CCP Climate Change Science & Modeling 3

Question 1

Which component of the climate system has the largest heat capacity and therefore the greatest influence on moderating temperature change?

Accepted Answer

The ocean

Answer

The ocean stores ~93% of the excess heat in the climate system due to water's high heat capacity and vast volume.

Question 2

In General Circulation Models (GCMs), what does 'resolution' refer to?

Accepted Answer

The spatial grid spacing and temporal time steps used in calculations

Answer

Model resolution refers to the size of the grid cells (horizontal and vertical) and the time step length, which determine the scale of processes that can be explicitly represented.

Question 3

What is 'climate sensitivity' most commonly defined as?

Accepted Answer

The equilibrium global mean temperature rise from a doubling of atmospheric CO₂

Answer

Equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) is the long-term global mean surface temperature increase resulting from a sustained doubling of CO₂ relative to pre-industrial levels.

Question 4

Which process best explains why the stratosphere has cooled while the troposphere has warmed due to increased CO₂?

Accepted Answer

CO₂ trapping outgoing radiation in the troposphere, reducing energy reaching the stratosphere

Answer

Increased CO₂ absorbs more outgoing longwave radiation in the troposphere, reducing the energy available to heat the stratosphere, causing stratospheric cooling—a key fingerprint of greenhouse warming.

Question 5

What is 'ocean acidification' caused by?

Accepted Answer

Absorption of atmospheric CO₂ forming carbonic acid in seawater

Answer

Oceans absorb about 25% of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, which reacts with water to form carbonic acid, lowering ocean pH.

(CCP) Certified Climate Change Professional Practice Test

(CCP) Certified Climate Change Professional Practice Test

CCP Climate Change Science & Modeling 3