following is the third observation he discusses? -The bulk of CO2 emission growth is from developing countries. -The bulk of CO2 emissions is from developed countries such as the United States and western Europe. -None of these choices are correct -CO2 emissions will decrease over the next century.
The bulk of CO2 emission growth is from developing countries.
According to this week's lecture materials, scientists estimate that sea levels will rise between approximately 1 and 5 meters. There are many factors that contribute to this global change. Which of the following choices is NOT one of them? -Melting glaciers -None of the other choices are correct. -Man-made CO2 emissions -The release of methane and carbon dioxide stored in the earth's biosphere
The correct answer is "None of the other choices..." because they are all factors that lead to sea level rise.
Why was the Earth's temperature much different in the early Precambrian period (~4.6 to 2.5 billion years ago) than it is today? -none of the choices are correct -An abundance of plants reduced the Greenhouse Effect, resulting in cooler temperatures -Radioactivity and meteorite bombardment -The sun was a new star and burned hotter than it does today
The earth was hotter because it was more radioactive and constant collisions with meteorites.
What is meant by the great acceleration? -The impact that us humans have on our planet and its natural systems has increased substantially since the Industrial Revolution -A sudden increase in temperature that occurred before the Anthropocene -None of the choices are correct. -The process that describes the transition from a stable state to an unstable one
The impact that us humans have on our planet and its natural systems has increased substantially since the Industrial Revolution
Why did sea level go down during glacial periods? -As glaciers stored more water as ice; sea level dropped -The Earth got colder, and so the oceans contracted. -All of these are correct -The Earth's water was stored underground instead of in the oceans.
The only correct answer is that the water that was stored in glaciers had to come from somewhere. It came from the oceans. Thus, during glacial periods, sea level dropped as glaciers stored more water.
From 2000 to 2012, which of the four domains experienced the greatest total forest gain? -Boreal -Temperate -Subtropical -Tropical
Tropical
One concern about increased use of photovoltaics in cities is that they can actually add heat to the urban environment.
True
T or F: You overhear two people talking about how it is usually windy and cold this time of year, but as you go outside, you notice it's hot and not windy at all. You realize that the two people were describing the climate.
True
Which of the following are examples of factors that contribute to urban warming? -Global warming and heavy use of water in cities -Lots of dark surfaces and shade trees -Aerosol emissions from cars and industry -Waste heat emissions from energy use and lots of concrete and asphalt
Waste heat emissions from energy use and lots of concrete and asphalt
What general type of process produces the giant ergs (sand seas like the Sahara Desert) of the planet? -You need three types of events to occur in sequence. First, you need a giant flood to move the sand from the mountains to the lowlands. Then, you need a windstorm of biblical proportions to blow the sand to a flat area. Then, you need a desert climate to allow the winds to blow the sands into the dune forms seen today. -Wet periods decay the rock producing sand, and then winds during dry periods transport the sand to the sand sea. -You need two types of events to occur in sequence. First, you need a giant flood to move the sand from the mountains to the lowlands. Then, you need a windstorm of biblical proportions to blow the sand to a flat area where it can pile up into an erg. -Extreme aridity is required to make the ergs of Earth.
Wet periods decay the rock producing sand, and then winds during dry periods transport the sand to the sand sea.
Since the 1970s, approximately what portion of the additional energy stored in the climate system is in the oceans? -about 90% -less than 1% -about half -about 10%
about 90%: According to the IPCC report for policymakers, about 90% of the extra energy stored in the climate system is in the oceans.
Which of the following is a source of evaporation on Earth? -Plants -Lakes and streams -Oceans -Soil -All choices correct
all choices are correct
In this week's lecture, Lassiter explains why different nations make differing energy choices. These choices are in part determined by: -local climate -all choices correct -development of the country itself as a society -the country's physical location on the planet -natural resources
all choices correct: Energy choices are influenced by: physical location, societal development, local climate, and natural resources.
