Climate And Weather Practice Exam

Question 1 Climate And Weather

How does climate change affect sea levels?

The boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere, where temperature stops decreasing with altitude The process by which marine organisms fix CO₂ via photosynthesis and transport carbon to the deep ocean when they die and sink Through thermal expansion of warming ocean water and melting of glaciers and ice sheets; sea levels have risen ~20 cm since 1900 A layer of warm air above cooler air that prevents vertical mixing, trapping pollutants and smog near the ground

Question 2 Climate And Weather

What causes wind?

Electricity generated by using the kinetic energy of flowing or falling water to spin turbines, typically at dams or run-of-river installations A climate pattern where warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures develop in the central and eastern tropical Pacific, affecting global weather 196 parties (195 countries plus the EU) have signed, making it one of the most widely adopted treaties in history Differences in air pressure caused by uneven heating of Earth's surface; air moves from high-pressure to low-pressure areas

Question 3 Climate And Weather

What is coral bleaching?

Stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae algae, turning white; primarily caused by elevated sea temperatures The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale, ranging from EF0 (light damage) to EF5 (incredible destruction) Excess CO₂ dissolving in seawater forms carbonic acid, lowering pH, which harms coral reefs, shellfish, and marine food webs An abnormal rise in sea level caused by a hurricane's winds pushing ocean water ashore; it is often the most deadly aspect of a hurricane

Question 4 Climate And Weather

What is the eye of a hurricane?

The calm, clear center of the storm, surrounded by the eyewall, which contains the most intense winds and rainfall From severe thunderstorms when wind shear creates a rotating updraft (mesocyclone) that extends to the ground as a funnel Depending on emissions, sea levels could rise 0.3 m to over 1 m by 2100 (IPCC estimates), threatening coastal communities Wind spins the turbine blades connected to a generator, converting kinetic energy of moving air into electrical energy

Question 5 Climate And Weather

What is Tornado Alley?

Category 1 (119–153 km/h) to Category 5 (≥252 km/h), based on maximum sustained wind speed Energy derived from heat within the Earth, used to generate electricity or provide direct heating via steam or hot water from underground reservoirs A region in the central United States (Great Plains) prone to frequent tornadoes due to the collision of warm, moist Gulf air and cold, dry Arctic air Critical thresholds beyond which changes become self-reinforcing and irreversible, such as collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet

Question 6 Climate And Weather

What is a hurricane?

Higher temperatures, prolonged droughts, and drier vegetation increase the frequency, size, and severity of wildfires Depending on emissions, sea levels could rise 0.3 m to over 1 m by 2100 (IPCC estimates), threatening coastal communities A large rotating storm system with sustained winds of at least 119 km/h (74 mph), forming over warm tropical ocean water (≥26.5°C) Evaporation exceeds precipitation; found in deserts and semi-arid steppes with sparse vegetation

Question 7 Climate And Weather

What is a climate feedback loop? Give an example.

Achieving a balance where the amount of greenhouse gases emitted equals the amount removed from the atmosphere A process that amplifies or dampens warming; e.g., ice-albedo feedback — melting ice exposes darker surfaces that absorb more heat, causing further warming The calm, clear center of the storm, surrounded by the eyewall, which contains the most intense winds and rainfall The process by which marine organisms fix CO₂ via photosynthesis and transport carbon to the deep ocean when they die and sink

Question 8 Climate And Weather

What is the biological carbon pump?

Each country's individual climate action plan outlining how it will reduce emissions and adapt, submitted under the Paris Agreement Carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and water vapor (H₂O) The process by which marine organisms fix CO₂ via photosynthesis and transport carbon to the deep ocean when they die and sink Depending on emissions, sea levels could rise 0.3 m to over 1 m by 2100 (IPCC estimates), threatening coastal communities

Question 9 Climate And Weather

What is solar photovoltaic (PV) energy?

Technologies like batteries, pumped hydro, and hydrogen that store excess energy for use when renewable generation is low A temperate climate with dry, hot summers and mild, wet winters, found in regions like southern Europe and California Electricity generated by solar cells that convert sunlight directly into electrical current using the photovoltaic effect Temperature decreases with altitude, making it the coldest layer of the atmosphere (down to about −90°C)

Question 10 Climate And Weather

What are the three main global wind belts?

Using ecosystems to sequester carbon and build resilience, including reforestation, wetland restoration, and sustainable agriculture The calm, clear center of the storm, surrounded by the eyewall, which contains the most intense winds and rainfall Trade winds (0°–30°), westerlies (30°–60°), and polar easterlies (60°–90°) Evaporation exceeds precipitation; found in deserts and semi-arid steppes with sparse vegetation

Question 11 Climate And Weather

How does climate change affect the water cycle?

