Natural Causes of Climate Change

Which of the following statements best describes the term "climate"?

The average conditions in the atmosphere of a very large geographic area over at least a 30 year time period
The conditions in the atmosphere right now
The temperature and levels of precipitation over the past 30 years
The average conditions in the atmosphere of a very large geographic area

According to most ecologists, how many distinct climate zones are there in British Columbia?

5
1
9
14

What name is given to regions with very specific types of plant life, soils, geography, and climate?

Biogeoclimatic zones
Time zones
Climate zones
Subduction zones

What type of scientist studies fossils, very old sediments and rings in tree trunks to determine ancient atmospheric conditions in a certain area?

Paleoclimatologist
Ecologist
Paleotologist
Paleophysicist

Certain areas of Earth receive direct sunlight all year long. Other areas receive direct sunlight for many hours during one part of the year, but receive far less non-direct sunlight during another part of the year. Because of this, different amounts of solar radiation reach different areas during different times of the year.

What characteristic of Earth's climate does the paragraph above best describe?

The tilt of the Earth on its axis
The rotation of the Earth on its axis
The revolution of the Moon around Earth
The direction and speed of the ocean currents

What is the main difference between the origins of La Niña and El Niño?

La Niña occurs when deep, cold water rises in the eastern Pacific ocean; El Niño occurs when ocean waters get very warm off the coast of South America
La Niña causes cooler weather in British Columbia; El Niño causes warmer weather in British Columbia
La Niña occurs when ocean waters get very warm off the coast of South America; El Niño occurs when deep, cold water rises in the eastern Pacific ocean
La Niña causes warmer weather in British Columbia; El Niño causes cooler weather in British Columbia

Earth currently is tilting on its axis at approximately 23.5° as it rotates. If Earth was tilted 90° in the same direction that it is right now, which of the following statements would be true about British Columbia?

B.C. would have very cold winters with no daylight and very hot summers with no darkness
B.C. would have very mild winters with no daylight and very mild summers with no darkness
B.C. would have very mild winters and very mild summers with equal amounts of daylight and darkness all year long
B.C. would have very cold winters and very cold summers with equal amounts of daylight and darkness all year long

As solar radiation strikes Earth’s surface, much of the energy redirected off Earth’s surface and back towards space. Before it escapes Earth’s atmosphere, though, much of the reflected thermal energy is absorbed by atmospheric gases. This keeps Earth much warmer than it would be otherwise, and also keeps the global temperatures in a much more narrow range than they would without an atmosphere.

What is the name of the condition described above?

The natural greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect
Global warming
The ozone layer

Use the following illustration to answer this question.

At which location would residents currently be enjoying their summer, while remembering how chilly the past winter had been?

T
Q
R
S

Which of the following could be classified as a catastrophic event with the potential to cause mass extinctions due to climate change?

A meteorite or comet striking Earth's surface
A large underwater volcanic eruption
A large earthquake
A large tsunami

Natural Causes of Climate Change - Section 11.1 Quiz