In his lecture about unintended consequences, Dr. Sailor argues that conversion of power plants from coal to biofuels can have the following unintended consequence (choose the one best answer): -Biogenic emissions from feed stocks can interact with other emissions from cities to adversely affect air quality -Biofuels are less efficient and so actually put more net CO2 into the atmosphere than coal -There is a net economic penalty with respect to local jobs -Biofuels actually result in higher mercury emissions into the atmosphere
biogenic emissions from feed stocks can interact with other emissions from cities to adversely affect air quality
Typical fossil fuel based power plants require large amounts of water for (select the one best answer) -cooling -drinking by workers -nothing (they generally don't use water) -cleaning of fuel stocks
cooling
Two key elements of the EPA definition of environmental justice are: -gentrification and land-use planning -fair treatment and meaningful involvement -vulnerability assessment and prioritization -zoning and housing policies
fair treatment and meaningful involvement
For the Northern Hemisphere, the period from 1983 to 2012 was -approximately the same temperature as most 30-year periods in the prior 500 years -likely the warmest 30-year period in the last 1400 years -definitely the warmest 30-year period in the last 1400 years -likely the coolest 30-year period in the last 500 years
likely the warmest 30-year period in the last 1400 years: According to the IPCC Summary Report for PolicyMakers, this period was the warmest 30-year period in the last 1400 years with medium certainty.
"Estimating economic damages..." found that every 1 degree Celsius increase in global temperature costs approximately _____ % of gross domestic product. - 0.1 -1.2 -4.7 -8.2
1.2
Approximately what percentage of the US population lives within 3 miles of a SuperFund site? -50-75% -15-20% -Less than 1% -More than 90%
15-20%
According to the Scientific American article on climate change solutions, coal supplies approximately ______ of the electricity used in the United States. -all -50% -75% -10%
50%
Which of the following statements are true? Select the best answer. -A planet with no ice has a darker surface and absorbs MORE solar radiation. -A planet covered with ice has a lighter surface and absorbs MORE solar radiation. -None of the other choices are correct. -A planet with no ice has a darker surface and absorbs LESS solar radiation.
A planet with no ice has a darker surface and absorbs MORE solar radiation.
About how long does it take oceans to neutralize added carbon dioxide? -Less than 3 years -About 1000 years -About 100 years -Added carbon dioxide is neutralized immediately.
About 1000 years; According to the article on ocean acidification, it would take about 1000 years for the carbon dioxide to be flushed deep enough for ocean sediments to neutralize it.
How long is the delay between carbon emissions and their effects on oceans? -About 20 years -About 2 years. -About 10 years. -There is no delay.
About 20 years: We are just now seeing the effects of carbon emissions from the late 1990's, which occurred about 20 years ago.
Managing a system while simultaneously learning more about the system is known as: -Adaptive management -Adaptive cycle -None of the choices are correct -Sustainability approach
Adaptive management is managing a system while learning about the system to better understand its weaknesses.
Resiliency is important because: -All choices correct -we need to be proactive and expect that the unexpected will happen. -The future is uncertain, so we should maximize adaptive capacity. -Systems such as cities are in a state of constant transition.
All choices correct
Which of the following phenomenon/events can result in climate change? -Ozone hole -Contrails -Changes in aerosols -Greenhouse gases -All other choice are correct
All other choice are correct: The climate can be affected by sources such as: the ozone hole, contrails, deforestation, changes in aerosols, greenhouse gases, and the solar cycle.
Which of the following are examples of cities that may be at risk of urban flooding? -Inland cities such as Phoenix AZ that may get less frequent rain events -Cities such as New Orleans LA that are at or below sea level and rely on extensive pumping infrastructure and man-made levies -Coastal cities in Florida that may be exposed to hurricanes -All other choices are correct
All other choices are correct
Which of the following dataset examples can be obtained from remote sensing? (choose the best answer) -Differences in surface reflectivity -Growth of urban areas -All other choices are correct -Surface temperatures -Mapping of wildland fires
All other choices are correct
Why can't global climate patterns be broken down into smaller and smaller systems that can be easily studied and understood in a lab that would be representative of the entire system? -Time-scale complexity -Complexity of the system as a whole -Sub-scale factors that can affect the system -Order of magnitude of the spatial scale is very large -All other choices are correct
All other choices are correct : Due to the time scale, order of magnitude of the spatial scale and sub-scale factors, the system as a whole is just too complex to break down into smaller systems. It must be studied as a whole system.
