2. Which of the following is a statement of climate as compared to weather?
Today, it is cloudy and raining.
Rainfall amounts were about average this month.
The winters here are dry and warm.
The temperature will rise during the next week.
It is 56°F and sunny.

3. Today, it is cloudy and raining.
Which of the following is a statement of climate as compared to weather?
Today, it is cloudy and raining.
Rainfall amounts were about average this month.
The winters here are dry and warm.
The temperature will rise during the next week.
It is 56°F and sunny.
Answer: C
Diff: 3
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills
Section: 12.2 – Climate and Weather
Earth Science LO: 1.2 – Earth scientists use a large variety of scientific principles to understand how our planet works.

4. Which is not a component of the climate system?
Human influences
Average daily temperature
Solar inputs
Ocean currents
Mountain ranges

5. Which is not a component of the climate system?
Human influences
Average daily temperature
Solar inputs
Ocean currents
Mountain ranges
Answer: B
Diff: 2
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Global Sci Out: 7 Demonstrate the ability to make connections across geology
Section: 12.2 – Climate and Weather
Earth Science LO: 3.8 – Earth’s climate is an example of how complex interactions among systems can result in relatively sudden and significant changes.

6. Which of the following is considered a variable gas?
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Argon
Water vapor
None of these are considered variable gases.

7. Which of the following is considered a variable gas?
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Argon
Water vapor
None of these are considered variable gases.
Answer: D
Diff: 2
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Global Sci Out: 7 Demonstrate the ability to make connections across geology
Section: 12.3 – The Atmosphere and the Cryosphere
Earth Science LO: 1.2 – Earth scientists use a large variety of scientific principles to understand how our planet works.

8. Which is not a glacial hazard?
Tsunamis
Ice dams
Ice avalanches
Crevasses
Lahars

9. Which is not a glacial hazard?
Tsunamis
Ice dams
Ice avalanches
Crevasses
Lahars
Answer: A
Diff: 2
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Global Sci Out: 7 Demonstrate the ability to make connections across geology
Section: 12.3 – The Atmosphere and the Cryosphere
Earth Science LO: 8.1 – Natural hazards result from natural Earth processes.

10. What are the three main time periods for which climate data are available for study?
Industrial, twentieth century, modern
Victorian, Industrial, modern
Industrial, nineteenth century, twentieth century
Instrumental, historical, paleo-proxy
None of these are the correct time periods.

11. Industrial, twentieth century, modern Victorian, Industrial, modern
What are the three main time periods for which climate data are available for study?
Industrial, twentieth century, modern
Victorian, Industrial, modern
Industrial, nineteenth century, twentieth century
Instrumental, historical, paleo-proxy
None of these are the correct time periods.
Answer: D
Diff: 2
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Global Sci Out: 7 Demonstrate the ability to make connections across geology
Section: 12.4 – How we study past Climate Change and Make Predictions
Earth Science LO: 9.2 – Earth scientists use the geologic record to distinguish between natural and human influences on Earth’s systems.

12. Which is not an example of paleoclimate proxy data?
Carbon-14
Ocean temperatures
Corals
Ice cores
Tree rings

13. Which is not an example of paleoclimate proxy data?
Carbon-14
Ocean temperatures
Corals
Ice cores
Tree rings
Answer: B
Diff: 3
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills
Section: 12.4 – How we study past Climate Change and Make Predictions
Earth Science LO: 9.2 – Earth scientists use the geologic record to distinguish between natural and human influences on Earth’s systems.

14. What is the greatest difficulty in using Global Climate Models for prediction of future climate change?
Difficulty is only limited by our acceptance of the modeled results.
Coordinating among the many global climate models.
The models require large expensive computing power.
The models are inaccurate.
Modeling future human behavior.

15. Difficulty is only limited by our acceptance of the modeled results.
What is the greatest difficulty in using Global Climate Models for prediction of future climate change?
Difficulty is only limited by our acceptance of the modeled results.
Coordinating among the many global climate models.
The models require large expensive computing power.
The models are inaccurate.
Modeling future human behavior.
Answer: E
Diff: 3
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills
Section: 12.4 – How We Study Past Climate Change and Make Predictions
Earth Science LO: 8.6 – Natural scientists are continually improving estimates of when and where natural hazards occur.
9.2 – Earth scientists use the geologic record to distinguish between natural and human influences on Earth’s systems.

