Which two gases are primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect because of their ability to absorb infrared energy?

A) oxygen and hydrogen
B) ozone and dust
C) nitrogen and oxygen
D) water vapor and carbon dioxide

d

Earth's main energy inputs are

A) longwave radiation and ultraviolet light.
B) ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared radiation.
C) near infrared and far infrared (i.e., longwave radiation).
D) gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet radiation.

b

Which of the following is related to Earth's albedo?

A) transmission
B) scattering
C) convection
D) none of these

b

When light passes from one medium to another

A) transmission happens.
B) Rayleigh scattering is the predominant effect.
C) refraction occurs-a process that is important to the formation of rainbows.
D) it is usually not affected physically.

c

The passage of shortwave and longwave energy through the atmosphere or water is an example of

A) absorption.
B) transmission.
C) refraction.
D) insolation.

b

Energy that is reflected from the atmosphere

A) is used to heat the atmosphere.
B) increases the energy surplus of the planet.
C) does not act to heat the atmosphere.
D) heats the atmosphere and increases the planet's energy surplus.

c

Air pollution acts to ________ the albedo of cities and therefore ________ the urban heat island effect.

A) increase; enhances
B) increases; diminishes
C) decreases; enhances
D) decreases; diminishes

b

When light passes from space into the atmosphere, it changes ________ in a process known as ________.

A) color; reflection
B) color; refraction
C) speed and direction; reflection
D) speed and direction; refraction

d

The sky is blue because

A) blue light is absorbed more than other wavelengths.
B) Earth's atmosphere allows only blue light to enter.
C) the atmosphere scatters blue light more than any other visible wavelength.
D) most of the light coming from the Sun is in the blue end of the visible spectrum.

c

The insolation received at Earth's surface is

A) usually low at the equator.
B) generally greater at high latitudes because of daylength.
C) greatest over low-latitude deserts with their cloudless skies.
D) inadequate to sustain life.

c

If the surface of Earth were to suddenly turn white, the temperature of the planet would ________ because ________ insolation would be absorbed.

A) decrease; less
B) decrease; more
C) increase; less
D) increase; more

a

Which of the following has the lowest ​albedo?

A) snow that is polluted and several days old
C) dry concrete
D) forests
D) the Moon's surface in full sunlight

d

Earth's average overall albedo is

A) 31 percent.
B) 51 percent.
C) 69 percent.
D) none of the above

a

Mirages (such as the appearance of "water" on a dry, hot road) are caused by

A) differences in the air temperature of layers near the surface.
B) differences in the air density of layers near the surface.
C) refraction.
D) all of the above
E) temperature and density differences only.

d

Sensible heat transfer (H) refers to energy transfer between the air and the surface by

A) turbulent eddies, convection, and conduction.
B) evaporation of water.
C) reflection of insolation.
D) all of the above

a

A vertical air current that is generated by temperature-induced density differences is an example of heat transfer by

A) advection.
B) convection.
C) conduction.
D) transmission.
E) diffusion.

b

On the average, which of the following is true regarding the distribution of shortwave and longwave energy at Earth's surface by latitude?

A) The equatorial zone is a region of net deficits.
B) The polar regions are areas of net surpluses.
C) The distribution shows an imbalance of net radiation from equator to poles.
D) More energy is lost than is gained in the equatorial regions.

c

Which of the following is false relative to the Earth-atmosphere radiation system?

A) If the surface and the atmosphere are considered separately, neither exhibits a balanced radiation budget.
B) The surface exhibits an overall positive radiation balance.
C) The atmosphere exhibits an overall negative radiation balance.
D) Only convection transfers heat energy to the atmosphere from the surface.

d

Which term in the radiation balance equation links Earth's energy, hydrological, and biological systems?

