Essential Principles Challenge Climate Literacy Essential Principles Challenge Climate System Causes of Change Effects of Change 10 points 20 points 30 points 40 points 50 points 60 points 70 points 80 points 90 points 100 points

The primary source of energy for Earth’s climate system is _____ Climate System 10 points The primary source of energy for Earth’s climate system is _____ ANSWER

Sunlight that reaches Earth may be reflected by Climate System 20 points Sunlight that reaches Earth may be reflected by ANSWER

Climate System 30 points ANSWER When Earth emits the same amount of energy as it absorbs, what happens to Earth’s average temperature? ANSWER

Climate System 40 points When Earth emits the same amount of energy as it absorbs, Earth’s energy budget is ANSWER

The annual cycle of seasons on Earth is the result of Climate System 50 points The annual cycle of seasons on Earth is the result of ANSWER

How much of Earth’s surface is covered by its ocean? Climate System 60 points How much of Earth’s surface is covered by its ocean? ANSWER

Climate System 70 points True or False: The greenhouse effect is an abnormal condition caused by human activity. ANSWER

Climate System 80 points The minute-by-minute variable condition of the atmosphere on a local scale is called ___ ANSWER

Climate System 90 points What results from interactions that involve the Sun and Earth’s ocean, atmosphere, clouds, ice, land, and life? ANSWER

Climate System 100 points Earth’s systems are connected, and a change in one system can influence the entire system. What do we call interactions that amplify the effects of change? ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change 10 points A significant increase or decrease in the Sun’s energy output will cause Earth to warm or cool. What do satellite measurements over the past 30 years show about the Sun’s energy output? ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change 20 points What determines the amount of solar energy absorbed or radiated by Earth? ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change 30 points Which of these is NOT a greenhouse gas: Water vapor Carbon dioxide Methane Oxygen ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change 40 points Do small increases in carbon dioxide concentration in Earth’s atmosphere make much difference to the climate system? ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change 50 points How do deforestation and burning fossil fuels affect the abundance of carbon in the atmosphere? ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change 60 points How do airborne particulates (aerosols) affect Earth’s energy balance? ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change 70 points Over the last one million years, what caused the cycles of ice ages and warmer periods between them? ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change 80 points What natural processes reduce the amount of carbon in Earth’s atmosphere? ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change 90 points How can life affect Earth’s climate? ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change 100 points How long may greenhouse gases remain in Earth’s atmosphere? ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change 10 points What happens to organisms that are exposed to climate conditions outside their normal range? ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change 20 points What does evidence from tree rings and scientific observations suggest about Earth’s present average temperature? ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change 30 points How is increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide affecting Earth’s ocean? ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change 40 points The overwhelming consensus of scientific studies on climate indicates that most of the observed increase in global average temperatures in the last 30 years is very likely due to ___ ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change 50 points Widespread burning of fossil fuels has increased the concentration of ______ in the atmosphere. ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change 60 points Do scientists and economists predict that there will be positive changes from global climate change? ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change 70 points How does global climate change affect fresh water resources? ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change 80 points What changes in Earth’s ocean may be caused by melting ice sheets and glaciers? ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change 90 points How is weather predicted to change as a result of global climate change? ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change 100 points How may climate change affect human communities? ANSWER

Climate System 10 points ANSWER The Sun http://climate.nasa.gov/causes/

Climate System 20 points ANSWER Earth’s surface, clouds, and ice www.classzone.com/science_book/mls_grade6_FL/618_623.pdf

Climate System 30 points ANSWER The average temperature remains stable (stays the same) http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/energybalance/

Climate System 40 points ANSWER In balance http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/energybalance/

Climate System 50 points ANSWER The tilt of Earth’s axis http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=season

Climate System 60 points ANSWER 70% http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/oceans_weather_climate/welcome.html

Climate System 70 points ANSWER False The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that keeps Earth’s surface at a temperature that is favorable to living organisms. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/today/greenhouse-effect.html

Climate System 80 points ANSWER Weather http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/concepts.html

Climate System 90 points ANSWER Earth’s climate http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/concepts.html

Climate System 100 points ANSWER Positive feedback loops http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/today/greenhouse-gases.html

Causes of Climate Change 10 points ANSWER Changes in the Sun’s energy output are too small to be the cause of recent warming on Earth http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/scientists/ruled-out.html#one

Causes of Climate Change 20 points ANSWER The composition of Earth’s atmosphere http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/today/greenhouse-effect.html

Causes of Climate Change 30 points ANSWER Oxygen http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/today/greenhouse-gases.html

Causes of Climate Change 40 points ANSWER Yes; small increases in carbon dioxide concentration have a large effect on the climate system education.usgs.gov/lessons/gases.pdf

Causes of Climate Change 50 points ANSWER Deforestation and burning fossil fuels increase the abundance of carbon in the atmosphere http://climate.nasa.gov/causes/

Causes of Climate Change 60 points ANSWER Airborne particulates cause cooling by reflecting incoming sunlight, and also cause warming by absorbing and releasing heat energy in the atmosphere http://epa.gov/climatechange/science/causes.html

Causes of Climate Change 70 points ANSWER Gradual changes in Earth’s rotation and orbit around the Sun http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/climate/factsheets/whatcause.pdf

Causes of Climate Change 80 points ANSWER Accumulation of marine sediments and accumulation of plant biomass http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/today/carbon-dioxide.html

Causes of Climate Change 90 points ANSWER By changing the chemical makeup of the atmosphere www.nsf.gov/news/nsf09202/nsf09202_life.pdf

Causes of Climate Change 100 points ANSWER Greenhouse gases may remain in Earth’s atmosphere for hundreds of years. http://epa.gov/climatechange/science/future.html

Effects of Climate Change 10 points ANSWER The organisms will adapt, migrate, or die http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/effects/ecosystems.html

Effects of Climate Change 20 points ANSWER Earth’s average temperature is warmer than it has been for at least the past 1,300 years http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/signs/temperature.html

Effects of Climate Change 30 points ANSWER Increased dissolved carbon dioxide is causing the ocean to become more acidic. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/signs/acidity.html

Effects of Climate Change 40 points ANSWER Human activities, primarily burning fossil fuels http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/index.html

Effects of Climate Change 50 points ANSWER Greenhouse gases http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/today/index.html

Effects of Climate Change 60 points ANSWER Both positive and negative changes are predicted, but the consequences of negative impacts are likely to be much greater than the consequences of positive impacts. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/effects/index.html

Effects of Climate Change 70 points ANSWER Changing precipitation patterns and temperatures will reduce reliable access to fresh water for many people. Winter snowpack and mountain glaciers that provide water for human use are declining as a result of global warming. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/effects/water.html

Effects of Climate Change 80 points ANSWER Sea level will rise, and changing temperatures may affect large current systems in Earth’s ocean http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/signs/glaciers.html

Effects of Climate Change 90 points ANSWER Strong storms, heat waves, and changes in precipitation patterns are predicted to increase in many locations http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/signs/index.html

Effects of Climate Change 100 points ANSWER Human communities may face increased risks from violent weather events, changes in food and water supplies, and infectious diseases http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/effects/index.html