GEOG 1125 Ch 10.2: Climate Change
According to a 2018 by the IPCC, how many years do we have to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to keep warming under 1.5°C?
12
The goal of the 2016 Paris Agreement is to keep climate warming well below which threshold?
2°C
In general, scientists look for a _____ year trend before concluding that a new trend is emerging in the climate.
30
How many steps from the "stabilization wedge" would stabilize CO2 in the atmosphere?
8
Why is a change of a few degrees in average global temperatures more concerning than day-to-day weather changes of a few degrees?
An increase in average global temperatures means we have more weather extremes that can cause problems.
Which of these is an example of a positive feedback loop related to global warming?
As ice melts, water is exposed, increasing the temperature even more and causing more melt.
Why do scientists think that most of the current warming is due to human impact?
Climate models can accurately replicate the warming we have experienced, but only when anthropogenic forces are included in the evaluation. Natural forcers alone cannot account for the warming we have experienced.
Which statement is true of the Milankovitch cycles?
Earth is not currently a part of any cycle that would result in greater warming.
Which of the following actions is an example of a mitigation strategy with regard to climate change?
Halting deforestation in tropical areas and planting trees in areas that have already been cleared.
Why are sea levels rising due to climate change?
Land-based ice is melting and sending more water into the oceans.
Which city would be the hardest hit by a sea level rise of 3 feet?
Miami
What is TRUE of impacts of climate change?
Negative impacts will outweigh any positive ones.
Which of the following is evidence that suggests climate is changing?
Sea level is rising.
What are some problems that climate change presents to species?
Species may lose important mutualistic partners.
What is the majority conclusion for climate change?
The world is warming because of us.
How does climate change affect alligators?
Warmer temperatures could produce many more males than females, impacting future populations.
Which of the following would have the highest albedo?
a glacier
The meteorological conditions in a given place on a given day refer to its _____, whereas the long-term patterns and trends of meteorological conditions in that area are its _____.
weather; climate.
A negative feedback loop works by
reversing the response to an event.
Efforts intended to help deal with the climate change that has already occurred or will inevitably occur are known as
adaptation.
Which of these can be used by scientists to estimate past climates?
an analysis of pollen grains trapped in layers of lake sediments
Climate change is most pronounced
at higher latitudes.
What would be an example of climate?
average annual temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit
What is the biggest contributor to global warming?
burning fossil fuels
Which molecule currently accounts for three-fourths of all greenhouse gas emissions?
carbon dioxide
What natural event could cause climate to warm?
changes in Earth's position in space relative to the sun
What is the most useful term for alterations in the long-term patterns and averages of meteorological events?
climate change
Anything that alters the balance of incoming solar radiation relative to the amount of heat escaping into space is a
climate forcer.
People who are forced to leave their homelands because of change related to the environment are called
climate refugees.
Evidence for climate change shows the last spring frost is coming _____ and the first fall frost is coming _____.
earlier; later
The oxygen isotope ratio in coral skeletons can tell us
how warm the water was when the skeleton was made.
Which greenhouse gas is around 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide over the long term?
methane
Efforts to minimize the impact of climate change are called
mitigation.
What changes in weather have we seen with rising temperatures?
more precipitation in coastal areas
Which species would benefit from a warmer climate?
mosquitoes