A market-based approach that sets a total emissions cap and allows companies to buy and sell emission allowances Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to more intense precipitation events in some regions and prolonged droughts in others Carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and water vapor (H₂O) Each country's individual climate action plan outlining how it will reduce emissions and adapt, submitted under the Paris Agreement

Question 12 Climate And Weather

What is a Mediterranean climate?

The long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature, primarily due to human emissions of greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution A temperate climate with dry, hot summers and mild, wet winters, found in regions like southern Europe and California Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, and Exosphere It typically brings wetter conditions to the southern U.S. and South America, and drier conditions to Australia and Southeast Asia

Question 13 Climate And Weather

What causes seasons on Earth?

The amount of global warming expected from a doubling of atmospheric CO₂ concentration, estimated at 2.5–4°C From severe thunderstorms when wind shear creates a rotating updraft (mesocyclone) that extends to the ground as a funnel The tilt of Earth's axis (23.5°) relative to its orbital plane, causing different hemispheres to receive varying amounts of solar radiation throughout the year Approximately 1.1–1.2°C as of the early 2020s

Question 14 Climate And Weather

How does climate change intensify wildfires?

Electricity generated by solar cells that convert sunlight directly into electrical current using the photovoltaic effect A 2015 international treaty under the UNFCCC where nations agreed to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels Using ecosystems to sequester carbon and build resilience, including reforestation, wetland restoration, and sustainable agriculture Higher temperatures, prolonged droughts, and drier vegetation increase the frequency, size, and severity of wildfires

Question 15 Climate And Weather

What are the categories of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale?

Category 1 (119–153 km/h) to Category 5 (≥252 km/h), based on maximum sustained wind speed Because of the large volume emitted by burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, and its long atmospheric lifetime A large body of air with relatively uniform temperature and humidity characteristics, acquired from the region where it forms Permanently frozen ground melting releases stored methane and CO₂, creating a dangerous positive feedback loop that accelerates warming

Question 16 Climate And Weather

What is albedo in climate science?

Through thermal expansion of warming ocean water and melting of glaciers and ice sheets; sea levels have risen ~20 cm since 1900 The reflectivity of a surface; ice and snow have high albedo (reflect sunlight), while dark surfaces like oceans absorb more heat A large body of air with relatively uniform temperature and humidity characteristics, acquired from the region where it forms El Niño–Southern Oscillation, the coupled ocean-atmosphere cycle that alternates between El Niño, La Niña, and neutral phases every 2–7 years

Question 17 Climate And Weather

What is climate sensitivity?

A measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is combined with actual air temperature Each country's individual climate action plan outlining how it will reduce emissions and adapt, submitted under the Paris Agreement The amount of global warming expected from a doubling of atmospheric CO₂ concentration, estimated at 2.5–4°C A cold air mass pushes under a warm air mass, causing rapid uplift; it often brings thunderstorms, heavy rain, and a sharp temperature drop

Question 18 Climate And Weather

What is a front in meteorology?

Energy derived from heat within the Earth, used to generate electricity or provide direct heating via steam or hot water from underground reservoirs A boundary between two air masses of different temperature and humidity (e.g., cold front, warm front, stationary front) Higher temperatures, prolonged droughts, and drier vegetation increase the frequency, size, and severity of wildfires Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to more intense precipitation events in some regions and prolonged droughts in others

Question 19 Climate And Weather

How does deforestation affect the carbon cycle?

Stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae algae, turning white; primarily caused by elevated sea temperatures A long, narrow corridor of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere that can deliver heavy precipitation when it makes landfall Tropical (A), Dry (B), Temperate (C), Continental (D), and Polar (E) It releases stored carbon as CO₂ and removes trees that would otherwise absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis

Question 20 Climate And Weather

Why is CO₂ considered the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas?

The opposite of El Niño — cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific It typically brings wetter conditions to the southern U.S. and South America, and drier conditions to Australia and Southeast Asia Through thermal expansion of warming ocean water and melting of glaciers and ice sheets; sea levels have risen ~20 cm since 1900 Because of the large volume emitted by burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, and its long atmospheric lifetime

Question 21 Climate And Weather

What is the primary human activity driving global warming?

