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Video Notes - Climate Science and Sustainability (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Page 1 (Questions 1–9)

  • 1. Rachael Carson
    • a. Originated the most commonly used definition of sustainability
    • b. In the 18th century, argued that population would outpace food production
    • c. Authored the book Silent Spring, which documented the impacts of pesticides
    • d. In the 20th century, argued in the book, “The Population Bomb”, that population would outpace food production
  • 2. Thomas Malthus
    • a. Originated the most commonly used definition of sustainability
    • b. In the 18th century, argued that population would outpace food production
    • c. Authored the book Silent Spring, which documented the impacts of pesticides
    • d. In the 20th century, argued in the book, “The Population Bomb”, that population would outpace food production
  • 3. Population
    • Answer: Increasing on average over the past several decades
  • 4. Affluence
    • Answer: Increasing on average over the past several decades
  • 5. Amount of energy used per unit of economic output (energy per dollar of GDP)
    • Answer: Decreasing on average over the past several decades
  • 6. Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?
    • Options: a. CO2, b. CH4, c. O3, d. Ar, e. N2O
    • Answer: d. Argon (Ar)
  • 7. The planet establishes its energy (temperature) balance by:
    • Options: a. absorbing shortwave radiation and emitting longwave radiation, b. absorbing shortwave and emitting shortwave, c. absorbing longwave and emitting shortwave, d. absorbing longwave and emitting longwave
    • Answer: a. Absorbing shortwave radiation and emitting longwave radiation
  • 8. Venus has a surface temperature of almost 900°F, primarily because:
    • Options: a. Venus is closer to the sun, b. Venus is farther from the sun, c. Low greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, d. High concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
    • Answer: d. High concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
  • 9. The troposphere mixes vigorously because:
    • Options: a. Temperature in the troposphere decreases with elevation, b. Temperature increases with elevation, c. Temperature is constant, d. Cold air rises and hot air descends
    • Answer: a. Temperature in the troposphere decreases with elevation

Page 2 (Questions 10–19)

    1. The planet warms, and the Saharan desert expands, replacing lands which absorb incoming shortwave radiation with land that reflects shortwave radiation
    • Answer: b. a negative climate feedback
    1. The planet warms, and oceans warm; carbon dioxide dissolved in the ocean becomes less soluble and is released into the atmosphere.
    • Answer: a. a positive climate feedback
    1. The atmosphere cools, ice sheets grow, Earth reflects (rather than absorbs) more incoming sunlight
    • Answer: b. a negative climate feedback
    1. The rise in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere over the 20th century
    • Options: a. is a matter of scientific debate as to whether or not it rose, b. is a matter of scientific debate as to how fast it rose, c. is a matter of scientific debate as to whether CO2 is a greenhouse gas, d. is a scientific certainty, e. all of the other answers are correct
    • Answer: d. is a scientific certainty
    1. The distribution of incoming radiation to Earth’s atmosphere from the sun
    • Options: a. decreases from the equator to the North Pole, and increases from the equator to the South Pole; b. is less than the outgoing radiation from the atmosphere at all latitudes; c. is higher than the outgoing radiation from the atmosphere at all latitudes; d. is not measurable; e. none of the other answers are correct
    • Answer: e. none of the other answers are correct
    1. Dr. John Heinerman’s article on Vitamin O
    • Options: a. is pseudoscience if he thinks it’s science, b. is Junk Science if he knowingly accepted payment for favorable results, c. is not science since it’s not peer-reviewed, d. all of the other answers are correct
    • Answer: d. all of the other answers are correct
    1. The Coriolis Effect
    • Options: a. explains three atmospheric circulation cells per hemisphere, b. makes toilets rotate differently by hemisphere, c. explains why surface currents flow with surface winds, d. is why the Backstreet Boys recorded “Larger than Life”, e. none of the other answers
    • Answer: a. is the reason that there are three atmospheric circulation cells in the northern hemisphere and three of the same in the southern hemisphere, rather than a single cell in each hemisphere
    1. Moisture in the atmosphere
    • Options: a. is transported by air circulation, b. is on average very low in the descending limb at 30°N, c. is on average very high at the Earth's surface at 0° latitude, d. all of the other answers are correct
    • Answer: d. all of the other answers are correct
    1. Geoscientists can infer the existence and cause of rapid climate change events over 10,000 years ago
    • Options: a. by measuring oxygen isotopes in ice cores and pebble accumulations in deep sea cores, b. by using sensors to measure incoming/outgoing radiation, c. by reading written accounts, d. by measuring oxygen isotopes in deep sea cores and pebble accumulations in ice cores, e. None
    • Answer: a. By measuring oxygen isotopes in ice cores and pebble accumulations in deep sea cores
    1. Which statement about the oceans’ Thermohaline Circulation (THC) is NOT true?
    • Answer: a. Although one can reconstruct abrupt changes in past climate that were likely caused by changes in the THC, there’s no way to test the hypothesis that such changes in the THC may be happening this century.

Page 3 (Questions 20–25)

    1. Where are deserts least likely to occur on Earth?
    • Options: a. around 30°N and 30°S, b. where moist rising air in a low pressure belt carries moisture away from the ground near the equator, c. where dry, descending air warms up in a high pressure belt, d. outside of cities
    • Answer: b. near the equator (near the moist ITCZ region)
    1. Where are deserts most likely to occur on Earth if Earth did NOT rotate?
    • Answer: (Not explicit in transcript; relates to Hadley-type circulation without Coriolis; note: see course materials for a definite choice.)
    1. Gyres
    • Options: a. occur in at least four major ocean basins, b. are affected by winds, ocean currents, and the position of continents, c. are essential mechanisms for transporting heat around the Earth, d. are comprised in part by strong, warm currents such as the Gulf Stream, e. all of the other answers
    • Answer: e. all of the other answers
    1. More radiation comes in from the Sun than leaves from Earth at low latitudes. The opposite is the case at high latitudes. This makes the Earth’s atmosphere warmer at low latitudes.
    • a. True, b. False
    • Answer: a. True
    1. More radiation comes in from the Sun than leaves from Earth at low latitudes, and observed temperatures at low latitudes are lower than temperatures calculated from these radiation balances. This is evidence that circulation of the atmosphere and oceans redistributes heat globally.
    • a. True, b. False
    • Answer: a. True
    1. Which statement about the Pressing Problems for Planet Earth is NOT true?
    • Options: a. problems are mostly synergistic, b. require interdisciplinary approach, c. population is a principal cause, d. technology will solve essentially all problems in two decades
    • Answer: d. technology is on its way toward solving essentially all of the problems over the next two decades

Page 4 (Questions 26–30)

    1. Which is NOT an essential component of building a hurricane?
    • Options: a. Lift and rotate warm, moist air, condense and release stored heat, b. Spin up a low-pressure center, c. Increase sea surface temperature, increase evaporation, store large amounts of latent heat in water vapor, d. Released heat provides large lift to air mass and increases spin speed, causing more condensation, e. Fuel the hurricane engine further by moving it over land
    • Answer: e. Fuel the hurricane engine further by moving it over land
    1. To understand modern examples of the Tragedy of the Commons, consider the environmental impacts and scales of causes and impacts. This is evidenced by which of the following?
    • Options: a. GoM is a national commons when considering nitrogen sources, b. Earth’s atmosphere is a global commons, c. GoM is a global commons when considering sea level rise/oil spills/overfishing, d. All of the other answers
    • Answer: d. All of the other answers
    1. Which of the following are NOT among the proposals expressed by UGS303 students for solving the 10 vs. 3 extra credit situation?
    • Options: a. Re-do exercise without anonymity to simulate corporate transparency, b. Focus on sacrifice and donating portions of index cards, c. Split by majors and vote anonymously with penalties, d. No anonymity and corporate-style accountability, e. It’s doubtful the exercise can produce a workable solution
    • Answer: e. It’s doubtful the exercise can produce a workable solution
    1. The name of my TA is
    • Options: a. Caitlin, Veronika, Alex, JoJo, Jake, or Sneha
    • b. Jerry, Bob, Donna, Phil, Joanie, or Sookie
    • c. Justin, Britney, Taylor, Cardi, Suga, or Hondo
    • d. Kim, Khloe, Kris, Kourtney, Rob, or Brody
    • e. none of the other answers – I don’t have a TA because I have opted to not attend Discussion Section
    • Answer: (Not determinable from transcript; course roster needed.)
    1. Newscaster Stephen Milloy receives almost $100,000 a year in consulting fees from Philip Morris, while criticizing the evidence regarding hazards of second-hand smoke as junk science. Milloy has no scientific credentials and none of his claims are backed by peer-reviewed publications. Milloy is most likely practicing which of the following?
    • Options: a. Pseudoscience, b. Junk Science, c. Pathological Science, d. Science
    • Answer: b. Junk Science

