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ESYS102 W18 Final Exam Flashcards | StudBud
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ESYS102 W18 Final Exam
ESYS102 W18 Final Exam
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The W18 Final Exam is provided as review and practice.
Flashcards
100 cards
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Practice quiz
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Questions
100
Answers
1
Which fossil fuel produces the most CO2 per unit of energy?
Oil
Natural gas
Nuclear
Coal
2
Earth is at perihelion when:
when the number of sunspots is at a minimum
when the Earth is farthest from the sun
when the number of sunspots is at a maximum
when the Earth is closest to the sun
3
In the hypothetical "Daisy World," daisies are…
A positive feedback (coupling) on temperature
A negative feedback (coupling) on temperature
A positive forcing
Two of these
4
Temperature increases with altitude in the
Troposphere and Stratosphere
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Thermosphere and stratosphere
5
Which of the following is important for maintaining levels of atmospheric oxygen?
All of these
Burial of organic carbon
Formation of limestone
Milankovitch Cycles
6
The presence of an oxygen band in an exoplanet spectrum
indicates that life arose but died on that planet
indicates that biotic activity takes place on that planet
means that this planet hosts extraterrestrial intelligence
None of these
7
Which terresrial planets likely had abundant water soon after their formation?
Venus
All of these
Mars
Earth
8
Volcanic eruptions
Release particles, ash, and gases into the atmosphere
None of thes
Provide a negative feedback loop for surface temperature
9
Plate tectonics
is a theory that requires testing
requires only minimal expansion of the Earth
is one of the alternatives to continental drift
is a scientific fact on planet Earth
10
Atmospheric CO2 concentrations are affected by which of the following?
Respiration and decay
Tropical deforestation
Volcanoes
Combustion of fossil fuels
11
As solar luminosity increases over geologic time, models predict that
Atmospheric CO2 levels will increase.
None of these
Water vapor levels will decrease, decreasing weathering
Water vapor and temperature increase, increasing weathering
12
Redbeds, paleosols and mass-dependent sulfur fractionation are evidence for ___
high atmospheric CO2 levels
low atmospheric O2 levels
low atmospheric CO2 levels
B.high atmospheric O2 levels
13
The oldest oceanic crust is
542 million years old
65 million years old
2.4 billion years old
180 million years old
14
Mars is a cold planet because
Asteroids from the asteroid belt keep impacting it
A and B
it is too small to maintain a dense atmosphere
it is too far from the sun
15
Why might melting permafrost be important for climate change?
10m of sea level rise
None of these
increased CH4 emissions
increased CFC emissions
16
Some important common resources are not valued in cost-benefit analysis because they are
All of these
Externalities
Gyres
Plants
17
The tilt of the Earth's axis is called…
Eccentricity
Obliquity
Precession
None of these
18
The Chapman mechanism involves:
All of these
Photolysis of ozone
Photolysis of oxygen
Production of ozone
19
Climate engineering in the form of solar reflection by stratospheric aerosols
All of these
Reduces atmospheric CO2
Will not reduce ocean acidification
Is too small to offset greenhouse gas warming
20
The ozone layer is found in which part of the atmosphere?
Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Troposphere
Stratosphere
21
Water vapor produced by increasing surface temperature traps outgoing infrared radiation.
true
false
22
The albedo of the Earth increases with
All of these
The land area covered by snow and ice
The area covered by clouds
The ocean area covered by sea ice
23
Why isn't continental crust subducted at continent-continent convergence zones?
It is too buoyant and can’t sink into the asthenosphere
Continents are all close to the equator
the Coriolis effect prevents it
Continental crust is denser than the athenosphere
24
How many main glacial episodes has Earth experienced?
3
9
11
6
25
What is the CO2 compensation point?
The critical level of CO2 for silicate weathering
The critical level of CO2 for runaway greenhouse warming
The critical level of CO2 for photosynthesis to occur
The critical level of CO2 for respiration to occur
26
It is less likely to have a habitable planet around a hot blue star because
The planet would need to have a highly developed ozone layer
Two of these
Blue stars do not emit an adequate amount of light for life.
Blue stars do not remain for long periods of time.
27
Who used a high discount rate (3%) in arguing that optimal carbon taxes should be low?
Trump
Gore
Stern
Nordhaus
28
Which geoengineering solution listed below has NOT been tested
Stratospheric aerosol injection
Releasing fossil fuel emissions above the troposphere
Marine cloud brightening
Placing a large mirror between the Earth and Sun
29
Which chlorine compound is inert?
Cl
ClO
None of these
ClONO2
30
Life is not possible on a planet too close to its parent star because
A runaway greenhouse effect is likely if water is present
All of these
The planet surface might melt
The planet could be tidally locked to the star
31
The biological pump…
Is vital to thermohaline circulation
Causes CO2 enrichment of the deep ocean
Increases magma eruptions at the center of mid-ocean ridges.
Does not occur in nearshore environments
32
The theory that eukaryotes' organelles evolved from digested prokaryotes is called what?
