How things work college course/Global warming quiz 4

The unshuffled version can serve as a pre-reading activity for the Wikipedia article, Global warming (permalink)

See Global warming quizzes for other quizzes devoted to this article. This quiz covers feedback and climate models.

For information on how to print out test copies (and other questions) see How to use testbank.

Global Warming quiz 4- Feedback and climate models

edit

  

1 Changes in ice-albedo refers to changes in

how much CO2 is absorbed by the sun
how much the Earth's surface absorbs or reflects incoming sunlight
how much ice is melted during the summer months

2 The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet until the thermal (infra-red) radiation away the planet rises to match the solar radiation onto the planet

true
false

3 The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet with thermal (infra-red) radiation adding to the other solar radiation onto the planet

true
false

4 Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that more heat is lost from the planet to compensate.

true
false

5 Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that this heat is retained by the planet.

true
false

6 Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with the role of clouds as a feedback mechanism.

true
false

7 Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with how the soil will retain or release CO2 as the earth warms.

true
false

8 Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is easier to model.

true
false

9 Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is more difficult to model.

true
false

10 The cryosphere refers to

the north and south poles
the upper atmosphere
the highest mountains
two of these are true

11 While computer modeling indicate that the warming since 1970 is dominated by man-made greenhouse gas emissions, they are unable to conclusively ascertain whether the warming from 1910 to 1945 was anthropogenic.

true
false

12 Computer modeling has conclusively established that anthropogenic warming has occurred since 1910.

true
false

13 How is the validity of a computer model typically tested?

by verifying its ability to calculate past climate conditions.
all of these are true
by verifying its ability to calculate current climate conditions.
by making predictions about future years and seeing if they come true.