EssU7 Climate change review

What are greenhouse gases?

• gases that cause climate change

• gases that emit green smoke

• gases that are used to make green colored glass

Answer explanation

Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to climate change. The correct choice highlights their role in affecting global temperatures, unlike the other options which are unrelated.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

Visible light reaches Earth’s surface while infrared light is trapped as heat. Which characteristic of Earth’s atmosphere causes this to happen?

• the hole in the ozone

• the greenhouse effect

• atmospheric pressure

• the inversion layer

Answer explanation

The greenhouse effect is responsible for trapping infrared light as heat in Earth's atmosphere, while allowing visible light to pass through. This process warms the planet and is essential for maintaining a stable climate.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

The average temperature of the surface of Earth has increased approximately 1°C in the past century. Which reason best explains this increase in temperature?

• lower levels of ozone in the atmosphere

• lower levels of nitrogen in the atmosphere

• higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

• higher levels of oxygen in the atmosphere

Answer explanation

The increase in Earth's average temperature is primarily due to higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which enhances the greenhouse effect, trapping more heat and leading to global warming.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

Which of the following is the best conclusion that can be made from this graph?

• atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have been decreasing since 1960

• Hawaii has a lot of carbon dioxide

• humans have been working hard to decrease carbon dioxide levels

• atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased steadily since 1960

Answer explanation

The graph shows a clear upward trend in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels since 1960, indicating that they have increased steadily over this period. The other options do not accurately reflect this trend.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-6

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

Which of the following gases DOES NOT trap heat?

• carbon dioxide

• nitrogen

• water vapor

• methane

Answer explanation

Nitrogen does not trap heat because it is a non-greenhouse gas. In contrast, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane are greenhouse gases that effectively absorb and emit infrared radiation, contributing to the greenhouse effect.

Which of the following have been linked to climate change?  

• droughts

• flooding

• melting of polar ice caps

• all of the above

Answer explanation

All of the options—droughts, flooding, and melting of polar ice caps—are consequences of climate change, making 'all of the above' the correct choice.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

Which is a primary energy source used by power plants to generate electricity?

• coal

• wood

• gasoline

• batteries

Answer explanation

Coal is a primary energy source for power plants, widely used for electricity generation due to its abundance and energy content. Other options like wood, gasoline, and batteries are not primary sources for large-scale electricity production.

The main human activity that releases greenhouse gases is

• using bottled water

• burning fossil fuels

• texting on cellphones

• eating meat

Answer explanation

The main human activity that releases greenhouse gases is burning fossil fuels, as it involves the combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas, which emits significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

Some greenhouse gases are naturally present in the Earth's atmosphere

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True. Some greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, occur naturally in the Earth's atmosphere, playing a crucial role in regulating the planet's temperature.

Worldwide, temperatures have been increasing for more than 100 years.  Is this evidence of global warming?

• yes

• no

Answer explanation

Yes, the increase in worldwide temperatures over more than 100 years is clear evidence of global warming, indicating a long-term trend of rising temperatures linked to climate change.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5