Endosymbiotic theory
All of these
Cell theory
Germ theory
33
Ozone in the troposphere
Is an important factor in producing smog
Acts as a UV radiation shield
Is an important factor in producing the ozone hole
34
At what rate is the Sun's luminosity increasing?
1% every 100 Myr
the sun luminosity is actually decreasing
1% every 10,000 years
A constant increment each year
35
Which one of these glacial-climate feedbacks is NOT positive?
Iron fertilization
shelf nutrient hypothesis
terrestrial biomass
coral reef hypothesis
36
Mid-latitude westerlies result from
Salinity
Gravity
The Coriolis effect
All of these
37
Talik is…
A piece of unfrozen ground surrounded by permafrost.
Formed when water vapor in the atmosphere is supercooled
The unfrozen ground located beneath the permafrost layer.
A modification of surface topography.
38
Which value is closest to the current atmospheric CO2 concentration?
400 ppm
200 ppm
300 ppm
100 ppm
39
Man-made forcings from fossil fuel combustion emissions cause
Warming
Photosynthesis
Cooling
Both warming and cooling
40
If a governing body plans to create carbon taxes that address intergenerational equity
Their discount rate should be low
A discount rate should not be used
Older people should pay a higher carbon taxe
Their discount rate should be high
41
Shear stress from glaciers sliding over uneven bedrock topography creates
ice sheets
icebergs
subglacial lakes
crevasses
42
The Intertropical Convergence Zone
All of these
Changes position seasonally
Has low atmospheric pressure at the surface
Causes drought
43
The Carbon Cycle
All of these
Is affected by both organic and inorganic components
Includes terrestrial and marine reservoirs
Describes the flow of Carbon-containing compounds
44
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge has a slower spreading rate than the East Pacific rise, causing….
The Americas to decrease in size.
The Atlantic Ocean to increase in size.
The Pacific Ocean to increase in size.
No significant changes to ocean or continent size.
45
Who introduced Continental drift?
Alfred L. Wegener
Alfred B. Nobel
Alfred J. Hitchcok
Alfred E. Neuman
46
Which country emits the most CO2 per capita?
India
USA
China
Japan
47
Seawater becomes denser and sinks when
Water condenses making it saltier
Water evaporates making it saltier.
Water warms making it denser
Water warms giving it more downward velocity
48
An example of a positive feedback loop is
One positive coupling and one negative coupling
None of these
Three negative couplings
Two negative couplings
49
What is the main source of atmospheric oxygen?
Respiration
Photosynthesis
None of these
Hydrothermal vents
50
Which of these waves travel through the outer core?
S waves
Love waves
Rayleigh waves
P waves
51
A 'snowball earth' period is
A result of Milankovitch cycles
None of these
A description of Neanderthal early humans
The result of a positive feedback loop
52
About how much sea level rise would occur if all of Earth's ice sheets melted completely?
64m globally
sea level would not rise
64m in the Atlantic, but 57m in the Indian ocean
57m globally
53
Examples of natural forcings on the Earth system are
Sunspots
Two of these
Fossil fuel combustion
Volcanic emissions
54
The ozone hole was largely caused by
Man-made CFCs
Hadley cells
Jerry Brown
The Atlantic Conveyor Belt
55
The higher solar heating at the equator than the poles causes
Poleward air transport, including Hadley Cells
Easterlies
Westerlies
All of these
56
The total annual flux of carbon dioxide (CO2) INTO the atmosphere includes approximately
8 Gt C per year from fossil fuel combustion
22 Gt C per year from photosynthesis
150 Gt C per year from deforestation
300 Gt C per year from cement making
57
The iron fertilization hypothesis says :
dust decreases productivity, lowering atmospheric CO2
Earth's core arose from oxidized interplanetary dust
dust increases ocean productivity, lowering atmospheric CO2
the first life evolved on reduced banded iron formations
58
In what eon was the "heavy Bombardment" period?
Archean
Phanerozoic
Hadean
Promethean
59
The Continuous Habitable Zone (CHZ) around a star
All of these
Depends on the luminosity of the star
is defined in terms of a specific time interval
is defined only for "life as we know it"
60
Which is NOT one of the five steps in forming the ozone hole?
Sun causes photochemistry
Vortex isolates pollutants
Chapman cycle makes ozone
PSCs condense forming particles
61
Which is (are) the most likely solution(s) to the Faint Young Sun Paradox?
Low atmospheric methane concentration
None of these
Lower albedo
High atmospheric CO2 concentration
62
IPCC future scenarios are primarily based upon
All of these
Economic growth
Population growth
Alternative energy abundance
63
Which type of cloud would you expect to have the lowest albedo?
Cirrus
Cumulus
Stratus
Cumulonimbus
64
How old is the Moon compared to Earth?
about 50 million years younger
about 500 million years younger
about 50 million years older
They have the same age
65
The Cambrian Explosion is often cited as evidence for what?
The advent of photosynthesis
None of these
A period with multiple meteor impacts
An increase in atmospheric oxygen
66
When did the ozone layer become thick enough to provide an effective UV screen?