What is true about globalization and the future? -All other choices are correct -Migration will become more important as countries' need for workers at all skill levels will increase. -Globalization has a growing fragility. What happens in one place very quickly affects everything else. -Globalization is getting more complex.
All other choices are correct: Globalization is getting more complex, migration will become increasingly important to help run the economies of aging countries, and the fragility of one place will affect others more quickly.
The various weather station networks here in the U.S. include at least 50,000 sites, many of which have been collecting data for decades. With all this data, there are a number of things that can skew the information and corrections have to be made. What are the possible causes for this? -None of the choices are correct -Urbanization that occurs too close to the station -All other choices are correct -The weather station itself was physically moved at some point -Some or all of the sensors were recalibrated and/or replaced
All other choices are correct: Some of the things which can cause affect weather readings include: movement of the station, replacement or recalibration of instruments, change in the landscape near the station such as urbanization of the area.
Which of the following best summarizes Dr. Sailor's thoughts on why effective urban air quality solutions require cooperation across political boundaries? -Because increasing global travel puts us all at risk of being exposed to poor air quality -Such cooperation is not truly necessary as there is relatively little concern regarding transport of air pollution. -Because of local, regional, and intercontinental transport -Because urban air quality is a key driver of global warming
Because of local, regional, and intercontinental transport
David Keith and his Harvard colleague's proposal for geo-engineering uses which of the following methods? -Removing carbon dioxide from the air with a large vacuum -Blocking sunlight with vapors released by a balloon -Removing carbon dioxide from the air by installing industrial filters on airplanes -Blocking sunlight by setting up large, reflective surfaces on the tops of tall buildings
Blocking sunlight with vapors released by a balloon
What is true about ice sheets from 1992-2011? -Both Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have been losing mass. -The Greenland ice sheet has been gaining mass but the Antarctic ice sheet has been losing mass. -Both the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have remained relatively constant in size and mass. -Both Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have been gaining mass.
Both Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have been losing mass.
A decrease in ocean pH level leads to an increase in hydrogen ion concentration which... -Can strengthen the shells/skeletons of certain marine species. -Can dissolve the shells/skeletons of certain marine species. -Has no effect on the shells/skeletons of certain marine species. -None of the other options are correct.
Can dissolve the shells/skeletons of certain marine species: An increase in hydrogen ion concentration can dissolve calcium carbonate, which is found in certain marine species' shells/skeletons.
According to Lomborg, from an economists perspective, global solutions should be prioritized with a higher importance given to: -Doing whatever has the highest human benefit regardless of the cost -None of these choices are correct -Doing the most amount of good for the lowest cost -Doing the lowest cost good even if it has the lowest benefit to society
Doing the most amount of good for the lowest cost: Lomborg argues that economists way of prioritizing global solutions is to give priority to the highest benefit with the lowest cost
In order to understand our future climate, scientists need to understand the past by looking at a time in our geological history when CO2 levels were double what they are today. This is accomplished by: -None of these choices are correct -Drilling holes into the soil to obtain sediment cores -Drilling holes into corals on the sea floor to study and analyze coral cores. -Analyzing tree core samples
Drilling holes into the soil to obtain sediment cores
Which combination of moisture and temperature levels leads to the smallest tree rings (out of the options listed)? -Dry moisture and cool temperature -Normal moisture and cool temperature -All options listed produce tree rings of the same size -High moisture and normal temperature -Dry moisture and warm temperature
Dry moisture and cool temperature
Which of the following is not one of the eight risks identified by the Impoverished Risks and Reconstruction model? -Loss of access to common resources -Economic proliferation -Increased morbidity and mortality -Negative cultural and psychological impacts
Economic proliferation: The risk associated with the economy is "economic marginalization." The other risks are "loss of land, employment, shelter, and access to common resources...increased morbidity and mortality; food insecurity; and negative cultural and psychological impacts" (Preparing for Resettlement Associated with Climate Change).
True or False: While China's CO2 emissions may have global climate change consequences, their air quality (e.g. ozone, particulates, and mercury) does not have any effect on the US due to the large distances involved for transport of such pollution.
False
Which of the following is a fallacy with the textbook model of science, according to Oreskes? -False theories can lead to true predictions -Oreskes does not think the textbook model has any fallacies. -All science is inductive and therefore fits within the textbook model. -No science fits within it.
False theories can lead to true predictions: Oreskes discusses three main fallacies: the fallacy of confirming the consequent (false theories can lead to true predictions), the fallacy of auxiliary hypotheses, and the fallacy that a lot of science does not fit within the textbook model.
The atmosphere protects the Earth from solar wind.
False, the magnetosphere deflects the solar wind around the planet and protects the atmosphere.
True or False: Climate change typically ameliorates inequality in the U.S.
False: According to "Estimating economic damage...", "climate change tends to increase preexisting inequality in the United States" (page 2).
T or F: According to the IPCC, sea level rise is likely to increase to an equilibrium level which will be reached in the next 100-200 years.
False: According to the IPCC, it is virtually certain that global mean sea level rise will continue for many centuries beyond 2100, with the amount of rise dependent on future emissions.
True or False: Ice/Sediment cores tell us about the temperature of the ocean.
False: Coral cores contain information that can be used to derive the temperature of the environment they are in.
True or False: Examining aerosol-cloud interactions at a large scale is much more difficult than it is at a fine scale.
False: Due to the high resolution and level of precision of data needed at a fine scale, it is much more difficult to examine these interactions at a fine scale.
True or False: Equilibrium in Ecological Resilience is when a perturbation to a system has a tendency to shift the system to a new state.
False: Equilibrium is the ability of the system to resist changes to remain in its current state.
T or F: It is relatively simple to compare current species loss rates with those of Earth's past before humans.
False: The fossil record is sparse for most species, especially those which have higher extinction rates or smaller populations.
Earth's climate history has revealed a strong relationship between sea level, CO2 levels and _____________. -Global temperatures -Cloud cover -None of the choices are correct. -Solar radiation
Global temperatures An increase in global temperatures in the past has led CO2 increases in the atmosphere further warming the planet which ultimately melted the ice sheets causing sea levels to rise.
As measured by satellites what do scientist know quantitatively that has confirmed what we know about climate change? -Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets are losing mass -Greenland's ice sheet has lost mass but Antarctica's has remained the same -None of these choices are correct. -Glaciers have lost mass but the Antartica and Greenland ice sheets have remained the same
Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets are losing mass
Which of the following is true about clouds? -Rain is the only form of precipitation that comes from a cloud. -If present during the day, clouds block incoming sunlight and solar radiation. If present at night, they block outgoing radiation. -Clouds play a large part in the water cycle over land only. -Precipitation occurs when strong winds are present to blow cloud particles toward Earth's surface.
If present during the day, clouds block incoming sunlight and solar radiation. If present at night, they block outgoing radiation.
Since we can't, or otherwise don't solve all world problems, Lomborg argues that we should come up with an economical benefit prioritized list that addresses these global problems and solutions. Yet such a list has never been made because: -It would be uncomfortable to make since there would be competition among various organizations to top the list -All other choices are incorrect -There's no interest in solving such daunting global problems -Nobody has ever thought of doing this before
It would be uncomfortable to make since there would be competition among various organizations to top the list: Lomborg argues that since there is high likelihood that any one organization would not be at the top of this list, there is little motivation to create such a list.
