Environmental Science 2: Understanding Climate Change

Who was Guy Callendar and what was his contribution to climate science?

• A famous explorer who discovered new lands

• A renowned scientist who invented the thermometer

• A steam engineer who theorized about human impact on climate

• A meteorologist who predicted weather patterns

How does climate differ from weather?

• Climate and weather are the same

• Weather is short-term, climate is a long-term pattern

• Weather is a pattern over time, climate is daily

• Climate is short-term, weather is long-term

What is the greenhouse effect?

• A phenomenon where the Earth cools due to gas emissions

• A natural process where gases trap heat, warming the Earth

• A process where the sun's heat is completely blocked by gases

• An effect that only occurs in greenhouses

What evidence supports the claim that Earth's temperature is rising?

• Stability in Earth's temperature over centuries

• Increase in polar ice caps

• Decrease in global sea levels

• Rise in Earth's average temperature and sea levels

What is the relationship between carbon dioxide levels and global temperatures?

• No relationship exists

• As CO2 levels decrease, temperatures rise

• As CO2 levels increase, temperatures decrease

• As CO2 levels increase, temperatures rise

What role do fossil fuels play in climate change?

• They have no impact on climate change

• They decrease greenhouse gas emissions

• They cool the Earth's atmosphere

• They increase greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to warming

What alternative explanations have scientists considered for climate change?

• Volcanic eruptions, solar activity, and cosmic rays

• None, as human activity is the sole cause

• Only human activity

• Changes in Earth's orbit

How do ice cores help scientists understand past climate conditions?

• They provide data on recent weather patterns

• They contain air bubbles that reveal ancient atmospheric conditions

• They predict future climate changes

• They show the Earth's magnetic field changes

What does the sharp spike in CO2 levels in recent years indicate?

• A rapid increase in CO2 due to human activity

• A decrease in fossil fuel usage

• A natural decrease in Earth's temperature

• A stabilization of Earth's climate

What will be explored in future lessons of this unit?

• The history of climate change

• The role of animals in climate change

• The impact of climate change on humans and the environment

• The invention of climate measurement tools