How things work college course/Cumulative global warming exam/Testbank

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GlobalWarmingCumulative[edit | edit source]

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GlobalWarmingCumulative-v1s1[edit | edit source]

1. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that this heat is retained by the planet.

___ a) true
___ b) false


2. Soot tends to cool the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

___ a) true
___ b) false


3. The lede's graphs of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" indicates that from 1960 to 2012 the average temperature increased by approximately

___ a) 0.06° Celsius
___ b) 0.16° Celsius
___ c) 0.6° Celsius
___ d) 16° Celsius
___ e) 1.6° Celsius


4. In climate science, mitigation refers to:

___ a) climate engineering
___ b) adaptation to the effects of global warming
___ c) reduction of green house emissions
___ d) building systems resilient to the effects of global warming


5. Global dimming, caused by air-born particulates produced by volcanoes and human made pollutants

___ a) exerts a heating effect by absorbing infra-red radiation from earth's surface
___ b) is more related to the ozone problem than to global warming
___ c) exerts a cooling effect by increasing the reflection of incoming sunlight


6. Compared with the first half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the second (latter) half was

___ a) twice as much
___ b) about the same
___ c) half as much


7. Which external force plays the smallest role in current efforts to model global warming?

___ a) greenhouse gasses
___ b) orbital cycles
___ c) volcanic eruptions
___ d) solar luminosity (i.e. variations in energy from the sun)


8. A rise in the sea level is associated with global warming because

___ a) ice and snow melts
___ b) water tends to expand as it warms
___ c) both of these are true


9. The 2007 IPCC report stated that most global warming was likely being caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities. Among the science academies of the major industrialized nations, this finding was recognized by

___ a) 60% of the academies of science
___ b) 90% of the academies of science
___ c) all but the US academy of science
___ d) all of the academies of science


10. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as measurements made using measurements from space.

___ a) true
___ b) false


11. Carbon dioxide contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does water vapor.

___ a) true
___ b) false


12. How is the validity of a computer model typically tested?

___ a) all of these are true
___ b) by making predictions about future years and seeing if they come true.
___ c) by verifying its ability to calculate past climate conditions.
___ d) by verifying its ability to calculate current climate conditions.


13. The urban heat island effect refers to the fact that urban areas tend to be hotter than rural areas. The urban heat island effect is estimated to account for approximately _____ of the temperature rise over the past century.

___ a) 30%
___ b) 3%
___ c) 0.3%
___ d) 0%


14. The Earth's average surface temperature rose by approximately _______ per decade over the period 1906–2005.}

___ a) 0.07°C
___ b) 0.7°C
___ c) 7.0°C


15. Which statement is FALSE about the lede's map of the temperature anomaly (2000-2009)?

___ a) The United States has warmed more than Australia
___ b) Central Europe has warmed more than the continental United States
___ c) all portions of Antarctica have warmed
___ d) Northern Asia has warmed more than southern Asia


16. Changes in ice-albedo refers to changes in

___ a) how much ice is melted during the summer months
___ b) how much CO2 is absorbed by the sun
___ c) how much the Earth's surface absorbs or reflects incoming sunlight


17. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements, as well as what curious feature? (See also Divergence problem)

___ a) a divergence between the tree and pollen proxy measurements
___ b) the Little Ice Age being less prominent than the Medieval Warming period
___ c) a tiny gap at the end of the proxy measurements
___ d) the fact that the different proxy measurements deviate considerably from the average of all proxy measurements


18. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with how the soil will retain or release CO2 as the earth warms.}

___ a) true
___ b) false


19. Greenhouse warming acts to cool the stratosphere

___ a) true
___ b) false


20. The climate change community is divided between those who believe the goal should be to eliminate the earth's greenhouse effect altogether, and those who argue that we should attempt to minimize earth's greenhouse effect.

___ a) true
___ b) false


21. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows dips and rises that are caused by changes in

___ a) the sun's energy output
___ b) worldwide efforts to curtail emissions
___ c) the earth's distance from the sun
___ d) the world economy


22. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed at the earth's surface.

___ a) true
___ b) false


23. While computer modeling indicate that the warming since 1970 is dominated by man-made greenhouse gas emissions, they are unable to conclusively ascertain whether the warming from 1910 to 1945 was anthropogenic.

___ a) true
___ b) false


24. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows that since 1920, there has never been a decade of overall cooling

___ a) true
___ b) false


25. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is more difficult to model.

___ a) true
___ b) false


26. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere.

___ a) true
___ b) false


27. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is easier to model.

___ a) true
___ b) false


28. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that more heat is lost from the planet to compensate.

___ a) true
___ b) false


29. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows little or no temperature rise over the last ____ years

___ a) 300
___ b) 10
___ c) 3
___ d) 100
___ e) 30


30. Since 1971, 90% of earth's increased energy caused by global warming has been stored in the _____________, mostly _____________

___ a) land; near the equators
___ b) sea; in the bottom kilometer
___ c) land; near the poles
___ d) air; in the water vapor
___ e) sea; in the top kilometer


31. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements. The solid black line represents

___ a) thermometer measurements
___ b) the Medieval Warming Period
___ c) a 10 year average
___ d) the Little Ice Age
___ e) tree proxy measurements


32. Approximately what percent of global warming can be attributed to a long-term trend (since 1978) in the sun's energy?

___ a) 50%
___ b) 10%
___ c) 30%
___ d) 0%


33. Greenhouse warming acts to warm the stratosphere

___ a) true
___ b) false


34. "External forcings" refer to effects that can either increase or decrease, the Earth's temperature.

___ a) true
___ b) false


35. In the arctic, soot tends to cool the earth.

___ a) true
___ b) false


36. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because oceans have more heat capacity and because evaporation cools the water.

___ a) true
___ b) false


37. Soot tends to warm the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

___ a) true
___ b) false


38. in 2013, the IPCC stated that the largest driver of global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Other important sources of CO2 are

___ a) cement production and land use changes
___ b) population growth
___ c) cement production and waste disposal
___ d) population growth and waste disposal


39. What happens when water is heated?

___ a) it expands at temperatures below 3.98°C and contracts above 3.98°C
___ b) it expands at temperatures above 3.98°C and contracts below 3.98°C
___ c) it absorbs CO2


40. In the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise was closest to

___ a) 0.7 °C per decade
___ b) 0.7 °C per century
___ c) 0.7 °C per year


41. Compared with the second half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the first half was

___ a) half as much
___ b) about the same
___ c) twice as much


42. The largest temperature increases (from 2000-2009) have occurred

___ a) near the poles
___ b) near the equator
___ c) in the western hemisphere
___ d) on the ocean surface


43. The carbon cycle

___ a) is a proposal to trade carbon credits.
___ b) describes how carbon is absorbed and emitted by the oceans, soil, plants, etc.
___ c) is an effort to store carbon in underground caves.


44. No direct method exists that permits an independent measurement of the heat content of the oceans, other than the fact that the air is warming

___ a) true
___ b) false


45. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone allows UV radiation to penetrate.

___ a) true
___ b) false


46. Emissions scenarios are

___ a) estimates of changes in future emission levels of greenhouse gases
___ b) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by the world's oceans
___ c) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by nature
___ d) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by agriculture


47. It is expected that carbon emissions will begin to diminish in the 21st century as fossil fuel reserves begin to dwindle.

___ a) true
___ b) false


48. Water vapor contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does carbon dioxide.

___ a) true
___ b) false


49. Computer modeling has conclusively established that anthropogenic warming has occurred since 1910.

___ a) true
___ b) false


50. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as indirect inferences gathered from ice cores, tree rings, and so forth

___ a) true
___ b)false


51. In the arctic, soot tends to warm the earth.

___ a) true
___ b) false


52. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows solid straight lines that represent

___ a) estimates of the impact on land temperatures
___ b) estimates of the contributions from fossil fuels alone
___ c) estimates made in the year 2000 of what would happen in the future
___ d) estimates of the contributions from everything except fossil fuels


53. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet until the thermal (infra-red) radiation away the planet rises to match the solar radiation onto the planet

___ a) true
___ b) false


54. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet with thermal (infra-red) radiation adding to the other solar radiation onto the planet

___ a) true
___ b) false


55. The cryosphere refers to

___ a) the upper atmosphere
___ b) the highest mountains
___ c) the north and south poles
___ d) two of these are true


56. "External forcings" refer to effects that can increase, but not decrease, the Earth's temperature.

___ a) true
___ b) false


57. The distinction between the urban heat island effect and land use changes is that the latter involves the earth's average temperature while the former involves only the temperature near weather stations where the measurements are made

___ a) true
___ b) false


58. The Keeling curve shows that carbon dioxide concentrations

___ a) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and irregular fluctuations due associated with El Ninos and La Ninas.
___ b) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, with increasing slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations
___ c) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations


59. Anthropogenic means something that

___ a) humans cannot repair
___ b) will hurt humans
___ c) human caused
___ d) humans can repair


60. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone absorbs UV energy from the sun that heats the stratosphere.