A figure in this week's reading shows that from 1998-2006, the American public became more certain that climate scientists believed in global warming. Since then, have people become more certain, less certain, or remained the same level of certain that climate scientists believe in global warming? -More -There is no data for opinions since 2006 -Less -Remained the same
Less: According to Figure 1 in "The role of social and decision sciences in communicating uncertain climate risks," since 2006 people have become less certain that climate scientists believe climate change is occurring and more certain that they believe it isn't occurring.
Among the topics covered by this week's lecture materials is the idea that methane, ice sheets, and CO2 act as feedback mechanisms that amplify global temperatures. What role do warming ocean temperatures play, and why is this a concern? -None of the other choices are correct. -Due to the size of our planet, warming oceans have no effect on the overall temperature of the atmosphere, so there is no reason to be concerned. -Warm oceans store more CO2 thereby reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and minimizing the greenhouse effect. This is a positive feedback mechanism. -Oceans store vast amounts of CO2 and as the oceans get warmer, more of this CO2 is released into the atmosphere. This increase traps heat and leads to further warming of the planet.
Oceans store vast amounts of CO2 and as the oceans get warmer, more of this CO2 is released into the atmosphere. This increase traps heat and leads to further warming of the planet.
Which of the following RCP scenarios represent the highest rate of increase in GHG emissions? -RCP 8.5 -RCP 1 -RCP 6 -RCP 2
RCP 8.5
Common characteristics of resilient systems include: diversity, flexibility, modularity, tight feedbacks, and _________. -Redundancy -None of the choices are correct. -fail safes -SES complexity
Redundancy: Resilient systems have five characteristics : diversity, redundancy, flexibility, modularity, and tight feedbacks.
Select which of the following statements is false concerning information that was obtained from either ice or sediment cores: -The Ross ice shelf in Antarctica has greatly fluctuated about 35 times in the past 4 million years. -The El Nino event of 1982-1983 that killed 95% of the corals near Galapagos islands was part of a cyclical event that happened periodically in the past -At some point in the past, carbon dioxide levels were double what they are today. -None of these.
The El Nino event of 1982-1983 that killed 95% of the corals near Galapagos islands was part of a cyclical event that happened periodically in the past
Which interglacial period occurred most recently? -The Holsteinian -The Eemian -The Holocene -The Pliocene
The Holocene is the interglacial period of the last 10,000 years, still occurring now.
Glacial loess from the last ice age would best be found where? -Palouse country of eastern Washington -Loess Plateau in China -Midwest of the United States -All of these are correct
The Palouse, the Midwest of the USA, and the Loess Plateau in China are all locations where dust was deposited that originated in glacial terrains and was blown to nearby spots where it accumulated.
The main multilateral forum focused on addressing climate change, with nearly universal participation is -The World Bank Climate Action Program -The World Meteorological Organization -The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change -The Union of Concerned Scientists
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Which of the following types of experts is not needed for effective communication of climate science, according to Pidgeon and Fischhoff? -Scientists to determine and summarize the most relevant parts of climate science -Scientists to determine what the public's beliefs are and how best to communicate with the public -These are all necessary types of scientists -Experts in various fields, including climatologists, engineerings, ecologists, and possibly more. -Someone to organize the system and ensure everyone works well together and communicates properly on all fronts
These are all necessary types of scientists : Box 1 in "The role of social and decision sciences in communicating uncertain climate risks" outlines these necessary types of expertise.
What method do scientists use to analyze tree rings and how much damage does it cause the tree? -They cut the tree down entirely in order to take a slice of it to analyze, which causes severe damage to the tree. -They cut the tree down entirely in order to take a slice of it to analyze, but they only analyze trees that have already died so it causes no further damage to the tree. -They use a special tool to get a slice of the tree to analyze without cutting it down, which causes severe damage to the tree. -They use a special tool to get a slice of the tree to analyze without cutting it down, which causes little to no damage to the tree.
They use a special tool to get a slice of the tree to analyze without cutting it down, which causes little to no damage to the tree.
