Spheres & Asteroids
Identify the Earth sphere that contains all frozen water, glaciers, and ice caps on the planet.
Cryosphere
What is the primary source of energy that drives Earth's weather patterns and global climate systems?
Sun
True or False: Water has a higher specific heat capacity than land/sand, meaning it takes more energy to heat up and cools down more slowly
True
Name the primary greenhouse gas released by burning fossil fuels that traps outgoing reradiated thermal energy in Earth's atmosphere
CO2 -or- carbon dioxide
Name two natural hazards increased by rising global temperatures.
Hurricanes, Wildfires, Droughts, or Coastal Floods
When the Chicxulub asteroid struck Earth 66 million years ago, it threw massive dust clouds into the air that blocked solar radiation. Identify the two spheres interacting in this initial event
Geosphere and Atmosphere
Which geographic factor explains why the Equator is warmer than the Poles?
Latitude -or- direct sun rays
Which city will have milder, less extreme temperatures in summer and winter: coastal or inland?
Coastal
What frozen samples do climate scientists drill into to study ancient atmospheres?
Ice Cores
Deforestation removes trees, which directly reduces Earth's capacity to absorb CO2 through which biological process?
Photosynthesis
When dust from an asteroid blocks sunlight and stops plants from growing, which sphere is directly harmed?
Biosphere
Is solar energy being absorbed or reflected in the following scenarios?
-dark ocean water
-white sea ice
-dark ocean water ABSORBS
-white sea ice REFLECTS
What oceanic phenomenon occurs in the tropical Pacific when surface waters become unusually warm, altering global weather and rainfall patterns?
El Nino
Is the following an example of a positive or negative feedback loop? "As global temperatures rise, Arctic ice melts, lowering Earth's reflection (albedo) and causing Earth to absorb even more heat."
Positive Feedback
Does human greenhouse gas pollution cause Earth to retain more or less heat?
More heat
Which force played the main role in holding Earth's atmosphere in place and directing the trajectories of passing celestial objects like asteroids?
Gravity
What type of heat transfer occurs when warm air/water rises and cool air/water sinks?
convection
Do ocean surface currents move warm water toward or away from the poles?
Toward
What type of energy radiation does Earth's surface emit after absorbing sunlight?
Infrared
What digital tools do scientists use to predict future human impacts on Earth's systems?
Global Climate Model
Volcanic ash sent into the air blocks sunlight. Which two spheres are interacting first?
Geosphere & Atmosphere
What phenomenon causes dry desert conditions on the back side of a mountain range?
Rain Shadow Effect
What happens to deep ocean currents if massive amounts of cold freshwater melt into the ocean?
Slow down / Stop
Does a large volcanic ash cloud cause temporary global warming or global cooling?
Cooling
Throughout history, human populations have settled near what critical natural resource?