Earth's Subsystems Quiz

What does the Greek word for "lithosphere" mean?

• Water

• Air

• Rock or stone

• Life

What is the time scale called that involves millions and billions of years for Earth's changes?

• Biological time scale

• Geological time scale

• Meteorological time scale

• Historical time scale

What is the cryosphere?

• A type of cloud

• A subsystem of the hydrosphere that includes ice

• A layer of the atmosphere

• A type of ocean current

What is the role of the cryosphere in the hydrosphere?

• It is unrelated to the hydrosphere

• It includes all the water vapor

• It includes ice and snow

• It includes only freshwater

What is the significance of the atmosphere in climate change?

• It has no significance

• It helps in the formation of rocks

• It affects climate change through the greenhouse effect

• It only affects weather patterns

What is the Earth's climate system described as?

• A closed system.

• An open system.

• A static system.

• A simple system.

What does the Earth's climate system involve?

• Only the atmosphere.

• Interactions between various parts of the four subsystems.

• Only the biosphere.

• Only the hydrosphere.

What does the term "open system" imply about the Earth's climate system?

• It is self-contained.

• It interacts with external factors.

• It is isolated from external influences.

• It is closed to solar energy.

What is the relationship between the Earth's movement and climate change?

• It has no effect

• It has been a driver for hundreds of thousands of years

• It only affects the weather

• It causes earthquakes

What do the Milankovitch cycles steer the Earth's climate into and out of?

• Droughts

• Ice ages

• Floods

• Earthquakes