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WorksheetsUnit 5 Earth's Changing Climate
Total questions: 12
Worksheet time: 3hrs 0mins
Climate researchers in Greenland can use ice core samples to tell them
about methane in the atmosphere in the past. Researchers found a sample
that showed a time period when methane in the atmosphere increased.
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.
Geologists have found rocks showing that about 700 million years ago, there
was a time period when the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
decreased. How did energy in the Earth system change during this time?
There was more energy in the Earth system and more energy absorbed by
Earth’s surface, because more energy entered than exited.
There was more energy in the Earth system and more energy absorbed by
Earth’s surface, because less energy entered than exited.
There was less energy in the Earth system and less energy absorbed by
Earth’s surface, because more energy entered than exited.
There was less energy in the Earth system and less energy absorbed by
Earth’s surface, because less energy entered than exited.
There are some bacteria that release methane into the atmosphere. Scientists
think that if the number of these bacteria decreased, the amount of methane
in the atmosphere would decrease. What would happen to energy in the Earth
system if methane in the atmosphere decreases?
Energy in the Earth system would . . .
decrease, because less energy would enter than exit. This is because less
exiting energy would be redirected (bounced) back toward Earth.
decrease, because more energy would enter than exit. This is because less
exiting energy would be redirected (bounced) back toward Earth.
decrease, because less energy would enter than exit. This is because less
energy would be trapped by gases and held in the atmosphere.
increase, because more energy would enter than exit. This is because
less energy from the sun would be redirected (bounced) back toward
outer space.
Some scientists found that millions of years ago, there was a time when the
number of trees increased very quickly, leading to a decrease in the amount of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. What would you predict about the amount
of energy absorbed by Earth’s surface during this time?
During this time, the amount of energy absorbed by Earth’s surface . . .
increased.
decreased.
stayed at a consistent level.
changed unpredictably.
Scientists have tools that measure the amount of energy entering and exiting
the Earth system. Recently, more energy entered the system than exited. What
might scientists expect to see in the atmosphere, and what has changed about
energy in the Earth system during this time?
Methane decreased, leading to more energy in the Earth system and more
energy absorbed by Earth’s surface.
Methane decreased, leading to less energy in the Earth system and less
energy absorbed by Earth’s surface.
Methane increased, 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.
Ice core data from Greenland indicates there was a time period on Earth when the
atmosphere changed so more energy entered the Earth system than exited. What
change to the atmosphere could have caused this, and how would it have affected
energy on Earth during that time?
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 more energy in the Earth system
because more 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 decreased, leading to more energy in the Earth system
because less energy from the sun was redirected (bounced) back toward
outer space.
Fossilized shells from the Pacific Ocean show that about 15 million years ago,
there was a time period when carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increased.
What would have happened to the energy absorbed by Earth’s surface during
this time?
During this time, energy absorbed by Earth’s surface . . .
stayed at a constant level.
changed unpredictably.
decreased.
increased.
A climatologist is creating a simulation for Earth’s climate and is working on
how to set it up. One of the options for the simulation is to increase methane in
the atmosphere. How should the energy in the Earth system change when the
amount of methane in the atmosphere increases?
There should be . . .
more energy in the Earth system and more energy absorbed by Earth’s
surface, because less energy enters than exits.
more energy in the Earth system and more energy absorbed by Earth’s
surface, because more energy enters than exits.
less energy in the Earth system and less energy absorbed by Earth’s
surface, because more energy enters than exits.
less energy in the Earth system and less energy absorbed by Earth’s
surface, because less energy enters than exits.
Scientists think that a large amount of carbon dioxide was released from
rock on the ocean floor from 120 to 80 million years ago and that this led to
increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. What happened to energy in the
Earth system during this time?
Energy in the Earth system . . .
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
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.
A climatologist was working with a computer simulation that models Earth’s
climate and atmosphere. She set up the controls of the simulation to
decrease the amount of methane in the atmosphere. What should happen to
the amount of energy absorbed
by Earth’s surface?
When methane decreases, the amount of energy absorbed by Earth’s surface
should . . .
change unpredictably.
stay at a constant level.
increase.
decrease.
Fossil evidence from the time of Tyrannosaurus rex (85 to 65 million years ago)
shows less energy entered the Earth system than exited, even though energy
from the sun didn’t change. How might the amount of carbon dioxide have
changed to cause this, and how would that have changed the energy absorbed
by Earth’s surface?
Carbon dioxide decreased, so there was less energy in the Earth system and
less energy absorbed by Earth’s surface.
Carbon dioxide decreased, so there was more energy in the Earth system
and more energy absorbed by Earth’s surface.
Carbon dioxide increased, so there was more energy in the Earth system
and more energy absorbed by Earth’s surface.
Carbon dioxide increased, so there was less energy in the Earth system and
less energy absorbed by Earth’s surface.
A scientist says that even if the amount of energy entering the Earth system
from the sun doesn’t change, there can still be less energy entering than
exiting the Earth system. What could change in the atmosphere that would
cause this, and what effect would this have on energy in the Earth system?
Methane could increase, leading to more energy in the Earth system
because more exiting energy would be redirected (bounced) back
toward Earth.
Methane could increase, leading to less energy in the Earth system because
more energy from the sun would be redirected (bounced) back toward
outer space.
Methane could decrease, leading to less energy in the Earth system because
less exiting energy would be redirected (bounced) back toward Earth.
Methane could decrease, leading to less energy in the Earth system because
less energy would be trapped by gases and held in the atmosphere.
