Climate Change Climate Science & Atmospheric Systems 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which atmospheric layer contains the ozone layer that absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation?
- Troposphere
- Stratosphere (Correct answer)
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere
Correct answer: Stratosphere
The stratosphere, extending roughly 12–50 km above Earth, houses the ozone layer which absorbs 97–99% of incoming UV radiation.
Question 2: What is the primary driver of Earth's seasonal climate variations?
- Changes in Earth's distance from the Sun
- The axial tilt of Earth at 23.5 degrees (Correct answer)
- Variations in solar output throughout the year
- Differences in ocean temperature by month
Correct answer: The axial tilt of Earth at 23.5 degrees
Earth's 23.5° axial tilt means different hemispheres receive more direct sunlight at different times of year, causing seasons.
Question 3: Which feedback mechanism amplifies warming by reducing Earth's surface albedo as ice melts?
- Water vapor feedback
- Planck feedback
- Ice-albedo feedback (Correct answer)
- Lapse rate feedback
Correct answer: Ice-albedo feedback
Ice-albedo feedback occurs when melting ice exposes darker ocean or land surfaces that absorb more solar energy, further accelerating warming.
Question 4: What term describes the band of rising air near the equator that drives tropical weather patterns?
- Polar vortex
- Jet stream
- Intertropical Convergence Zone (Correct answer)
- Hadley cell
Correct answer: Intertropical Convergence Zone
The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is a belt of low pressure near the equator where trade winds meet, causing persistent convection and rainfall.
Question 5: How does ocean heat capacity affect regional climate compared to land?
- Oceans warm and cool more rapidly than land
- Oceans moderate temperatures by absorbing and releasing heat slowly (Correct answer)
- Land areas near coasts experience more extreme temperature swings
- Ocean areas have higher average annual temperatures than inland regions
Correct answer: Oceans moderate temperatures by absorbing and releasing heat slowly
Water's high specific heat capacity causes oceans to absorb and release heat slowly, moderating coastal climates and reducing temperature extremes.
Question 6: Which process describes how CO₂ and other greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere?
- They reflect incoming solar radiation back to space
- They absorb and re-emit outgoing infrared radiation toward Earth's surface (Correct answer)
- They increase the density of the atmosphere to slow heat escape
- They convert UV radiation into visible light that warms surfaces
Correct answer: They absorb and re-emit outgoing infrared radiation toward Earth's surface
Greenhouse gases absorb longwave (infrared) radiation emitted by Earth's surface and re-emit it in all directions, including downward, warming the surface.
Question 7: What is the significance of the 'Keeling Curve' in climate science?
- It tracks global average surface temperatures since 1850
- It shows the continuous rise of atmospheric CO₂ concentrations since 1958 (Correct answer)
- It measures sea level rise at Mauna Loa Observatory
- It plots Arctic ice extent over the satellite era
Correct answer: It shows the continuous rise of atmospheric CO₂ concentrations since 1958
The Keeling Curve, named for Charles David Keeling, is the continuous CO₂ record from Mauna Loa Observatory showing both seasonal cycles and the long-term upward trend since 1958.
Climate Change Climate Science & Atmospheric Systems 2
Which atmospheric layer contains the ozone layer that absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation?