CLIMATE CHANGE TRIVIA

How does the greenhouse effect work?

• Greenhouse gases reflect the sun's energy, causing it to warm the Earth.

• Greenhouse gases directly warm oceans and cause dramatic weather.

• Greenhouse gases absorb the sun's energy, slowing or preventing heat from escaping into space.

• Oceans absorb greenhouse gases, which cause the Earth's temperature to rise.

Which gas(es) below is/are NOT primarily considered a greenhouse gas? [Choose 1 to 5 options.]

• Carbon dioxide

• Carbon monoxide

• Nitrous oxide

• Methane

• Nitrogen dioxide

Answer explanation

How much have global average temperatures increased in the last century?

• 2°F

• 2°C

• 5°C

• 5°F

Answer explanation

That is about 1°C. [Source: NASA Climate Resource]

The periods in Earth’s history when climate alternated between very cold periods, during which glaciers covered large parts of the world and very warm periods during which many of the glaciers melted.

Why does global warming cause sea levels to rise? [Choose 1 to 4 options.]

• Warm ocean water expands more.

• Increased seismic activity in the ocean leads to warmer temperatures.

• Glacial ice is melted and this adds to the volume of the ocean.

• The Earth's core expands in warm temperatures, elevating the ocean floor.

Where have some of the strongest and earliest impacts of global warming occurred?

• The tropics

• The Northern latitudes

• The subtropics

Answer explanation

Some of the fastest-warming regions on the planet include Alaska, Greenland and Siberia. These Arctic environments are highly sensitive to even small temperature increases, which can melt sea ice, ice sheets and permafrost, and lead to changes in Earth's reflectance ("albedo"). [Source: NASA Climate resource]

As air pollution continues to be released into the atmosphere, what becomes more depleted, resulting in an increase of ultraviolet radiation on earth?

• coral reefs

• rainforests

• ozone layer

• groundwater

Even without human activity, there is naturally occurring greenhouse effect. Without it, the Earth would be ____________.

• 6 to 11°C warmer

• 6 to 11°C cooler

• 28 to 33°C warmer

• 28 to 33°C cooler

Answer explanation

The natural greenhouse effect warms the Earth's surface with energy from the atmosphere. Without the effect, Earth's average surface temperature would be well below freezing.

What's concerning is the current rate of warming due to human activity.

[Source: NASA Climate resource]

As average global temperature rises, ___________.

• average precipitation increases

• average precipitation decreases

• average precipitation decreases

Answer explanation

Higher temperatures give rise to a more active water cycle, which means faster and greater evaporation and precipitation and more extreme weather events. [Source: NASA Climate resource]

A carbon ________ is the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, event, organization, service, place or product.