NATS-101 Make-Believe Quiz 3A
FOR M/C SELECT SINGLE BEST ANSWER AMONG CHOICES
This sample quiz covers lecture material and readings from Sept. 27 through Oct. 4 (which will be covered in the midterm exam on Oct. 11)
1. The process whereby nutrient-rich deep waters rise to the surface and support a flourishing shallow-water food web along the west coast of South America is known as .
A. Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) C. El Niño E. tides
B. . thermohaline circulation D. upwelling F. Gulf Stream
2. Albedo is a measure of ____________________.
A. the amount of solar radiation reflected back to space C. how much sea ice has melted in the Arctic
B. the amount of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth D. thermohaline circulation
3. During the Younger Dryas event, thermohaline circulation may have been shut down by which of these mechanisms?
A. increased ocean biomass C. input of glacial meltwater from North America
B. massive biomass extinction in the N. Atlantic D. accelerated activity of the inter-tropical convergence zone
4. The chemical composition of ocean water is dominated by .
A. sodium and chloride C. argon and carbon dioxide
B. nitrogen and oxygen D. potassium and nitrate
5. Surface ocean currents are driven by (1)________ and commonly move in a circular pattern called (2)________.
A. (1) density, (2) downwelling C. (1) wind, (2) gyres E. (1) gravity, (2) tides
B. (1) wind, (2) horse latitudes D. (1) density, (2) upwelling
6. The albedo of fresh snow is ________________.
A. 40-60% B. 75-90% C. 2-6% D. 5-10%
7. The densest ocean water in the world is generated .
A. in the Indian Ocean C. at the tropics E. near the poles
B. near the Bahamas D. at the Equator
8. Which of the following would NOT be associated with Big El Niño events?
A. warm water along West coast of S. America C. record high anchovy catches off the Peru coast
B. high rainfall in southwestern U.S. D. westerly (West to East) winds in tropical Pacific
9. Which of the following would be a negative feedback associated with Arctic warming?
A. melting sea ice decreasing albedo
B. vegetation moving north decreasing albedo
C. methane released from melting permafrost enhancing the greenhouse effect
D. increased precipitation resulting in more fresh water exported to the North Atlantic
10. A teleconnection would best be described as which of the following?
A. conference phone call of global change researchers C. phone solicitation of $ for global change research
B. long-distance linkage of climate events D. Earth monitoring with satellite telescopes
11. Polar bears are at risk from increasing Arctic temperatures because ________.
A. The melting ice makes it harder for them to get to the seals C. melting ice leaves less areas for seals to raise their young
B. melting permafrost makes it harder for them to walk D. both A and C
12. The reason Russia recently planted a flag on the sea floor is because ______.
A. they could
B. they were trying to see what the sea floor looked like at the North Pole
C. they want to claim resources that will become available in an ice free Arctic
D. they were worried about Canada staking claim to the Northwest Passage
13. What is photosynthesis, including its chemical reaction? Why is it important on our planet? How is related to potential energy in food?
14. What would be the feedback loop associated with the melting of sea ice in the Arctic? Is this a positive or a negative feedback?
15. What is "thermohaline" circulation, and how might it be disturbed in the near future to lead to global change (or at least hemispheric change)?
16. What are some of the effects associated with earlier springs in the Arctic? How could changes associated with earlier springs enhance Arctic warming?
17. Where around the world might you expect to find substantially reduced precipitation (drought) associated with El Niño events?