Climate Change Impact Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the present concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere?

280 parts per thousand

417 parts per thousand (correct)

560 parts per million

423 parts per million

360 parts per million

There is widespread agreement that to minimize the amount of catastrophic damage due to climate change, the total amount of warming of the Earth's surface since the onset of the Industrial Revolution must be kept to \u22641.5°C. Given current trends in fossil fuels burning and energy policies of industrialized countries, what is the more likely amount of total global warming that will occur in this century?

4°C or higher as we are on the 'business as usual' emissions track

This is a trick question as most countries are committed to reaching net zero Carbon emissions (Carbon neutrality) by 2045- 2050.

between 1.5 and 2.0°C

between 3.0 and 4.0°C

between 2.0 and 3.0°C (correct)

Which one of the following statements best describes how the present-day concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere compares to the past before the accelerated use of fossil-fuels?

We don't know because it is not possible to reconstruct how atmospheric CO2 has varied in the very distant past.

The CO2 concentration in today's atmosphere is higher than the past few 100s of thousands of years but it is rising so slowly that it is negligibly impacting humans and other life on Earth.

The CO2 concentration in today's atmosphere has started to decline since the Paris Agreement was made in 2015 reflecting that industrial countries have successfully initiated efforts to develop and use more green energy.

The CO2 concentration in today's atmosphere has stayed near constant over the time since humans evolved.

The CO2 concentration in today's atmosphere is higher than that of any time in the past 14 million years ago. (correct)

Extreme precipitation events have been increasing in both frequency and intensity over the past 3 decades. Which one of the following is not a reason why this is happening?

The Earth's surface has warmed on average by 1.2°C since the onset of the Industrial Revolution. Signup and view all the answers

Which one of the following conditions has maintained the warming at this level and prevented a higher level of warming? That is, given the amount of CO2 that has been added to the atmosphere since the 1860s, higher temperatures would be expected.

The oceans have absorbed ~90% of the excess heat created by increasing CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. Signup and view all the answers

Which one of the following best explains why climate change that is happening now appears to be unprecedented in Earth history when compared to past times of major climate change?

Modern climate change is unprecedented because the rate of change in environmental conditions is faster than ever previously experienced on Earth. Signup and view all the answers

Climate change has played a major role in the 5-fold increase in wildfire activity in CA and the western US over the past few decades. Which one of the following behaviors is not contributing to this increase in wildfire activity?

Extreme rainfall events that are happening earlier in the fall than a few decades ago are encouraging the increased growth of vegetation that creates lots of additional fuel for fires. Signup and view all the answers

Energy and matter are constantly flowing through the different reservoirs of the Earth system. What do we call the atmosphere if more CO2, which is generated by fossil-fuel burning, flows into the atmosphere (and is stored) than flows out (into the ocean or into the biosphere for photosynthesis)? Pick the best answer.

a source Signup and view all the answers

Which one of the following best describes the Jet Stream?

A river of fast-moving air ~10 km high in the atmosphere that flows between the high- and low-pressure regions in the mid-latitudes. Signup and view all the answers

Are the greenhouse effect and global warming interchangeable terms?

False Signup and view all the answers

That the rate of C emissions to the atmosphere today is minimally an order of magnitude faster than any naturally driven climate change event in Earth's history.

True Signup and view all the answers

That rapid climate changes can lead to evolutionary innovation, which could be a welcome consequence of modern climate change.

True Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Quiz Questions

CO2 concentration in atmosphere: 417 parts per million
Likely total global warming this century: Between 2.0 and 3.0°C
Comparison of present-day CO2 to past: Higher than any time in the last 14 million years.

Climate Change

Extreme precipitation events: Increasing in frequency and intensity over the past 3 decades.
Causes of extreme precipitation: Warmer atmosphere holding more moisture, deforestation, urban heat, intensified water cycles, shifted atmospheric circulation patterns.
Warming and CO2: 1.2°C average warming since Industrial Revolution.
Factors preventing further warming: Land absorbing excess heat (half), clouds reflecting heat (over half) ocean absorbing heat (~90%).
Ice Sheets and Glaciers: Absorbing heat, melting, contributing to sea-level rise.
Ocean Absorption of Heat: ~90% of excess heat from increased CO2.

Earth System Interactions

Atmosphere's role (reservoir): Reservoir for CO2 and other gases.
CO2 increase: When flows of CO2 into the atmosphere are more than flows out.
Feedback loops: Example: Warmer temperatures lead to increased evaporation, more moisture in the air, and thus, more intense precipitation events.

Modern Climate Change

Unprecedented conditions: Rate of environmental change is faster than past periods of major change.
Human Role: Humans now significantly impact environmental systems.
Wildfire activity in western US: Climate change, warmer temperatures, dry soils, and strong winds related.
Heat energy transfer: Through different Earth reservoirs.
How climate change is affecting the atmosphere: Describes how the atmosphere is a reservoir, and what happens when there is a net flow of CO2 into the air.
Atmospheric composition: O2 and N2 make up most of the atmosphere but don't absorb heat. CO2 (greenhouse gas) absorbs the shorter wavelengths of energy, contributing significantly to warming.

The Greenhouse Effect

Natural greenhouse effect: Provides 33°C additional warming.
Enhanced greenhouse effect: Related to fossil fuel burning and rising CO2 levels.
Interchangeable terms? No, natural greenhouse effect describes natural process, while global warming is the consequence of fossil fuel burning and rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere.

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

Definition: An oceanic/atmospheric system in the tropical Pacific.
Impact: Short-term weather variability in western Americas.
Conditions: Drought during El Niño events, and wet conditions during La Niña events.

Water Shortage in California

Water Use: Two-thirds used for agriculture
Climate solutions: Cloud seeding, recharging aquifers, building high-efficiency dams

Climate Change Thresholds

Possible impacts of crossing climate thresholds: Accelerated and worsening impacts, loss of marine ecosystems, loss of food sources.
Methane clathrates: Potentially major climate and environmental change catalyst if they fully melt.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the current trends and impacts of climate change. This quiz covers CO2 concentration, global warming predictions, extreme weather events, and the influence of oceans and ice sheets. Understand how these factors interact within the Earth's system.