How are hurricanes linked to global climate change?
Hurricane strength and rainfall is highly correlated with ocean temperature
The colder the ocean, the stronger the hurricane
The colder the ocean, the more rainfall occurs
How will extreme weather affect humans?
Severe weather and moderate rainfall are increasing. Increases in temperature are expected to cause a higher frequency of the most severe storms.
Decreases in temperature are expected to cause a lower frequency of the most severe storms.
Severe weather and moderate rainfall are decreasing. Decreases in temperature are expected to cause a higher frequency of the most severe storms.
How much have glaciers retreated since the end of the 19th century?
50%
100%
200%
If glaciers melt, what environmental damages does this cause?
Landslides, flash floods and glacial lake overflow, but also increases annual variation in water flows in rivers.
Less water in aquifers and therefore less water for agriculture
Droughts from lack of evaporation and lack of rainfall
How are the Hindu-Kush related to glaciers?
All of the glaciers in the Hindu-Kush area are growing in size
There are no glaciers in the Hindu-Kush area
The Hindu-Kush and glaciers in that area are melting
What causes the sea level to rise?
With decreasing average global temperature, the water in the oceans decreases in volume, and more water is frozen in glaciers
With increasing average global temperature, the water in the oceans decreases in volume, and more water is frozen in glaciers
With increasing average global temperature, the water in the oceans expands in volume, and additional water enters them which had previously been locked up on land in glaciers and ice sheets.
How high has the sea level rose since the Last Glacial Maximum 20,000 years ago?
more than 120 meters
more than 1,200 meters
more than 20 meters
Why doesn’t ice melt happen in a gradual and linear process?
The ice sheets can suddenly destabilize when a certain threshold is exceeded
The ice sheets can rapidly freeze because of increasing temperatures
The ice sheets will always melt evenly due to high temperatures
How does sea level rise affect humans and other organisms?
Sea level rise will make ocean travel easier and shipping easier
Seal level rise will make it easier to catch fish in big cities
Sea level rise will cause inland flooding and destroy ecosystems
How does the ocean become more acidic?
Write the chemical reaction for ocean acidification below the MCQ.
The oceans soak up much of the O2 because the increased amount of O2 in the atmosphere is at equilibrium with the ocean
The oceans absorb the CO2 released by marine organisms as they breathe out during respiration
The oceans soak up much of the CO2 because the increased amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is at equilibrium with the ocean
Is the ocean a sink or source of carbon?
Neither
Sink
Source
Both
What does ocean acidification do to coral reefs?
Keeps the pH of the surrounding water at a level ideal for coral to survive
Bleaches the coral and kills it
Helps it grow a stronger skeleton
Why will the polar regions be more affected by this phenomenon?
cold water absorbs CO2 more readily than warmer water
cold water absorbs less CO2 than warmer water
cold water absorbs the same amount of CO2 as warmer water
How will methane be released from peat bogs?
The creation of peat bogs sequesters large quantities of methane
The melting of peat bogs permafrost is likely to lead to the release, over decades, of large quantities of methane
The melting of peat bogs permafrost is likely to absorb large quantities of methane
What is a methane hydrate?
a form of water ice that contains a large amount of methane within its crystal structure
a form of liquid that contains a large amount of methane within its solution
a form of gas that contains a large amount of methane within its compound
How are methane hydrates linked to global climate change?
The sudden creation of methane hydrates due to an ice age has caused climate change in the past
The sudden release of large amounts of natural gas from methane hydrates, in a runaway global warming event, has been hypothesized as a cause of past and possibly future climate changes.
The gradual release of large amounts of methane hydrates has caused stable temperatures for thousands of years
Why is methane a more “effective” greenhouse gas when compared to carbon dioxide?
Methane has the same potency as a greenhouse gas compared to CO2
Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2
Methane is a less potent greenhouse gas than CO2
Why will hotter temperatures lead to more human deaths?
People with heart problems are vulnerable because one's cardiovascular system must work harder to keep the body cool during hot weather, people will have issues with heat exhaustion, and some respiratory problems increase.
People have lived in hot places for thousands of years and will adapt to warmer temperatures
People evolved to live in very cold places and will instantly die when the temperature increases above a certain temperature
Why will diseases increase with higher temperatures?
Vectors of diseases will spread into new ares with higher temperatures
Higher temperatures kill organisms that spread diseases
Colder temperatures kill organisms that spread diseases
What diseases are likely to move into Europe, so says the WHO?
People-borne diseases from things like humans
Insect-borne diseases from things like ticks and sandflies
Reptile-borne diseases from things like snakes and alligators
How are polar bears affected by global climate change?
They prefer to hunt in the ocean, which is no longer covered by ice
They prefer to hunt on land, which is no longer covered by snow
They prefer to hunt on sea ice, which is ice-free now three weeks longer than it has been previously
How would marine invertebrates be affected?
