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Is the Atmosphere Warming?

Multiple Choice Quiz

Choose the best answer.



1

Which of the following would indicate a warming in global average temperature?
A)An expansion of glaciers around the world.
B)A rise in sea level.
C)Earlier freeze dates for major lakes.
D)A and B.
E)B and C.
2

A byproduct of fossil fuel combustion is carbon dioxide. Which of the following is the 'cleanest' with respect to the release of carbon dioxide?
A)Coal.
B)Oil.
C)Wood.
D)Natural gas.
E)Gasoline.
3

Which of the following would increase the albedo of the earth-atmosphere system?
A)Deforestation.
B)Glacial shrinking.
C)Reduction in snow cover.
D)All of the above.
E)None of the above.
4

Which of the following represent(s) a source(s) of atmospheric energy?
A)Infrared radiation emitted downward from clouds.
B)Visible radiation scattered upward into space.
C)Latent heat release.
D)All of the above represent potential sources.
E)None of the above.
5

Which of the following is the least predictable factor in assessing climate change?
A)Changes in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide.
B)Changes in cloud cover.
C)Changes in soil moisture.
D)Changes in the global distribution of vegetation.
6

Deforestation leads to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide because:
A)decomposing trees release carbon dioxide.
B)live trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere via photosynthesis.
C)burning wood releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
D)A and B.
E)A, B, and C.
7

The addition of particulate matter via volcanic eruption or air pollution has what effect on the global average temperature?
A)The temperature will increase, due to the particulate's ability to absorb and emit longwave radiation.
B)The temperature will decrease as a result of decreased solar insolation.
C)The temperature will remain constant, as the effects noted in A and B exactly balance one another.
D)All of the above are possible effects.
8

Why would global warming lead to an increase in sea level?
A)Sea ice would melt.
B)Land-based ice would melt.
C)An increase in water temperature would cause the water to expand.
D)A and B.
E)B and C.
9

Which of the following statements is/are true?
A)Experiments reveal that the greatest warming from doubling atmospheric carbon dioxide will be found along the equator.
B)Due to uncertainty, climate modelling experiments should be viewed with caution.
C)Computer models that predict weather and climate are infallible.
D)All of the statements are true.
E)All of the above are false.
10

Which of the following is not considered to be a greenhouse gas?
A)Methane.
B)Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
C)Hydrogen.
D)Water vapor.
E)Ozone.
11

Which of the following is an example of a positive feedback loop?
A)A weak surface low deepens, strengthening the wind field, which leads to stronger thermal and vorticity advections, which deepen the surface low.
B)The local atmosphere becomes unstable, resulting in thunderstorms that stabilize the local atmosphere.
C)Increased solar radiation leads to an increase in global average temperature, which increases evaporation and cloud cover, blocking solar insolation.
D)All of these are positive feedback loops.
E)All of these are negative feedback mechanisms.
12

Which of the following statements about the trend in global average temperature is true?
A)There is a distinct causal relationship between the greenhouse effect and global warming.
B)Proxy data do not support the reported increase in global average temperature.
C)While the global average surface temperature is increasing, the average stratospheric temperature is actually decreasing.
D)Since there is doubt to the validity of the link between global warming and increased greenhouse gases, it is safe to dismiss global warming as harmless.
13

Why is it desirable to examine temperature 'statistics' as opposed to actual temperatures when determining the potential of global warming?
A)Temperature data can be error-ridden, which can be (at least partially) alleviated by the use of statistics.
B)The long-term trend can be masked by year-to-year variations.
C)Actual temperature data is of little climatological value.
D)B and C are valid reasons.
E)A and B are valid reasons.
14

If no preventative action is taken, the global average temperature is estimated to:
A)increase by 3°C by 2100.
B)decrease by 2°C by 2050.
C)increase by 3°F by 2100.
D)increase by 5°C by 2100.
E)remain constant.
15

Representativeness is a major issue when examining climate data. If a city's weather observation site is located at an airport, what judgment can we make about its temperature data?
A)The city is typically warmer than reported by the observation site.
B)The city is always cooler than reported.
C)The city's temperature is usually within a degree of the airport temperature.
D)Airport temperatures are warmer than the city due to measurement error.
E)There are a number of unknown factors that make it impossible to make a judgment without greater knowledge of the area.