A) albedo
B) sensible heat
C) latent heat of evaporation
D) infrared energy emitted from the ground

c

Longwave radiation (+ LW) arriving at the surface

A) comes primarily from infrared energy emitted by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
B) comes directly from the Sun.
C) comes from diffuse solar radiation.
D) comes from UV radiation reflected from the bottoms of clouds.

a

Net radiation (NET R) refers to

A) the net energy expended for ground heating and cooling.
B) the balance of all radiation incoming and outgoing at Earth's surface.
C) the amount of insolation coming into the surface.
D) the amount of insolation not absorbed at the surface.

b

Which of the following is not responsible for the urban heating effect?

A) The materials cities are constructed from conduct heat better than natural soils.
B) The materials cities are constructed from store heat better than natural soils.
C) The albedo of urban environments is substantially higher than that of natural landscapes.
D) The concentration of people, machines and heat generating devices adds more heat to the environment.
E) Less evaporation occurs from city surfaces.

c

Which of the following would be true for the net radiation balance in a midlatitude location?

A) Net R is constant throughout the year.
B) There is a surplus of Net R during the summer and a deficit during the winter.
C) There is a deficit of Net R during the summer and a surplus during the winter.
D) The season at which surpluses and deficits occur varies from one year to the next.

b

The relationship between the insolation curve and the air temperature curve on a graph of daily surface energy

A) exhibits a lag of several hours between the plotted lines.
B) shows little or no relationship between the two variables.
C) shows that peak temperatures occur near noon, whereas peak insolation receipt is at 3:00 or 4:00 P.M.
D) coincide at noon.

a

When water evaporates, the energy that was used to evaporate the water

A) is stored as sensible heat in the evaporated water.
B) is stored as latent heat in the evaporated water.
C) is transferred to the air by advection when the water evaporates.
D) is conducted into the underlying layer of water.

b

When water evaporates from a surface, which of the following occurs?

A) Energy is stored within the water.
B) Energy is removed from the surface.
C) The surface is cooled.
D) All of the above occur.

d

In the surface energy budget, the term - SW represents

A) heat.
B) incoming energy.
C) the albedo value of the surface.
D) NET R.

c

Conduction refers to

A) the vertical movement of air in response to temperature-induced density differences.
B) strong vertical motions in the atmosphere.
C) the molecule-to-molecule transfer of heat energy that diffuses through the material.
D) the behavior of something.

c

The highest annual values for latent heat of evaporation (LE) on land occur in the tropics because

A) there is a net annual energy surplus there.
B) rainfall makes water available for evaporation from soils.
C) the dark color of forests (as opposed to sandy soils) results in the absorption of heat energy by vegetation.
D) all of the above
E) B and C only

d

Official temperatures are measured using thermometers placed in shelters that are

A) white.
B) placed a few feet above the ground.
C) placed in the shade.
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

d

6.4C degrees/1000 m (3.5F degrees/1000 ft) refers to

A) a latitudinal lapse rate.
B) a normal lapse rate.
C) an environmental lapse rate.
D) a measure of air pressure.

b

As the kinetic energy of the air increases

A) its temperature decreases.
B) its temperature increases.
C) its temperature is unaffected.
D) its temperature may either increase or decrease depending upon the circumstances.

b

Air temperature is a measure of the presence of which of these?

A) heat capacity
B) apparent temperature
C) relative humidity
D) sensible heat

d

The single most important control on temperature is

A) latitude.
B) altitude.
C) distribution of land and water.
D) evaporation.

a

Which of the following is true regarding locations at high elevations?

A) Higher elevations experience higher temperatures during the day because they are closer to the Sun.
B) Higher elevations experience lower average temperatures during both day and night.
C) The density of air increases with increasing elevation.
D) Temperatures at night, and in the shadows, are greater at higher elevations.

b

The temperature control that specifically relates to opaqueness is

A) altitude.
B) specific heat.
C) transmissibility.
D) evaporation.

c

Based on information discussed previously in the course, you know that average temperatures in the troposphere ________ with increasing elevation because the atmosphere is heated ________.