The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) for energy, transportation, and industry The amount of global warming expected from a doubling of atmospheric CO₂ concentration, estimated at 2.5–4°C A cold air mass pushes under a warm air mass, causing rapid uplift; it often brings thunderstorms, heavy rain, and a sharp temperature drop A widespread, long-lived straight-line windstorm associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms

Question 22 Climate And Weather

What role do oceans play in the carbon cycle?

Freshwater from melting ice sheets could dilute salty North Atlantic water, weakening the sinking that drives the circulation and cooling Europe A process that amplifies or dampens warming; e.g., ice-albedo feedback — melting ice exposes darker surfaces that absorb more heat, causing further warming Oceans act as a major carbon sink, absorbing about 25–30% of human-emitted CO₂, but this causes ocean acidification Excess CO₂ dissolving in seawater forms carbonic acid, lowering pH, which harms coral reefs, shellfish, and marine food webs

Question 23 Climate And Weather

What is global warming?

High temperatures year-round (avg. >18°C every month) and significant rainfall, supporting rainforests and savannas A global ocean conveyor belt driven by differences in water temperature and salinity, redistributing heat around the planet The long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature, primarily due to human emissions of greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution The reflectivity of a surface; ice and snow have high albedo (reflect sunlight), while dark surfaces like oceans absorb more heat

Question 24 Climate And Weather

What is the goal of net-zero emissions?

Achieving a balance where the amount of greenhouse gases emitted equals the amount removed from the atmosphere The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the foundational international treaty (1992) that established a framework for climate negotiations Continental climates have larger temperature extremes between seasons because land heats/cools faster than water Beyond 1.5°C, risks of severe impacts like coral reef loss, extreme weather, and food insecurity increase dramatically (IPCC Special Report, 2018)

Question 25 Climate And Weather

What is the greenhouse effect?

A measure of the air pressure difference between Tahiti and Darwin, Australia; negative values indicate El Niño, positive values indicate La Niña Stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae algae, turning white; primarily caused by elevated sea temperatures A natural process where certain atmospheric gases trap outgoing infrared radiation, warming Earth's surface above what it would be otherwise A large rotating storm system with sustained winds of at least 119 km/h (74 mph), forming over warm tropical ocean water (≥26.5°C)

Question 26 Climate And Weather

What is the IPCC?

Beyond 1.5°C, risks of severe impacts like coral reef loss, extreme weather, and food insecurity increase dramatically (IPCC Special Report, 2018) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a UN body that assesses the science related to climate change and publishes comprehensive assessment reports Scope 1: direct emissions; Scope 2: indirect from purchased energy; Scope 3: all other indirect emissions in a company's value chain Using ecosystems to sequester carbon and build resilience, including reforestation, wetland restoration, and sustainable agriculture

Question 27 Climate And Weather

What is El Niño?

A natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs more carbon than it releases, such as forests, oceans, and soil The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) for energy, transportation, and industry A climate pattern where warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures develop in the central and eastern tropical Pacific, affecting global weather Trade winds (0°–30°), westerlies (30°–60°), and polar easterlies (60°–90°)

Question 28 Climate And Weather

What is carbon capture and storage (CCS)?

Wind spins the turbine blades connected to a generator, converting kinetic energy of moving air into electrical energy A fee imposed on the burning of carbon-based fuels, designed to internalize the cost of CO₂ emissions and incentivize cleaner alternatives A measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is combined with actual air temperature Technology that captures CO₂ from industrial sources or the atmosphere and stores it underground in geological formations

Question 29 Climate And Weather

How do wind turbines generate electricity?

Shifting habitats, altered migration patterns, coral bleaching, and increased extinction risk for species unable to adapt fast enough The process by which marine organisms fix CO₂ via photosynthesis and transport carbon to the deep ocean when they die and sink Wind spins the turbine blades connected to a generator, converting kinetic energy of moving air into electrical energy Beyond 1.5°C, risks of severe impacts like coral reef loss, extreme weather, and food insecurity increase dramatically (IPCC Special Report, 2018)

Question 30 Climate And Weather

How does methane compare to CO₂ as a greenhouse gas?

The degradation of land in arid areas into desert, driven by climate change, deforestation, and unsustainable farming practices High temperatures year-round (avg. >18°C every month) and significant rainfall, supporting rainforests and savannas Methane is about 80× more potent than CO₂ over a 20-year period, but has a shorter atmospheric lifetime (~12 years) A measure comparing the heat-trapping ability of a greenhouse gas to CO₂ over a specific time period (usually 100 years)

Question 31 Climate And Weather

What are tipping points in the climate system?

