ESS 3.6 & 3.7 - Climate Change

Which of the following can be used to study past climates? (choose ALL that apply)

• ice cores

• tree and coral growth rings

• fossils

• historical measurements

• changes to mountain glaciers

What has Earth's climate been like throughout its history?

• always the same as current average

• always warmer than current averages

• always colder than current averages

• cycles between warmer than average and cooler than average

Why are ice cores so useful in studying past climates?

• trapped air bubbles give us samples of ancient atmospheric compositions

• trapped air bubbles have tiny animals inside

• the ice composition has changed through time

• the layers of ice tell us how the thickness of the ozone layer has changed through time

Greenhouse gases occur naturally in our atmosphere.

• true

• false

Without any greenhouse gases, Earth's temperature would be too cold to support life.

• true

• false

Which of the following gases are greenhouse gases that occur naturally in our atmosphere? (Choose ALL that apply.)

• water vapor (H₂O)

• carbon dioxide (CO₂)

• methane (CH₄)

• nitrogen (N₂)

• oxygen (O₂)

Which of the following statements about how greenhouse gases affect Earth's climate is true?

• greenhouse gases block incoming UV radiation from reaching Earth's surface

• greenhouse gases absorb heat radiated from Earth's surface trapping the heat

• greenhouse gases absorb visible light warming up the atmosphere

• greenhouse gases produce smog, which creates ice near the poles

What is the primary cause of Earth's changing climates through its long history?

• changes in Earth's orbit and tilt (Milankovitch Cycles)

• sunspot cycles

• volcanoes

• plate tectonics

Which of the following factors are part of the Milankovitch Cycles?

• volcanic activity

• sunspots

• changes in the shape of Earth's orbit

• changes in the degree of Earth's tilt

• changes in the direction of Earth's tilt

Which of the following lists contains only natural factors that can cause climate change?

• earthquakes, volcanoes, plate tectonics, sunspots

• sunspots, volcanoes, plate tectonics, Milankovitch Cycles

• Milankovitch Cycles, sunspots, earthquake, burning fossil fuels

• burning fossil fuels, earthquakes, volcanoes, changes in greenhouse gases