T or F: The importance of standards set by The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for official weather measurements, such as placing thermometers in shelters and elevating them approximately 1.5 - 2 meters above the surface, is to provide uniformity among the network of official weather stations in an effort to increase the accuracy and representativeness of weather and climate data.
True
T or F: Aerosol-cloud interactions have a large influence on meteorological conditions, and meteorological conditions have a large influence on aerosol-cloud interactions.
True: According to "The aerosol effect," aerosol-cloud interactions have had an influence on rainfall and tornado formation, and meteorological conditions influence aerosol-cloud interactions, creating difficulties when it comes to modeling these interactions.
True of False: The ozone layer is in the early stages of recovering from its depletion.
True: Based on data and model runs, 'Detecting recovery of the stratospheric ozone layer' concludes that "we are on track for ozone 'recovery.'"
The Scientific American lists "Unplug" as one of their 10 Solutions for Climate Change because some devices use more power when turned off and plugged in than when turned on and plugged in.
True: From the Scientific American article: "Believe it or not, U.S. citizens spend more money on electricity to power devices when off than when on."
T or F: According to the IPCC there are many mitigation pathways that could still reduce warming to less than 2 deg. C above preindustrial levels.
True: See discussion on p. 20 of the IPCC summary for policymakers.
True or False: One reason that having skillful models is important is that the additional information allows us to ask more complex and interesting questions.
True: The more skillful the model, the more information that it gives us that we didn't know before. This can then lead us to ask more complex questions leading to better information.
T or F: The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 increased the amount of aerosols in the atmosphere, changing the amount of incoming radiation that reached the surface, which caused a cooling of global temperatures for several years.
True: The volcanic eruption put so much ash into the sky it reached the jet stream and spread globally, blocking enough solar radiation that global temperatures were affected for several years.
Pidgeon and Fischhoff suggest that scientists can further confuse the general public by neglecting to discuss topics on which the scientific community agrees.
True: They tell us that by not frequently reminding the public of widely accepted facts in the scientific community and only discussing main points of controversy, the public may lose sight of those widely accepted facts and focus only on the controversial issues.
T or F: Core samples taken from corals tell us the temperature of the ocean, while ice/sediment cores tell us the temperature of the atmosphere.
True; The cores act as a time capsule in a sense and cores taken from corals reveal information about the oceans and Ice or Sediment cores record changes in the atmosphere.
When Calcium Carbonate springs entered paleolakes, the results evident today are: -Glacial deserts -Periglacial resurfacing -Pingo -Tufa Towers -Salt Playa
Tufa towers: Tufa is a type of limestone formed when carbonate minerals precipitate out of water. In a lake, this generates deposits under the water that appear as towers after the lake recedes.
In the ND-GAIN matrix from Notre Dame, the following countries were considered to have low vulnerability and high readiness for climate change (choose the best answer): -Most countries in SE Asia -Most countries in Africa -US and China -China and India
US and China
When collecting weather data, sometimes what we intend to measure differs from the actual observed measurement. For example, say a group of researchers wants to measure the ambient air temperature of the rural landscape in 4 locations. After reviewing the data, you notice that one of the locations is consistently warmer than the other locations, especially at night. Upon investigating, you discover that this particular weather sensor was placed above a slab of concrete. This is an example of: -Data collection bias -Urban bias -None of the other choices are correct -Error propagation
Urban bias
When considering the potential for improved building energy design codes to reduce energy consumption of buildings and cities, it is important to recognize that -occupant behavior can have a large effect on the energy use in actual buildings -buildings sometimes perform better than expected -all other choices are correct -buildings sometimes perform worse than expected
all other choices are correct
Estimates in the reading suggest we are losing approximately how much of wild nature annually? -None -5 to 10% -More than 10% -0.5 to 1.5%
"Measuring the changing state of nature" estimates that the loss is approximately 0.5 to 1.5%.
All of the following are examples of a climate-energy-water feedback loop except... -water use in yards and pools warms the local climate -people use more water when it is hot -warming leads to increased energy use in summer -water is used in the generation of electricity
water use in yards and pools warms the local climate
