Effects of La Niña and El Niño on Global Temperatures

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According to the passage, which of the following factors may play an important role in climate change, but its influence is highly uncertain at the present time?

Methane

Nitrous oxide

Carbon dioxide

Aerosols and land use change (correct)

What is the most recent cool period in Earth's history described in the passage?

The Medieval Warm Period

The Pleistocene glaciation

The Younger Dryas

The Little Ice Age (correct)

According to the passage, what has been happening to global temperatures since the turn of the 20th century?

Temperatures have been declining steadily throughout the world

Temperatures have been increasing in some regions and decreasing in others

Temperatures have been rising steadily throughout the world (correct)

Temperatures have been fluctuating with no clear trend

How do the passages describe the relationship between greenhouse gases and Earth's climate?

The heat-trapping property of greenhouse gases is undisputed, but there are uncertainties about exactly how Earth's climate responds to them Signup and view all the answers

According to the passage, how might deserts expand in the future?

Both b and c Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Figure 2 in the passage?

To provide an example of a Monthly Mean Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) product used to study global climate change Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that causes coastal areas to be cooler and wetter than inland areas?

The distance from the sea Signup and view all the answers

How do warm ocean currents affect the climate of nearby coastal regions?

They warm the air above the ocean, leading to warmer temperatures on the coast Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the direction of prevailing winds is true?

There are three major wind patterns in the Northern Hemisphere and three in the Southern Hemisphere Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of the large range of temperatures experienced in the center of continents?

The distance from the sea Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about global warming is true?

It is not yet clear how much global warming is due to natural causes versus human activities Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is NOT mentioned in the text as influencing regional climate variations?

Elevation Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary factor that contributed to the record heat in 2020, despite the prevailing La Niña conditions?

The increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason that the year 2020 was almost as warm as the record-setting year 2016, despite the opposite ENSO conditions?

The continued warming trend caused by climate change Signup and view all the answers

How much has the Earth's average temperature risen since the 1880s?

More than 2 degrees Fahrenheit Signup and view all the answers

What is the expected global average temperature increase above pre-industrial levels by 2025, according to the WMO report?

1.5 degrees Celsius Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary reason that 2020 was effectively tied with 2016 as the hottest year on record, according to the text?

The continued increase in greenhouse gas emissions Signup and view all the answers

What is the expected impact of future climate changes, according to the text?

Both a warmer atmosphere and ocean, as well as higher sea levels and precipitation changes Signup and view all the answers