How things work college course/Global warming quiz 4

The unshuffled version can serve as a pre-reading activity for the Wikipedia article, Global warming (permalink)

See Global warming quizzes for other quizzes devoted to this article. This quiz covers feedback and climate models.


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Global Warming quiz 4- Feedback and climate models
{Changes in ice-albedo refers to changes in} - how much CO2 is absorbed by the sun + how much the Earth's surface absorbs or reflects incoming sunlight - how much ice is melted during the summer months {The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet until the thermal (infra-red) radiation away the planet rises to match the solar radiation onto the planet} + true - false {The Stefan-Boltzmann law plays a central role in establishing a planets temperature as the sun heats the planet with thermal (infra-red) radiation adding to the other solar radiation onto the planet} - true + false {Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that more heat is lost from the planet to compensate.} + true - false {Stefan-Boltzmann radiation is called a negative feedback mechanism because if the sun's radiation increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann law ensures that this heat is retained by the planet.} - true + false {Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with the role of clouds as a feedback mechanism.} - true + false {Computer models accurately model feedback mechanisms associated with how the soil will retain or release CO2 as the earth warms.} - true + false {Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is easier to model.} - true + false {Analysis of the uncertainties associated with feedback suggests that the "worst-case" scenario is more difficult to model.} + true - false {The cryosphere refers to} - the north and south poles - the upper atmosphere - the highest mountains + two of these are true {While computer modeling indicate that the warming since 1970 is dominated by man-made greenhouse gas emissions, they are unable to conclusively ascertain whether the warming from 1910 to 1945 was anthropogenic.} + true - false {Computer modeling has conclusively established that anthropogenic warming has occurred since 1910.} - true + false {How is the validity of a computer model typically tested?} - by verifying its ability to calculate past climate conditions. + all of these are true - by verifying its ability to calculate current climate conditions. - by making predictions about future years and seeing if they come true.