A) increase; from the top-down by insolation
B) increase; from the top-down by energy emitted from the stratosphere
C) decrease; from the bottom-up by reflected insolation
D) decrease; from the bottom-up by terrestrial infrared energy

d

Which of the following is not associated with urban environments?

A) higher relative humidity than that in surrounding rural areas
B) greatly increased condensation nuclei relative to surrounding rural areas
C) increased precipitation relative to surrounding rural areas
D) lower annual mean wind speeds relative to surrounding rural areas

d

Solar cookers could replace ________ as an affordable source of energy in rural villages in third world countries.

A) natural gas
B) nuclear power
C) fusion power
D) fire wood

d

Based on information discussed earlier in the course, you know that seasonal variation in daylength ________ with increasing distance from the equator because ________.

A) decreases; Earth rotates more slowly near the poles
B) decreases; Earth's axis is titled relative to the plane of the ecliptic
C) increases; Earth rotates more slowly near the poles
D) increases; Earth's axis is titled relative to the plane of the ecliptic
E) remains constant throughout the year; Earth is a sphere

d

The land surface cools off more rapidly at night than water does because

A) the energy is stored in a shallow layer near the surface of the land, and so it can be radiated away faster.
B) the amount of energy stored in the land is less than that stored in the water column.
C) all of the above
D) None of the above-land does not cool off more rapidly than water at night.

c

The ocean temperature rarely rises above 31 degrees C (88 degrees F) because of ______ feedback caused by _______.
A) positive; evaporation
B) negative; ocean currents
C) negative; evaporation
D) positive; ocean currents

c

If the Gulf Stream shifted away from Iceland and England, winter temperatures in these locations would

A) become cooler, thereby decreasing the average winter temperature.
B) become warmer, thereby increasing the average winter temperature.
C) remain the same.
D) It is impossible to say what would happen to the winter temperatures.

a

The cool ocean currents that flow along the west coasts of continents promote

A) heavy rainfall.
B) fog.
C) thunderstorm development.
D) all of these

b

The mean​ (average) temperature of a given location on Earth is controlled primarily by its ________ whereas its temperature range is controlled primarily by its ________.

A) latitude; elevation
B) elevation; location with respect to large water bodies
C) evaporation; latitude
D) latitude; location with respect to large water bodies

d

The Gulf Stream

A) moves southward and moderates temperatures in eastern South America.
B) moves equatorward, warming the California coast.
C) moves northward in the western Atlantic, moderating temperatures in Iceland.
D) creates a warming effect on Japan and the Aleutians.

c

Which of the following results from the fact that there is movement (currents) in heat transferring media?

A) Heat energy is more evenly distributed in soil and rock than in water.
B) Heat energy tends to concentrate in one spot.
C) Warmer and cooler water mix, thereby spreading heat over a greater volume.
D) None of the above-currents have no effect on either land or water body temperatures.

c

As a result of the characteristics of water, cities located near a coast should experience a temperature range ​ that is ________ those of cities located in the interior at the same latitude.

A) the same as
B) smaller than
C) larger than

b

Evaporation

A) tends to increase temperatures over land.
B) tends to lower temperatures more over water bodies than over land.
C) tends to increase the temperature over water.
D) affects land more than ocean surfaces.
E) affects the temperature of land surfaces and water bodies the same amount.

b

The lowest temperature recorded on Earth to date was in

A) Antarctica in July.
B) Antarctica in January.
C) Alaska in February.
D) Russia in January.

a

Land has a ________ specific heat than water and therefore heats more ________.

A) higher; slowly
B) higher; quickly
C) lower; slowly
D) lower; quickly

d

During summer, cities located near the coast are ________ than those in the interior at the same latitude, while in the winter they are ________.

