3 - Evidence of Climate Change

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a key factor in driving plate tectonics, weather, and climate on Earth?

• The flow of energy

• The presence of life

• The amount of water

• The color of the sky

Multiple Select

Which of the following are examples of proxy data?

(select all that apply)

• Ice cores

• Tree rings

• Sediment layers

• Fossils

Open Ended

Explain why proxy data is important in climate science.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of proxy data used to understand past climates?

• Ice cores

• Rainfall records

• Satellite images

• Weather forecasts

Multiple Choice

What are two key things scientists can learn from ice cores?

• Past temperatures and past atmospheric composition

• Future climate predictions and sea level rise

• Current weather patterns and ocean currents

• Plant growth rates and animal migration

Multiple Choice

Describe the relationship between greenhouse gases and temperature as shown in the graphs.

• Greenhouse gases increase global temperatures.
• Greenhouse gases only affect local climates.
• Greenhouse gases have no effect on temperature.
• Greenhouse gases lower global temperatures.

Dropdown

Carbon dioxide, methane, and temperature ​

Select answer

and fall together over hundreds of thousands of years.

Multiple Choice

Which season has the highest carbon dioxide levels and why do they decrease during the growing season?

• Late winter; because plant growth removes CO2

• Late summer; because plant growth adds CO2

• Early spring; because animals hibernate

• Late fall; because of increased rainfall

Multiple Choice

Based on the observed global changes, which of the following factors are decreasing?

• Sea ice extent and land ice thickness

• Average global temperature and sea level

• Hurricanes and sea ice extent

• Sea level and hurricanes

Multiple Choice

According to the IPCC, what does it mean when they say 'Warming of the climate system is unequivocal'?

• It suggests that climate change is a temporary phenomenon.
• It implies that climate data is unreliable and misleading.
• It means that climate warming is a debated topic among scientists.
• The evidence is clear and undeniable

Multiple Choice

How do changes in ocean circulation, such as the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt, impact global weather patterns?

• Changes in ocean currents only affect marine life.
• Changes impact global weather patterns by altering heat distribution and moisture, leading to variations in precipitation and storm intensity.

• Ocean circulation has no effect on weather patterns.
• The Great Ocean Conveyor Belt only influences ocean temperatures and therefore does not impact anything on land.

Multiple Choice

How are the observed global changes (such as temperature, sea level, and ice thickness) connected to the impacts described in the water cycle and ocean circulation?

• Global changes have no effect on ocean currents or rainfall.
• Temperature fluctuations improve marine biodiversity and water quality.
• These changes lead to altered precipitation patterns and marine ecosystem impacts.

• Ice thickness increases lead to more stable ocean circulation patterns.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are effects of climate change on the water cycle?

Select all that apply (2)

• Increased evaporation

• Decreased precipitation

• More intense storms

• Less surface runoff

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a key difference between El Niño and La Niña events?

• El Niño is associated with warmer Pacific waters, while La Niña is associated with cooler Pacific waters.

• El Niño brings stronger easterly winds, while La Niña brings weaker easterly winds.

• El Niño causes more coastal upwelling, while La Niña causes less coastal upwelling.

• El Niño results in drier conditions in the southern U.S., while La Niña results in wetter conditions.

Multiple Choice

How does climate change contribute to the increased risk and severity of wildfires in the Western U.S.?

• By causing hotter temperatures, drier conditions, and longer fire seasons.

• By increasing rainfall and humidity.

• By shortening the wildfire season.

• By reducing the number of wildfires.

Multiple Choice

Explain how specialist and generalist species differ in their ability to adapt to environmental changes. Provide an example of each.

• Specialist species, like the raccoon, can easily adjust to new conditions, whereas generalist species, like the koala, are more vulnerable to change.
• Generalist species, such as the koala, are highly specialized and cannot adapt, while specialist species, like the raccoon, are very flexible.
• Specialist species, like the koala, are less adaptable to environmental changes, while generalist species, like the raccoon, can adapt more easily.
• Specialist species, like the raccoon, thrive in changing environments, while generalist species, like the koala, struggle to adapt.

Multiple Select

Based on the temperature trends shown for the Holocene Optimum and the comparison to today, select all statements that are true.

• The Holocene Optimum warming was slower and more gradual than today's warming.

• The Holocene Optimum was mostly regional, not global.

• Today's warming is primarily due to natural causes.

• The Holocene Optimum occurred without industrial greenhouse gas emissions.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was a key characteristic of the Medieval Warming Period?

• Advancing glaciers

• Longer growing seasons

• Shorter growing seasons

• Crop failures

Open Ended

Compare the impacts of the Medieval Warming Period and the Little Ice Age on agriculture in Europe.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are possible effects of global warming on growing seasons?

Select all that apply

• Longer growing seasons in some regions

• Shorter growing seasons everywhere

• Crop stress in some regions

• No effect on crops

Multiple Choice

By 2040, regions at highest risk for water shortages include ___ and parts of Africa, Middle East, and Southwest Asia.

• tropical

• polar

• temporate

• subtropical

Multiple Choice

Explain how climate change can lead to the displacement of people, using examples from the provided data.

• Climate change improves agricultural yields and reduces migration.
• Rising temperatures lead to increased job opportunities in urban areas.
• Extreme weather events enhance community resilience and stability.
• Climate change displaces people by causing extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and resource scarcity.

Multiple Select

Which of the following factors make coastal cities more vulnerable to climate risks?

Select all that apply

(3)

• Sea level rise

• Storm surge

• High population density

• Low rainfall

Multiple Choice

How can climate change cause both flooding and drought?

Emphasize changes in the water cycle

• Climate change leads to flooding by increasing ocean levels and causing tsunamis.
• Climate change causes drought by reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth.
• Climate change affects weather patterns but does not impact the water cycle directly.
• Climate change causes disruptions in the water cycle, leading to increased evaporation and uneven distribution of rainfall.

Open Ended

In 2–3 sentences:

Describe one piece of evidence for climate change
Explain why it matters

Open Ended

Can life really alter the environment?