Earth System Science and Climate Change Quiz
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a key factor contributing to the Anthropocene era?

  • The burning of fossil fuels
  • The “Great Acceleration”
  • The Industrial Revolution
  • The development of agriculture (correct)

The Kyoto Protocol, a key international agreement on climate change, aimed to:

  • Establish a global carbon tax to incentivize emissions reductions
  • Eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
  • Reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases by a certain percentage compared to 1990 levels (correct)
  • Fund developing countries to transition to renewable energy sources

What is the primary focus of the Green New Deal?

  • Promoting population control measures to reduce environmental impact
  • Imposing stricter regulations on industries that produce greenhouse gases
  • Investing in renewable energy sources and green infrastructure (correct)
  • Developing new technologies to capture and store carbon dioxide

Which of the following is NOT a current source of fossil fuel energy?

<p>Wind power (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Geoengineering refers to:

<p>Designing new technologies to capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes the ‘Great Acceleration’?

<p>A dramatic increase in global economic activity, consumption, and environmental impact, starting in the mid-20th century (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the major focus of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)?

<p>To develop international agreements to limit greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key differences between the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement?

<p>The Kyoto Protocol focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from industrialized countries, while the Paris Agreement sets targets for all countries (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a subsystem of the Earth as described in the text?

<p>Cryosphere (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Earth System Science (ESS)?

<p>Understanding the interactions between Earth's subsystems and their influence on climate (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are 'forcings' in the context of climate change?

<p>External factors that alter the Earth's climate system (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do the Earth's subsystems influence weather and climate?

<p>Subsystems interact with each other, causing changes in weather and climate at various scales. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of Earth System Science (ESS) that makes it useful for both scientists and non-specialists?

<p>It offers a simplified but accurate framework for understanding climate and climate change. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How are 'positive feedbacks' and 'negative feedbacks' related to forcings in the climate system?

<p>Feedbacks amplify or dampen the effects of forcings on the climate system. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario exemplifies the interaction between the hydrosphere and other subsystems on a small scale?

<p>A single stream drying up, altering a local ecosystem. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the statement "the interactions between those factors complicate the situation exponentially" in the context of climate change?

<p>It emphasizes the difficulty of predicting future climate patterns with certainty. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What year is suggested as an appropriate marker for the start of current warming trends in the climate?

<p>1950 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term is used to describe the current significant changes in climate as a result of human activity?

<p>Anthropocene (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one method scholars use to combine climate history with existing historical narratives?

<p>Identifying notable junctures (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common way to narrate the history of China over several millennia?

<p>Timeline of successive dynasties (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which historical narrative is commonly associated with the Mediterranean World?

<p>From the Greek Empire to the Roman Empire (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do professional historians often do with narratives about global history?

<p>Tell stories surrounding global events (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of social events do scholars find correlations with climatic conditions?

<p>Mass revolts (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What challenge do scholars face regarding the mid-twentieth century's status as an epochal change?

<p>Scholars are debating its implications (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one way scholars use narrative records in climate studies?

<p>To assess glacier growth or recession (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What has been a debated factor influencing grain prices according to scholars?

<p>Weather conditions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do scholars interpret narrative records that mention extreme weather events?

<p>As indirect indicators of climate conditions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What limitation do narrative records have compared to scientific instruments?

<p>They lack systematic temperature data (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why might scholars argue that grain prices do not accurately reflect weather conditions?

<p>Many unrelated factors can influence prices (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does scholarly debate contribute to the study of climate history?

<p>It promotes the development of refined methods (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way is the growth of glaciers used as a proxy in climate studies?

<p>To suggest that temperatures are declining (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of experts have scholars become by focusing on specific source types?

<p>Professionally trained specialists (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the current geological epoch we still live in according to the formal geological time scale?

<p>Holocene (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do scholars propose using the term 'Anthropocene' despite its lack of formal recognition by geologists?

<p>It provides an important framework for understanding human impact. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do historians adapt their narratives in light of new information?

<p>They revise their stories for accuracy. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What challenge do geologists face before formally recognizing the Anthropocene?

<p>The process requires a high standard of evidence. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one method historians use to integrate climate and human history?

<p>Overlaying the two histories for comparison. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a reason some scientists are cautious about officially declaring the Anthropocene?

