Natural effects on climate

What is climate?

• What's happening in space at a time and place.
• What's happening in our atmosphere at a time and place
• The average weather over many years
• The average temperature over many years.

Which of the following is NOT a natural cause of climate change?

• pollution
• meteorite collisions
• solar spots
• Volcanic eruptions

When the sun's rays pass through our atmosphere and then heat is trapped by the atmosphere it is called

• Global Warming
• Greenland Effect
• Greenhouse Effect
• Ice Age

What is the cause of rising surface temperatures of the Pacific Ocean, drought in the western United States, and flooding on the Pacific coast of South America?

• the Gulf Stream
• the Jet Stream
• La Nina
• El Nino

Which causes the subtropical jet stream to bring cold, wet winter weather to the southeastern United States?

• El Niño
• La Nina
• Coriolis effect
• Santa Anna Winds

Based on the illustration, which of the following statements describes the relationship between density and temperature? 

• Cold water is denser than warm water
• Warm water is denser than cold water
• Warm and cold water equal densities
• The density of water is not affected by temperature

What two factors determine the density of water in deep currents? 

• Salinity and temperature
• Coriolis Effect and wind
• Upwelling and dissolved solids
• Continental deflection and convection

What 3 factors most directly affect surface currents in the ocean? 

• Dissolved solids, gases & energy
• Upwelling, convection & sun's energy
• Deep currents, convection currents & surface wind
• Surface wind, Coriolis effect & continental deflection

Deep ocean currents are caused by differences in density of the water.  Which statement accurately describes the relationships between salinity, temperature, and density of ocean water? 

• Cold water, holding less salt, sinks towards the bottom of the ocean. 
• Warm water, holding more salt, sinks towards the bottom of the ocean. 
• Warm water, holding less salt, rises toward the surface of the ocean. 
• Warm water, holding more salt, rises towards the surface of the ocean. 

El Nino and La Nina are two periodic changes in ocean circulation patterns.  which of these statements best describes their effect on global climate?  

• El Nino and La Nina tend to peak during winter months, so by the summer months the climate patterns return to normal conditions.  
• El Nino carries warm water, increasing rainfall along the coast of Chile, while La Nina brings cold water upwellings to western South America. 
• El Nino and La Nina are recent disturbances in ocean currents oscillating between warm and cold conditions caused by the greenhouse effect.  
• El Nino and La Nina exclusively affect the climate of the southern Pacific Ocean including South America, Australia and Indonesia.