WorksheetsUnit 11: Climate Change
Total questions: 26
Worksheet time: 15mins
Climate refers to...?
Which of the following best describes the percentages of atmospheric gases on Earth?
The oxygen in our current atmosphere is the result of...?
Match the following layers of the Earth's atmosphere with the best description.
Most dense layer that is adjacent to Earth's surface; air circulates via convention currents moving air & heat around the planet
Trophosphere
Less concentrated layer with very little water vapor & a lot of ozone; very calm & takes a long time for substances/gases to transition out of this layer
Stratosphere
Coldest layer of the atmosphere; often called the middle layer
Mesosphere
Presence of highly ionized (electrically charged) gases, heated by steady flow of high-energy solar & cosmic radiation
Thermosphere
The primary source of energy for the Earth is ...?
Fossil fuels
Roughly this percent of incoming solar energy is reflected by clouds & atmospheric gases?
10%
25%
Roughly this percent of incoming solar energy is absorbed by greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide & water vapor)?
45%
25%
50% of incoming solar energy...?
reaches the Earth's surface as light or infrared energy (such as heat)
is reflected by clouds & atmospheric gases
is absorbed by greenhouse gases
is reflected by greenhouse gases
Substances with high albedos do THIS with energy?
transform it
reflect it
absorb it
destroy it
Solar energy that reaches the surface is utilized in many ways, including as energy for photosynthesis, evaporating water & being absorbed to heat material/substances.
According to the 2nd law of thermodynamics, that absorbed/used energy is then...?
reflected back to the surface
re-emitted from materials/substances/the surface as low-quality heat energy
destroyed so it doesn't overheat the Earth
transformed into potential energy that stays on Earth indefinitely
Which statement best describes the greenhouse effect on Earth?
The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth's surface through the trapping of heat in the atmosphere by GHGs.
As greenhouse gas concentrations in our atmosphere increase, what happens to the rate of outgoing energy?
How does latent heat energy in water impact climate?
Latent heat energy in water impacts climate by releasing more heat into space
What role does thermohaline circulation play in Earth's Climate?
What historical climate information can be gathered from studied ice cores?
How are Milankovitch cycles related to natural climate swings?
Milankovitch cycles are related to volcanic eruptions, which can caused long, sustained climate shifts on Earth.
Which of the following is NOT an effect of the "reversal" of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation?
Droughts in Indonesia
Heavy rains in USA
Increases in nutrients for schools of fish on the West coast of South America
The evidence for anthropogenic climate change is not new.
Which of the following is NOT evidence that indicates this phenomenon?
Arrhenius's predictions that burning coal would release carbon dioxide & result in global warming.
Keeling's curve that measures carbon dioxide yearly concentration increases beginning in 1958.
Johnson's predicted increases in severe weather events at the poles, which demonstrate alteration to the atmospheric conditions
Tyndall's measurements of greenhouse gas absorption & subsequent descriptions of the greenhouse effect
What is the primary goal of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?
Review carbon dioxide emissions in the US
Increase global awareness of biodiversity loss
Identify human health concerns that pollution is contributing to
Review scientific evidence on the causes & likely effects of human-caused climate change
Which of the following are common sources for the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide?
MARK ALL THAT APPLY.
fossil fuel combustion
landfills
cement production
burning of forests
ruminant animals (grazing herbivores)
Which of the following are common sources for the greenhouse gas, methane?
MARK ALL THAT APPLY.
fossil fuel combustion
landfills
pipeline leaks
burning of forests
ruminant animals (grazing herbivores)
Which of the following are observed (and predicted) effects of climate change?
MARK ALL THAT APPLY.
Reduction in arctic ice, resulting in rising sea levels & release of stored carbon dioxide
Increases in invasive & infectious species to new regions
Reduction in extreme weather events, like tornadoes, especially in the "off-season"
Clearly defined seasons, that follow typical patterns of weather & support migration & flowering cycles
Which of the following is NOT a strategy to combat climate change?
Adopting wind, water & solar energy sources, especially as they become more available & affordable
Moving towards new ways to use fossil fuels, in cleaner or more cost-effective ways
Enacting programs like "put a price on it" campaigns that enact a tax that puts a social cost on carbon to be reinvested into the local community
Colleges, local communities & businesses adopting clean energy policies
Which of the following statements best describes how the Wedge analysis/approach & the Drawdown approach are attempting to reduce/stabilize carbon emissions?
These approaches attempt to use a small amount of strategies that are currently in use, but could be promoted better or utilized more effectively to reduce emissions.
These approaches are only focused on strategies that involved alternative fuel sources.
These approaches are looking for new & innovation strategies that have not been thought up before to reduce carbon emissions.
These approaches are utilizing multiple, "bite-size" strategies to reduce emissions, including transportation efficiency, alternative fuel sources, protecting forests, regenerative agriculture & reducing food waste.
___________________ stated that signatory nations must reduce emissions of greenhouse gases below 1990 levels by 2012.
IPCC
ENSO
U.S. Military Advisory Board
Which of the following is NOT a goal of the Paris Agreement (2015)?
Reduction in carbon emissions as a global goal
Hold global average temperature increase to below 1.5oC
Participating countries establish voluntary emissions reduction goals & revise these plans every 5 years.
Creating a "green carbon" fund" to finance climate change remediation; countries with advanced economies are the main contributors to this
