GEOL 1121 HW23 EXAM REPORTED
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Which of the following processes releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere? -
Answer- volcanism
How does the formation of oil shale deposits, coals, and limestones affect the carbon
dioxide (CO2) concentration in the Earth's atmosphere? - Answer- All three decrease
the total CO2 in the atmosphere.
Which of the following best explains how the carbon cycle plays a role in climate
change? - Answer- Some carbon occurs in greenhouse gases, which influence climate.
Increasing ratios of oxygen-18 to oxygen-16 in glacial ice indicate ________. - Answer-
warming temperatures
The ratio of oxygen-16 and oxygen-18 isotopes in plankton fossils in deep-sea
sediments can be used to determine ________. - Answer- past temperatures
How are greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane different from other
atmospheric gases like nitrogen and oxygen? - Answer- Greenhouse gases are more
efficient at absorbing thermal energy and reradiating it than the other atmospheric
gases.
The warmest global temperatures since the last ice age occurred in the ________. -
Answer- Holocene Maximum, approximately 6,000 years ago
A runaway greenhouse effect is an example of ________. - Answer- a positive feedback
mechanism
Which of the following best describes the Earth's climate history? - Answer-
Temperatures on the Earth have varied throughout geologic time.
Which greenhouse gas has the greatest total importance in retaining radiant energy
from the Earth? - Answer- H2O (water)
How are carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere affected by tectonic uplift of
rocks and their resultant chemical weathering? - Answer- CO2 is removed from the
atmosphere.
, During most of the Mesozoic Era, the Earth was ________ - Answer- warmer than
present
Based on the graph below, global temperatures were the coldest ________ years ago. -
Answer- 18,000
What is the difference between weather and climate? - Answer- Weather is a transient
condition, whereas climate is a long-term cycle.
Which greenhouse gases play the most significant role in influencing changes in global
atmospheric temperature? - Answer- carbon dioxide and methane
The greenhouse effect is caused by ________. - Answer- atmospheric gases, which
trap heat radiated from the Earth's surface
Milankovitch cycles describe variation in the Earth's ________. - Answer- orbit and tilt
How are pollen species used to interpret ancient environments? - Answer- Different
plant species live in different climates.
Which geologic event is NOT suspected as a source of major climate change and
mass-extinction events? - Answer- very large earthquakes
The reliable paleoclimate record from the Antarctic and Greenland ice cores provides
information back to approximately ________ years ago. - Answer- 800,000
A basic history of global climate change is preserved in the stratigraphic record because
- Answer- depositional setting and the assemblages of organisms depend on the
climate
The amount of solar energy reflected by a surface is known as ________. - Answer-
Albedo
The primary cause of recent global warming is believed to be ________. - Answer-
increased burning of fossil fuels
Toxic chemicals dumped into a river are an example of ________. - Answer- pollution
The hole in the ozone layer has been brought about by anthropogenic emissions of
________. - Answer- chlorofluorocarbons
Natural carbon sinks have generally matched the production of carbon dioxide until
________. - Answer- approximately 1900
In the last few decades, global warming has been most strongly affecting climate and
wildlife of ________ regions. - Answer- polar
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Which of the following processes releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere? -
Answer- volcanism
How does the formation of oil shale deposits, coals, and limestones affect the carbon
dioxide (CO2) concentration in the Earth's atmosphere? - Answer- All three decrease
the total CO2 in the atmosphere.
Which of the following best explains how the carbon cycle plays a role in climate
change? - Answer- Some carbon occurs in greenhouse gases, which influence climate.
Increasing ratios of oxygen-18 to oxygen-16 in glacial ice indicate ________. - Answer-
warming temperatures
The ratio of oxygen-16 and oxygen-18 isotopes in plankton fossils in deep-sea
sediments can be used to determine ________. - Answer- past temperatures
How are greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane different from other
atmospheric gases like nitrogen and oxygen? - Answer- Greenhouse gases are more
efficient at absorbing thermal energy and reradiating it than the other atmospheric
gases.
The warmest global temperatures since the last ice age occurred in the ________. -
Answer- Holocene Maximum, approximately 6,000 years ago
A runaway greenhouse effect is an example of ________. - Answer- a positive feedback
mechanism
Which of the following best describes the Earth's climate history? - Answer-
Temperatures on the Earth have varied throughout geologic time.
Which greenhouse gas has the greatest total importance in retaining radiant energy
from the Earth? - Answer- H2O (water)
How are carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere affected by tectonic uplift of
rocks and their resultant chemical weathering? - Answer- CO2 is removed from the
atmosphere.
, During most of the Mesozoic Era, the Earth was ________ - Answer- warmer than
present
Based on the graph below, global temperatures were the coldest ________ years ago. -
Answer- 18,000
What is the difference between weather and climate? - Answer- Weather is a transient
condition, whereas climate is a long-term cycle.
Which greenhouse gases play the most significant role in influencing changes in global
atmospheric temperature? - Answer- carbon dioxide and methane
The greenhouse effect is caused by ________. - Answer- atmospheric gases, which
trap heat radiated from the Earth's surface
Milankovitch cycles describe variation in the Earth's ________. - Answer- orbit and tilt
How are pollen species used to interpret ancient environments? - Answer- Different
plant species live in different climates.
Which geologic event is NOT suspected as a source of major climate change and
mass-extinction events? - Answer- very large earthquakes
The reliable paleoclimate record from the Antarctic and Greenland ice cores provides
information back to approximately ________ years ago. - Answer- 800,000
A basic history of global climate change is preserved in the stratigraphic record because
- Answer- depositional setting and the assemblages of organisms depend on the
climate
The amount of solar energy reflected by a surface is known as ________. - Answer-
Albedo
The primary cause of recent global warming is believed to be ________. - Answer-
increased burning of fossil fuels
Toxic chemicals dumped into a river are an example of ________. - Answer- pollution
The hole in the ozone layer has been brought about by anthropogenic emissions of
________. - Answer- chlorofluorocarbons
Natural carbon sinks have generally matched the production of carbon dioxide until
________. - Answer- approximately 1900
In the last few decades, global warming has been most strongly affecting climate and
wildlife of ________ regions. - Answer- polar