<p>It challenges existing geological frameworks. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is mapping climate history onto existing narratives important for scholars?

<p>It aids in understanding how climate has influenced civilizations. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the revision process used by historians indicate about their practices?

<p>They value and adapt to evolving knowledge. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between the timeline of human history and the timeline of the Earth's climate history?

<p>Earth's climate history is much longer than human history. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is cited as a key reason for the merging of the study of human history and the study of climate change?

<p>The increasing awareness of the relationship between human activities and climate change. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the author describe the impact humans have on the Earth's climate?

<p>Humans have a significant impact on the Earth's climate, occurring on a much faster timescale than natural processes. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is Rachel Carson's work, "Silent Spring," relevant to the discussion about the Anthropocene?

<p>It highlighted the ability of humans to significantly alter ecosystems in a short period. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a significant factor in the timeline of Earth's climate history as discussed in the text?

<p>Human activities like deforestation and burning fossil fuels (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the author characterize the current state of climate change?

<p>A human-induced phenomenon occurring on a rapid timescale. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the author's main argument about the study of human history and climate change?

<p>These histories can be combined to form a more holistic understanding of the Earth's past. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the author imply about the potential consequences of the current state of climate change?

<p>Human activities have the potential to significantly alter the Earth's climate system. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Earth's Subsystems

The Earth's interconnected parts that influence weather and climate. Think of it like the organs of a body.

Geosphere

The solid, rocky part of the Earth. This includes mountains, rocks, and soil.

Hydrosphere

All the water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and ice.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases that surrounds the Earth. This is where we breathe.

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Biosphere

All living things on Earth, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

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Forcings

External forces that change the climate, like volcanic eruptions or changes in solar radiation.

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Positive Feedbacks

Reactions that amplify or worsen the effects of climate change. Think of a snowball rolling down a hill.

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Negative Feedbacks

Reactions that moderate or lessen the effects of climate change. Think of a thermostat.

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Anthropocene

The period in history when human activities, primarily fueled by burning fossil fuels, began significantly influencing the Earth's climate.

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Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from human activities, primarily burning fossil fuels for energy, leading to global warming.

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The History of Oil Extraction

The extraction and use of oil from the Earth, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and a fundamental driver of the Anthropocene.

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The "Great Acceleration"

The dramatic increase in human impact on Earth's systems, including climate change, starting in the mid-20th century, driven by technological advancements and population growth.

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Current Sources of Fossil Fuels

The primary sources of energy consumed by humans, primarily coal, oil, and natural gas, which contribute to the release of greenhouse gases.

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Climate Change Agreements

International agreements aimed at addressing climate change through various measures, including emission reductions, adaptation, and technology development.

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Mitigating the Climate Crisis

Strategies and technologies aiming to mitigate the effects of climate change, including renewable energy sources, carbon capture, and energy-efficient technologies.

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Geoengineering

Technologies that attempt to directly manipulate Earth's climate system to combat climate change, often with significant risks and uncertainties.

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Climate Proxies

Information from historical records that can be used to estimate past climate conditions, even if they don't directly measure temperature, rainfall, or snowfall.

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Narrative Records

Historical records that describe events like glacier growth, river levels, or extreme weather events.

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Proxy Analysis

A method of studying past climate using proxies like glacier growth to infer general trends.

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Grain Prices as Climate Proxies

A correlation exists between certain weather conditions and how well crops grow, affecting grain prices.

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Geological Time Scale

The official geological time scale used by scientists to categorize Earth's history.

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Specialists in Climate History

Different specialists focused on studying particular types of sources, such as scientists, social scientists, and historians.

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Holocene

The current epoch in the geological time scale, which began after the last ice age.

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Debating Source Interpretation

The process of analyzing and debating the best ways to use sources to study climate history.

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Reconstructing Past Climate

The use of historical data to reconstruct climate trends over time.

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Scientific Revision

A rigorous scientific process where researchers constantly review and update their understanding based on new evidence.

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Integrating Climate History

The process of incorporating new information about climate history into existing historical narratives.

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Multi-Source Analysis

Analyzing different types of sources to gain a more complete understanding of climate history.

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Mapping Climate onto Narratives

One method of combining climate data and historical accounts, placing one over the other for comparison.

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Climate's Role in History

The potential influence of climate on past civilizations and its relevance to our current understanding.