The change in temperature will not affect marine organisms because they've adapted to live in the ocean
Marine invertebrates enjoy peak growth at the temperatures they have adapted to, regardless of how cold these may be
Marine invertebrates can quickly adapt to any change and will be uneffected
How are coral reefs affected by warmer temperatures and acidification?
Coral bleaching which leads to coral death
Coral decrease which leads to coral decreasing in size
Coral intensification which leads to increases in coral
What is coral bleaching?
Coral bleaching occurs when coral spend too much time in the sun and get burned
Coral bleaching occurs when parrotfish eat the skeletons of coral and become white
Coral bleaching occurs when zooxanthellae abandon corals in response to high temperatures.
Effects of Climate Change
More Droughts and Heat Waves
Droughts and heatwaves everywhere are projected to become more intense, and cold waves less intense everywhere. Summer temperatures are projected to continue rising.
Hurricanes Will Become Stronger and More Intense
The intensity and amount of hurricanes, as well as the strength of hurricanes (Category 4 and 5), are projected to increase as the climate continues to warm.
Glaciers & Ice Will Melt
Because of increased temperatures, glaciers will continue to melt and disappear. Since the 19th century, the surface area of all glaciers on earth has decreased by almost 50%! The Arctic Ocean is expected to become essentially ice-free in summer before mid-century.
Sea Level Will Rise
As a result of melting glaciers & ice, sea levels on earth are projected to from 1 to 8 feet by 2100. The picture to the right shows what would happen if all of the ice on earth melted, scary huh?
Ocean Acidification
We know that the ocean REMOVES/takes out carbon from the atmosphere during “ocean exchange”.
As the amount of carbon dioxide increases in the atmosphere, so does the amount of carbon in the ocean (because the ocean is absorbing it). The more carbon dioxide in the ocean, the more acidic the water becomes, which kills plant and animal life!
Increase in CO2 in atmosphere à Increase in CO2 in the ocean --> More acidic ocean à animals and plants dying
Effects of Climate Change In Texas:
Increased heat, drought, and insect outbreaks, all linked to climate change, have increased wildfires. Declining water supplies, reduced agricultural yields, health impacts in cities due to heat, and flooding and erosion in coastal areas are additional concerns.
How Climate Change Will affect our Everyday life:
1. Damage to your home
Floods, the most common and deadly natural disasters in the U.S., will be intensified by sea-level rise and extreme weather. FEMA estimated that even one inch of floodwater in an average-sized home could cost homeowners almost $27,000 in damages.
2. Food will be more expensive and variety may suffer
Extreme weather affects livestock and crops, and droughts can have impacts on the stability and price of food. As temperatures warm and precipitation increases, more bacteria will thrive and affect plant health; in addition, more food will spoil.
3. Higher electric bills and more blackouts
As temperatures rise, people will need to stay cool for health and comfort reasons. The increased demand for electricity, especially during peak periods, can also over-tax the electrical grid, triggering brownouts or blackouts. Extreme weather, such as hurricanes, heat waves, or snowstorms, can cause power outages too.
4. Outdoor work & recreation could become unbearable
With continued global warming, heat waves are expected to increase in frequency, length, and intensity. People who work outdoors, such as construction workers, miners, firefighters, and agricultural workers, will be most affected by increasing temperatures. Not to mention playing, working out, or even just relaxing outside may not be possible.
Question 25
25.
Question 26
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Question 27
27.
Question 28
28.
Question 29
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Question 30
30.
What will happen to the amount of droughts and heat waves if climate change continues?
There will be no droughts
There will be more droughts and more heat waves
There will be less droughts and heat waves
There will be shorter heat waves
Which of the following is NOT TRUE about hurricanes if climate change continues
The temperature of hurricanes will decrease
The intensity/strength of hurricanes will increase
The amount of hurricanes will increase
Which statement is true about ice/glaciers if climate change continues?
Because temperatures are decreasing more glaciers will be created
Because temperatures are increasing, less glaciers will melt
Because the temperature is increasing, more glaciers will disappear
Which of the following is true about sea levels if climate change continues?
The sea level will stay the same because no ice is melting
The sea level will rise because ice is melting
The sea level will drop because ice is melting
Zoom in on the picture (or scroll back to the top to see a bigger version) Which of the following cities would be under water if all the ice melted? (there is more than one answer)
(Select 4 correct answers)
Denver
Washington DC
Miami
Houston
New Orleans
Which of the following statements is NOT true ?
The oceans remove carbon from the atmosphere
As the amount of carbon dioxide in the ocean increases, the ocean becomes more acidic
Ocean acidification kills plants and animals
The ocean has nothing to do with the carbon cycle or carbon dioxide
The more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere the more carbon in the ocean
