GEOG 101 BYU independent study midterm 1 quizzes and self checks
Which of the following greenhouse gases is the most efficient at absorbing longwave radiation from the earth?
(NOT CO2) probably ozone
Which of the following statements regarding the High Plains Aquifer in the United States is not true? Groundwater mining has resulted in the partial collapse of the aquifer. Rainfall has been and is the principal recharge mechanism of the aquifer. The water table in the aquifer has dropped more than 100 feet in the last 50 years. The aquifer is used to irrigate about one-fifth of all U.S. cropland.
(NOT Groundwater mining has resulted in the partial collapse of the aquifer.) probably rainfall is the principal recharge mechanism
Which of the following accurately describes atmospheric conditions if the environmental lapse rate is 12°C/km, the dry adiabatic rate is 10°C/km, and the moist adiabatic rate is 6°C/km?
(NOT conditionally unstable... probably stable)
In the lake system diagram, if an input to the system causes lake level to increase initially, what will happen to lake level after the input has traveled through the system one time? ( ...lake level + shoreline + lake surface area + evaporation - lake level...) --->
(NOT increase further)- probably will not change
During which stage of a midlatitude cyclone are cold fronts and warm fronts most clearly developed?
(NOT occluded), probably cyclogenesis
It is November 15, and you are standing at the North Pole. How long will the daylength be on this day?
0 hours
A parcel of air is about to be forced over a mountain 3 km in height. The temperature of the parcel at 0 km is 25°C, the dew point is 15°C, the DAR is 10°C/km, the MAR is 5°C/km, and the ELR is 7°C/km. At what elevation will clouds begin to form in the parcel of air?
1 km
Commercially available global positioning system receivers can currently be used to determine location to an accuracy of
10 meters or less
Suppose that it is 11:30 p.m. Tuesday immediately west of the international date line. What is the time and day immediately east of the international date line?
11:30 p.m. Monday
Now imagine the same situation, but an hour later (12:30 a.m. Wednesday). Again, what time is it immediately east of the international date line?
12:30 a.m. Tuesday
Which of the following representative fractions represents the largest scale? 1:10,000 1:24,000 1:50,000 1:100,000 1:1,000,000
1:10,000
At the equator the sun is never more than ________ degrees from a line that is perpendicular to the earth's surface.
23.5
Earth's albedo is approximately
31%.
Suppose a parcel of air is about to be forced over a mountain 3 km in height. Given that the temperature of the parcel at 0 km is 25°C, the dew point is 15°C, the DAR is 10°C/km, the MAR is 5°C/km, and the ELR is 7°C/km, what will be the temperature of the parcel when it reaches the base of the other side of the mountain?
35°C
A parcel of air is about to be forced over a mountain 3 km in height. The temperature of the parcel at 0 km is 25°C, the dew point is 15°C, the DAR is 10°C/km, the MAR is 5°C/km, and the ELR is 7°C/km. What will be the temperature of the parcel at the top (3 km) of the mountain?
5°C
How much of the insolation received by the earth-atmosphere system is eventually transferred back to space?
69%
Suppose you have two functioning wells, fairly close to each other, and one goes dry but the other does not. Which of the following probably explains your predicament?
A cone of depression has developed around the dry well.
Which of the following is true regarding evidence for an anthropogenic contribution to global warming?
Carbon isotope studies indicate that most of the current CO2 increases are from the burning of fossil fuels. Models of warming since 1950 do not match observations unless forcing from greenhouse gases is included. A recent survey found that 97% of climatologists who study climate change agree that human activities are a significant contributing factor.
Which of the following is incorrect? Earth represents a vast interconnected system. Earth represents a closed system in terms of energy. Earth represents a closed system in terms of matter. All of these are correct.
Earth represents a closed system in terms of energy.
The United States has very little wind power potential.
False
The trade winds just north of the equator are easterly, while those just south of the equator are westerly.
False
Worldwide, the highest population densities and growth rates occur in areas where water is readily accessible.
False
Which of the following would be used for overlay map analysis where two or more map layers are superimposed or integrated?
GIS
Which of the following statements would best describe the emphasis in college-level geography in the United States?
Geography's main emphasis is on spatial analysis of phenomena.
Which of the following accurately summarizes the differences in daylength and intensity of insolation with increasing latitude over the course of a year?
Intensity decreases and daylength becomes more variable as you move from low to high latitudes.
