Environmental Science Chapter 13 Atmosphere and Climate Change

How long will it take for chlorofluorocarbons released from Earth's surface today to reach the stratosphere?

10 to 20 years

Which of the following would occur if Earth were not tilted relative to the plane of its orbit?

Temperate regions would no longer have seasonal changes in climate

Which of the following does not reduce CO2 in the atmosphere?

animal respiration

Ultraviolet radiation is particularly dangerous because

it can damage genetic material in cells little has been done to save the ozone layer it always leads to the rapid death of organisms

Latitude strongly influences climate because _____ solar energy falls on areas that are closer to the equator than to the poles.

more

As the amount of ozone in the stratosphere decreases,

more ultraviolet light is able to reach Earth's surface

A true statement about greenhouse gases is that they

reradiate infrared radiation back to Earth

During summer in the Southern Hemisphere, the Northern Hemisphere experiences

winter

Populations of tiny, shrimp-like animals known as _________________________ may be reduced by climate change.

zooplanktop

Which of the following statements related to global warming is not accurate?

Only fossil fuels, not living plants, release carbon dioxide when burned

Which of the following best describes the effect of a mountain range on the climate of a region?

The coastal side of the range usually has high levels of rain A desert is often found on the inland side of the range Average temperatures are lower at high elevations than at the base of the mountains

Which of the following correctly states an observation that helps to explain circulation patterns in the atmosphere?

Warm air rises and cools as it rises

Which of the following does not address how oceans affect climate conditions on land?

Water cools Earth because it reflects the most sunlight

Which of the following locations would you expect to have a climate with mild temperatures and frequent rain?

a coastal region at about 30 latitude

As a result of the destruction of stratospheric ozone, scientists believe that ____________________, including frogs, toads, and salamanders, will be especially vulnerable to increased UV radiation.

amphibians

The ozone layer protects living organisms on Earth by

blocking solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation

The development of an ozone hole over the poles is a result of human activities and begins when molecular _____________ from chlorofluorocarbons is released into the atmosphere and collects on polar stratospheric clouds

chlorine

Ozone holes appear in polar regions during springtime when ozone-depleting

chlorine atoms are released from polar stratospheric clouds

The statement "Cool summers, cold winters with lots of snow - about 75 cm of precipitation each year" describes ________________.

climate

La Nina is the ___________ phase of the El Nino - Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle

cold

An important property of air circulation is

cold air is denser than warm air

One serious consequence of climate change, a rise in sea levels, could result in ____________________ of beaches.

erosion

A predicted increase in Earth's average temperature caused by human activities and the subsequent release of gases such as carbon dioxide is known as _________________

global warming

The difference between global warming and climate changes is that

global warming is a consequence of climate changes

Water vapor and carbon dioxide reradiate infrared radiation in the atmosphere back to the surface of Earth, so they are called ______________

greenhouse gases

A continuous record from Mauna Loa, Hawaii, reveals that annual average atmospheric CO2 concentrations have ____________________ since 1958.

increased

Which of the following would not be a consequence of a rise in global temperature

increased polar ice mass

The thinning of the ozone layer

occurs over both polar regions; is related to seasonal changes; will take many years to reverse

Strong circulating winds over Antarctica, known as the _________________________, play a role in the formation of the polar stratospheric clouds.

polar vortex

The _______________ is an international agreement that seeks to limit CO2 emissions from developed countries

Kyoto Protocol

The ___________________ is an international agreement that limits CFC production

Montreal Protocol

A(n) ______________ is often found on the inland side of a mountain range

rain shadow

If polar ice masses melt as a result of climate change, sea levels will ____________________.

rise

The average global temperature has ____________ during the 20th century

risen some years and fallen others, but has increased overall

Elevation is a factor in climate because under most conditions,

temperature falls as elevation increases

Seasonal changes in daylight hours and climatic conditions are caused by

the 23.5 tilt of Earth's axis

Climate in a region is

the long-term, prevailing atmospheric conditions

Chlorofluorocarbon molecules are environmentally significant because

their chlorine atoms can destroy many stratospheric ozone molecules

Large quantities gaseous sulfur dioxide can reach the upper atmosphere following a(n) _________________

volcanic eruption

A true statement concerning the physical properties of air is that

warm air can hold more water vapor than an equal amount of cold air

Rain frequently results whenever

warm, moist air rises

The statement "It's hot and sunny today - the temperature is 88F at 11 a.m" describes ______________

weather

During a(an) ____________________ period, winds push warm water eastward in the Pacific Ocean.

El Nino

Which of the following gases is most responsible for the greenhouse effect?

water vapor

Which of the following best describes measurements of CO2 levels in the atmosphere since 1958?

CO2 levels are higher in winter and lower in summer, but winter "highs" have increased each year and the summer "lows" have not fallen as far

Damage to ____________________ in cells of living organisms is caused by exposure to UV radiation.

DNA

Stratospheric ____________________ is destroyed by chlorine atoms released from CFCs.

ozone

Though CFC production has been cut back, the threat to stratospheric ozone continues because CFCs ____________________ in the atmosphere for decades.

persist

Though CFC production has been curtailed, the threat to upper atmospheric ozone continues because CFCs

persist and continue to break down ozone for decades

As a results of the destruction of stratospheric ozone, single-celled organisms called _________________, that live near the ocean's surface, can be killed by increased UV radiation

phytoplankton