Evaporation exceeds precipitation; found in deserts and semi-arid steppes with sparse vegetation It contains the ozone layer, which absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation Approximately 78% nitrogen (N₂), 21% oxygen (O₂), and 1% other gases including argon and CO₂ Critical thresholds beyond which changes become self-reinforcing and irreversible, such as collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet

Question 32 Climate And Weather

What is the difference between a carbon source and a carbon sink?

A cold air mass pushes under a warm air mass, causing rapid uplift; it often brings thunderstorms, heavy rain, and a sharp temperature drop Excess CO₂ dissolving in seawater forms carbonic acid, lowering pH, which harms coral reefs, shellfish, and marine food webs It typically brings wetter conditions to the southern U.S. and South America, and drier conditions to Australia and Southeast Asia A source releases more carbon than it absorbs (e.g., burning fossil fuels); a sink absorbs more than it releases (e.g., growing forests)

Question 33 Climate And Weather

What is ocean stratification and how does warming cause it?

Oceans act as a major carbon sink, absorbing about 25–30% of human-emitted CO₂, but this causes ocean acidification Warming surface waters become less dense, reducing vertical mixing with cooler deep water, limiting nutrient and oxygen circulation Approximately 1.1–1.2°C as of the early 2020s 196 parties (195 countries plus the EU) have signed, making it one of the most widely adopted treaties in history

Question 34 Climate And Weather

What is climate change mitigation?

Actions to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions, such as transitioning to renewable energy, improving efficiency, and protecting forests Latitude, altitude, proximity to oceans, ocean currents, prevailing winds, and topography A global ocean conveyor belt driven by differences in water temperature and salinity, redistributing heat around the planet The process by which marine organisms fix CO₂ via photosynthesis and transport carbon to the deep ocean when they die and sink

Question 35 Climate And Weather

What is hydroelectric power?

Carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and water vapor (H₂O) Higher temperatures, prolonged droughts, and drier vegetation increase the frequency, size, and severity of wildfires Electricity generated by using the kinetic energy of flowing or falling water to spin turbines, typically at dams or run-of-river installations The calm, clear center of the storm, surrounded by the eyewall, which contains the most intense winds and rainfall

Question 36 Climate And Weather

Name the five major climate zones in the Köppen classification system.

A narrow band of fast-moving air in the upper troposphere that steers weather systems; changes in its path can bring unusual cold or warm spells Each country's individual climate action plan outlining how it will reduce emissions and adapt, submitted under the Paris Agreement Tropical (A), Dry (B), Temperate (C), Continental (D), and Polar (E) Cities are warmer than surrounding rural areas due to concrete, asphalt, reduced vegetation, and waste heat from human activities

Question 37 Climate And Weather

What is climate change adaptation?

196 parties (195 countries plus the EU) have signed, making it one of the most widely adopted treaties in history Adjusting systems and practices to minimize harm from climate impacts, such as building sea walls, developing drought-resistant crops, and improving early warning systems Permanently frozen ground melting releases stored methane and CO₂, creating a dangerous positive feedback loop that accelerates warming Higher temperatures, prolonged droughts, and drier vegetation increase the frequency, size, and severity of wildfires

Question 38 Climate And Weather

What defines an arid (dry) climate zone?

Evaporation exceeds precipitation; found in deserts and semi-arid steppes with sparse vegetation A measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is combined with actual air temperature A measure of the air pressure difference between Tahiti and Darwin, Australia; negative values indicate El Niño, positive values indicate La Niña Latitude, altitude, proximity to oceans, ocean currents, prevailing winds, and topography

Question 39 Climate And Weather

What are nature-based solutions for climate change?

Using ecosystems to sequester carbon and build resilience, including reforestation, wetland restoration, and sustainable agriculture Methane is about 80× more potent than CO₂ over a 20-year period, but has a shorter atmospheric lifetime (~12 years) A widespread, long-lived straight-line windstorm associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms The reflectivity of a surface; ice and snow have high albedo (reflect sunlight), while dark surfaces like oceans absorb more heat

Question 40 Climate And Weather

What characterizes a tropical climate zone?

Continental climates have larger temperature extremes between seasons because land heats/cools faster than water A large body of air with relatively uniform temperature and humidity characteristics, acquired from the region where it forms Each country's individual climate action plan outlining how it will reduce emissions and adapt, submitted under the Paris Agreement High temperatures year-round (avg. >18°C every month) and significant rainfall, supporting rainforests and savannas

Question 41 Climate And Weather

What is the jet stream and how does it affect weather?