About 4.6 billion years ago
About 2.0 billion years ago
About 3.8 billion years ago
About 540 million years ago
67
Why was the Mesozoic a warm period?
Ice-albedo feedback caused icecaps to melt away
Reptiles migrated to high latitudes (Alaska and Siberia)
The sun luminosity was greater at the time
Grazing of C4 plants by dinosaurs produced excess CH4
68
CO2 released by human activities ends up
In the ocean
In terrestrial plants
All of these
In the atmosphere
69
What is the most common form of dissolved inorganic carbon in the ocean?
calcium carbonate
Bicarbonate ions
carbonate ions
Carbon dioxide
70
The Montreal protocol
Reduced the use of CFCs
Was not signed by the US government
Called for developed nations to cut CO2 emissions
71
The Earth's 100,000 year periodicity correlates to inter-glacial interval
Obliquity
Precession
Perihelion
eccentricity
72
4.6 billion years is the approximate age of the…
Earth
Solar System
All of these
None of these
73
Without feedbacks, global mean temperature change from doubled CO2 concentrations would be
20 degree K
Much smaller than 0.1 degree K
1.2 degree K
0.1 degree K
74
Hadley Cells…
All of these
Cause bands of aridity at around 30 degrees N and S
Shift according to the seasons
Have convergent flow at Earth's surface near the equator
75
Which elements have isotopes commonly used as climate proxies?
Uranium
Oxygen
Potassium
Hydrogen
76
Methanogenesis…
Occurs in anoxic environments
Is the source of some fossil fuel deposits
Is a type of microbial metabolism
All of these
77
Europa could host life because of:
a planet-wide sub-ice liquid ocean
Jupiter tides keeping the interior warm
A & B
cometary impacts melt the external ice layer
78
Which type of plate boundary listed below is LEAST associated with volcanic activity?
Transform faults
Deep Ocean trenches
Mid-ocean ridges
Continental rifts
79
When do macro-fossils become abundant in the fossil record?
7 million years ago
543 million years ago
65 million years ago
2.4 billion years ago
80
What is the planetary albedo of Earth?
0.3
0.7
0.1
0.5
81
Detrital pyrite and uraninite in sedimentary rocks inidcate
High atmospheric oxygen
Low atmospheric oxygen
High dissolved iron concentrations
Low dissolved iron concentrations
82
The natural carbon cycle (in terms of GtC/yr) does NOT have a large contribution from
Photosynthesis
Respiration and decay
Volcanoes
83
Temperature of Earth with albedo 0.3 but no greenhouse effect would be
303 K
288 K
255 K
0 K
84
What is the goal of the IPCC?
To set discount rates for carbon taxes .
The development of geoengineering to combat climate change.
To predict and inform the public about future earthquakes.
Provide an objective view of climate change and its impacts.
85
Economists who argue for a low discount rate are implying that
Society today is NOT very concerned about future damages
Dollars spent today are wasted
Society today is very concerned about future damages
Future generations will have cheaper alternatives
86
The relative sizes of carbon reservoirs, from largest to smallest, is
Fossil fuels, limestone, atmosphere, biomass
Limestone, fossil fuels, atmosphere, biomass
Biomass, fossil fuels, limestone, atmosphere
Atmosphere, fossil fuels, biomass, limestone
87
One commonly cited explanation for cooling during the Cenozoic is…
Increased weathering
Collision of Indian and Eurasian Plates
All of these
Building of the Himalayas
88
Which is the cyclic period for eccentricity of Earth's orbit?
23,000 years
100,000 years
19,000 years
41,000 years
89
What is the most abundant element in the solid inner core?
Iron
Quartz
Magnesium
Silicon
90
Which molecule(s) currently causes the most radiative on Earth?
CO2
SO2
CH4
N2O
91
Surface ocean currents are controlled by
Gravity
Surface winds
All of these
Phytoplankton
92
Compared to visible light, ___ has a ___ wavelength and ___ energy.
Ultraviolet radiation, shorter, less
Infrared radiation, longer, less
Ultraviolet, shorter, more
Ultraviolet, longer, more
93
Ozone is produced and destroyed by
All of these
Combustion
Water vapor
Ultraviolet radiation
94
___ waves have vertical motion, ___ waves are horizontal.
Rayleigh, Love
Love, P
Rayleigh, P
Love, Rayleigh
95
Which does not provide evidence for Snowball Earth events?
Magnetic inclination
Dropstones
Tillite
Ice core record
96
The δ18O measure of oxygen isotope abundance in marine sediments during a cooler climate:
decreases
increases
Remains the same
is not related to climate
97
Milankovitch Cycles are…
Not the cause of glacial and interglacial cycles
Changes in ocean currents over time
None of these
Changes in Earth's orbit over time
98
By volume, most of the planet's ice is in the form of:
Glaciers
Permafrost
Sea Ice
Ice sheets
99
The Giant Impact Hypothesis is a theory that explains
None of these
the breakup of Pangea
the end of the age of dinosaurs
how pleistocene megafauna regulated atmospheric CO2
100
Methanogens…
Produce methane
Consume methane
Require oxygen
