Environmental Science Chapter 13 Atmosphere and Climate Change Review Multiple Choice Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. 1. Climate in a region is a. the long-term, prevailing atmospheric conditions. b. determined only by seasonal daylight hours. c. the atmospheric conditions on a given day. d. never affected by ocean currents. 2. Rain frequently results whenever a. cold, moist air rises. c. warm, dry air sinks. b. warm, moist air rises. d. cold, dry air sinks. 3. Which of the following correctly states an observation that helps to explain circulation patterns in the atmosphere? a. Cold air rises and warms as it rises. b. Warm air rises and cools as it rises. c. Cold air can hold more water vapor than warm air. d. All of the above 4. Which of the following locations would you expect to have a climate with mild temperatures and frequent rain? a. an inland region near the equator c. a coastal region at about 30º latitude b. an inland region at about 30º latitude d. a coastal region at about 90º latitude 5. Which of the following best describes measurements of CO 2 levels in the atmosphere since 1958? a. Levels of CO 2 were steady until the mid-1970s, when they began to increase rapidly. b. Measurements of CO 2 have shown a steady increase since accurate measurements began. c. CO 2 levels are higher in winter and lower in summer, but the winter highs have increased each year and the summer lows have not fallen as far. d. CO 2 levels are higher in winter and lower in summer, but the winter highs are higher each year and the summer lows are lower each year. 6. Which of the following best describes the effect of a mountain range on the climate of a region? a. The coastal side of the range usually has high levels of rain. b. A desert is often found on the inland side of the range. c. Average temperatures are lower at high elevations than at the base of the mountains. d. All of the above 7. Latitude strongly influences climate because _ solar energy falls on areas that are closer to the equator than to the poles. a. less c. more b. the same amount of d. sometimes less 8. The thinning of the ozone layer a. occurs over both polar regions. c. will take many years to reverse. b. is related to seasonal changes. d. All of the above 1
9. How long will it take for chlorofluorocarbons released from Earth s surface today to reach the stratosphere? a. about six months c. three to five years b. one to two years d. 10 to 20 years 10. An important property of air circulation is a. warm air is denser than cold air. b. cold air and warm air have the same density. c. cold air is denser than warm air. d. air has no mass. 11. Which of the following gases is most responsible for the greenhouse effect? a. nitrous oxide c. oxygen b. methane d. water vapor 12. A true statement concerning the physical properties of air is that a. warm air sinks toward Earth s surface. b. warm air can hold more water vapor than an equal amount of cold air. c. as air warms, the water vapor it holds condenses. d. cold air rises in the atmosphere. 13. Which of the following does not address how oceans affect climatic conditions on land? a. Water cools Earth because it reflects the most sunlight. b. Oceans are the source of most water that falls as precipitation. c. Coastal areas have more moderate climates than inland areas. d. Ocean currents redistribute warm and cold masses of water. 14. Which of the following would occur if Earth were not tilted relative to the plane of its orbit? a. Temperatures at the equator would become too hot to sustain life. b. Temperate regions would no longer have seasonal changes in climate. c. All parts of Earth would receive sunlight of equal concentration. d. Polar ice caps would melt due to a rapid increase in global warming. 15. A true statement about greenhouse gases is that they a. convert sunlight into heat energy that warms Earth. b. are concentrated in the stratosphere. c. trap heat that is radiated upward from Earth. d. are not affected by human activity. 16. Which of the following statements related to global warming is not accurate? a. Carbon dioxide levels have risen over the last 30 years. b. Only fossil fuels, not living plants, release carbon dioxide when burned. c. Global temperature and carbon dioxide concentration are related. d. By itself, reforestation is not sufficient to slow global warming. 17. The critical difference between today s global warming and Earth s previous climate changes is that a. human-made chemicals such as CFCs do not influence global warming. b. previous changes in climate were dramatic but very short-lived. c. scientists can now save all species from extinction by genetic engineering. d. global warming may occur much more rapidly than it did during previous climate changes. 2
18. Chlorofluorocarbon molecules are environmentally significant because a. their chlorine atoms can destroy many stratospheric ozone molecules. b. they are poisonous, flammable, and corrosive to metals. c. their absorption of lethal solar energy protects Earth. d. they readily break down ozone molecules produced as pollution. 19. Ultraviolet radiation is particularly dangerous because a. it can damage genetic material in cells. b. little has been done to save the ozone layer. c. it always leads to the rapid death of organisms. d. All of the above 20. Ozone holes appear in polar regions during springtime when ozone-destroying a. chlorine atoms are released from polar stratospheric clouds. b. chlorine atoms are captured by polar stratospheric clouds. c. CFCs are synthesized on polar stratospheric clouds. d. CFCs magnify ultraviolet light. 21. La Niña is the _ phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. a. warm c. neutral b. cold d. mixing 22. The average global temperature has _ during the 20th century. a. remained the same b. increased every year c. risen some years and fallen others, but has increased overall d. risen some years and fallen others, but has decreased overall 23. Which of the following would not be a consequence of a rise in global temperature? a. rising sea level b. increased polar ice mass c. increased frequency of major storms d. increased frequency of major droughts 24. During summer in the Southern Hemisphere, the Northern Hemisphere experiences a. a tilt toward the sun. c. summer. b. winter. d. excess rainfall. 25. As the amount of ozone in the stratosphere decreases, a. more ultraviolet light is able to reach Earth s surface. b. less solar energy is able to reach Earth s surface. c. the amount of methane in the atmosphere increases. d. the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean increases. Completion Complete each statement. 26. During a(an) period, winds push warm water eastward in the Pacific Ocean. 27. Stratospheric is destroyed by chlorine atoms released from CFCs. 28. Trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies are examples of winds. 3
29. Damage to in cells of living organisms is caused by exposure to UV radiation. 30. The _ is an international agreement that limits CFC production. 31. An effect of El Niño is _ in the southern part of the United States. 32. The statement It s hot and sunny today the temperature is 88ºF at 11 a.m. describes. 33. The development of an ozone hole over the poles is a result of human activities and begins when molecular from chlorofluorocarbons is released into the atmosphere and collects on polar stratospheric clouds. 34. Though CFC production has been cut back, the threat to stratospheric ozone continues because CFCs in the atmosphere for decades. 35. The _ is a process by which the atmosphere traps heat that is radiated from Earth s surface. 36. A predicted increase in Earth s average temperature caused by human activities and the subsequent release of gases such as carbon dioxide is known as _. 37. A continuous record from Mauna Loa, Hawaii, reveals that annual average atmospheric CO 2 concentrations have since 1958. 38. If polar ice masses melt as a result of global warming, sea levels will. 39. A(n) _ is often found on the inland side of a mountain range. 40. Powerful computers are required to perform the calculations for scientists to develop climatic. 41. The statement Cool summers, cold winters with lots of snow about 75 cm of precipitation each year describes. 42. Water vapor and carbon dioxide help trap heat in the atmosphere near the surface of Earth, so they are called _. 43. The _ is an international agreement that seeks to limit CO 2 emissions from developed countries. 44. Populations of tiny, shrimp-like animals known as _ may be reduced by global warming. 45. As a result of the destruction of stratospheric ozone, scientists believe that, including frogs, toads, and salamanders, will be especially vulnerable to increased UV radiation. 4
46. As a result of the destruction of stratospheric ozone, single-celled organisms called _, that live near the ocean s surface, can be killed by increased UV radiation. 47. Strong circulating winds over Antarctica, known as the _, play a role in the formation of the polar stratospheric clouds. 48. Large quantities of gaseous sulfur dioxide can reach the upper atmosphere following a(n) _. 49. Sulfur dioxide in the upper atmosphere can lead to the formation of that can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the surface of Earth. 50. One serious consequence of global warming, a rise in sea levels, could result in of beaches. Short Answer 51. What type of light from sunlight is absorbed by ozone? List two consequences that may occur if more of this type of light reaches Earth s surface. 52. Will recovery of the ozone layer be a rapid or a slow process? Explain your answer. 53. How might global warming cause changes in major ocean currents? 54. Briefly explain the nature and effects of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). 5
Essay 55. Researchers wanted to examine how the eggs of two different frog species (A and B) are affected by exposure to UV-B radiation. The graph above shows the data they collected. For each species, half of the eggs were shielded from UV-B radiation by a special filter; the remaining half were exposed to normal sunlight. The groups of eggs were placed in special containers in the shallow water of a lake. Study the graph and answer the questions that follow. a. In general, why are natural levels of UV radiation able to kill amphibian eggs? b. In this experiment, do the eggs from species A and B differ in their susceptibility to UV-B radiation? Justify your answer. c. Other research has shown that a certain molecular repair enzyme is more active in the eggs of one of these species. What molecule does this enzyme repair? Which species has the higher enzyme activity? Explain. d. Based on the information given, could other factors have influenced the outcome of the experiment? Explain your answer. 6