CAP Climate Science & Atmospheric Systems 4

Question 1

What is 'carbon budget' in the context of the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target?

Accepted Answer

The cumulative amount of CO₂ that can still be emitted while limiting warming to a given level

Answer

A carbon budget is the maximum cumulative amount of CO₂ emissions consistent with limiting global average temperature rise to a specific level, such as 1.5°C.

Question 2

Which atmospheric circulation system creates the persistent dry zones at approximately 30° latitude north and south, affecting desert distribution?

Accepted Answer

Hadley cells

Answer

Hadley cells drive air upward at the equator (creating tropical rainfall) and downward at approximately 30° latitude, creating subtropical high-pressure zones where major deserts form.

Question 3

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) about 56 million years ago is studied by carbon auditors primarily because it demonstrates:

Accepted Answer

The effects of rapid large-scale carbon release on global temperature

Answer

The PETM, during which ~3,000–7,000 GtC was released and temperatures rose 5–8°C, serves as a geological analogue for understanding the consequences of rapid carbon release.

Question 4

Which concept describes the long-term warming already 'locked in' due to past greenhouse gas emissions, even if all emissions stopped today?

Accepted Answer

Committed warming (warming in the pipeline)

Answer

Committed warming refers to the additional temperature rise that will occur due to the thermal inertia of the oceans absorbing heat from existing atmospheric GHG concentrations, regardless of future emissions.

Question 5

In carbon auditing, which metric best captures the near-term climate impact of methane emissions compared to CO₂?

Accepted Answer

GWP20 (20-year Global Warming Potential)

Answer

GWP20 reflects methane's much higher near-term warming potency (~80× CO₂ over 20 years) and is increasingly used when assessing near-term climate targets.

(CAP) Certified Carbon Auditing Professional Practice Test

(CAP) Certified Carbon Auditing Professional Practice Test

CAP Climate Science & Atmospheric Systems 4