The process by which marine organisms fix CO₂ via photosynthesis and transport carbon to the deep ocean when they die and sink Electricity generated by solar cells that convert sunlight directly into electrical current using the photovoltaic effect A narrow band of fast-moving air in the upper troposphere that steers weather systems; changes in its path can bring unusual cold or warm spells A large rotating storm system with sustained winds of at least 119 km/h (74 mph), forming over warm tropical ocean water (≥26.5°C)

Question 42 Climate And Weather

What is geothermal energy?

A fee imposed on the burning of carbon-based fuels, designed to internalize the cost of CO₂ emissions and incentivize cleaner alternatives Energy derived from heat within the Earth, used to generate electricity or provide direct heating via steam or hot water from underground reservoirs Latitude, altitude, proximity to oceans, ocean currents, prevailing winds, and topography Electricity generated by using the kinetic energy of flowing or falling water to spin turbines, typically at dams or run-of-river installations

Question 43 Climate And Weather

What is the main challenge of solar and wind energy?

Critical thresholds beyond which changes become self-reinforcing and irreversible, such as collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Depending on emissions, sea levels could rise 0.3 m to over 1 m by 2100 (IPCC estimates), threatening coastal communities Intermittency — the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow, requiring energy storage or grid balancing solutions Scope 1: direct emissions; Scope 2: indirect from purchased energy; Scope 3: all other indirect emissions in a company's value chain

Question 44 Climate And Weather

What is permafrost thaw and why is it concerning?

Technologies like batteries, pumped hydro, and hydrogen that store excess energy for use when renewable generation is low Permanently frozen ground melting releases stored methane and CO₂, creating a dangerous positive feedback loop that accelerates warming A climate pattern where warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures develop in the central and eastern tropical Pacific, affecting global weather A prolonged period of below-normal precipitation; climate change increases drought severity and frequency in many regions

Question 45 Climate And Weather

What is the dew point?

It releases stored carbon as CO₂ and removes trees that would otherwise absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis The temperature at which air becomes saturated and water vapor begins to condense into liquid water or dew Energy produced from organic materials (wood, crop waste, animal manure) through combustion, gasification, or anaerobic digestion Oceans act as a major carbon sink, absorbing about 25–30% of human-emitted CO₂, but this causes ocean acidification

Question 46 Climate And Weather

What is biomass energy?

Energy produced from organic materials (wood, crop waste, animal manure) through combustion, gasification, or anaerobic digestion The boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere, where temperature stops decreasing with altitude The tilt of Earth's axis (23.5°) relative to its orbital plane, causing different hemispheres to receive varying amounts of solar radiation throughout the year Weather forecasting predicts specific conditions days ahead; climate projection models long-term trends over decades using emission scenarios

Question 47 Climate And Weather

What is ENSO?

Wind spins the turbine blades connected to a generator, converting kinetic energy of moving air into electrical energy The boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere, where temperature stops decreasing with altitude El Niño–Southern Oscillation, the coupled ocean-atmosphere cycle that alternates between El Niño, La Niña, and neutral phases every 2–7 years A large rotating storm system with sustained winds of at least 119 km/h (74 mph), forming over warm tropical ocean water (≥26.5°C)

Question 48 Climate And Weather

What are the projected sea level rise scenarios by 2100?

Critical thresholds beyond which changes become self-reinforcing and irreversible, such as collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Depending on emissions, sea levels could rise 0.3 m to over 1 m by 2100 (IPCC estimates), threatening coastal communities Trapped air bubbles in ice cores preserve ancient atmospheric gas concentrations, allowing measurement of CO₂ and temperature over hundreds of thousands of years Continental climates have larger temperature extremes between seasons because land heats/cools faster than water

Question 49 Climate And Weather

What are the advantages of renewable energy over fossil fuels?

Continental climates have larger temperature extremes between seasons because land heats/cools faster than water Lower greenhouse gas emissions, inexhaustible supply, reduced air pollution, energy independence, and declining costs El Niño–Southern Oscillation, the coupled ocean-atmosphere cycle that alternates between El Niño, La Niña, and neutral phases every 2–7 years The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale, ranging from EF0 (light damage) to EF5 (incredible destruction)

Question 50 Climate And Weather

What is La Niña?

Weather forecasting predicts specific conditions days ahead; climate projection models long-term trends over decades using emission scenarios Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to more intense precipitation events in some regions and prolonged droughts in others Depending on emissions, sea levels could rise 0.3 m to over 1 m by 2100 (IPCC estimates), threatening coastal communities The opposite of El Niño — cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific