Our Changing Climate

Which of the following are referred to as greenhouse gases?

• oxygen and carbon dioxide

• water vapor and carbon dioxide

• water vapor and oxygen

• nitrogen and oxygen

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-6

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

What phenomenon naturally warms Earth’s lower atmosphere and surface?

• the greenhouse effect

• the formation of sunspots

• changes in the shape of Earth’s orbit

• global warming

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

Greenhouse gases cause surface temperatures to increase because they

• increase precipitation amounts.

• absorb Earth’s radiation.

• reflect solar radiation.

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

The greenhouse effect is the natural warming of Earth’s

• oceans and land areas.

• surface and freshwater areas.

• lower atmosphere and surface.

• upper atmosphere and surface.

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

Which of the following is NOT true of greenhouse gases?

• They absorb Earth’s radiation.

• They are produced solely by human activities.

• They include carbon dioxide and water vapor.

• They are transparent to incoming solar radiation.

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-6

As CO2 concentrations increase, global average temperatures

• decrease

• increase

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

NGSS.HS-ESS2-6

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

What is the relationship between fossil fuels and the greenhouse effect?

• Burning fossil fuels lowers the greenhouse effect.

• Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

• Burning fossil fuels decreases incoming solar radiation.

• Burning fossil fuels decreases the absorption capacity of greenhouse gases.

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

NGSS.HS-ESS2-6

How are the layers of the atmosphere defined?

• Temperature

• Amount of gases

• Altitude

• Density

Over the past 200 years, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has

• stayed about the same.

• increased steadily.

• increased until recently, and then decreased.

• decreased slightly.

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-6

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

Which greenhouse gas is the most powerful absorber of radiation emitted by Earth?

• carbon dioxide

• methane

• water vapor

• nitrogen