Ocean ch 16

Over the past 30 years, Earth's average surface temperature has risen by:

0.6 degrees (c)

Free response: Explain the processes currently responsible for worldwide sea level rise. How will these changes in sea level affect coastal nations?

1. The melting of the Antartic and Greenland Ice Sheets 2. The thermal expansion of ocean surface waters 3. The melting of land glaciers and small ice caps 4. The thermal expansion of deep-ocean waters

Satellite data show that the rate of global sea level rise since 1993 is on average about:

3 millimeters/year

Since 1750, the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has increased by more than:

40%

Approximately what percentage of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the oceans and continents?

47%

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Please identify the word and/or phrase that does NOT fit the pattern A. anthropogenic CO2 inputs B. changes in solar input C. tectonic plate movement D. variation in the Earth's orbit E. volcanic activity

A. anthropogenic CO2 inputs

Variations in Earth's orbit that influence long-term climate changes include

ALL of the above. the wobbling of Earth's axis of rotation (precession). the shape of Earth's orbit (eccentricity). the tilt of Earth's axis of rotation (obliquity).

Hazards associated with sea level rise include all the following except : drowning of beaches. accelerated coastal erosion. increasing damage from storms. permanent inland flooding.

All of the above

Which of the following is not a consequence of global warming? droughts in prime agricultural areas shifts in the world-wide distribution of plant and animal communities melting of glacial ice increasing hurricane intensity

All the above are consequences of global warming.

Free response: What is the Kyoto Protocol? How has this accord influenced worldwide policies regarding greenhouse gas emissions?

An agreement among 60 nation to voluntarily limit greenhouse emissions, signed in 1997 in Kyoto Japan.

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Please identify the word and/or phrase that does NOT fit the pattern A. changes in deep water circulation B. decreased hurricane intensity C. increased ocean acidity D. polar ice melting E. sea level rise

B. decreased hurricane intensity

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Please identify the word and/or phrase that does NOT fit the pattern. A. CH4 (methane) B. CO2 (carbon dioxide) C. N2 (molecular nitrogen) D. N2O (nitrous oxide) E. O3 (ozone)

C. N2 (molecular nitrogen)

Free response: What is the difference between weather and climate? For example, if it rains in a particular location during the day, does that mean that the area has a wet climate? Explain.

Climate is the conditions of Earths atmosphere - including temperature, precipitation, and wind - that characteristically prevail in a particular region over extended time spans Weather describes the conditions of the atmosphere at a given place and time, Climate is the long-term average of weather

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Please identify the word and/or phrase that does NOT fit the pattern A. atmosphere B. biosphere C. cryosphere D. geosphere E. lithosphere

E. lithosphere

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Please identify the word and/or phrase that does NOT fit the pattern. A. Antarctic and Greenland ice sheet melting B. deep ocean water thermal expansion C. melting of terrestrial glaciers and ice caps D. surface ocean water thermal expansion E. tectonic uplifting

E. tectonic uplifting

A decrease in cloud cover due to a higher moisture content in the atmosphere is an example of a positive-feedback loop

False

Carbon dioxide (CO2) has the greatest infrared absorption per molecule in comparison with other anthropogenically produced greenhouse gases.

False

Climate is the short-term, day-to-day variations in the condition of the atmosphere such as temperature, precipitation, and wind.

False

Elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, with subsequent absorption by the oceans, have caused an increase in ocean pH.

False

Greenhouse gases are compounds in the Earth's atmosphere that dissipate heat.

False

Sea surface temperatures have remained unchanged during the past 50 years.

False

The Kyoto Protocol establishes limits on greenhouse gas emissions and is supported by the United States

False

There is a significant positive correlation between sunspot activity and recent changes in mean global temperature.

False

Volcanic eruptions have no impact on global climate patterns; they only affect local climate

False

Worldwide retreat of mountain glaciers has not been documented to date

False

Free Response: Briefly describe the observed changes in the world's oceans as a function of increased mean atmospheric temperature.

IDK

Free response: Discuss the idea that present day climate changes are part of a larger natural atmospheric cycle. Support your position with evidence from Chapter 16

IDK

IPCC

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

An international agreement to voluntarily limit greenhouse gas emissions is called the:

Kyoto Protocol

The zone ocean where sound can travel extremely long distances is called the:

SOFAR channel

Free response: Discuss the sources of information used by scientists to reconstruct climatic conditions predating the era of modern climate records.

Scientists collect data about paleoclimate from a variety of sources. Air bubbles trapped in polar continental ice sheets can be used to date the ice layer and estimate global temperature. Similarly, land-based ice, such as mountain glaciers, provides additional paleoclimate data. Growth rings in ancient trees also yield information about past climate. Ocean sediment analyses provide additional data about past climatic variation

Free response: Briefly describe some of the changes that are already occurring in the oceans because of global warming.

Several changes are already occurring in the oceans due to global warming. Most of the increased heat in the atmosphere has been absorbed by the oceans, so it is not surprising that global surface temperatures have risen by about 0.6°C since 1970. Subsurface waters also are experiencing higher temperatures. Although the number of tropical cyclones has not increased, scientists anticipate that warmer surface waters will cause more intense tropical cyclones. Other changes include the melting of polar ice, changes in deep-ocean circulation patterns, rising sea level, and increases in ocean acidity, with corresponding changes in productivity and marine ecosystems.

