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Worksheets

Impacts on Climate

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 48mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is climate?

a)

the condition of the atmosphere at any given time and place

b)

cloud cover and temperature

c)

precipitation and humidity at a given time and place

d)

weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

2.

Factors that have affected our climate in the past and continue to do so today.

a)

Climate Forcings

b)

Climate adaptations

c)

Climate Frequency

d)

Climate Evolution

3.

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

a)

eccentricity

b)

obliquity

c)

precession

4.

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

a)

eccentricity

b)

obliquity

c)

precession

5.

Which variable of the Milankovitch Cycles is animated here?

a)

eccentricity

b)

obliquity

c)

precession

6.

Which variable of the Milankovitch Cycles is animated here?

a)

eccentricity

b)

obliquity

c)

precession

7.

Which variable of the Milankovitch Cycles is animated here?

a)

eccentricity

b)

obliquity

c)

precession

8.

Which variable of the Milankovitch Cycles is most responsible for the different seasons on Earth?

a)

eccentricity (the shape of Earth's orbit)

b)

obliquity (the tilt of Earth's axis)

c)

precession (the wobble of Earth's axis)

9.

What is the period of Earth's eccentricity?

a)

26,000 years

b)

40,000 years

c)

100,000 years

d)

400,000 years

10.

What is the period of Earth's obliquity?

a)

26,000 years

b)

40,000 years

c)

100,000 years

d)

400,000 years

11.

What is the period of Earth's precession?

a)

26,000 years

b)

40,000 years

c)

100,000 years

d)

400,000 years

12.

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

13.

The greenhouse effect is caused by…

a)

Too much heat in the atmosphere

b)

Too much sunshine reaching Earth

c)

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

d)

Greenhouse gases preventing the sun's energy from reaching the planet's surface

14.
What causes La Nina?
a)
cooling of water in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South America
b)
cooling water off the Atlantic coast of the US
c)
cooling water in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America
d)
warm water in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America
15.
The El Nino will cause what kind of weather in the southern US?
a)
cold and dry
b)
cold and wet
c)
warm and wet
d)
warm and dry
16.
The El Nino is caused by
a)

cold water off the Atlantic coast of South America

b)

warm water in the Pacific off the coast of South America

c)

warm water in the Pacific off the coast of Australia

d)

cold water in the Pacific off the coast of Australia

17.
La Nina will cause the weather in Texas to be
a)
warm and wet
b)
cold and wet
c)
cold and dry
d)
warm and dry
18.

During a(n) ____ event, trade winds are much stronger than usual.

a)

El Nino

b)

La Nina

c)

Normal

d)

Partly sunny

19.

Both El Nino and La Nina have this in common

a)

Influence birds that migrate over the ocean

b)

Influence rainy / dry weather world wide

c)

The weather at the polar regions

d)

The directions that ships travel in the oceans

20.

During an El Nino, trade winds are typically...

a)

about average

b)

stronger

c)

weaker

21.

The globe on the left shows warmer water in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America. This represents a(n)

a)

El Niño

b)

La Niña

c)

Hurricane

d)

None of the above

22.

The globe on the right shows cooler water in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America. This represents a(n)

a)

El Niño

b)

La Niña

c)

Hurricane

d)

None of the above

23.

A process where gases in Earth’s atmosphere radiate the Sun’s heat back down to Earth’s surface, making the Earth warmer.

a)

Greenhouse Gases

b)

Greenhouse Effect

c)

Global Warming

d)

Climate

24.

Gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat within it.

a)

Greenhouse Gases

b)

Greenhouse Effect

c)

Global Warming

d)

Climate

25.

Periods of time when the Earth's climate was cooler, and glaciers covered much of the Earth

a)

winter

b)

Arctic Blasts

c)

Ice Ages

d)

cold snaps

26.

The changes to Earth's orbit and Earth's axis tilt are called

a)

Carbon cycles

b)

Milankovitch cycles

c)

Atmospheric cycles

d)

El Nino

27.

How do volcanoes affect Earth's climate?

a)

The lava that is released warms the Earth

b)

Volcanic ash and dust contribute to the greenhouse effect, warming the Earth

c)

Volcanic ash and dust in the atmosphere partially blocks incoming solar radiation, cooling the Earth

d)

Volcanoes grow tall and can absorb more solar radiation, warming the Earth

28.