16. When has the most important evidence for global warming been collected and from what data?
In the past 150,000 years from land temperatures
In the past 150,000 years from ocean temperatures
In the past 150 years from proxy evidence
In the past 150 years from farmers’ crop records
In the past 150 years from ocean temperatures

17. In the past 150,000 years from land temperatures
When has the most important evidence for global warming been collected and from what data?
In the past 150,000 years from land temperatures
In the past 150,000 years from ocean temperatures
In the past 150 years from proxy evidence
In the past 150 years from farmers’ crop records
In the past 150 years from ocean temperatures
Answer: C
Diff: 3
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills
Section: 12.4 – How We Study Past Climate Change and Make Predictions
Earth Science LO: 9.2 – Earth scientists use the geologic record to distinguish between natural and human influences on Earth’s systems.

18. What is the greenhouse effect?
Trapping of heat by water vapor and several other atmospheric gases
None of these describe the greenhouse effect
Increase in vegetation from rising temperatures
The rise in average temperature
Human activity that produces carbon dioxide

19. What is the greenhouse effect?
Trapping of heat by water vapor and several other atmospheric gases
None of these describe the greenhouse effect
Increase in vegetation from rising temperatures
The rise in average temperature
Human activity that produces carbon dioxide
Answer: A
Diff: 3
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills
Section: 12.5 – Global Warming
Earth Science LO: 9.2 – Earth scientists use the geologic record to distinguish between natural and human influences on Earth’s systems.

20. According to the figure, how have global temperatures changed over the last 800,000 years?
There is no way to know with our current knowledge – the figure is inconclusive.
They have increased and decreased many times.
They have been increasing.
They have been decreasing.
They have been steady.

21. They have increased and decreased many times.
According to the figure, how have global temperatures changed over the last 800,000 years?
There is no way to know with our current knowledge – the figure is inconclusive.
They have increased and decreased many times.
They have been increasing.
They have been decreasing.
They have been steady.
Answer: B
Diff: 3
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 3 Read and interpret graphs and data
Section: 12.5 – Global Warming
Earth Science LO: 9.2 – Earth scientists use the geologic record to distinguish between natural and human influences on Earth’s systems.

22. According to the figure, what has been the general trend in temperatures over the last 140 years?
There is no way to know with our current knowledge – the figure is inconclusive.
They have increased and decreased many times.
They have been increasing.
They have been decreasing.
They have been steady.

23. They have increased and decreased many times.
According to the figure, what has been the general trend in temperatures over the last 140 years?
There is no way to know with our current knowledge – the figure is inconclusive.
They have increased and decreased many times.
They have been increasing.
They have been decreasing.
They have been steady.
Answer: C
Diff: 3
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 3 Read and interpret graphs and data
Section: 12.5 – Global Warming
Earth Science LO: 9.2 – Earth scientists use the geologic record to distinguish between natural and human influences on Earth’s systems.

24. ___________ is defined as an imposed change in Earth’s energy balance.
Climate change
Global warming
Climate restructuring
Climate forcing
None of these are correct.

25. ___________ is defined as an imposed change in Earth’s energy balance.
Climate change
Global warming
Climate restructuring
Climate forcing
None of these are correct.
Answer: D
Diff: 2
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Global Sci Out: 7 Demonstrate the ability to make connections across geology
Section: 12.5 – Global Warming
Earth Science LO: 9.2 – Earth scientists use the geologic record to distinguish between natural and human influences on Earth’s systems.

26. Which of these areas is a consequence if the ocean conveyor belt was not present?
All of these are consequences
Southeastern South America would be cooler
There would be no climate change
There would be no Milankovitch cycles
Northern Europe would be cooler

27. All of these are consequences
Which of these areas is a consequence if the ocean conveyor belt was not present?
All of these are consequences
Southeastern South America would be cooler
There would be no climate change
There would be no Milankovitch cycles
Northern Europe would be cooler
Answer: E
Diff: 3
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills
Section: 12.5 – Global Warming
Earth Science LO: 1.2 – Earth scientists use a large variety of scientific principles to understand how our planet works.

