Introduction to Atmosphere and Climate Change

Large bodies of water affect climate because

• water heats up and cools more slowly than land
• water heats up and cools faster than land
• water and land cool at the same time
• water and land heat at the same rate

The sun's rays are least direct

• near the poles
• near the equator
• at high altitudes
• far from the ocean

Climates are classified according to two major factors:

• elevation and precipitation
• latitude and temperature
• elevation and latitude
• precipitation and temperature

Which of the following has cause repeating 100,000-year cycles of ice ages in the past?

• an increase in sun spots
• several major volcanic eruptions
• changes in Earth's orbit and tilt of its axis
• continental drift

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

The land on the ______ side of the mountain range is in the rain shadow.

• Cold
• westward
• Cloud covered
• leeward

Because of its high ________________, Mount Chimborazo has a cool climate all year.

• Temparature
• Altitude
• Winds
• Clouds

What does the term "anthropogenic" mean?

• something that is NOT caused by human activity
• a naturally occurring cause
• originating from human activity
• something that everyone should care about

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

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