Page 5 (Questions 31–35)

    1. Which of the following is NOT a true statement regarding changes over the past three decades?
    • Options: a. Hurricanes have increased in their intensity, on average; b. CO2 concentration has increased rapidly; c. Pathological Science began; d. Seawater in the Greenland Sea has become less salty; e. Global population has increased
    • Answer: (Not explicitly clear from transcript; likely verify with course materials.)
    1. The Easter Island quote about environments and civilizations:
    • Options: a. written by Jared Diamond, b. written by a researcher who studied Easter Island history, c. proposes modern society will not learn from Easter Island, d. all of the other answers
    • Answer: d. all of the other answers
    1. Which statement about surface ocean currents is NOT true?
    • Options: a. due to Coriolis and friction, at ~100 m depth the current is about 180° from wind direction, b. main upper 100 m current is to the right of the wind in NH and to the left in SH, c. current speed increases with depth due to Coriolis, d. deflection of surface currents from wind leads to major gyres
    • Answer: a. not true (current at depth is ~90° deflected, not 180°)
    1. The CO2 concentration vs. time graph for the past 50 years:
    • Options: a. data are often criticized by skeptics, b. presents observations based on atmospheric measurements, c. presents inferences, d. none
    • Answer: b. presents observations based on measurements
    1. Which statement about explaining THC shutdown to a family member is NOT an example of explaining?
    • Options: a. Explanation with buoyancy of freshwater, b. Need visual aid for understanding, c. Explaining helped the explainer, d. Had trouble getting someone to engage, e. Animation helped convey Gulf Stream change with skepticism
    • Answer: d. not an example of explaining to a family member or friend in a direct sense

Page 6 (Questions 36–40)

    1. The native population of Easter Island began to see limitations to their resources, so they cut down more trees to build larger canoes to go farther out to sea to catch more fish. This is an example of
    • A. Positive feedback
    • B. Negative feedback
    • Answer: A. Positive feedback
    1. Different generations approach problems
    • Options: a. Differently, in terms of availability and/or use of media, b. Similar in terms of causes and leadership, c. Similar in terms of unfair treatment of groups, d. all of the other answers
    • Answer: d. all of the other answers
    1. Which of the following is an accurate observation regarding the Earth?
    • Options: a. Ages of seafloor rocks become younger the further from a mid-ocean ridge, b. Ocean floor rocks are typically much older than continental rocks, c. Plate boundaries typically have earthquakes or volcanoes, or both, d. All of the other answers are accurate observations
    • Answer: c. Plate boundaries typically have earthquakes or volcanoes, or both
    1. Which statement about convergent plate boundaries is NOT true?
    • Options: a. The circum-Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, b. Explosive volcanoes that emit CO2 and other gases, c. Plates sliding past each other, creating earthquakes, d. Consumption of ocean crust via subduction
    • Answer: c. Plates sliding past each other, creating earthquakes (that describes transform boundaries, not convergent)
    1. Low pressure weather systems
    • Options: a. are too weak to be affected by the Coriolis Effect, b. are strongest in the Southern Hemisphere, c. are visible to astronauts in the Space Shuttle, d. occur only over the oceans, e. none of the above
    • Answer: e. none of the above