Climate news quiz: Carbon sinks and retreating glaciers
Climate Solutions All right: Time to see if youve been paying attention to The Posts climate-related coverage. If you have, this quiz should be an easy A. Answer: C. The Earth balances its climate using the carbon cycle, which moves carbon between the atmosphere, the ocean, plants, rocks, soil and fossil fuels. The Earths temperature partly depends on how the carbon is spread among these sources. It can take more than 100 million years for the carbon to move from the atmosphere back into rocks. Answer: C . Scientists believe Venus had a mechanism for managing its temperature similar to Earths. But as the sun got hotter, Venuss atmosphere trapped more heat and its water evaporated and the cycle was broken. Answer: B. Elephant seals fitted with sensors on their heads have been used to take measurements of water temperatures off the coast of Denman Glacier in East Antarctica. The glacier is receding over a canyon more than two miles deep, which could potentially expose the center of the continent to the ocean. Answer: D. Researchers have calculated that Denman already has lost over 250 billion tons of ice, which comes to a little over half a millimeter of sea-level rise. If it retreats 100 miles back to the Aurora Subglacial Basin, which holds large volumes of ice, sea level could potentially rise by five feet . Answer: C . Europes average temperature this past winter was 6.1 degrees Fahrenheit above the 40-year average, shattering the previous record by more than two degrees. Answer: A. Ice wine is a specialty drink made from grapes that have frozen on the vine. Temperatures need to fall to 20 degrees F for the grapes to freeze properly, but that didnt happen this season. Answer: B. Scientists believe that increasing heat and drought is stifling the growth of trees in multiple rainforests. They predict that by the middle of the century, rainforests will release more carbon dioxide than they absorb. Answer: A. The snowpack is melting earlier. This matters because the water from the Colorado River supports 40 million Americans living across the West. It provides drinking water for Colorados biggest cities and is shipped as far away as California and Arizona for agriculture. Answer: C . A false spring in 2017 was followed by a severe frost in mid-March. South Carolinas peach crop, blueberries in Georgia and North Carolina, and the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., all sustained heavy losses. Answer: A. Bumblebees play a critical role in pollinating many plants, including tomatoes and cranberries. Researchers found that the number of areas populated by bumblebees has decreased 46 percent in North America and 17 percent in Europe. 0 to 3 questions correct Climate novice: Youve still got a lot to learn about climate change. But thats okay: Weve got you covered. Got a question? Ask us here. 4 to 7 questions correct Climate curious: Hey, not bad! You know a thing or two about climate change. But theres still more to learn, and weve got you covered. Got a question? Ask us here . 8 to 10 questions correct Climate expert: Well done! Youre super climate-literate. You probably already know that one of the most important things you as an individual can do to combat climate change is to spread the word. Go ahead: Brag a little, share this quiz with your friends, and find out who knows the most about climate change.