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Milankovitch Cycles/Natural Climate Change

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 7mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which is a natural source of greenhouse gases that cause climate change?

a)

burning fossil fuels

b)

deforestation

c)

volcanic eruptions

2.

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

a)

an increase in sun spots

b)

several major volcanic eruptions

c)

changes in Earth's orbit and the tilt of its axis

d)

continental drift

3.

A large volcanic eruption that emits high gas/ash into the atmosphere can have what type of effect on the Earth's climate?

a)

It can warm the climate

b)

It can cool the climate

c)

The climate stays the same

4.
The ______ is the angle of the Earth's axis.
a)
Precession
b)
Tilt
c)
Orbital Eccentricity
d)
Latitude
5.

According to the data, how many cooling periods occurred during the past 400,000 years?

a)

2

b)

3

c)

4

d)

5

6.

The angle of Earth’s tilt as it orbits the Sun is called ___.

a)

eccentricity

b)

obliquity

c)

precession

7.

The wobbling of Earth's axis as it orbits the Sun is called ___.

a)

eccentricity

b)

obliquity

c)

precession

8.

What is the difference between weather and climate?

a)

They are the same.

b)

Weather is day to day, while climate is observed over a long periods.

c)

Climate is day to day, while weather is observed over a long period.

d)

Weather changes, while climate does not.

9.

The shape of Earth’s orbit goes from more circular to …

a)

Perfectly circular

b)

Oval-shaped

c)

Rectangular

d)

None of the above

10.

Of the roles that greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide and methane) have in Earth's climate system, which is not accurate?

a)

help prevent the earth from cooling substantially each night

b)

allows for light (short-wavelength) energy to travel through the atmosphere.

c)

help trap and hold thermal (short-wavelength) energy in the atmosphere

d)

helps keept the Earth at a moderate 59 degrees Farenheit.

11.

The greenhouse effect is caused by…

a)

Too much heat in the atmosphere

b)

Too much sunshine reaching Earth

c)

Greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere absorbing radiation from the Earth's surface, and preventing much of it escaping into space

d)

Greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere absorbing solar radiation

12.
The sun's rays are least direct
a)
near the poles
b)
near the equator
c)
at high altitudes
d)
far from the ocean
13.

Earth is currently in an interglacial period (a period of milder climate between Ice Ages). If there were no human influences on climate, scientists say Earth’s current orbital positions within the Milankovitch cycles predict our planet should be cooling, not warming, continuing a long-term cooling trend that began 6,000 years ago.

a)

True

b)

False

14.

There are only two different types of climates found on Earth: tropical and desert

a)

True

b)

False

15.

Based on this graph, what is the relationship between carbon dioxide and global temperature?

a)

There is no relationship between carbon dioxide and temperature.

b)

If carbon dioxide increases, temperature decreases.

c)

If carbon dioxide increases, temperature increases.