___ a) true
___ b) false


61. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with the role of clouds as a feedback mechanism.}

___ a) true
___ b) false


62. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because the oceans are absorbing less heat energy from the sun

___ a) true
___ b) false


Key to GlobalWarmingCumulative-v1s1[edit | edit source]

1. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that this heat is retained by the planet.

- a) true
+ b) false


2. Soot tends to cool the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

+ a) true
- b) false


3. The lede's graphs of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" indicates that from 1960 to 2012 the average temperature increased by approximately

- a) 0.06° Celsius
- b) 0.16° Celsius
+ c) 0.6° Celsius
- d) 16° Celsius
- e) 1.6° Celsius


4. In climate science, mitigation refers to:

- a) climate engineering
- b) adaptation to the effects of global warming
+ c) reduction of green house emissions
- d) building systems resilient to the effects of global warming


5. Global dimming, caused by air-born particulates produced by volcanoes and human made pollutants

- a) exerts a heating effect by absorbing infra-red radiation from earth's surface
- b) is more related to the ozone problem than to global warming
+ c) exerts a cooling effect by increasing the reflection of incoming sunlight


6. Compared with the first half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the second (latter) half was

+ a) twice as much
- b) about the same
- c) half as much


7. Which external force plays the smallest role in current efforts to model global warming?

- a) greenhouse gasses
+ b) orbital cycles
- c) volcanic eruptions
- d) solar luminosity (i.e. variations in energy from the sun)


8. A rise in the sea level is associated with global warming because

- a) ice and snow melts
- b) water tends to expand as it warms
+ c) both of these are true


9. The 2007 IPCC report stated that most global warming was likely being caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities. Among the science academies of the major industrialized nations, this finding was recognized by

- a) 60% of the academies of science
- b) 90% of the academies of science
- c) all but the US academy of science
+ d) all of the academies of science


10. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as measurements made using measurements from space.

- a) true
+ b) false


11. Carbon dioxide contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does water vapor.

- a) true
+ b) false


12. How is the validity of a computer model typically tested?

+ a) all of these are true
- b) by making predictions about future years and seeing if they come true.
- c) by verifying its ability to calculate past climate conditions.
- d) by verifying its ability to calculate current climate conditions.


13. The urban heat island effect refers to the fact that urban areas tend to be hotter than rural areas. The urban heat island effect is estimated to account for approximately _____ of the temperature rise over the past century.

- a) 30%
+ b) 3%
- c) 0.3%
- d) 0%


14. The Earth's average surface temperature rose by approximately _______ per decade over the period 1906–2005.}

+ a) 0.07°C
- b) 0.7°C
- c) 7.0°C


15. Which statement is FALSE about the lede's map of the temperature anomaly (2000-2009)?

- a) The United States has warmed more than Australia
- b) Central Europe has warmed more than the continental United States
+ c) all portions of Antarctica have warmed
- d) Northern Asia has warmed more than southern Asia


16. Changes in ice-albedo refers to changes in

- a) how much ice is melted during the summer months
- b) how much CO2 is absorbed by the sun
+ c) how much the Earth's surface absorbs or reflects incoming sunlight


17. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements, as well as what curious feature? (See also Divergence problem)

- a) a divergence between the tree and pollen proxy measurements
- b) the Little Ice Age being less prominent than the Medieval Warming period
+ c) a tiny gap at the end of the proxy measurements
- d) the fact that the different proxy measurements deviate considerably from the average of all proxy measurements


18. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with how the soil will retain or release CO2 as the earth warms.}

- a) true
+ b) false


19. Greenhouse warming acts to cool the stratosphere

+ a) true
- b) false


20. The climate change community is divided between those who believe the goal should be to eliminate the earth's greenhouse effect altogether, and those who argue that we should attempt to minimize earth's greenhouse effect.

- a) true
+ b) false


21. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows dips and rises that are caused by changes in

- a) the sun's energy output
- b) worldwide efforts to curtail emissions
- c) the earth's distance from the sun
+ d) the world economy


22. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed at the earth's surface.

+ a) true
- b) false


23. While computer modeling indicate that the warming since 1970 is dominated by man-made greenhouse gas emissions, they are unable to conclusively ascertain whether the warming from 1910 to 1945 was anthropogenic.

+ a) true
- b) false


24. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows that since 1920, there has never been a decade of overall cooling

- a) true
+ b) false


25. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is more difficult to model.

+ a) true
- b) false


26. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere.

- a) true
+ b) false


27. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is easier to model.

- a) true
+ b) false


28. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that more heat is lost from the planet to compensate.

+ a) true
- b) false


29. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows little or no temperature rise over the last ____ years

- a) 300
+ b) 10
- c) 3
- d) 100
- e) 30


30. Since 1971, 90% of earth's increased energy caused by global warming has been stored in the _____________, mostly _____________

- a) land; near the equators
- b) sea; in the bottom kilometer
- c) land; near the poles
- d) air; in the water vapor
+ e) sea; in the top kilometer


31. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements. The solid black line represents

+ a) thermometer measurements
- b) the Medieval Warming Period
- c) a 10 year average
- d) the Little Ice Age
- e) tree proxy measurements


32. Approximately what percent of global warming can be attributed to a long-term trend (since 1978) in the sun's energy?

- a) 50%
- b) 10%
- c) 30%
+ d) 0%


33. Greenhouse warming acts to warm the stratosphere

- a) true
+ b) false


34. "External forcings" refer to effects that can either increase or decrease, the Earth's temperature.

- a) true
+ b) false


35. In the arctic, soot tends to cool the earth.

- a) true
+ b) false


36. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because oceans have more heat capacity and because evaporation cools the water.

+ a) true
- b) false


37. Soot tends to warm the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

- a) true
+ b) false


38. in 2013, the IPCC stated that the largest driver of global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Other important sources of CO2 are

+ a) cement production and land use changes
- b) population growth
- c) cement production and waste disposal
- d) population growth and waste disposal


39. What happens when water is heated?

- a) it expands at temperatures below 3.98°C and contracts above 3.98°C
+ b) it expands at temperatures above 3.98°C and contracts below 3.98°C
- c) it absorbs CO2


40. In the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise was closest to

- a) 0.7 °C per decade
+ b) 0.7 °C per century
- c) 0.7 °C per year


41. Compared with the second half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the first half was

+ a) half as much
- b) about the same
- c) twice as much


42. The largest temperature increases (from 2000-2009) have occurred

+ a) near the poles
- b) near the equator
- c) in the western hemisphere
- d) on the ocean surface


43. The carbon cycle

- a) is a proposal to trade carbon credits.
+ b) describes how carbon is absorbed and emitted by the oceans, soil, plants, etc.
- c) is an effort to store carbon in underground caves.


44. No direct method exists that permits an independent measurement of the heat content of the oceans, other than the fact that the air is warming

- a) true
+ b) false


45. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone allows UV radiation to penetrate.

- a) true
+ b) false


46. Emissions scenarios are

+ a) estimates of changes in future emission levels of greenhouse gases
- b) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by the world's oceans
- c) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by nature
- d) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by agriculture


47. It is expected that carbon emissions will begin to diminish in the 21st century as fossil fuel reserves begin to dwindle.

- a) true
+ b) false


48. Water vapor contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does carbon dioxide.

+ a) true
- b) false


49. Computer modeling has conclusively established that anthropogenic warming has occurred since 1910.

- a) true
+ b) false


50. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as indirect inferences gathered from ice cores, tree rings, and so forth

+ a) true
- b)false


51. In the arctic, soot tends to warm the earth.

+ a) true
- b) false


52. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows solid straight lines that represent

- a) estimates of the impact on land temperatures
- b) estimates of the contributions from fossil fuels alone
+ c) estimates made in the year 2000 of what would happen in the future
- d) estimates of the contributions from everything except fossil fuels


53. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet until the thermal (infra-red) radiation away the planet rises to match the solar radiation onto the planet

+ a) true
- b) false


54. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet with thermal (infra-red) radiation adding to the other solar radiation onto the planet

- a) true
+ b) false


55. The cryosphere refers to

- a) the upper atmosphere
- b) the highest mountains
- c) the north and south poles
+ d) two of these are true


56. "External forcings" refer to effects that can increase, but not decrease, the Earth's temperature.

- a) true
+ b) false


57. The distinction between the urban heat island effect and land use changes is that the latter involves the earth's average temperature while the former involves only the temperature near weather stations where the measurements are made

+ a) true
- b) false


58. The Keeling curve shows that carbon dioxide concentrations

- a) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and irregular fluctuations due associated with El Ninos and La Ninas.
+ b) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, with increasing slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations
- c) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations


59. Anthropogenic means something that

- a) humans cannot repair
- b) will hurt humans
+ c) human caused
- d) humans can repair


60. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone absorbs UV energy from the sun that heats the stratosphere.

+ a) true
- b) false


61. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with the role of clouds as a feedback mechanism.}

- a) true
+ b) false


62. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because the oceans are absorbing less heat energy from the sun

- a) true
+ b) false


GlobalWarmingCumulative-v2s1[edit | edit source]

1. In the arctic, soot tends to cool the earth.

___ a) true
___ b) false


2. The carbon cycle

___ a) is a proposal to trade carbon credits.
___ b) describes how carbon is absorbed and emitted by the oceans, soil, plants, etc.
___ c) is an effort to store carbon in underground caves.


3. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is more difficult to model.

___ a) true
___ b) false


4. The Keeling curve shows that carbon dioxide concentrations

___ a) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, with increasing slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations
___ b) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations
___ c) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and irregular fluctuations due associated with El Ninos and La Ninas.


5. in 2013, the IPCC stated that the largest driver of global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Other important sources of CO2 are

___ a) population growth and waste disposal
___ b) cement production and land use changes
___ c) population growth
___ d) cement production and waste disposal


6. Which statement is FALSE about the lede's map of the temperature anomaly (2000-2009)?

___ a) Central Europe has warmed more than the continental United States
___ b) Northern Asia has warmed more than southern Asia
___ c) The United States has warmed more than Australia
___ d) all portions of Antarctica have warmed


7. How is the validity of a computer model typically tested?

___ a) all of these are true
___ b) by making predictions about future years and seeing if they come true.
___ c) by verifying its ability to calculate current climate conditions.
___ d) by verifying its ability to calculate past climate conditions.


8. In the arctic, soot tends to warm the earth.

___ a) true
___ b) false


9. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is easier to model.

___ a) true
___ b) false


10. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone absorbs UV energy from the sun that heats the stratosphere.

___ a) true
___ b) false


11. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows little or no temperature rise over the last ____ years

___ a) 100
___ b) 3
___ c) 300
___ d) 10
___ e) 30


12. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements. The solid black line represents

___ a) a 10 year average
___ b) thermometer measurements
___ c) the Medieval Warming Period
___ d) the Little Ice Age
___ e) tree proxy measurements


13. A rise in the sea level is associated with global warming because

___ a) ice and snow melts
___ b) both of these are true
___ c) water tends to expand as it warms


14. Carbon dioxide contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does water vapor.

___ a) true
___ b) false


15. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone allows UV radiation to penetrate.

___ a) true
___ b) false


16. The 2007 IPCC report stated that most global warming was likely being caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities. Among the science academies of the major industrialized nations, this finding was recognized by

___ a) 90% of the academies of science
___ b) all of the academies of science
___ c) all but the US academy of science
___ d) 60% of the academies of science


17. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows solid straight lines that represent

___ a) estimates of the contributions from fossil fuels alone
___ b) estimates of the impact on land temperatures
___ c) estimates of the contributions from everything except fossil fuels
___ d) estimates made in the year 2000 of what would happen in the future


18. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because the oceans are absorbing less heat energy from the sun

___ a) true
___ b) false


19. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as indirect inferences gathered from ice cores, tree rings, and so forth

___ a) true
___ b)false


20. In climate science, mitigation refers to:

___ a) adaptation to the effects of global warming
___ b) climate engineering
___ c) reduction of green house emissions
___ d) building systems resilient to the effects of global warming


21. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because oceans have more heat capacity and because evaporation cools the water.

___ a) true
___ b) false


22. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet with thermal (infra-red) radiation adding to the other solar radiation onto the planet

___ a) true
___ b) false


23. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet until the thermal (infra-red) radiation away the planet rises to match the solar radiation onto the planet

___ a) true
___ b) false


24. Soot tends to warm the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

___ a) true
___ b) false


25. What happens when water is heated?

___ a) it expands at temperatures above 3.98°C and contracts below 3.98°C
___ b) it expands at temperatures below 3.98°C and contracts above 3.98°C
___ c) it absorbs CO2


26. No direct method exists that permits an independent measurement of the heat content of the oceans, other than the fact that the air is warming

___ a) true
___ b) false


27. Compared with the second half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the first half was

___ a) about the same
___ b) twice as much
___ c) half as much


28. Which external force plays the smallest role in current efforts to model global warming?

___ a) volcanic eruptions
___ b) solar luminosity (i.e. variations in energy from the sun)
___ c) orbital cycles
___ d) greenhouse gasses


29. Soot tends to cool the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

___ a) true
___ b) false


30. Since 1971, 90% of earth's increased energy caused by global warming has been stored in the _____________, mostly _____________

___ a) sea; in the bottom kilometer
___ b) land; near the equators
___ c) air; in the water vapor
___ d) land; near the poles
___ e) sea; in the top kilometer


31. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows that since 1920, there has never been a decade of overall cooling

___ a) true
___ b) false


32. In the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise was closest to

___ a) 0.7 °C per decade
___ b) 0.7 °C per year
___ c) 0.7 °C per century


33. The largest temperature increases (from 2000-2009) have occurred

___ a) in the western hemisphere
___ b) on the ocean surface
___ c) near the poles
___ d) near the equator


34. "External forcings" refer to effects that can increase, but not decrease, the Earth's temperature.

___ a) true
___ b) false


35. The climate change community is divided between those who believe the goal should be to eliminate the earth's greenhouse effect altogether, and those who argue that we should attempt to minimize earth's greenhouse effect.

___ a) true
___ b) false


36. Emissions scenarios are

___ a) estimates of changes in future emission levels of greenhouse gases
___ b) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by agriculture
___ c) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by the world's oceans
___ d) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by nature


37. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere.

___ a) true
___ b) false


38. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with how the soil will retain or release CO2 as the earth warms.}

___ a) true
___ b) false


39. The urban heat island effect refers to the fact that urban areas tend to be hotter than rural areas. The urban heat island effect is estimated to account for approximately _____ of the temperature rise over the past century.

___ a) 0%
___ b) 3%
___ c) 30%
___ d) 0.3%


40. Changes in ice-albedo refers to changes in

___ a) how much the Earth's surface absorbs or reflects incoming sunlight
___ b) how much ice is melted during the summer months
___ c) how much CO2 is absorbed by the sun


41. The distinction between the urban heat island effect and land use changes is that the latter involves the earth's average temperature while the former involves only the temperature near weather stations where the measurements are made

___ a) true
___ b) false


42. Water vapor contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does carbon dioxide.

___ a) true
___ b) false


43. Greenhouse warming acts to cool the stratosphere

___ a) true
___ b) false


44. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed at the earth's surface.

___ a) true
___ b) false


45. The lede's graphs of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" indicates that from 1960 to 2012 the average temperature increased by approximately

___ a) 0.6° Celsius
___ b) 0.16° Celsius
___ c) 1.6° Celsius
___ d) 0.06° Celsius
___ e) 16° Celsius


46. Compared with the first half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the second (latter) half was

___ a) half as much
___ b) about the same
___ c) twice as much


47. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with the role of clouds as a feedback mechanism.}

___ a) true
___ b) false


48. Greenhouse warming acts to warm the stratosphere

___ a) true
___ b) false


49. The Earth's average surface temperature rose by approximately _______ per decade over the period 1906–2005.}

___ a) 7.0°C
___ b) 0.07°C
___ c) 0.7°C


50. Approximately what percent of global warming can be attributed to a long-term trend (since 1978) in the sun's energy?

___ a) 50%
___ b) 0%
___ c) 10%
___ d) 30%


51. "External forcings" refer to effects that can either increase or decrease, the Earth's temperature.

___ a) true
___ b) false


52. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows dips and rises that are caused by changes in

___ a) the world economy
___ b) the earth's distance from the sun
___ c) the sun's energy output
___ d) worldwide efforts to curtail emissions


53. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements, as well as what curious feature? (See also Divergence problem)

___ a) the fact that the different proxy measurements deviate considerably from the average of all proxy measurements
___ b) a divergence between the tree and pollen proxy measurements
___ c) the Little Ice Age being less prominent than the Medieval Warming period
___ d) a tiny gap at the end of the proxy measurements


54. Computer modeling has conclusively established that anthropogenic warming has occurred since 1910.

___ a) true
___ b) false


55. Anthropogenic means something that

___ a) humans can repair
___ b) humans cannot repair
___ c) human caused
___ d) will hurt humans


56. Global dimming, caused by air-born particulates produced by volcanoes and human made pollutants

___ a) exerts a cooling effect by increasing the reflection of incoming sunlight
___ b) exerts a heating effect by absorbing infra-red radiation from earth's surface
___ c) is more related to the ozone problem than to global warming


57. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as measurements made using measurements from space.

___ a) true
___ b) false


58. The cryosphere refers to

___ a) the highest mountains
___ b) the north and south poles
___ c) two of these are true
___ d) the upper atmosphere


59. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that more heat is lost from the planet to compensate.

___ a) true
___ b) false


60. While computer modeling indicate that the warming since 1970 is dominated by man-made greenhouse gas emissions, they are unable to conclusively ascertain whether the warming from 1910 to 1945 was anthropogenic.

___ a) true
___ b) false


61. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that this heat is retained by the planet.

___ a) true
___ b) false


62. It is expected that carbon emissions will begin to diminish in the 21st century as fossil fuel reserves begin to dwindle.

___ a) true
___ b) false


Key to GlobalWarmingCumulative-v2s1[edit | edit source]

1. In the arctic, soot tends to cool the earth.

- a) true
+ b) false


2. The carbon cycle

- a) is a proposal to trade carbon credits.
+ b) describes how carbon is absorbed and emitted by the oceans, soil, plants, etc.
- c) is an effort to store carbon in underground caves.


3. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is more difficult to model.

+ a) true
- b) false


4. The Keeling curve shows that carbon dioxide concentrations

+ a) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, with increasing slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations
- b) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations
- c) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and irregular fluctuations due associated with El Ninos and La Ninas.


5. in 2013, the IPCC stated that the largest driver of global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Other important sources of CO2 are

- a) population growth and waste disposal
+ b) cement production and land use changes
- c) population growth
- d) cement production and waste disposal


6. Which statement is FALSE about the lede's map of the temperature anomaly (2000-2009)?

- a) Central Europe has warmed more than the continental United States
- b) Northern Asia has warmed more than southern Asia
- c) The United States has warmed more than Australia
+ d) all portions of Antarctica have warmed


7. How is the validity of a computer model typically tested?

+ a) all of these are true
- b) by making predictions about future years and seeing if they come true.
- c) by verifying its ability to calculate current climate conditions.
- d) by verifying its ability to calculate past climate conditions.


8. In the arctic, soot tends to warm the earth.

+ a) true
- b) false


9. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is easier to model.

- a) true
+ b) false


10. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone absorbs UV energy from the sun that heats the stratosphere.

+ a) true
- b) false


11. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows little or no temperature rise over the last ____ years

- a) 100
- b) 3
- c) 300
+ d) 10
- e) 30


12. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements. The solid black line represents

- a) a 10 year average
+ b) thermometer measurements
- c) the Medieval Warming Period
- d) the Little Ice Age
- e) tree proxy measurements


13. A rise in the sea level is associated with global warming because

- a) ice and snow melts
+ b) both of these are true
- c) water tends to expand as it warms


14. Carbon dioxide contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does water vapor.

- a) true
+ b) false


15. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone allows UV radiation to penetrate.

- a) true
+ b) false


16. The 2007 IPCC report stated that most global warming was likely being caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities. Among the science academies of the major industrialized nations, this finding was recognized by

- a) 90% of the academies of science
+ b) all of the academies of science
- c) all but the US academy of science
- d) 60% of the academies of science


17. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows solid straight lines that represent

- a) estimates of the contributions from fossil fuels alone
- b) estimates of the impact on land temperatures
- c) estimates of the contributions from everything except fossil fuels
+ d) estimates made in the year 2000 of what would happen in the future


18. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because the oceans are absorbing less heat energy from the sun

- a) true
+ b) false


19. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as indirect inferences gathered from ice cores, tree rings, and so forth

+ a) true
- b)false


20. In climate science, mitigation refers to:

- a) adaptation to the effects of global warming
- b) climate engineering
+ c) reduction of green house emissions
- d) building systems resilient to the effects of global warming


21. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because oceans have more heat capacity and because evaporation cools the water.

+ a) true
- b) false


22. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet with thermal (infra-red) radiation adding to the other solar radiation onto the planet

- a) true
+ b) false


23. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet until the thermal (infra-red) radiation away the planet rises to match the solar radiation onto the planet

+ a) true
- b) false


24. Soot tends to warm the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

- a) true
+ b) false


25. What happens when water is heated?

+ a) it expands at temperatures above 3.98°C and contracts below 3.98°C
- b) it expands at temperatures below 3.98°C and contracts above 3.98°C
- c) it absorbs CO2


26. No direct method exists that permits an independent measurement of the heat content of the oceans, other than the fact that the air is warming

- a) true
+ b) false


27. Compared with the second half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the first half was

- a) about the same
- b) twice as much
+ c) half as much


28. Which external force plays the smallest role in current efforts to model global warming?

- a) volcanic eruptions
- b) solar luminosity (i.e. variations in energy from the sun)
+ c) orbital cycles
- d) greenhouse gasses


29. Soot tends to cool the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

+ a) true
- b) false


30. Since 1971, 90% of earth's increased energy caused by global warming has been stored in the _____________, mostly _____________

- a) sea; in the bottom kilometer
- b) land; near the equators
- c) air; in the water vapor
- d) land; near the poles
+ e) sea; in the top kilometer


31. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows that since 1920, there has never been a decade of overall cooling

- a) true
+ b) false


32. In the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise was closest to

- a) 0.7 °C per decade
- b) 0.7 °C per year
+ c) 0.7 °C per century


33. The largest temperature increases (from 2000-2009) have occurred

- a) in the western hemisphere
- b) on the ocean surface
+ c) near the poles
- d) near the equator


34. "External forcings" refer to effects that can increase, but not decrease, the Earth's temperature.

- a) true
+ b) false


35. The climate change community is divided between those who believe the goal should be to eliminate the earth's greenhouse effect altogether, and those who argue that we should attempt to minimize earth's greenhouse effect.

- a) true
+ b) false


36. Emissions scenarios are

+ a) estimates of changes in future emission levels of greenhouse gases
- b) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by agriculture
- c) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by the world's oceans
- d) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by nature


37. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere.

- a) true
+ b) false


38. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with how the soil will retain or release CO2 as the earth warms.}

- a) true
+ b) false


39. The urban heat island effect refers to the fact that urban areas tend to be hotter than rural areas. The urban heat island effect is estimated to account for approximately _____ of the temperature rise over the past century.

- a) 0%
+ b) 3%
- c) 30%
- d) 0.3%


40. Changes in ice-albedo refers to changes in

+ a) how much the Earth's surface absorbs or reflects incoming sunlight
- b) how much ice is melted during the summer months
- c) how much CO2 is absorbed by the sun


41. The distinction between the urban heat island effect and land use changes is that the latter involves the earth's average temperature while the former involves only the temperature near weather stations where the measurements are made

+ a) true
- b) false


42. Water vapor contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does carbon dioxide.

+ a) true
- b) false


43. Greenhouse warming acts to cool the stratosphere

+ a) true
- b) false


44. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed at the earth's surface.

+ a) true
- b) false


45. The lede's graphs of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" indicates that from 1960 to 2012 the average temperature increased by approximately

+ a) 0.6° Celsius
- b) 0.16° Celsius
- c) 1.6° Celsius
- d) 0.06° Celsius
- e) 16° Celsius


46. Compared with the first half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the second (latter) half was

- a) half as much
- b) about the same
+ c) twice as much


47. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with the role of clouds as a feedback mechanism.}

- a) true
+ b) false


48. Greenhouse warming acts to warm the stratosphere

- a) true
+ b) false


49. The Earth's average surface temperature rose by approximately _______ per decade over the period 1906–2005.}

- a) 7.0°C
+ b) 0.07°C
- c) 0.7°C


50. Approximately what percent of global warming can be attributed to a long-term trend (since 1978) in the sun's energy?

- a) 50%
+ b) 0%
- c) 10%
- d) 30%


51. "External forcings" refer to effects that can either increase or decrease, the Earth's temperature.

- a) true
+ b) false


52. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows dips and rises that are caused by changes in

+ a) the world economy
- b) the earth's distance from the sun
- c) the sun's energy output
- d) worldwide efforts to curtail emissions


53. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements, as well as what curious feature? (See also Divergence problem)

- a) the fact that the different proxy measurements deviate considerably from the average of all proxy measurements
- b) a divergence between the tree and pollen proxy measurements
- c) the Little Ice Age being less prominent than the Medieval Warming period
+ d) a tiny gap at the end of the proxy measurements


54. Computer modeling has conclusively established that anthropogenic warming has occurred since 1910.

- a) true
+ b) false


55. Anthropogenic means something that

- a) humans can repair
- b) humans cannot repair
+ c) human caused
- d) will hurt humans


56. Global dimming, caused by air-born particulates produced by volcanoes and human made pollutants

+ a) exerts a cooling effect by increasing the reflection of incoming sunlight
- b) exerts a heating effect by absorbing infra-red radiation from earth's surface
- c) is more related to the ozone problem than to global warming


57. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as measurements made using measurements from space.

- a) true
+ b) false


58. The cryosphere refers to

- a) the highest mountains
- b) the north and south poles
+ c) two of these are true
- d) the upper atmosphere


59. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that more heat is lost from the planet to compensate.

+ a) true
- b) false


60. While computer modeling indicate that the warming since 1970 is dominated by man-made greenhouse gas emissions, they are unable to conclusively ascertain whether the warming from 1910 to 1945 was anthropogenic.

+ a) true
- b) false


61. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that this heat is retained by the planet.

- a) true
+ b) false


62. It is expected that carbon emissions will begin to diminish in the 21st century as fossil fuel reserves begin to dwindle.

- a) true
+ b) false


GlobalWarmingCumulative-v1s2[edit | edit source]

1. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements, as well as what curious feature? (See also Divergence problem)

___ a) the Little Ice Age being less prominent than the Medieval Warming period
___ b) the fact that the different proxy measurements deviate considerably from the average of all proxy measurements
___ c) a tiny gap at the end of the proxy measurements
___ d) a divergence between the tree and pollen proxy measurements


2. The Keeling curve shows that carbon dioxide concentrations

___ a) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and irregular fluctuations due associated with El Ninos and La Ninas.
___ b) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, with increasing slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations
___ c) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations


3. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed at the earth's surface.

