APES Climate Change Group Quiz

Why are forests important for mitigating climate change?

• Forests serve as a sink in the carbon cycle

• Trees provide building materials

• Trees are an important food source

• Leaves of trees reflect much sunlight away from the Earth

An important example of a “positive feedback loop” in the polar climate system is:

• Migratory land species cannot travel because ice sheets are no longer connected

• Warmer winters cause more plant growth, providing more food

• Sea ice melt opens more ocean to sunlight, causing more melt

Select the true statements:

• The oceans are getting hotter and more acidic.

• Sea level is rising, and at an increasing pace.

• Glaciers are melting, ice sheets are thinning, and Arctic sea ice is disappearing.

• Permafrost is thawing, and in North America, snow pack is decreasing.

• The number of colder than average days and nights are increasing.

Select the true statements:

• Heat waves will occur more often and last longer.

• Rainstorms and snowstorms will become less intense.

• Most plants, mammals and ocean organisms will likely be able to adapt fast enough to keep up with changes.

• Since 1950 human activities have led to virtually all temperature rise.

CO2 is not the only greenhouse gas. Which of the following are also greenhouse gasses?

• Methane

• Nitrogen

• Nitrous oxide

• Hydrofluorocarbons

• Oxygen

How is CO2 produced?

• hurricanes

• cement production

• photosynthesis

• volcanic eruptions

• organisms decaying

How is methane produced?

• By the raising of livestock

• By the decay of landfill wastes

• By the production and transport of natural gas

• Through photosynthesis

Where have many species moved as a result of global warming

• Toward the Equator

• Toward the poles and higher latitudes

• Toward 30 degrees north and south of the equator

What are the expected effects of climate change on precipitation?

• The whole Earth will experience greater precipitation

• The poles will see significant amounts of rain and the equator will get dry.

• The whole Earth will experience less precipitation

• Dryer areas will get dryer and wet areas will get wetter.

• More snow melting will lead to dry areas and wet areas getting more precipitation.

How might changing ocean chemistry impact oceanic species?

• Warming ocean water opens new areas for marine species

• Increasing temperatures lead to less dissolved oxygen leading to dead zones

• Higher levels of CO2 allow photosynthetic organisms to achieve larger populations

• Falling levels of acidity threatens the health of shelled organisms

• Increasing temperatures allow coral reefs to expand further north