A) warmer; warmer
B) warmer; cooler
C) cooler; warmer
D) cooler; cooler

c

As reported by the National Weather Service, the heat index

A) relates temperature and relative humidity.
B) combines air pressure and temperature in a comfort index.
C) gives you an indication of the effect of wind on the skin.
D) is generally reported during critical winter months.

a

Insolation is the only source of energy that is ultimately responsible for heating the atmosphere and driving weather phenomena

A) true
b) false

a

The amount of heat energy present in any substance is expressed as its

A) temperature.
B) latent heat.
C) sensible heat.
D) surface motion.

c

The highest maximum temperatures recorded on Earth occur in interior deserts during July because

A) insolation is greater than at other latitudes.
B) the skies are cloudless.
C) little evaporation occurs to supply moisture to the atmosphere.
D) all of the above
E) B and C only

d

An isoline that connects all points of highest mean temperature on a world map is called

A) an isobar.
B) the highest mean temperature isoline.
C) the thermal equator.
D) min/max line.
E) the temperature range line.

c

The effect of wind and temperature on the human skin is called the

A) heat index.
B) sensible heat measurement.
C) wind chill factor.
D) apparent temperature index.

c

An isoline that connects all points of the same temperature on a map is called

A) an isobar.
B) the mean temperature isoline.
C) the thermal equator.
D) an isotherm.

d

Which of the following is true?

A) Northern Hemisphere temperatures are more strongly dominated by continentality than are Southern Hemisphere temperatures.
B) Southern Hemisphere temperatures are more strongly dominated by continentality than are Northern Hemisphere temperatures.
C) The Northern and Southern hemispheres are dominated equally by maritime influences.
D) The Northern and Southern hemispheres are dominated equally by continentality.

a

Which of the following is true of the thermal equator during the month of July?

A) It trends equatorward over continents and poleward over the oceans.
B) It trends poleward over continents and equatorward over the oceans.
C) It assumes an orientation that closely parallels that of the equator.
D) Its orientation is apparently random and has yet to be adequately explained.

b

The Celsius and Fahrenheit scales only coincide at: [ degrees C → degrees F = ( degrees C × 1.8) + 32 ]

A) -40 degrees.
B) -273 degrees.
C) 0 degrees.
D) 212 degrees.

a

The Celsius scale

A) is used exclusively in the United States.
B) places freezing at 0 degrees and was formerly called centigrade.
C) was developed by the British physicist Lord Kelvin.
D) was developed by Fahrenheit, who also developed the alcohol and mercury thermometers.
E) places freezing at 32 degrees and boiling at 212 degrees.

b

The normal lapse rate of temperature change is 6.4 degrees C/1000 m (3.5 degrees F/1000 ft).
a) True
b) False

a

If you went for a walk on a hot beach, you could cool your feet off substantially by digging them into the sand.
a) True
b) False

a

Latent heat of evaporation (LE) is the dominant expenditure of Earth's entire net radiation budget.
a) True
b) False

a

Refraction is responsible for rainbows and mirages.
a) True
b) False

a

High latitudes have a higher albedo in winter than do low latitudes.
a) True
b) False

a

Average air temperatures at higher elevations are generally higher, with smaller differences between areas of direct sunlight and shadow.
a) True
b) False

b

The average annual temperature of a location is controlled primarily by latitude.
a) True
b) False

a

The Moon has an average albedo similar to new snow.
a) True
b) False

b

Air temperature is an indication of the average kinetic energy of individual molecules within the atmosphere.
a) True
b) False

a

The coldest time of the year occurs in December at the time of the winter solstice.
A) True
B) False

b

Clouds moderate temperatures producing lower daily maximums and higher nightly minimums.
a) True
b) False

a

Heat energy flows from objects that are hot to those that are cold.
a) True
b) False

a

The Southern Hemisphere is dominated by maritime influences, whereas the Northern Hemisphere is dominated by continentality.
a) True
b) False

a

Maritime influences tend to increase both daily and monthly temperature ranges.
a) True
b) False

a

Ocean currents along midlatitude west coasts, even near deserts, are cool.
a) True
b) False

a

The highest temperatures on Earth are associated with the intense heating over the equator.
a) True
b) False

a