Climate Change Basics

Which process accurately describes the cause of the greenhouse effect?

• The Sun's rays are reflected from the land back into the atmosphere.
• Increased solar energy is entering through the hole in the ozone layer.
• Aerosol gases become trapped and build up in the atmosphere.
• Heat radiating from the land and oceans is trapped in the troposphere.

The greenhouse effect is

• the absorption of energy by clouds.   
• a gradual increase in the temperature of the atmosphere.
• the reflection of solar energy into the atmosphere.
• the process by which gases hold heat in the atmosphere.

Increased carbon dioxide may cause global warming by

• allowing more sunlight into the atmosphere.
• reflecting more sunlight from clouds.
• reducing the amount of oxygen in the air.   
• trapping more heat in the atmosphere.

Over the past 200 years, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has

• decreased slightly.   
• increased until recently, and then decreased.
• increased steadily.   
• stayed about the same.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-6

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

Too many greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere may block heat from escaping into space and trap too much heat next to the Earth’s surface causing: ____________. 

• another ice age 
• global warming 
• earthquakes 
• volcanic eruptions

Certain gases in the atmosphere – water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – help maintain the Earth’s temperatures and climate. These are called: __________ . 

• ozone gases
• solar gases
• greenhouse gases 
• stomach gases

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is added to the atmosphere by each of the following EXCEPT

• burning fossil fuels.
• decay of organic matter and animal waste.
• water vapor.
• eruption of volcanoes.

In the past, refrigerators, aerosol spray propellants and cleaning solvents were all sources of a greenhouse gas known as

• carbon dioxide
• methane
• chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)
• nitrous oxide

Which of the following gases, released by animals and decomposers as a waste product of digestion, can add to global warming?

• Carbon Dioxide
• Methane
• Chlorofluorocarbon
• Nitrogen

Which of the following pairs of gases are the most abundant in Earth’s atmosphere?

• Nitrogen and Oxygen.
• Methane and Nitrogen.
• Water Vapor and Oxygen.
• Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide.