OCE 16 – Flashcards

How do the oceans contribute to maintaining a climate that is habitable for humans?

What is the primary cause of the nearly 20 percent increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels since the 1960s?

How will increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels affect oceans?

Why are scientists doing research in an underwater lab in the Great Barrier Reef?

What impact will increased carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans have on coral reefs?

Combustion of fossil fuels results in a transfer of carbon from the __________.

The Earth's climate system involves the exchange of heat and water among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere.

An increase in cloud cover due to higher moisture content in the atmosphere is an example of a:

An increase in cloud cover and a corresponding decrease in absorption of solar radiation is an example of a:

Of the following, which are examples of climate feedback loops?

Match the names of the five principal climate groups in the Köppen classification to their descriptions. Match the words in the left column to the appropriate blanks in the sentences on the right. Note that some terms will remain unused.

Transfer of heat, gases, and sunlight have important roles in the relationship between biota and climate. Albedo is the portion of sunlight that is reflected from the Earth's surface, back into space. Dark surfaces, such as asphalt, have low albedo indicating that they absorb much if the incoming sunlight. Light surfaces, such as snow, have high albedo, which explains why snow is white as it reflects all light. Which of the following are ways in which the climate system is affected by the biosphere?

Only some shortwave radiation from the Sun reaches Earth's surface. What is the leading cause of this radiation loss?

How much of the Sun's incoming radiation is scattered or reflected back to space before any heating effect is felt on Earth?

How much of the Sun's incoming radiation is absorbed by Earth's surface?

How is energy transferred from Earth's surface to Earth's atmosphere?

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun decreased and was less than the longwave radiation lost to space?

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of outgoing longwave radiation decreased so that it was less than incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun?

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun was the same as the longwave radiation lost to space?

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of shortwave radiation reflected at Earth's surface increased significantly?

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of shortwave radiation reflected by clouds decreased significantly?

Which of the following characteristics of Earth's relationship to the Sun explains the existence of Earth's seasons?

What is the June solstice?

How does the inclination of Earth's axis change over the course of a year?

What is the December solstice?

When are the Sun's rays perpendicular to Earth's surface at the equator?

Where does the length of day remain the same throughout the year?

When do all locations on Earth experience equal lengths of day and night?

What natural cause of climate change is most similar to the major anthropogenic source?

Studying carbon dioxide trapped in glacial ice can be used to determine Earth's ancient climate.

Changes in Earth's orbit can impact climate by increasing or decreasing solar input.

The fourth IPCC report on international climate change (2007) confirmed that human activity has produced climate change beginning in the mid-20th century.

Natural causes for global climate change include all the following except:

Periodic variations in Earth's orbit that can cause natural climate changes are called _________.

Of the following, which are useful as proxy data for understanding past climate changes?

Of the following natural factors, which have caused past climate changes on Earth?

The greenhouse effect Your roommate, who has not studied climate, says, "I thought the greenhouse effect was a bad thing. Isn't it what's causing global warming?" Which of the following statements might you use to help your roommate understand the true nature of the greenhouse effect?

Part C - Making a case for global warming In a conversation with a friend, he expresses skepticism about global warning. When you inquire about his reasons, he responds by saying that the weather in that area has been the coolest he can remember. Using the information you have learned, what information could you offer to encourage your friend to reevaluate his position? Select all that apply.

What is eccentricity in Earth's orbit?

What is obliquity in Earth's orbit?

What is precession in Earth's orbit?

How long is the most important eccentricity cycle for Earth's orbit?

How long is the cycle of obliquity for Earth's orbit?

How long is the cycle of precession for Earth's orbit?

Which of the following could be a direct result of the cycles of eccentricity, obliquity, and precession on Earth?

Greenhouse gases are compounds in the Earth's atmosphere that dissipate heat.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) has the greatest relative contribution to increasing the greenhouse effect compared to other anthropogenically produced greenhouse gases.

Earth's average surface temperature has increased 0.6°C over the past 30 years.

Worldwide retreat of mountain glaciers has not been documented to date.

The gas(es) that has/have the greatest relative contribution to increasing the greenhouse effect is/are:

Since 1750, the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has increased by more than:

Burning of fossil fuels is chemically similar to:

Of the following atmospheric gases, only _________ is an important greenhouse gas.

The warming of Earth's surface and atmosphere is a natural process controlled by the greenhouse effect. It is also being altered by human emissions, a phenomenon that is often referred to as ___________.

Part B - Earth's rotation The angle at which sunlight hits Earth is one of the most important factors impacting the average temperatures in a region. Higher angle (more direct) sunlight warms Earth more effectively. The axis of Earth is tilted by ~23°. Earth currently makes a full rotation every 24 hours (the basis for our day). The tilt of the axis is why latitudes greater than 66° N don't receive any sunlight in the winter, or have any darkness in the summer. It is also why equatorial regions are warmest―they receive the most direct sunlight year-round. Read the sentences below, and indicate which are accurate for describing the effects of Earth's rotation and the angle of the Sun.

How much of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation reaches Earth's surface?

What is another name for the ozone layer?

How is ozone formed in the stratosphere?

What is ozone?

How does ultraviolet radiation cause ozone depletion?

What would happen to the oxygen atoms in ozone if the ozone layer were completely destroyed by ultraviolet radiation?

The scientific consensus is that global warming has led to __________.

Sea surface temperatures have remained unchanged during the past 50 years.

Elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, with subsequent absorption by the oceans, have caused an increase in ocean pH.

Dissolved carbon dioxide and pH in the oceans are inversely related.

Recent worldwide sea level rise can be attributed to all of the following except the:

Hazards associated with sea level rise include all the following except :

Climate models and observations to date indicate that the oceans will warm the most in _________.

Of the following, which ocean changes are predicted to result from global warming?

Of the following statements about the greenhouse effect and global warming, which is/are true?

What example of global engineering aims to accelerate the ocean's natural biological pump?

An international agreement to voluntarily limit greenhouse gas emissions is called the:

Concerned individuals can reduce their personal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions by doing all the following except:

The oceans' "biological pump" _________.

Of the following statements about the iron hypothesis, which is/are true?