Climate Literacy

Essential Principles Challenge
| Climate System | Causes of Change | Effects of Change |
|----------------|------------------|-------------------|
| 10 points      | 10 points        | 10 points         |
| 20 points      | 20 points        | 20 points         |
| 30 points      | 30 points        | 30 points         |
| 40 points      | 40 points        | 40 points         |
| 50 points      | 50 points        | 50 points         |
| 60 points      | 60 points        | 60 points         |
| 70 points      | 70 points        | 70 points         |
| 80 points      | 80 points        | 80 points         |
| 90 points      | 90 points        | 90 points         |
| 100 points     | 100 points       | 100 points        |

Climate System10 points

The primary source of energy for Earth’s climate system is _____

ANSWER

Climate System20 points

Sunlight that reaches Earth may be reflected by

ANSWER

Climate System30 points

When Earth emits the same amount of energy as it absorbs, what happens to Earth’s average temperature? 

ANSWER

Climate System40 points

When Earth emits the same amount of energy as it absorbs, Earth’s energy budget is

ANSWER

Climate System50 points

The annual cycle of seasons on Earth is the result of

ANSWER

Climate System60 points

How much of Earth’s surface is covered by its ocean?

ANSWER

Climate System70 points

True or False:

The greenhouse effect is an abnormal condition caused by human activity.

ANSWER

Climate System80 points

The minute-by-minute variable condition of the atmosphere on a local scale is called ___

ANSWER

Climate System90 points

What results from interactions that involve the Sun and Earth’s ocean, atmosphere, clouds, ice, land, and life?

ANSWER

Climate System100 points

Earth’s systems are connected, and a change in one system can influence the entire system. What do we call  interactions that amplify the effects of change?

ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change10 points

A significant increase or decrease in the Sun’s energy output will cause Earth to warm or cool. What do satellite measurements over the past 30 years show about the Sun’s energy output?

ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change20 points

What determines the amount of solar energy absorbed or radiated by Earth?

ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change30 points

Which of these is NOT a greenhouse gas:

Water vapor

Carbon dioxide

Methane

Oxygen

ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change40 points

Do small increases in carbon dioxide concentration in Earth’s atmosphere make much difference to the climate system?

ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change50 points

How do deforestation and burning fossil fuels affect the abundance of carbon in the atmosphere?

ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change60 points

How do airborne particulates (aerosols) affect Earth’s energy balance?

ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change70 points

Over the last one million years, what caused the cycles of ice ages and warmer periods between them?

ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change80 points

What natural processes reduce the amount of carbon in Earth’s atmosphere?

ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change90 points
        - How can life affect Earth’s climate?

ANSWER

Causes of Climate Change100 points

How long may greenhouse gases remain in Earth’s atmosphere?

ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change10 points

What happens to organisms that are exposed to climate conditions outside their normal range?

ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change20 points

What does evidence from tree rings and scientific observations suggest about Earth’s present average temperature?

ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change30 points

How is increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide affecting Earth’s ocean?

ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change40 points

The overwhelming consensus of scientific studies on climate indicates that most of the observed increase in global average temperatures in the last 30 years is very likely due to ___

ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change50 points

Widespread burning of fossil fuels has increased the concentration of ______ in the atmosphere.

ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change60 points

Do scientists and economists predict that there will be positive changes from global climate change?

ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change70 points

How does global climate change affect fresh water resources?

ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change80 points

What changes in Earth’s ocean may be caused by melting ice sheets and glaciers?

ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change90 points

How is weather predicted to change as a result of global climate change?

ANSWER

Effects of Climate Change100 points

How may climate change affect human communities?

ANSWER

Climate System10 pointsANSWER

The Sun

http://climate.nasa.gov/causes/

Climate System20 pointsANSWER

Earth’s surface, clouds, and ice

www.classzone.com/science_book/mls_grade6_FL/618_623.pdf

Climate System30 pointsANSWER

The average temperature remains stable (stays the same)

http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/energybalance/

Climate System40 pointsANSWER

In balance

http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/energybalance/

Climate System50 pointsANSWER

The tilt of Earth’s axis

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=season

Climate System60 pointsANSWER

70%

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/oceans_weather_climate/welcome.html

Climate System70 pointsANSWER

False

The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that keeps Earth’s surface at a temperature that is favorable to living organisms.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/today/greenhouse-effect.html

Climate System80 pointsANSWER

Weather

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/concepts.html

Climate System90 pointsANSWER

Earth’s climate

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/concepts.html

Climate System100 pointsANSWER

Positive feedback loops

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/today/greenhouse-gases.html

Causes of Climate Change10 pointsANSWER

Changes in the Sun’s energy output are too small to be the cause of recent warming on Earth

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/scientists/ruled-out.html#one

Causes of Climate Change20 pointsANSWER

The composition of Earth’s atmosphere

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/today/greenhouse-effect.html

Causes of Climate Change30 pointsANSWER

Oxygen

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/today/greenhouse-gases.html

Causes of Climate Change40 pointsANSWER

Yes; small increases in carbon dioxide concentration have a large effect on the climate system

education.usgs.gov/lessons/gases.pdf

Causes of Climate Change50 pointsANSWER

Deforestation and burning fossil fuels increase the abundance of carbon in the atmosphere

http://climate.nasa.gov/causes/

Causes of Climate Change60 pointsANSWER

Airborne particulates cause cooling by reflecting incoming sunlight, and also cause warming by absorbing and releasing heat energy in the atmosphere

http://epa.gov/climatechange/science/causes.html

Causes of Climate Change70 pointsANSWER

Gradual changes in Earth’s rotation and orbit around the Sun

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/climate/factsheets/whatcause.pdf

Causes of Climate Change80 pointsANSWER

Accumulation of marine sediments and accumulation of plant biomass

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/today/carbon-dioxide.html

Causes of Climate Change90 pointsANSWER

By changing the chemical makeup of the atmosphere

www.nsf.gov/news/nsf09202/nsf09202_life.pdf

Causes of Climate Change100 pointsANSWER

Greenhouse gases may remain in Earth’s atmosphere for hundreds of years.

http://epa.gov/climatechange/science/future.html

Effects of Climate Change10 pointsANSWER
        - The organisms will adapt, migrate, or die

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/effects/ecosystems.html

Effects of Climate Change20 pointsANSWER
        - Earth’s average temperature is warmer than it has been for at least the past 1,300 years

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/signs/temperature.html

Effects of Climate Change30 pointsANSWER

Increased dissolved carbon dioxide is causing the ocean to become more acidic.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/signs/acidity.html

Effects of Climate Change40 pointsANSWER
        - Human activities, primarily burning fossil fuels

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/index.html

Effects of Climate Change50 pointsANSWER
        - Greenhouse gases

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/basics/today/index.html

Effects of Climate Change60 pointsANSWER

Both positive and negative changes are predicted, but the consequences of negative impacts are likely to be much greater than the consequences of positive impacts.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/effects/index.html

Effects of Climate Change70 pointsANSWER

Changing precipitation patterns and temperatures will reduce reliable access to fresh water for many people. Winter snowpack and mountain glaciers that provide water for human use are declining as a result of global warming.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/effects/water.html

Effects of Climate Change80 pointsANSWER

Sea level will rise, and changing temperatures may affect large current systems in Earth’s ocean

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/signs/glaciers.html

Effects of Climate Change90 pointsANSWER

Strong storms, heat waves, and changes in precipitation patterns are predicted to increase in many locations

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/signs/index.html

Effects of Climate Change100 pointsANSWER

Human communities may face increased risks from violent weather events, changes in food and water supplies, and infectious diseases

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/impacts/effects/index.html