28. Why do scientists believe human activities are contributing to global warming?
There is no evidence that human activities are contributing to global warming
The recent warming greatly exceeds the natural variability
The climate system is stable and can only change with anthropogenic forcing
All natural changes have shown to be cooling the temperature
Carbon dioxide levels have decreased in the past few decades

29. The recent warming greatly exceeds the natural variability
Why do scientists believe human activities are contributing to global warming?
There is no evidence that human activities are contributing to global warming
The recent warming greatly exceeds the natural variability
The climate system is stable and can only change with anthropogenic forcing
All natural changes have shown to be cooling the temperature
Carbon dioxide levels have decreased in the past few decades
Answer: B
Diff: 4
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills
Section: 12.5 – Global Warming
Earth Science LO: 9.2 – Earth scientists use the geologic record to distinguish between natural and human influences on Earth’s systems.

30. Which of the following is not expected to be caused by global warming?
Decreased water supply to irrigate crops
Increase in years between successive fires at a given location
Shutting down of ski resorts on glaciers
Migration of disease carrying mosquitoes
Change in intensity and frequency of violent storms

31. Which of the following is not expected to be caused by global warming?
Decreased water supply to irrigate crops
Increase in years between successive fires at a given location
Shutting down of ski resorts on glaciers
Migration of disease carrying mosquitoes
Change in intensity and frequency of violent storms
Answer: B
Diff: 4
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills
Section: 12.6 – Potential Effects of Global Climate Change
Earth Science LO: 8.2 – Natural hazards shape the history of human societies.

32. Which of the following is not a problem associated with glacial and sea ice melting?
Melting glacial ice can lead to a rise in sea level.
Melting glacial ice can increase melting due to exposed bare ground.
Melting sea ice can lead to a rise in sea level.
Glacial and sea ice melting reduces the water supply in some locations.
Melting sea ice can lead to a change the habitat for polar bears, walruses, and some seabirds.

33. Melting glacial ice can lead to a rise in sea level.
Which of the following is not a problem associated with glacial and sea ice melting?
Melting glacial ice can lead to a rise in sea level.
Melting glacial ice can increase melting due to exposed bare ground.
Melting sea ice can lead to a rise in sea level.
Glacial and sea ice melting reduces the water supply in some locations.
Melting sea ice can lead to a change the habitat for polar bears, walruses, and some seabirds.
Answer: C
Diff: 3
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills
Section: 12.6 – Potential Effects of Global Climate Change
Earth Science LO: 8.2 – Natural hazards shape the history of human societies.

34. Which is not a potential consequence of sea level rise?
Bleaching of coral reefs
Increased coastal erosion
Disappearance of small islands
Relocation of communities and structures
Landward migration of beaches and estuaries

35. Which is not a potential consequence of sea level rise?
Bleaching of coral reefs
Increased coastal erosion
Disappearance of small islands
Relocation of communities and structures
Landward migration of beaches and estuaries
Answer: A
Diff: 4
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills
Section: 12.6 – Potential Effects of Global Climate Change
Earth Science LO: 8.2 – Natural hazards shape the history of human societies.

36. Which is not a way ecosystems will be impacted by global warming in the next 100 years?
Some areas will receive precipitation less often but will be more intense
Oceans are becoming more acidic
All of these are ways the ecosystem will be impacted
Growing seasons will be shortened
River and stream temperatures will increase

37. Oceans are becoming more acidic
Which is not a way ecosystems will be impacted by global warming in the next 100 years?
Some areas will receive precipitation less often but will be more intense
Oceans are becoming more acidic
All of these are ways the ecosystem will be impacted
Growing seasons will be shortened
River and stream temperatures will increase
Answer: D
Diff: 3
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills
Section: 12.6 – Potential Effects of Global Climate Change
Earth Science LO: 8.2 – Natural hazards shape the history of human societies.

38. Which is a main reason it is difficult to apply uniformitarianism to understand the current climate processes?
We have never seen similar climate processes in the past.
It is not difficult, we have all the data needed to apply unifomitarianism.
The period of interest (past few centuries to 1000 years ago) is the one that is the most difficult to collect climate data.
Unifomitarianism is not used to understand current climate processes.
There is conflicting data from the period of interest (past few centuries to 1000 years ago).

39. We have never seen similar climate processes in the past.
Which is a main reason it is difficult to apply uniformitarianism to understand the current climate processes?
We have never seen similar climate processes in the past.
It is not difficult, we have all the data needed to apply unifomitarianism.
The period of interest (past few centuries to 1000 years ago) is the one that is the most difficult to collect climate data.
Unifomitarianism is not used to understand current climate processes.
There is conflicting data from the period of interest (past few centuries to 1000 years ago).
Answer: C
Diff: 4
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills
Section: 12.7 – Predicting the Future Climate
Earth Science LO: 9.2 – Earth scientists use the geologic record to distinguish between natural and human influences on Earth’s systems.

40. According to the figure, if carbon dioxide emissions were reduced and the peak was during years 2000–2050, when could we expect to see temperatures stabilize?
Immediately after the emissions are reduced
Possibly in year 2300
The temperatures will not stabilize
Not until year 3000 at a minimum
Possibly in year 2100

41. Immediately after the emissions are reduced Possibly in year 2300
According to the figure, if carbon dioxide emissions were reduced and the peak was during years 2000–2050, when could we expect to see temperatures stabilize?
Immediately after the emissions are reduced
Possibly in year 2300
The temperatures will not stabilize
Not until year 3000 at a minimum
Possibly in year 2100
Answer: B
Diff: 4
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 3 Read and interpret graphs and data
Section: 12.8 – Strategies for Reducing the Impact of Global Warming
Earth Science LO: 9.3 – Humans cause global climate change through fossil fuel consumption, land - use changes, agricultural practices, and industrial processes.

42. Which is not a way to sequester carbon?
Salt aquifers in the United States
Sedimentary rocks that contain salty water
Saltwater aquifer below the North Sea
Depleted oil fields
Glacier ice in Greenland

43. Which is not a way to sequester carbon?
Salt aquifers in the United States
Sedimentary rocks that contain salty water
Saltwater aquifer below the North Sea
Depleted oil fields
Glacier ice in Greenland
Answer: E
Diff: 2
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Global Sci Out: 7 Demonstrate the ability to make connections across geology
Section: 12.8 – Strategies for Reducing the Impact of Global Warming
Earth Science LO: 9.8 – Earth scientists document and seek to understand the impacts of humans on global change over short and long time spans.

44. Which is not an abrupt climate change that could cause a serious risk to humans and the natural environment?
Rapid release of methane to the atmosphere
Abrupt change in pattern of circulation in the Atlantic Ocean
Rapid change in sea level
Rapid release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
Droughts and floods

45. Rapid release of methane to the atmosphere
Which is not an abrupt climate change that could cause a serious risk to humans and the natural environment?
Rapid release of methane to the atmosphere
Abrupt change in pattern of circulation in the Atlantic Ocean
Rapid change in sea level
Rapid release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
Droughts and floods
Answer: D
Diff: 4
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills
Section: 12.8 – Strategies for Reducing the Impact of Global Warming
Earth Science LO: 9.8 – Earth scientists document and seek to understand the impacts of humans on global change over short and long time spans.

46. If abrupt climate change during the next century is unlikely, why is it important to make changes now?
It takes time to initiate policy changes
Geological data shows that short-term changes are best
All of these are reasons to make changes now
Stabilization is immediate, so the sooner the better
We are running out of sequestration locations

47. It takes time to initiate policy changes
If abrupt climate change during the next century is unlikely, why is it important to make changes now?
It takes time to initiate policy changes
Geological data shows that short-term changes are best
All of these are reasons to make changes now
Stabilization is immediate, so the sooner the better
We are running out of sequestration locations
Answer: A
Diff: 3
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension
Global Sci Out: 2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills
Section: 12.8 – Strategies for Reducing the Impact of Global Warming
Earth Science LO: 9.8 – Earth scientists document and seek to understand the impacts of humans on global change over short and long time spans.