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Dynamic Process of Understanding Climate History

A term used to emphasize the ongoing, dynamic research and exploration of climate's role in human history.

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What is the Anthropocene?

The term Anthropocene refers to the current geological epoch, characterized by significant human impact on the Earth's systems, particularly climate change.

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Why is 1950 significant in the context of the Anthropocene?

The year 1950 is often considered the starting point of the Anthropocene due to the rapid warming trends observed in the climate since then.

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How do historians typically structure historical narratives?

Historians often divide history into stages based on political developments, like dynasties or empires, to understand historical narratives.

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What is climate history?

Climate history focuses on the role of climate change in influencing historical events and societal development.

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How can climate history be integrated with existing historical narratives?

Scholars often investigate correlations between climate events and historical turning points, like the transition from one dynasty to another.

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How can climate change influence social events?

Periods of climate change, such as drought or warming trends, can have significant social consequences, potentially causing mass revolts or migrations.

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Why is the term 'Anthropocene' important?

The term 'anthropocene' makes it easier for people to discuss and understand the implications of human-caused climate change.

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What is the significance of studying climate history?

By studying the relationship between climate and history, we gain deeper insights into human societies and the forces that shape our world.

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Deep Time

The study of Earth's climate changes over millions of years, often involving natural factors like volcanic eruptions and variations in solar radiation.

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Incongruent Chronological Scales

The disparity between human history, a few thousand years, and Earth's geological history, spanning millions of years.

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Human-Accelerated Change

Commercial pesticides and other human actions causing rapid environmental changes, contrasting with slow, natural changes over decades or generations.

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Silent Spring's Impact

Rachel Carson's book highlighting the rapid impact of human activities, like pesticide use, on ecosystems, demonstrating the scale of human influence.

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Intertwining Human and Earth's Histories

The process of integrating human history and the Earth's history to understand climate change.

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Greenhouse Effect

Gases like carbon dioxide trapping heat in the atmosphere, causing the planet to warm up.

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Global Warming

The ongoing human-induced increase in global temperature, leading to more extreme weather events.

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Study Notes

United States Academic Decathlon Resource Guide

  • This resource guide is for students participating in the United States Academic Decathlon.
  • The guide focuses on climate change in the past and present.
  • The vision of the United States Academic Decathlon® is to provide students with the opportunity to excel academically through team competition.
  • Contact information for USAD is provided.
  • Copyright information and restrictions on reproduction are included.

Table of Contents

  • The guide includes an introduction and four sections:
    • Conceptualizing Climate Change in the Past and Present
    • Humans in the Holocene
    • The Anthropocene
    • Responding to the Climate Crisis
  • Each section is further subdivided into subsections with specific topics.

Section I: Conceptualizing Climate Change in the Past and the Present

  • Section I introduces key concepts in Earth System Science (ESS).
  • ESS sees the Earth as a single system with interconnected components (geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere)
  • Understanding climate change requires considering how these systems interact.
  • The guide also describes methods for reconstructing past climates and climate change.
  • This includes using archives of nature, like ice cores and tree rings, and archives of human society, such as records of temperature and other data.
  • The section details the concept of the Anthropocene, a proposed new geological epoch in which human activities are a major factor in climate change.

Section II: Humans in the Holocene

  • The Holocene, a current geological epoch, began around 11,700 years ago.
  • This period saw the development and growth of various human societies.
  • This included early agricultural societies in regions like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and India.
  • The section explores the relationship between climate and the rise and fall of civilizations.
  • It also discusses the interplay between climate changes and human adaptation.

Section III: The Anthropocene

  • The Anthropocene is a proposed geological epoch beginning in the mid-20th century.
  • The significant increase in human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, marked this epoch.
  • This section details the causes of the Anthropocene, highlighting the role of fossil fuel use, and the impact on the Earth System.
  • This includes the increase of greenhouse gases like CO2 in the atmosphere.

Section IV: Responding to the Climate Crisis

  • This section describes the development of awareness of the climate crisis
  • This section details the research programs and policies created to combat climate change.
  • The increasing evidence of the impacts of climate change and efforts to mitigate it
  • The role of scientific organizations and individuals in raising public awareness.
  • The development of international agreements, like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
  • The role of political parties and business in responding to the climate crisis.
  • The role of climate activists in bringing attention to the plight of the environment.

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