___ a) true
___ b) false


4. In the arctic, soot tends to warm the earth.

___ a) true
___ b) false


5. Soot tends to warm the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

___ a) true
___ b) false


6. "External forcings" refer to effects that can increase, but not decrease, the Earth's temperature.

___ a) true
___ b) false


7. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet with thermal (infra-red) radiation adding to the other solar radiation onto the planet

___ a) true
___ b) false


8. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with the role of clouds as a feedback mechanism.}

___ a) true
___ b) false


9. Approximately what percent of global warming can be attributed to a long-term trend (since 1978) in the sun's energy?

___ a) 30%
___ b) 50%
___ c) 0%
___ d) 10%


10. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements. The solid black line represents

___ a) a 10 year average
___ b) the Little Ice Age
___ c) thermometer measurements
___ d) the Medieval Warming Period
___ e) tree proxy measurements


11. In climate science, mitigation refers to:

___ a) adaptation to the effects of global warming
___ b) climate engineering
___ c) reduction of green house emissions
___ d) building systems resilient to the effects of global warming


12. In the arctic, soot tends to cool the earth.

___ a) true
___ b) false


13. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows little or no temperature rise over the last ____ years

___ a) 3
___ b) 100
___ c) 300
___ d) 10
___ e) 30


14. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that this heat is retained by the planet.

___ a) true
___ b) false


15. In the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise was closest to

___ a) 0.7 °C per year
___ b) 0.7 °C per decade
___ c) 0.7 °C per century


16. The lede's graphs of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" indicates that from 1960 to 2012 the average temperature increased by approximately

___ a) 0.06° Celsius
___ b) 16° Celsius
___ c) 1.6° Celsius
___ d) 0.6° Celsius
___ e) 0.16° Celsius


17. Water vapor contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does carbon dioxide.

___ a) true
___ b) false


18. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is easier to model.

___ a) true
___ b) false


19. The distinction between the urban heat island effect and land use changes is that the latter involves the earth's average temperature while the former involves only the temperature near weather stations where the measurements are made

___ a) true
___ b) false


20. Which external force plays the smallest role in current efforts to model global warming?

___ a) solar luminosity (i.e. variations in energy from the sun)
___ b) orbital cycles
___ c) greenhouse gasses
___ d) volcanic eruptions


21. It is expected that carbon emissions will begin to diminish in the 21st century as fossil fuel reserves begin to dwindle.

___ a) true
___ b) false


22. No direct method exists that permits an independent measurement of the heat content of the oceans, other than the fact that the air is warming

___ a) true
___ b) false


23. Global dimming, caused by air-born particulates produced by volcanoes and human made pollutants

___ a) exerts a cooling effect by increasing the reflection of incoming sunlight
___ b) exerts a heating effect by absorbing infra-red radiation from earth's surface
___ c) is more related to the ozone problem than to global warming


24. A rise in the sea level is associated with global warming because

___ a) ice and snow melts
___ b) both of these are true
___ c) water tends to expand as it warms


25. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as indirect inferences gathered from ice cores, tree rings, and so forth

___ a) true
___ b)false


26. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because oceans have more heat capacity and because evaporation cools the water.

___ a) true
___ b) false


27. Compared with the first half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the second (latter) half was

___ a) about the same
___ b) twice as much
___ c) half as much


28. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with how the soil will retain or release CO2 as the earth warms.}

___ a) true
___ b) false


29. Compared with the second half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the first half was

___ a) twice as much
___ b) about the same
___ c) half as much


30. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because the oceans are absorbing less heat energy from the sun

___ a) true
___ b) false


31. What happens when water is heated?

___ a) it expands at temperatures above 3.98°C and contracts below 3.98°C
___ b) it expands at temperatures below 3.98°C and contracts above 3.98°C
___ c) it absorbs CO2


32. Greenhouse warming acts to cool the stratosphere

___ a) true
___ b) false


33. Which statement is FALSE about the lede's map of the temperature anomaly (2000-2009)?

___ a) Central Europe has warmed more than the continental United States
___ b) all portions of Antarctica have warmed
___ c) Northern Asia has warmed more than southern Asia
___ d) The United States has warmed more than Australia


34. Computer modeling has conclusively established that anthropogenic warming has occurred since 1910.

___ a) true
___ b) false


35. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is more difficult to model.

___ a) true
___ b) false


36. The carbon cycle

___ a) describes how carbon is absorbed and emitted by the oceans, soil, plants, etc.
___ b) is a proposal to trade carbon credits.
___ c) is an effort to store carbon in underground caves.


37. Soot tends to cool the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

___ a) true
___ b) false


38. Emissions scenarios are

___ a) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by the world's oceans
___ b) estimates of changes in future emission levels of greenhouse gases
___ c) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by agriculture
___ d) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by nature


39. in 2013, the IPCC stated that the largest driver of global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Other important sources of CO2 are

___ a) population growth and waste disposal
___ b) cement production and waste disposal
___ c) cement production and land use changes
___ d) population growth


40. Since 1971, 90% of earth's increased energy caused by global warming has been stored in the _____________, mostly _____________

___ a) land; near the poles
___ b) sea; in the top kilometer
___ c) sea; in the bottom kilometer
___ d) air; in the water vapor
___ e) land; near the equators


41. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows dips and rises that are caused by changes in

___ a) the earth's distance from the sun
___ b) the sun's energy output
___ c) worldwide efforts to curtail emissions
___ d) the world economy


42. Changes in ice-albedo refers to changes in

___ a) how much ice is melted during the summer months
___ b) how much the Earth's surface absorbs or reflects incoming sunlight
___ c) how much CO2 is absorbed by the sun


43. How is the validity of a computer model typically tested?

___ a) by making predictions about future years and seeing if they come true.
___ b) by verifying its ability to calculate past climate conditions.
___ c) all of these are true
___ d) by verifying its ability to calculate current climate conditions.


44. Anthropogenic means something that

___ a) humans cannot repair
___ b) human caused
___ c) will hurt humans
___ d) humans can repair


45. The climate change community is divided between those who believe the goal should be to eliminate the earth's greenhouse effect altogether, and those who argue that we should attempt to minimize earth's greenhouse effect.

___ a) true
___ b) false


46. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone absorbs UV energy from the sun that heats the stratosphere.

___ a) true
___ b) false


47. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone allows UV radiation to penetrate.

___ a) true
___ b) false


48. The urban heat island effect refers to the fact that urban areas tend to be hotter than rural areas. The urban heat island effect is estimated to account for approximately _____ of the temperature rise over the past century.

___ a) 0.3%
___ b) 3%
___ c) 0%
___ d) 30%


49. The Earth's average surface temperature rose by approximately _______ per decade over the period 1906–2005.}

___ a) 7.0°C
___ b) 0.07°C
___ c) 0.7°C


50. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that more heat is lost from the planet to compensate.

___ a) true
___ b) false


51. Carbon dioxide contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does water vapor.

___ a) true
___ b) false


52. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as measurements made using measurements from space.

___ a) true
___ b) false


53. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows solid straight lines that represent

___ a) estimates made in the year 2000 of what would happen in the future
___ b) estimates of the contributions from fossil fuels alone
___ c) estimates of the impact on land temperatures
___ d) estimates of the contributions from everything except fossil fuels


54. While computer modeling indicate that the warming since 1970 is dominated by man-made greenhouse gas emissions, they are unable to conclusively ascertain whether the warming from 1910 to 1945 was anthropogenic.

___ a) true
___ b) false


55. The cryosphere refers to

___ a) the north and south poles
___ b) the upper atmosphere
___ c) the highest mountains
___ d) two of these are true


56. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet until the thermal (infra-red) radiation away the planet rises to match the solar radiation onto the planet

___ a) true
___ b) false


57. Greenhouse warming acts to warm the stratosphere

___ a) true
___ b) false


58. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows that since 1920, there has never been a decade of overall cooling

___ a) true
___ b) false


59. The largest temperature increases (from 2000-2009) have occurred

___ a) in the western hemisphere
___ b) near the equator
___ c) on the ocean surface
___ d) near the poles


60. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere.

___ a) true
___ b) false


61. "External forcings" refer to effects that can either increase or decrease, the Earth's temperature.

___ a) true
___ b) false


62. The 2007 IPCC report stated that most global warming was likely being caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities. Among the science academies of the major industrialized nations, this finding was recognized by

___ a) all but the US academy of science
___ b) 90% of the academies of science
___ c) 60% of the academies of science
___ d) all of the academies of science


Key to GlobalWarmingCumulative-v1s2[edit | edit source]

1. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements, as well as what curious feature? (See also Divergence problem)

- a) the Little Ice Age being less prominent than the Medieval Warming period
- b) the fact that the different proxy measurements deviate considerably from the average of all proxy measurements
+ c) a tiny gap at the end of the proxy measurements
- d) a divergence between the tree and pollen proxy measurements


2. The Keeling curve shows that carbon dioxide concentrations

- a) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and irregular fluctuations due associated with El Ninos and La Ninas.
+ b) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, with increasing slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations
- c) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations


3. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed at the earth's surface.

