Climate Change Basics

Which of the following is a greenhouse gas:

• Water vapor

• Carbon dioxide

• Ozone

• Nitrous oxide

• All of the above

A greenhouse is very good at:

• Letting in sunlight, but not letting warmth escape

• Not letting in sunlight, but easily letting warmth escape

• Keeping the inside cold

• Providing nutrients to plants

Greenhouse gases:

• Trap cold air in the atmosphere

• Trap heat in the atmosphere

• Have no positive effects

• Play no role in global warming

The greenhouse gas that has most contributed to climate change over the last 100 years is:

• Ozone

• Methane

• Carbon Dioxide

• Chlorofluorocarbons

Global warming is:

• the long-term changes in climate, including average temperature and precipitation

• the melting of the polar ice caps

• the increase of the Earth’s average surface temperature due to a build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

• sea-level rise

What evidence do we have that global temperatures are rising and climates are changing?

• Global temperature data

• Evidence of glaciers and ice-caps melting

• Sea-level data (satellite and tidal)

• Various biological responses in ecosystems

• All of the above

Which of the following correctly differentiates between weather and climate?

• Weather describes short term conditions of the atmosphere, while climate describes long term conditions of the atmosphere.

• Weather describes long term conditions of the atmosphere, while climate describes short term conditions of the atmosphere.

• Weather describes conditions of the atmosphere, while climate only describes changes in temperature.

• Weather describes changes in temperature over time, while climate describes changes in atmosphere over time.

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.

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.