Chapter Twelve: Questions

CHAPTER TWELVE: QUESTIONS

1. What factor least affects the ocean currents?

a. Salinity of the ocean b. Earth's rotation c. Precipitation patterns d. Surface winds

2. According to the thermohaline conveyor belt, what causes water to mix in the way it does near the poles?

a. The surface winds draw cold water away from the poles, churning up the water. b. The warm water from the equator rises near the poles from deep inside the ocean. c. Water doesn't mix much in the polar regions. d. Ice is formed, which increases the salinity and density of colder water, so it falls.

3. What tends to happen when the earth's tilt is less pronounced?

a. The equator's become very hot b. The poles become warmer c. The seasons become more extreme d. The earth gradually cools

4. What makes the wobble of the earth somewhat less predictable?

a. Gravitational pull from the gas giant planets b. Gravitational pull from the sun c. Tidal forces due to the effects of the sun and moon on earth d. Sun spots affecting the Earth's climate

5. What is not a positive effect of having a rainy season in a given area?

a. Better water quality b. Reduced incidence of disease c. Improved crop yields d. Better air quality

6. What defines a monsoon season rather than just a rainy season?

a. The rains are more severe in a monsoon season. b. There are hurricanes in monsoon season. c. There is a marked shift in winds in monsoon season. d. There is no difference between a rainy season and a monsoon season.

7. Which factor in the ocean does not directly drive the water density?

a. Surface winds b. Temperature c. Salinity d. Depth

8. When you study the global ocean currents, which trend do you see being accurate?

a. Cold water toward the poles on the surface b. Cold water away from the poles on the surface c. Warm water away from the poles in the deeper waters d. Cold water away from the poles in the deeper waters

9. Which greenhouse gas is most contributory to global warming right now?

a. Methane gas b. Aerosols c. Sulfur dioxide d. Carbon dioxide

10. If we limit fossil fuel usage very quickly in the next few years, what is expected to happen to the temperatures and sea levels on earth by 2100?

a. The temperatures and sea levels will both increase b. The temperature will increase but the sea levels will stay the same c. The temperature and sea levels will stay the same d. The temperatures and sea levels will both decrease