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WorksheetsEarth's Changing Climate
Total questions: 30
Worksheet time: 2hrs 32mins
Climate researchers are creating a computer simulation to help them understand changes in the Earth system. They want to use the simulation to see what happens when they increase the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
What should their simulation show about energy absorbed by Earth’s surface?
Increased.
Decreased.
Stayed at a constant level.
Changed unpredictably.
Scientists found evidence of a time period 3 billion years ago when less energy entered the Earth system than exited. What is one change to the atmosphere that could have caused this, and how did it change the amount of energy in the Earth system?
Methane increased, leading to more energy in the Earth system and more energy absorbed by Earth’s surface
Methane decreased, leading to more energy in the Earth system and more energy absorbed by Earth’s surface
Methane increased, leading to less energy in the Earth system and less energy absorbed by Earth’s surface
Methane decreased, leading to less energy in the Earth system and less energy absorbed by Earth’s surface
Scientists are using a computer simulation to test ideas about climate on Earth. Looking at one period of time in the simulation, they notice that more energy entered the Earth system than exited.
How might the amount of carbon dioxide have changed to cause this, and how would this have changed the energy in the Earth system?
In the simulation, . . .
Carbon dioxide increased, leading to more energy in the Earth system and more energy absorbed by Earth’s surface
Carbon dioxide decreased, leading to more energy in the Earth system and more energy absorbed by Earth’s surface
Carbon dioxide increased, leading to less energy in the Earth system and less energy absorbed by Earth’s surface
Carbon dioxide decreased, leading to less energy in the Earth system and less energy absorbed by Earth’s surface
The Karoo Ice Age started about 360 million years ago and lasted for about 40 million years. During this time, less energy entered the Earth system than exited.
What is one change to the atmosphere that could have caused this?
Carbon dioxide decreased, leading to less energy in the Earth system because less energy was trapped by gases and held in the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide decreased, leading to less energy in the Earth system because less exiting energy was redirected (bounced) back toward Earth.
Carbon dioxide increased, leading to more energy in the Earth system because more exiting energy was redirected (bounced) back toward Earth.
Carbon dioxide increased, leading to less energy in the Earth system because more energy from the sun was redirected (bounced) back toward outer space.
The graph above shows global temperature changes between the years 1880 and 2011. Which of the following best describes the changes seen in the graph?
The graph shows a trend of increasing temperature over time.
The graph shows temperatures go up and down, with no trend
The graph shows the Annual Mean and 5-Year Mean have different trends.
The graph shows too much fluctuation to be confident about a trend.
What happens when energy hits sulfur dioxide?
When energy hits sulfur dioxide, more energy is created.
Sulfur dioxide traps some energy and holds it in the atmosphere.
Sulfur dioxide redirects (bounces) some incoming energy from the sun back toward outer space.
Energy always passes through sulfur dioxide.
Using evidence from rocks, scientists have found that from 300 to 290 million years ago, the amount of methane in the atmosphere increased.
What happened to the energy absorbed by Earth’s surface during this time?
During this time, the amount of energy absorbed by Earth’s surface . . .
Stayed at a constant level.
Changed unpredictably.
Increased.
Decreased.
Scientists study tree rings to learn more about Earth’s past climate. They found a time period when the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere decreased. What happened to energy in the Earth system when carbon dioxide in the atmosphere decreased? Energy in the Earth system . . .
decreased, because more energy entered than exited. This is because less exiting energy was redirected (bounced) back toward Earth.
decreased, because less energy entered than exited. This is because less exiting energy was redirected (bounced) back toward Earth.
decreased, because less energy entered than exited. This is because less energy was trapped by gases and held in the atmosphere.
increased, because more energy entered than exited. This is because less energy from the sun was redirected (bounced) back toward outer space.
What is one reason that carbon dioxide is increasing in the atmosphere today?
There are more volcanoes than there were in the past.
People are riding bicycles instead of driving cars.
There are more people doing things that use combustion.
People are using solar power.
Scientists who study the atmosphere often need to take samples of the atmosphere in order to learn more. They take some atmosphere samples near the ground. They take other atmosphere samples high in the air, while flying in a helicopter. What would the scientists find out about the samples?
Both samples are made of one kind of gas.
Both samples are made of a mix of several different kinds of gases.
Neither sample is made of anything.
The samples are different from each other because each gas forms its own layer in the atmosphere.
Researchers have found an ice core sample that show there was a period when carbon dioxide in the atmosphere decreased. What happened to the amount of energy absorbed by Earth’s surface during this time?
During this time, the amount of energy absorbed by Earth’s surface . . .
Stayed at a constant level.
Changed unpredictably.
Increased.
Decreased.
Some bacteria produce methane during digestion. If the amount of these bacteria decreased a lot, the amount of methane in the atmosphere would decrease.
What would happen to energy in the Earth system if this happened?
If methane decreased, . . .
there would be more energy in the Earth system and more energy absorbed by Earth’s surface, because more energy would enter than exit.
there would be more energy in the Earth system and more energy absorbed by Earth’s surface, because less energy would enter than exit.
there would be less energy in the Earth system and less energy absorbed by Earth’s surface, because less energy would enter than exit.
there would be less energy in the Earth system and less energy absorbed by Earth’s surface, because more energy would enter than exit.
From about 360 to 299 million years ago, there was a large increase in the amount of swampland on Earth, which scientists think led to a large increase in the amount of methane in Earth’s atmosphere. What happened to energy in the Earth system when the amount of methane in the atmosphere increased? Energy in the Earth system . . .
increased, because more energy entered than exited. This is because more exiting energy was redirected (bounced) back toward Earth.
increased, because less energy entered than exited. This is because more exiting energy was redirected (bounced) back toward Earth.
increased, because more energy entered than exited. This is because more energy was trapped by gases and held in the atmosphere.
decreased, because less energy entered than exited. This is because more energy from the sun was redirected (bounced) back toward outer space.
When making an argument about how climate change is affecting the ice cover on Earth, which of the following would be the least effective type of evidence to support your argument?
data tracking the amount of snowfall for the last 50 years
data tracking the surface temperature for the last 200 years
data tracking carbon dioxide levels for the last 100 years
data tracking glacier size for the last 2 years
What can humans do to help keep carbon dioxide and methane in Earth’s atmosphere from increasing?
Eat less meat so that fewer livestock need to be kept
Drive their cars less often
Both drive cars less often and eat less meat
Humans can’t affect the amount of carbon dioxide or methane in the atmosphere.
During the Pleistocene Epoch there were a few time periods when the amount of methane in the atmosphere decreased. What would scientists expect to observe about the amount of energy absorbed by Earth’s surface during the time periods when methane decreased? During these time periods, the amount of energy absorbed by Earth’s surface . . .
Stayed at a constant level.
Changed unpredictably.
Increased.
Decreased.
In the last 5 million years of the Permian period in Earth’s history, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increased. How did energy in the Earth system change during this time?
there would be more energy in the Earth system and more energy absorbed by Earth’s surface, because more energy would enter than exit.
there would be more energy in the Earth system and more energy absorbed by Earth’s surface, because less energy would enter than exit.
there would be less energy in the Earth system and less energy absorbed by Earth’s surface, because less energy would enter than exit.
there would be less energy in the Earth system and less energy absorbed by Earth’s surface, because more energy would enter than exit.
Climate scientists are working on a computer simulation to help them understand Earth’s climate. Looking at one period of time in the simulation, they see that more energy entered the Earth system than exited. How could the amount of methane have changed to cause this, and what effect would this have on energy in the Earth system?
Methane decreased, leading to less energy in the Earth system because less energy was trapped by gases and held in the atmosphere.
Methane decreased, leading to less energy in the Earth system because less exiting energy was redirected (bounced) back toward Earth.
Methane increased, leading to more energy in the Earth system because more exiting energy was redirected (bounced) back toward Earth.
Methane increased, leading to less energy in the Earth system because more energy from the sun was redirected (bounced) back toward outer space.
Eleanor wants to do an experiment in order to analyze what is in the atmosphere. What do you think she will find?
The atmosphere is made of one kind of gas.
The atmosphere is made of a mix of several different kinds of gases.
The atmosphere isn't made of anything.
The atmosphere is made of different kinds of gases, and each forms its own layer.
Some factories have started using large tanks of bacteria to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As more factories start to do this, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could decrease over time. If this happens, and if the energy coming from the sun and the amount of carbon dioxide being put into the atmosphere otherwise stay the same, what would happen to the total amount of energy in the Earth system and to the global average temperature?
The total amount of energy would increase and temperatures would decrease
The total amount of energy would increase and temperatures would increase
The total amount of energy would decrease and temperatures would decrease
The total amount of energy would decrease and temperatures would increase
Combustion engines became common in the mid-1800s when people began to use them to power ships, trains, and machinery in factories. Combustion engines add carbon dioxide to the air, and as a result, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increased quickly. How did this change the total amount of energy in the Earth system, and how did this affect global average temperature?
The total amount of energy increased, because carbon dioxide redirected energy back towards Earth, causing temperatures to decrease.
The total amount of energy increased, because carbon dioxide redirected energy back towards Earth, causing temperatures to decrease.
The total amount of energy increased, because carbon dioxide redirected energy back towards Earth, causing temperatures to increase.
The total amount of energy increased, because carbon dioxide trapped energy in the atmosphere, causing temperatures to increase.
What does the circled part of the graph show?
Fluctuation
A trend of increasing temperature
A trend of decreasing temperature
What does the dashed line on the graph show?
Fluctuation
A trend of increasing temperature
A trend of decreasing temperature
Based on the graphs, we can conclude...
As carbon dioxide increases, temperature increases.
As carbon dioxide decreases, temperature increases.
Carbon dioxide does not affect temperature.
How is the picture a model of Earth's system?
Both the amount of energy entering and exiting Earth's system can change.
Only the amount of energy entering Earth's system can change.
Only the amount of energy exiting Earth's system can change.
Between the years 1200 and 1600, global average temperature decreased (Earth got colder). Which do you think is true about the energy that entered and exited the Earth system during that time?
More energy entered than exited.
Less energy entered than exited.
The amount of energy that entered and exited was equal
If there is more ice on Earth, what will happen to the amount of energy absorbed by the surface?
It will increase.
It will decrease.
It will stay the same.
If there is less ice on Earth, what will happen to the amount of energy absorbed by the surface?
It will increase.
It will decrease.
It will stay the same.
Which is an example of combustion?
Burning fossil fuels
Gas capture
Cows digesting grass
Reforestation
Which of the following produces methane?
Grass-eating livestock
Volcanoes
Public transit
Reforestation