Carbon Dioxide and other "greenhouse gases"

a)

Did not exist before humans began releasing them

b)

Have no effect on climate

c)

Have the effect of cooling the Earth

d)

Have been in the atmosphere for a long time, helping keep Earth at a temperature suitable for life

29.

What is magma called when it reaches the surface of Earth?

a)

Lava

b)

viscosity

c)

toxic gas

30.

Many earthquakes happen along the borders of...

a)

Countries

b)

Tectonic Plates

c)

Climate Zones

d)

None of the above.

31.
Can volcanic eruptions effect climate?
a)
yes 
b)
no
32.

What are the puzzle pieces of the Earth's surface called?

a)

Tectonic plates

b)

Subductions

c)

Earthquakes

d)

Convergents

33.
The main human activity that releases greenhouse gases is...
a)
using bottled water
b)
burning fossil fuels
c)
texting on cellphones
d)
eating meat
34.

What are the two most abundant greenhouse gases?

a)

Water Vapor (H2O) and Methane (CH4)

b)

Carbon Dioxide COand Methane (CH4)

c)

Water Vapor (H2O) and Carbon Dioxide CO2

d)

Water Vapor (H2O) and Nitrous oxide (N2O)

35.

What results from livestock and other agricultural practices and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills?

a)

Carbon Dioxide

b)

Methane

c)

Water Vapor

d)

Fluorinated Gases

e)

Nitrous Oxide

36.
Which of the following are greenhouse gases?
a)
Carbon dioxide
b)
Methane
c)
Water vapor
d)
All answers are correct
37.
Without the Greenhouse Effect the Earth would be
a)

warm 

b)

cold

c)

unable to breath

38.
What are dark areas on the surface of the sun that are cooler than the surrounding area?
a)
Prominences
b)
Sunspots
c)
Corona
d)
Solar Flares
39.

Studies indicate that periods of low sunspot activity, like the ____, correspond to unusually cold climate conditions. 

a)

Maunder minimum

b)

Maunder ice age

c)

Maunder divide

d)

Maunder Maximum

40.

The cyclic change in solar activity, such as sunspots and solar flares, rising and declining about every 11 years.

a)

Maunder minimum

b)

Solar cycle

c)

Sunspot cycle

d)

Solar maximum

41.

El Nino and La Nina have long term climate effects

a)

True

b)

False

42.

Milankovitch Cycles have long term impacts on Earth's climate

a)

True

b)

False

43.

Have short term effects on the Earth's climate

a)

Precession

b)

Obliquity

c)

Volcanoes

d)

Eccentricity

44.

Volcanoes release what type of harmful gas into the atmosphere?

a)

Sulfur Dioxide

b)

Sulfur Pentoxide

c)

Carbon Sulfide

d)

Methane

45.

What is formed when sulfur dioxide mixes with water during volcanic eruptions?

a)

Saline

b)

Carbonic Acid

c)

Sulfates

d)

Methane

46.

What effect does sulfates have on clouds after a volcanic eruption?

a)

It allows clouds to absorb sunlight

b)

It increases the reflectivity of clouds making the climate cooler

c)

It has no effect on clouds

d)

In is a greenhouse gas that warms the planet

47.
Albedo can best be described as...
a)
the temperature at the equator
b)
the amount of solar radiation absorbed
c)
the amount of solar radiation reflected
d)
the air pressure during El Nino
48.

If there was an El Nino weather event this year, what would the weather be like in Ohio?

a)

Warmer and Dryer than usual

b)

Cooler and Dryer than usual

c)

Cooler and Wetter than usual

d)

Warmer and Wetter than usual

49.

If there was an La Nina weather event this year, what would the weather be like in the Georgia?

a)

Warmer than usual

b)

Cooler than usual

c)

About the same

50.

What are the two main components that create the conditions for El Nino and La Nina

a)

Ocean Currents and upwelling

b)

Solar Winds and Ocean Temps

c)

Trade Winds and Ocean temps

d)

Artic Winds and Global temperature