# Ice-Albedo Feedback Loop Screener

**Standards Alignment:**
*   **Performance Expectation:** HS-ESS2-2

Based on your work in the [Ice-Albedo Feedback Loop](IceAlbedoFeedback.html) simulation task, answer the following questions to demonstrate your understanding.

## Questions

1.  **In the simulation, what was the initial *trigger* that started the process of warming?**
    *   A) A decrease in solar radiation.
    *   B) Melting of the polar ice caps.
    *   C) An increase in greenhouse gas forcing.
    *   D) A sudden drop in Earth's albedo.

2.  **As global temperatures rose, what happened to the ice coverage and the average albedo?**
    *   A) Ice coverage decreased; albedo increased.
    *   B) Ice coverage decreased; albedo decreased.
    *   C) Ice coverage increased; albedo decreased.
    *   D) Both ice coverage and albedo remained constant.

3.  **Why does a decrease in sea ice lead to further warming?**
    *   A) Less ice means more dark ocean water is exposed, absorbing more solar energy.
    *   B) Melting ice releases trapped heat from the ocean floor.
    *   C) Ice physically blocks greenhouse gases from escaping into space.
    *   D) Water vapor from melting ice cools the atmosphere.

4.  **Look at the "System Dynamics" chart from your simulation. The accelerating (curving upward) shape of the temperature graph is evidence of:**
    *   A) A negative feedback loop stabilizing the climate.
    *   B) A system returning to its initial equilibrium.
    *   C) A positive feedback loop destabilizing the climate.
    *   D) Random variations in the data.

5.  **Which of the following best describes the sequence of events in the ice-albedo positive feedback loop?**
    *   A) Warming → Ice melts → Albedo decreases → More energy absorbed → More warming
    *   B) Warming → Ice forms → Albedo increases → More energy reflected → Cooling
    *   C) Cooling → Ice melts → Albedo decreases → Less energy absorbed → More cooling
    *   D) Warming → Albedo increases → Ice melts → Less energy absorbed → Cooling