The atmosphere around Earth can cause global warming because ________.
molecules in the atmosphere are warmed by radiation from Earth and retain that heat
Earth's climate ________.
is changing as a result of natural and human processes
Milankovitch cycles ________.
are changes in Earth's rotation and orbit around the sun that may trigger climate variation
The greenhouse effect involves warming of Earth's surface and the ________.
troposphere
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather occurs over hours and days, and climate occurs over seasons and years.
Which three factors have the greatest effect on Earth's climate?
he sun, the atmosphere, and the ocean
Which of the following have the ability to absorb energy from Earth's surface and then emit infrared radiation in all directions?
greenhouse gases
Which greenhouse gas has a global warming potential that is approximately three times that of methane?
nitrous oxide
What is the greenhouse effect?
a warming of Earth's atmosphere by greenhouse gases that trap reflected heat rather than allow it to escape into space
The predominant greenhouse gas produced by human use of fossil fuels is __________.
carbon dioxide
Which of the following contributes to atmospheric cooling?
aerosols (particularly sulfur compounds) and dusts
What happens as ocean waters warm?
The oceans absorb less CO2.
What are the periodic variations in Earth's rotation and orbit around the sun that alter the way solar radiation is distributed over Earth's surface?
Milankovitch cycles
Which of the following statements about the sun's energy is true?
Thirty percent of the sun's energy is reflected off Earth and back into space.
The largest source of anthropogenic greenhouse gases in the United States is ________, followed by ________.
electricity generation; transportation
The oceans hold ________ carbon than the atmosphere.
50 times more
Soot particles ("black carbon aerosols") generally cause ________ of Earth's atmosphere by ________ solar energy.
warming; absorbing
Carbon dioxide is ________.
the main anthropogenic greenhouse gas produced in the United States
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ________.
is an international panel that reports on how climate change influences biomes and economies
Carbon-based fuels from lithospheric reservoirs ________.
have been slowly sequestered over many millions of years
Growing rice results in the release of ________ into the atmosphere.
methane
Which type of indirect evidence can substitute for direct measurements of past climate change?
proxy indicators
Scientists evaluate concentrations of gases and other atmospheric constituents from the distant past by examining which of the following?
gas bubbles trapped in ice
What are sophisticated computer programs that allow scientists to understand how climate systems function and to make predictions for the future?
climate models
What initiative or group is responsible for the most reviewed and widely accepted reports that we have on climate change?
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
What is the planet's albedo?
its ability to reflect light
Keeling's reports from Mauna Loa demonstrated ________.
an increase in tropospheric CO2 from the 1950s to present
Keeling began measuring tropospheric carbon dioxide concentrations at Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii in 1958. This is a remote location away from urban and industrial areas. If Keeling had instead established his CO2 monitoring station near a large coal-
his measurements of CO2 levels would likely be much higher than in a place like Mauna Loa
The most recent analyses of polar ice cores have given us the ability to profile global climate change back as far as ________ years
800,000
Recent evidence from polar ice core analysis shows that, until now, carbon dioxide levels have never exceeded ________ ppm in the last several hundred thousand years.
300
Why are over one-sixth of the world's people at risk for running out of drinking water?
Glaciers in many areas are melting.
How are warming temperatures causing a vicious cycle (positive feedback) that is leading to enhanced warming?
Ice and snow reflect light, and as they melt, Earth absorbs more of the sun's rays.
How is global warming most significantly affecting coral reefs and sea life?
Increased concentrations of carbon dioxide are being absorbed by the oceans.
Which section of the United States will experience some significant impacts from global climate change that are NOT related to rising sea levels or the alteration of the world's oceans? What are those impacts?
Northwest--degrading forests
According to the map, the area that will experience the greatest increase in temperatures is ________.
the Arctic and subarctic
The majority of the United States will see temperature rises of ________�C.
4.5-5.5
The region of the planet that will see the smallest rises in temperature is ________.
oceans
Compared to Antarctica, the percent increase in temperature in the Arctic will be ________.
greater
Hydroelectric power generation ________
is an alternative to fossil fuels that produces fewer greenhouse gases
Hydrogen fuel cells, biodiesel, and long-term electric batteries are potential solutions to ________.
reducing carbon emissions from cars and trucks
The use of public transportation is ________.
one of the best options for decreasing the use of fossil fuels for transportation
In legislation, the precautionary principle applied to climate change states that ________.
lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used to postpone measures to prevent major environmental degradation
The Kyoto Protocol ________.
was intended to reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases to levels lower than those of 1990
The U.S. Senate has so far opposed emissions reductions on the grounds that ________.
it might hurt the economy
All of the following will likely be impacts of global climate change on sea levels except ________.
receding coastlines
Of the following, ________ are market mechanisms for addressing climate change.
cap-and-trade and carbon offsets
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that physical, biological, and economic evidence exists confirming global climate change due to human-produced greenhouse gases. Although the United States emits most of Earth's carbon dioxide, its pol
the United States is a major producer of greenhouse gases
Environmentalists advocate immediate intervention regarding global climate change because ________.
they favor the precautionary principle
One factor contributing to U.S. resistance to legal intervention regarding global climate change is ________.
political influence of the petroleum, coal and automobile industries
Why do environmentalists and scientists advocate immediate action, including stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and subsidies for renewable energy?
These industries produce the most greenhouse gases.
The Clear Skies Initiative may have helped somewhat with the problem of global climate change because it would have ________.
required reduced nitrogen oxide emissions
The Kyoto Protocol was initiated as a response to what sorts of emissions?
greenhouse gases
What two processes emit the most carbon in the United States?
electricity generation and transportation
Which greenhouse gas is produced by the raising of cattle?
methane
Which lifestyle choice would cause the greatest reduction in greenhouse emissions?
riding a bike
What is a situation in which NO net carbon is emitted?
carbon-neutrality
Which of the following is an example of mitigation rather than adaptation for global climate change?
building more solar panels to generate electricity instead of more coal-fired power plants
What is a system in which utilities and industries seek financial gain through competing to reduce emissions?
cap-and-trade
Which of the following is an example of mitigation?
making legislation to reduce our use of fossil fuels
What position did the United States take regarding the Kyoto Protocol?
The United States is the only industrialized nation to refuse to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
Predominant greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels
carbon dioxide
Produced by microbes decomposing matter in landfills and as a metabolic byproduct of livestock
methane
By-product of feedlots, chemical manufacturing, and fertilizer use
nitrous oxide
Most abundant greenhouse gas
water vapor
Compound that contributes to short-term atmospheric cooling
sulfate aerosol
Which of these would NOT contribute to a global increase in temperature?
planting trees
Switching from fossil fuels to _____ energy would significantly decrease the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
solar, nuclear, and geothermal
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