Free response: Briefly discuss the human-produced greenhouse gases in terms of their relative concentrations in the atmosphere and their relative contributions to global warming.

Several gases released into the atmosphere by human activities cause an enhanced greenhouse effect, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and CFCs. Of these, carbon dioxide currently has the greatest concentration and the second greatest rate of increase (next to methane). Although carbon dioxide has a lower infrared absorption capability (on a per mole basis) when compared to other greenhouse gases, it is the most abundant and thus has the greatest relative contribution to increasing the greenhouse effect. Methane is increasing the fastest of these gases and has 25 times the infrared radiation absorption of carbon dioxide, but is currently three orders of magnitude lower in concentration. CFCs, used as refrigerants and propellants, have a disproportionately large absorptive effect, but are either stable or decreasing in concentration.

Free Response: Describe the role of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed in 1988 in a joint effort of the United Nations Environmental Programme and the World Meteorological Organization and began with more than 200 scientists studying human impact on the world's climate. Over 600 scientists in 40 countries contributed to the 2007 report. To date the IPCC has issued four reports on global climate change, detailing growing scientific evidence that human activities are significantly impacting the world's climate. The fifth installment from the IPCC is due to be released in 2014.

Which of the following atmospheric constituents has the least ability to absorb heat on a per-mole basis?

carbon dioxide (CO2)

Free response : 5 components of earths climate system

The five components of the Earth's climate system are the atmosphere, the biosphere, the cryosphere, the hydrosphere, and the geosphere. The atmosphere includes the gases and water vapor that form a thin insulating blanket over Earth's surface. The biosphere is the living portion of Earth's surface that includes all living organisms. The cryosphere includes all the frozen water on Earth's surface, such as ice sheets, glaciers, and floating sea ice. The hydrosphere is the portion of Earth's surface covered by water (including groundwater), whereas the geosphere is the portion of Earth's surface covered by rock.

The gas(es) that has/have the greatest relative contribution to increasing the greenhouse effect is/are:

carbon dioxide (CO2).

sunspots

changes in solar energy

Which of the following atmospheric constituents has the greatest ability to absorb heat on a per-mole basis?

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs

About 47% of the incoming shortwave solar radiation from the Sun is absorbed by the oceans and the continents.

True

Carbon dioxide (CO2) has the greatest relative contribution to increasing the greenhouse effect compared to other anthropogenically produced greenhouse gases

True

Changes in Earth's orbit can impact climate by increasing or decreasing solar input

True

Changes occur in Earth's climate as a result of changes in the relative positions of Earth's tectonic plates

True

Dissolved carbon dioxide and pH in the oceans are inversely related

True

Earth has a natural greenhouse effect, principally due to water vapor.

True

Earth's average surface temperature has increased 0.6°C over the past 30 years

True

Feedback loops are the interactions among the Earth's five spheres that either amplify or diminish changes in climate.

True

If all greenhouse gas emissions by humans were reduced to zero, Earth is still projected to keep warming for the foreseeable future.

True

Melting ice on land and thermal expansion of water are two of the most important factors causing sea level rise.

True

Studying carbon dioxide trapped in glacial ice can be used to determine Earth's ancient climate.

True

The Earth's climate system involves the exchange of heat and water among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere

True

The concentration of methane (natural gas) exhibits the greatest current rate of increase compared to other greenhouse gases

True

The fourth IPCC report on international climate change (2007) confirmed that human activity has produced climate change beginning in the mid-20th century

True

The oceans have absorbed the majority of the increased heat in the atmosphere

True

Milankovitch cycle

Variations in earths orbits

A reduction in the strength of the Gulf Stream and a decrease in North Atlantic Deep-water formation would most likely result in:

a cooling of the climate in northern Europe.

The world's oceans play a role in reducing global warming by:

absorbing surplus heat energy.

Which of the following is not an effect of climate change in the oceans?

decreasing ocean acidity

All the following are parts of Earth's climate system except the :

exosphere.

All the following are organisms mostly likely to be directly affected by ocean acidification except :

fishes

Recent worldwide sea level rise can be attributed to all of the following except the:

geological uplifting of ocean basins.

Natural causes for global climate change include all the following except :

increase in elevation.

Domestic cattle production and rice agriculture release relatively large amounts of which gas into the atmosphere

methane (CH4)

heat budget

model of heat exchange for Earth and atmosphere

An increase in cloud cover and a corresponding decrease in absorption of solar radiation is an example of a:

negative-feedback loop

An increase in cloud cover due to higher moisture content in the atmosphere is an example of a:

negative-feedback loop.

fossil fuels

oil and natural gas

greenhouse effect

process that influences the temperature of Earth's surface and atmosphere

Concerned individuals can reduce their personal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions by doing all the following except :

reducing the area covered by pavement or structures (houses, garages, pools, decks, etc.) in urban and suburban areas.

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

refrigerants

Burning of fossil fuels is chemically similar to

respiration

paleoclimatology

study of ancient climates

Mount Pinatubo, Philippines

volcanic eruptions

Kyoto Protocol

voluntary international accord to limit greenhouse gas emissions

The atmospheric component that naturally contributes to the majority of greenhouse warming on Earth is:

water vapor