+ a) true
- b) false


4. In the arctic, soot tends to warm the earth.

+ a) true
- b) false


5. Soot tends to warm the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

- a) true
+ b) false


6. "External forcings" refer to effects that can increase, but not decrease, the Earth's temperature.

- a) true
+ b) false


7. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet with thermal (infra-red) radiation adding to the other solar radiation onto the planet

- a) true
+ b) false


8. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with the role of clouds as a feedback mechanism.}

- a) true
+ b) false


9. Approximately what percent of global warming can be attributed to a long-term trend (since 1978) in the sun's energy?

- a) 30%
- b) 50%
+ c) 0%
- d) 10%


10. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements. The solid black line represents

- a) a 10 year average
- b) the Little Ice Age
+ c) thermometer measurements
- d) the Medieval Warming Period
- e) tree proxy measurements


11. In climate science, mitigation refers to:

- a) adaptation to the effects of global warming
- b) climate engineering
+ c) reduction of green house emissions
- d) building systems resilient to the effects of global warming


12. In the arctic, soot tends to cool the earth.

- a) true
+ b) false


13. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows little or no temperature rise over the last ____ years

- a) 3
- b) 100
- c) 300
+ d) 10
- e) 30


14. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that this heat is retained by the planet.

- a) true
+ b) false


15. In the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise was closest to

- a) 0.7 °C per year
- b) 0.7 °C per decade
+ c) 0.7 °C per century


16. The lede's graphs of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" indicates that from 1960 to 2012 the average temperature increased by approximately

- a) 0.06° Celsius
- b) 16° Celsius
- c) 1.6° Celsius
+ d) 0.6° Celsius
- e) 0.16° Celsius


17. Water vapor contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does carbon dioxide.

+ a) true
- b) false


18. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is easier to model.

- a) true
+ b) false


19. The distinction between the urban heat island effect and land use changes is that the latter involves the earth's average temperature while the former involves only the temperature near weather stations where the measurements are made

+ a) true
- b) false


20. Which external force plays the smallest role in current efforts to model global warming?

- a) solar luminosity (i.e. variations in energy from the sun)
+ b) orbital cycles
- c) greenhouse gasses
- d) volcanic eruptions


21. It is expected that carbon emissions will begin to diminish in the 21st century as fossil fuel reserves begin to dwindle.

- a) true
+ b) false


22. No direct method exists that permits an independent measurement of the heat content of the oceans, other than the fact that the air is warming

- a) true
+ b) false


23. Global dimming, caused by air-born particulates produced by volcanoes and human made pollutants

+ a) exerts a cooling effect by increasing the reflection of incoming sunlight
- b) exerts a heating effect by absorbing infra-red radiation from earth's surface
- c) is more related to the ozone problem than to global warming


24. A rise in the sea level is associated with global warming because

- a) ice and snow melts
+ b) both of these are true
- c) water tends to expand as it warms


25. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as indirect inferences gathered from ice cores, tree rings, and so forth

+ a) true
- b)false


26. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because oceans have more heat capacity and because evaporation cools the water.

+ a) true
- b) false


27. Compared with the first half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the second (latter) half was

- a) about the same
+ b) twice as much
- c) half as much


28. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with how the soil will retain or release CO2 as the earth warms.}

- a) true
+ b) false


29. Compared with the second half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the first half was

- a) twice as much
- b) about the same
+ c) half as much


30. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because the oceans are absorbing less heat energy from the sun

- a) true
+ b) false


31. What happens when water is heated?

+ a) it expands at temperatures above 3.98°C and contracts below 3.98°C
- b) it expands at temperatures below 3.98°C and contracts above 3.98°C
- c) it absorbs CO2


32. Greenhouse warming acts to cool the stratosphere

+ a) true
- b) false


33. Which statement is FALSE about the lede's map of the temperature anomaly (2000-2009)?

- a) Central Europe has warmed more than the continental United States
+ b) all portions of Antarctica have warmed
- c) Northern Asia has warmed more than southern Asia
- d) The United States has warmed more than Australia


34. Computer modeling has conclusively established that anthropogenic warming has occurred since 1910.

- a) true
+ b) false


35. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is more difficult to model.

+ a) true
- b) false


36. The carbon cycle

+ a) describes how carbon is absorbed and emitted by the oceans, soil, plants, etc.
- b) is a proposal to trade carbon credits.
- c) is an effort to store carbon in underground caves.


37. Soot tends to cool the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

+ a) true
- b) false


38. Emissions scenarios are

- a) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by the world's oceans
+ b) estimates of changes in future emission levels of greenhouse gases
- c) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by agriculture
- d) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by nature


39. in 2013, the IPCC stated that the largest driver of global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Other important sources of CO2 are

- a) population growth and waste disposal
- b) cement production and waste disposal
+ c) cement production and land use changes
- d) population growth


40. Since 1971, 90% of earth's increased energy caused by global warming has been stored in the _____________, mostly _____________

- a) land; near the poles
+ b) sea; in the top kilometer
- c) sea; in the bottom kilometer
- d) air; in the water vapor
- e) land; near the equators


41. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows dips and rises that are caused by changes in

- a) the earth's distance from the sun
- b) the sun's energy output
- c) worldwide efforts to curtail emissions
+ d) the world economy


42. Changes in ice-albedo refers to changes in

- a) how much ice is melted during the summer months
+ b) how much the Earth's surface absorbs or reflects incoming sunlight
- c) how much CO2 is absorbed by the sun


43. How is the validity of a computer model typically tested?

- a) by making predictions about future years and seeing if they come true.
- b) by verifying its ability to calculate past climate conditions.
+ c) all of these are true
- d) by verifying its ability to calculate current climate conditions.


44. Anthropogenic means something that

- a) humans cannot repair
+ b) human caused
- c) will hurt humans
- d) humans can repair


45. The climate change community is divided between those who believe the goal should be to eliminate the earth's greenhouse effect altogether, and those who argue that we should attempt to minimize earth's greenhouse effect.

- a) true
+ b) false


46. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone absorbs UV energy from the sun that heats the stratosphere.

+ a) true
- b) false


47. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone allows UV radiation to penetrate.

- a) true
+ b) false


48. The urban heat island effect refers to the fact that urban areas tend to be hotter than rural areas. The urban heat island effect is estimated to account for approximately _____ of the temperature rise over the past century.

- a) 0.3%
+ b) 3%
- c) 0%
- d) 30%


49. The Earth's average surface temperature rose by approximately _______ per decade over the period 1906–2005.}

- a) 7.0°C
+ b) 0.07°C
- c) 0.7°C


50. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that more heat is lost from the planet to compensate.

+ a) true
- b) false


51. Carbon dioxide contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does water vapor.

- a) true
+ b) false


52. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as measurements made using measurements from space.

- a) true
+ b) false


53. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows solid straight lines that represent

+ a) estimates made in the year 2000 of what would happen in the future
- b) estimates of the contributions from fossil fuels alone
- c) estimates of the impact on land temperatures
- d) estimates of the contributions from everything except fossil fuels


54. While computer modeling indicate that the warming since 1970 is dominated by man-made greenhouse gas emissions, they are unable to conclusively ascertain whether the warming from 1910 to 1945 was anthropogenic.

+ a) true
- b) false


55. The cryosphere refers to

- a) the north and south poles
- b) the upper atmosphere
- c) the highest mountains
+ d) two of these are true


56. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet until the thermal (infra-red) radiation away the planet rises to match the solar radiation onto the planet

+ a) true
- b) false


57. Greenhouse warming acts to warm the stratosphere

- a) true
+ b) false


58. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows that since 1920, there has never been a decade of overall cooling

- a) true
+ b) false


59. The largest temperature increases (from 2000-2009) have occurred

- a) in the western hemisphere
- b) near the equator
- c) on the ocean surface
+ d) near the poles


60. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere.

- a) true
+ b) false


61. "External forcings" refer to effects that can either increase or decrease, the Earth's temperature.

- a) true
+ b) false


62. The 2007 IPCC report stated that most global warming was likely being caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities. Among the science academies of the major industrialized nations, this finding was recognized by

- a) all but the US academy of science
- b) 90% of the academies of science
- c) 60% of the academies of science
+ d) all of the academies of science


GlobalWarmingCumulative-v2s2[edit | edit source]

1. Changes in ice-albedo refers to changes in

___ a) how much ice is melted during the summer months
___ b) how much the Earth's surface absorbs or reflects incoming sunlight
___ c) how much CO2 is absorbed by the sun


2. How is the validity of a computer model typically tested?

___ a) by making predictions about future years and seeing if they come true.
___ b) all of these are true
___ c) by verifying its ability to calculate current climate conditions.
___ d) by verifying its ability to calculate past climate conditions.


3. Water vapor contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does carbon dioxide.

___ a) true
___ b) false


4. The largest temperature increases (from 2000-2009) have occurred

___ a) near the equator
___ b) near the poles
___ c) on the ocean surface
___ d) in the western hemisphere


5. In climate science, mitigation refers to:

___ a) building systems resilient to the effects of global warming
___ b) adaptation to the effects of global warming
___ c) reduction of green house emissions
___ d) climate engineering


6. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone absorbs UV energy from the sun that heats the stratosphere.

___ a) true
___ b) false


7. The climate change community is divided between those who believe the goal should be to eliminate the earth's greenhouse effect altogether, and those who argue that we should attempt to minimize earth's greenhouse effect.

___ a) true
___ b) false


8. Greenhouse warming acts to cool the stratosphere

___ a) true
___ b) false


9. Greenhouse warming acts to warm the stratosphere

___ a) true
___ b) false


10. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is more difficult to model.

___ a) true
___ b) false


11. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows dips and rises that are caused by changes in

___ a) the world economy
___ b) the sun's energy output
___ c) the earth's distance from the sun
___ d) worldwide efforts to curtail emissions


12. The urban heat island effect refers to the fact that urban areas tend to be hotter than rural areas. The urban heat island effect is estimated to account for approximately _____ of the temperature rise over the past century.

___ a) 30%
___ b) 0.3%
___ c) 3%
___ d) 0%


13. A rise in the sea level is associated with global warming because

___ a) ice and snow melts
___ b) both of these are true
___ c) water tends to expand as it warms


14. Which external force plays the smallest role in current efforts to model global warming?

___ a) orbital cycles
___ b) greenhouse gasses
___ c) solar luminosity (i.e. variations in energy from the sun)
___ d) volcanic eruptions


15. The distinction between the urban heat island effect and land use changes is that the latter involves the earth's average temperature while the former involves only the temperature near weather stations where the measurements are made

___ a) true
___ b) false


16. The Keeling curve shows that carbon dioxide concentrations

___ a) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and irregular fluctuations due associated with El Ninos and La Ninas.
___ b) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations
___ c) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, with increasing slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations


17. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because oceans have more heat capacity and because evaporation cools the water.

___ a) true
___ b) false


18. "External forcings" refer to effects that can either increase or decrease, the Earth's temperature.

___ a) true
___ b) false


19. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet until the thermal (infra-red) radiation away the planet rises to match the solar radiation onto the planet

___ a) true
___ b) false


20. In the arctic, soot tends to warm the earth.

___ a) true
___ b) false


21. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as indirect inferences gathered from ice cores, tree rings, and so forth

___ a) true
___ b)false


22. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that more heat is lost from the planet to compensate.

___ a) true
___ b) false


23. The Earth's average surface temperature rose by approximately _______ per decade over the period 1906–2005.}

___ a) 7.0°C
___ b) 0.07°C
___ c) 0.7°C


24. Compared with the second half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the first half was

___ a) about the same
___ b) half as much
___ c) twice as much


25. in 2013, the IPCC stated that the largest driver of global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Other important sources of CO2 are

___ a) population growth and waste disposal
___ b) cement production and waste disposal
___ c) population growth
___ d) cement production and land use changes


26. Which statement is FALSE about the lede's map of the temperature anomaly (2000-2009)?

___ a) Central Europe has warmed more than the continental United States
___ b) The United States has warmed more than Australia
___ c) Northern Asia has warmed more than southern Asia
___ d) all portions of Antarctica have warmed


27. While computer modeling indicate that the warming since 1970 is dominated by man-made greenhouse gas emissions, they are unable to conclusively ascertain whether the warming from 1910 to 1945 was anthropogenic.

___ a) true
___ b) false


28. Anthropogenic means something that

___ a) humans can repair
___ b) humans cannot repair
___ c) will hurt humans
___ d) human caused


29. In the arctic, soot tends to cool the earth.

___ a) true
___ b) false


30. The carbon cycle

___ a) is an effort to store carbon in underground caves.
___ b) describes how carbon is absorbed and emitted by the oceans, soil, plants, etc.
___ c) is a proposal to trade carbon credits.


31. Emissions scenarios are

___ a) estimates of changes in future emission levels of greenhouse gases
___ b) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by nature
___ c) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by the world's oceans
___ d) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by agriculture


32. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that this heat is retained by the planet.

___ a) true
___ b) false


33. Soot tends to warm the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

___ a) true
___ b) false


34. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements, as well as what curious feature? (See also Divergence problem)

___ a) the fact that the different proxy measurements deviate considerably from the average of all proxy measurements
___ b) a tiny gap at the end of the proxy measurements
___ c) the Little Ice Age being less prominent than the Medieval Warming period
___ d) a divergence between the tree and pollen proxy measurements


35. In the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise was closest to

___ a) 0.7 °C per century
___ b) 0.7 °C per decade
___ c) 0.7 °C per year


36. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements. The solid black line represents

___ a) the Little Ice Age
___ b) the Medieval Warming Period
___ c) thermometer measurements
___ d) tree proxy measurements
___ e) a 10 year average


37. The 2007 IPCC report stated that most global warming was likely being caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities. Among the science academies of the major industrialized nations, this finding was recognized by

___ a) 60% of the academies of science
___ b) all of the academies of science
___ c) all but the US academy of science
___ d) 90% of the academies of science


38. Carbon dioxide contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does water vapor.

___ a) true
___ b) false


39. The lede's graphs of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" indicates that from 1960 to 2012 the average temperature increased by approximately

___ a) 1.6° Celsius
___ b) 0.6° Celsius
___ c) 16° Celsius
___ d) 0.06° Celsius
___ e) 0.16° Celsius


40. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows solid straight lines that represent

___ a) estimates made in the year 2000 of what would happen in the future
___ b) estimates of the contributions from fossil fuels alone
___ c) estimates of the contributions from everything except fossil fuels
___ d) estimates of the impact on land temperatures


41. Computer modeling has conclusively established that anthropogenic warming has occurred since 1910.

___ a) true
___ b) false


42. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because the oceans are absorbing less heat energy from the sun

___ a) true
___ b) false


43. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is easier to model.

___ a) true
___ b) false


44. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows little or no temperature rise over the last ____ years

___ a) 30
___ b) 100
___ c) 3
___ d) 300
___ e) 10


45. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone allows UV radiation to penetrate.

___ a) true
___ b) false


46. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere.

___ a) true
___ b) false


47. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows that since 1920, there has never been a decade of overall cooling

___ a) true
___ b) false


48. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with how the soil will retain or release CO2 as the earth warms.}

___ a) true
___ b) false


49. Soot tends to cool the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

___ a) true
___ b) false


50. Global dimming, caused by air-born particulates produced by volcanoes and human made pollutants

___ a) exerts a cooling effect by increasing the reflection of incoming sunlight
___ b) is more related to the ozone problem than to global warming
___ c) exerts a heating effect by absorbing infra-red radiation from earth's surface


51. It is expected that carbon emissions will begin to diminish in the 21st century as fossil fuel reserves begin to dwindle.

___ a) true
___ b) false


52. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed at the earth's surface.

___ a) true
___ b) false


53. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet with thermal (infra-red) radiation adding to the other solar radiation onto the planet

___ a) true
___ b) false


54. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as measurements made using measurements from space.

___ a) true
___ b) false


55. Since 1971, 90% of earth's increased energy caused by global warming has been stored in the _____________, mostly _____________

___ a) sea; in the bottom kilometer
___ b) land; near the equators
___ c) air; in the water vapor
___ d) sea; in the top kilometer
___ e) land; near the poles


56. The cryosphere refers to

___ a) the highest mountains
___ b) the north and south poles
___ c) two of these are true
___ d) the upper atmosphere


57. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with the role of clouds as a feedback mechanism.}

___ a) true
___ b) false


58. Compared with the first half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the second (latter) half was

___ a) half as much
___ b) about the same
___ c) twice as much


59. No direct method exists that permits an independent measurement of the heat content of the oceans, other than the fact that the air is warming

___ a) true
___ b) false


60. Approximately what percent of global warming can be attributed to a long-term trend (since 1978) in the sun's energy?

___ a) 10%
___ b) 30%
___ c) 50%
___ d) 0%


61. "External forcings" refer to effects that can increase, but not decrease, the Earth's temperature.

___ a) true
___ b) false


62. What happens when water is heated?

___ a) it expands at temperatures below 3.98°C and contracts above 3.98°C
___ b) it absorbs CO2
___ c) it expands at temperatures above 3.98°C and contracts below 3.98°C


Key to GlobalWarmingCumulative-v2s2[edit | edit source]

1. Changes in ice-albedo refers to changes in

- a) how much ice is melted during the summer months
+ b) how much the Earth's surface absorbs or reflects incoming sunlight
- c) how much CO2 is absorbed by the sun


2. How is the validity of a computer model typically tested?

- a) by making predictions about future years and seeing if they come true.
+ b) all of these are true
- c) by verifying its ability to calculate current climate conditions.
- d) by verifying its ability to calculate past climate conditions.


