Chapter 3

According to the inverse square law, if the distance between Earth and the Sun were triple its present magnitude then the solar constant would be reduced to what fraction of its present value?

If the distance between Earth and the Sun tripled, the solar constant would be reduced to 1/9 its present value.

Which one of the following surfaces has the lowest albedo for visible solar radiation?

black asphalt road

Through absorption, solar radiation is

converted to heat energy

Wien's displacement law says, as the surface temperature of objects increases, the wavelength at which radiation emitted by that surface is most intense

decreases

At the equinoxes, the noon Sun has an altitude of 90 degrees at the

equator

The lower the albedo of a surface, the ______ the amount of radiation falling on that surface that is absorbed and converted to heat.

greater

All other factors being equal, a thicker and more extensive cloud cover is likely to ______ Earth's planetary albedo.

increase

If the temperature of the Sun were to ______, the wavelength at which solar radiation is most intense would decrease.

increase

Solar radiation that reaches Earth's surface consists of

infrared, visible, ultraviolet radiation

The wavelength of an electromagnetic wave is ______ proportional to its frequency.

inversely

Earth's solar constant

is actually variable.

solar radiation

-is most intense at a shorter wavelength than terrestrial infrared radiation. -does not interact with components of the atmosphere. -heats the atmosphere which, in turn, heats Earth's surface. -that reaches the outer atmosphere consists of mostly microwaves.

Explain how the greenhouse effect warms the atmosphere. What happens to the greenhouse effect and global temperatures when greenhouse gas concentrations are increased? Decrease?

The greenhouse effect warms the atmosphere because there are certain gasses that trap the Infrared radiation of the sun and heat up. When greenhouse gasses are increased the global temperatures will gradually increase. If the greenhouse gasses are decreased the opposite will happen, meaning the temperature will slowly decrease.

Explain the significance of the stratospheric ozone layer for life on Earth. Identify the principal threat to the stratospheric ozone shield. describe the legislation to protect the ozone shield.

The ozone layer is important because it protects all living things from damaging UV rays which can cause tissue damage. CFCs from refigerants are the main threat to ozone as they they break down ozone molecules. The Montreal Protocol is an international treay that banned the use of CFCs in an effort to protect the ozone layer.

Wien's Displacement Law

The wavelength of peak emission from a black body is inversely proportional to the absolute (kelvin) temperature of the body.

In the Northern Hemisphere, Earth is closer to the Sun during the winter than during the summer and yet winter is colder than summer. Please explain.

Winters are colder than summers because maximum solar altitudes are lower (less intense solar radiation striking Earth's surface) and daylight is shorter in winter than in summer.

Clouds, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane strongly ______ infrared radiation.

absorb

Red has the ______ wavelength in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

longest

The Stefan-Boltzmann law relates the total energy flux to the fourth power of a blackbody's

temperature

According to Wien's displacement law, which one of the following objects emits its most intense electromagnetic energy at the shortest wavelength?

the Sun

Albedo

the percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface

Generally, as the temperature of a radiating surface decreases,

the wavelength at which radiation from the surface is most intense will lengthen.