Earth Systems and Climate Change Quiz

Which of the following is an example of a geoscience process that can cause feedbacks affecting other Earth systems?

• Volcanic eruption

• Photosynthesis

• Cellular respiration

• Animal migration

What is the primary greenhouse gas released by burning fossil fuels that contributes to climate change?

• Oxygen

• Carbon dioxide

• Nitrogen

• Methane

Which property of water allows it to break down rocks and shape Earth’s surface through weathering?

• High density

• High specific heat

• Solvent ability

• Low boiling point

Which process moves carbon from the atmosphere to the biosphere?

• Respiration

• Photosynthesis

• Combustion

• Erosion

Explain how melting polar ice can create a feedback loop that affects global climate.

A student observes that increased levels of greenhouse gases lead to higher global temperatures. Which model best explains this relationship?

• The greenhouse effect model

• The rock cycle model

• The water cycle model

• The food web model

Describe one way that the properties of water contribute to the movement of sediment in rivers.

Which of the following best describes the cycling of carbon between the atmosphere and the hydrosphere?

• Carbon dioxide dissolves in ocean water and can be released back into the atmosphere.

• Carbon is only stored in rocks.

• Carbon moves only through plants.

• Carbon is not present in the hydrosphere.

Which of the following is a direct result of increased energy flow into Earth’s systems?

• Decreased volcanic activity

• Rising global temperatures

• Lower sea levels

• Reduced plant growth

Which process is responsible for moving carbon from the geosphere to the atmosphere?

• Photosynthesis

• Combustion of fossil fuels

• Precipitation

• Transpiration