3. Water vapor contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does carbon dioxide.

+ a) true
- b) false


4. The largest temperature increases (from 2000-2009) have occurred

- a) near the equator
+ b) near the poles
- c) on the ocean surface
- d) in the western hemisphere


5. In climate science, mitigation refers to:

- a) building systems resilient to the effects of global warming
- b) adaptation to the effects of global warming
+ c) reduction of green house emissions
- d) climate engineering


6. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone absorbs UV energy from the sun that heats the stratosphere.

+ a) true
- b) false


7. The climate change community is divided between those who believe the goal should be to eliminate the earth's greenhouse effect altogether, and those who argue that we should attempt to minimize earth's greenhouse effect.

- a) true
+ b) false


8. Greenhouse warming acts to cool the stratosphere

+ a) true
- b) false


9. Greenhouse warming acts to warm the stratosphere

- a) true
+ b) false


10. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is more difficult to model.

+ a) true
- b) false


11. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows dips and rises that are caused by changes in

+ a) the world economy
- b) the sun's energy output
- c) the earth's distance from the sun
- d) worldwide efforts to curtail emissions


12. The urban heat island effect refers to the fact that urban areas tend to be hotter than rural areas. The urban heat island effect is estimated to account for approximately _____ of the temperature rise over the past century.

- a) 30%
- b) 0.3%
+ c) 3%
- d) 0%


13. A rise in the sea level is associated with global warming because

- a) ice and snow melts
+ b) both of these are true
- c) water tends to expand as it warms


14. Which external force plays the smallest role in current efforts to model global warming?

+ a) orbital cycles
- b) greenhouse gasses
- c) solar luminosity (i.e. variations in energy from the sun)
- d) volcanic eruptions


15. The distinction between the urban heat island effect and land use changes is that the latter involves the earth's average temperature while the former involves only the temperature near weather stations where the measurements are made

+ a) true
- b) false


16. The Keeling curve shows that carbon dioxide concentrations

- a) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and irregular fluctuations due associated with El Ninos and La Ninas.
- b) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, at constant slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations
+ c) show a steady rise in CO2 levels, with increasing slope, and regular and predictable annual fluctuations


17. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because oceans have more heat capacity and because evaporation cools the water.

+ a) true
- b) false


18. "External forcings" refer to effects that can either increase or decrease, the Earth's temperature.

- a) true
+ b) false


19. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet until the thermal (infra-red) radiation away the planet rises to match the solar radiation onto the planet

+ a) true
- b) false


20. In the arctic, soot tends to warm the earth.

+ a) true
- b) false


21. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as indirect inferences gathered from ice cores, tree rings, and so forth

+ a) true
- b)false


22. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that more heat is lost from the planet to compensate.

+ a) true
- b) false


23. The Earth's average surface temperature rose by approximately _______ per decade over the period 1906–2005.}

- a) 7.0°C
+ b) 0.07°C
- c) 0.7°C


24. Compared with the second half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the first half was

- a) about the same
+ b) half as much
- c) twice as much


25. in 2013, the IPCC stated that the largest driver of global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Other important sources of CO2 are

- a) population growth and waste disposal
- b) cement production and waste disposal
- c) population growth
+ d) cement production and land use changes


26. Which statement is FALSE about the lede's map of the temperature anomaly (2000-2009)?

- a) Central Europe has warmed more than the continental United States
- b) The United States has warmed more than Australia
- c) Northern Asia has warmed more than southern Asia
+ d) all portions of Antarctica have warmed


27. While computer modeling indicate that the warming since 1970 is dominated by man-made greenhouse gas emissions, they are unable to conclusively ascertain whether the warming from 1910 to 1945 was anthropogenic.

+ a) true
- b) false


28. Anthropogenic means something that

- a) humans can repair
- b) humans cannot repair
- c) will hurt humans
+ d) human caused


29. In the arctic, soot tends to cool the earth.

- a) true
+ b) false


30. The carbon cycle

- a) is an effort to store carbon in underground caves.
+ b) describes how carbon is absorbed and emitted by the oceans, soil, plants, etc.
- c) is a proposal to trade carbon credits.


31. Emissions scenarios are

+ a) estimates of changes in future emission levels of greenhouse gases
- b) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by nature
- c) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by the world's oceans
- d) estimates of how greenhouse gasses are absorbed and emitted by agriculture


32. Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that this heat is retained by the planet.

- a) true
+ b) false


33. Soot tends to warm the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

- a) true
+ b) false


34. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements, as well as what curious feature? (See also Divergence problem)

- a) the fact that the different proxy measurements deviate considerably from the average of all proxy measurements
+ b) a tiny gap at the end of the proxy measurements
- c) the Little Ice Age being less prominent than the Medieval Warming period
- d) a divergence between the tree and pollen proxy measurements


35. In the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise was closest to

+ a) 0.7 °C per century
- b) 0.7 °C per decade
- c) 0.7 °C per year


36. The Reconstructed Temperature (0-2000 AD) plot in "Observed Temperature Changes" shows temperature measurements. The solid black line represents

- a) the Little Ice Age
- b) the Medieval Warming Period
+ c) thermometer measurements
- d) tree proxy measurements
- e) a 10 year average


37. The 2007 IPCC report stated that most global warming was likely being caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities. Among the science academies of the major industrialized nations, this finding was recognized by

- a) 60% of the academies of science
+ b) all of the academies of science
- c) all but the US academy of science
- d) 90% of the academies of science


38. Carbon dioxide contributes more to the greenhouse effect than does water vapor.

- a) true
+ b) false


39. The lede's graphs of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" indicates that from 1960 to 2012 the average temperature increased by approximately

- a) 1.6° Celsius
+ b) 0.6° Celsius
- c) 16° Celsius
- d) 0.06° Celsius
- e) 0.16° Celsius


40. The lede's "CO2 Emissions per Year" graph (1990-2010) shows solid straight lines that represent

+ a) estimates made in the year 2000 of what would happen in the future
- b) estimates of the contributions from fossil fuels alone
- c) estimates of the contributions from everything except fossil fuels
- d) estimates of the impact on land temperatures


41. Computer modeling has conclusively established that anthropogenic warming has occurred since 1910.

- a) true
+ b) false


42. Ocean temperatures are increasing more slowly than land temperatures because the oceans are absorbing less heat energy from the sun

- a) true
+ b) false


43. Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is easier to model.

- a) true
+ b) false


44. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows little or no temperature rise over the last ____ years

- a) 30
- b) 100
- c) 3
- d) 300
+ e) 10


45. Depleting the ozone layer cools the stratosphere because ozone allows UV radiation to penetrate.

- a) true
+ b) false


46. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere.

- a) true
+ b) false


47. The lede's graph of the "Global Land Ocean Temperature Index (1880-2013)" shows that since 1920, there has never been a decade of overall cooling

- a) true
+ b) false


48. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with how the soil will retain or release CO2 as the earth warms.}

- a) true
+ b) false


49. Soot tends to cool the earth when it accumulates in atmospheric brown clouds.

+ a) true
- b) false


50. Global dimming, caused by air-born particulates produced by volcanoes and human made pollutants

+ a) exerts a cooling effect by increasing the reflection of incoming sunlight
- b) is more related to the ozone problem than to global warming
- c) exerts a heating effect by absorbing infra-red radiation from earth's surface


51. It is expected that carbon emissions will begin to diminish in the 21st century as fossil fuel reserves begin to dwindle.

- a) true
+ b) false


52. The "Greenhouse effect schematic" in the section on "Temperature changes..." indicates that most of the energy from the Sun is absorbed at the earth's surface.

+ a) true
- b) false


53. The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet with thermal (infra-red) radiation adding to the other solar radiation onto the planet

- a) true
+ b) false


54. Proxy temperatures measurements are defined as measurements made using measurements from space.

- a) true
+ b) false


55. Since 1971, 90% of earth's increased energy caused by global warming has been stored in the _____________, mostly _____________

- a) sea; in the bottom kilometer
- b) land; near the equators
- c) air; in the water vapor
+ d) sea; in the top kilometer
- e) land; near the poles


56. The cryosphere refers to

- a) the highest mountains
- b) the north and south poles
+ c) two of these are true
- d) the upper atmosphere


57. Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with the role of clouds as a feedback mechanism.}

- a) true
+ b) false


58. Compared with the first half of the twentieth century, the rate of earth's average temperature rise during the second (latter) half was

- a) half as much
- b) about the same
+ c) twice as much


59. No direct method exists that permits an independent measurement of the heat content of the oceans, other than the fact that the air is warming

- a) true
+ b) false


60. Approximately what percent of global warming can be attributed to a long-term trend (since 1978) in the sun's energy?

- a) 10%
- b) 30%
- c) 50%
+ d) 0%


61. "External forcings" refer to effects that can increase, but not decrease, the Earth's temperature.

- a) true
+ b) false


62. What happens when water is heated?

- a) it expands at temperatures below 3.98°C and contracts above 3.98°C
- b) it absorbs CO2
+ c) it expands at temperatures above 3.98°C and contracts below 3.98°C


Attribution (for quiz questions) under CC-by-SA license
http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/How_things_work_college_course/Global_warming_quizzes
http://en.wikiversity.org/w/index.php?title=How_things_work_college_course/Global_warming_quiz_1&oldid=1213651
Study guide
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Global_warming&oldid=618541358