Which of the following is true regarding energy that is reflected by the atmosphere?
It does not heat the atmosphere.
Which of the following is true regarding the role of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
It easily transmits shortwave but not longwave radiation.
Which of the following accurately describes what happens to air as it rises?
It expands and cools.
Which of the following statements about the Coriolis force is true? Select all that apply.
It helps to produce counterclockwise rotation of air around a low-pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere.
Which of the following statements about groundwater pollution is true?
It is contaminated from both point and nonpoint sources.
Which of the following best describes the value of a theory in the scientific method?
It stimulates continued observation and testing.
Which of the following statements regarding the global hydrologic cycle is true?
It suggests that precipitation and evaporation are balanced.
Which of the following is not true regarding ozone? It reduces the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth's surface. It is beneficial if it is located in the stratosphere. It is harmful if it is located very near the surface of the earth. It traps longwave radiation emitted by the earth.
It traps longwave radiation emitted by the earth.
Which of the following is not true regarding ozone?
It traps thermal radiation emitted by the earth.
In the lake system diagram, if shoreline distance decreases, what will happen to lake surface area? ( ...lake level + shoreline + lake surface area + evaporation - lake level...) --->
It will decrease.
In the system diagram, if component A increases, what will happen to component C? (.....A - B + C - A....) --->
It will decrease.
In the system diagram, if an initial input to the system causes component A to increase, what will happen to component A after the input has traveled through the system one time? (.....A - B + C - A....) --->
It will increase further.
If a parcel of air above its dew point is cooled, and the specific humidity remains constant, what will happen to the relative humidity of that parcel?
It will increase.
Which of the following correctly describes the behavior of a system with positive feedback?
It will respond to a change in input by moving further from an equilibrium condition.
Which of the following features would prove most difficult to map if the cartographer desired to preserve features of both equal area and true shape? a bike trail through a park a city North America Australia
North America
Which of the following example stations experiences the greatest moisture deficits?
Phoenix, Arizona
Under which of the following conditions would a water deficit occur for a given area and time?
Potential evapotranspiration is greater than precipitation and soil moisture storage.
Pumping of groundwater that exceeds the amount of natural recharge of an aquifer is called
Pumping of groundwater that exceeds the amount of natural recharge of an aquifer is called
Suppose you have two functioning wells, fairly close to each other, and one goes dry but the other does not. Which of the following would be the best, long-term solution to the problem?
Reduce water extraction to match the aquifer recharge rate.
Which of the following statements about the Colorado River is correct? The supply of water from the river is greater than the demand. John Wesley Powell was a strong advocate for current river policies. Glen Canyon Dam was sufficient to control flooding on the river during the 1982-1983 El-Nino event. River flow was unusually high when the Colorado River Compact was formed. Mexico receives plenty of water from the river.
River flow was unusually high when the Colorado River Compact was formed.
Which of the following winds frequently helps to produce major brushfires in Southern California?
Santa Ana
Why do hurricanes not form between the equator and about 5° latitude?
The Coriolis force is not strong enough.
Which of the following accurately describes the earth's distance from the sun? Select all that apply.
The distance between them averages about 150 million km (93 million mi). It takes light an average of 8 minutes and 20 seconds to travel from the sun to the earth. The earth is closer to the sun in January and farther away in July.
Which of the following is true with regards to the earth's energy budget?
The earth loses the same amount of energy as it gains.
Which of the following statements regarding global warming and its effects is incorrect? Direct measurements and proxy paleoclimatic records indicate that Earth's average temperature is increasing. The earth today is warmer than it has ever been in the past. In 2012, Arctic summer sea ice reached its lowest extent in over 30 years. Poor nations along coasts are the most vulnerable to its negative effects.
The earth today is warmer than it has ever been in the past.
Which of the following is NOT true regarding the Clean Air Act? The concentration of many air pollutants has declined over the past several decades. The economic costs have been greater than the benefits. Lead has been eliminated from all U.S. motor fuel. In 2013, New York City reported its cleanest air in 50 years as a result of reductions in sulfur dioxide and soot.
The economic costs have been greater than the benefits.
On the March equinox, which of the following events takes place at the North Pole?
The sun rises above the horizon for the first time in six months.
On the vernal equinox, which of the following events takes place at the North Pole?
The sun rises for the first time in six months.
Which of the following is true regarding time zones? Select all that apply.
They are 15° wide because the earth rotates through that distance in one hour. They are split approximately down the middle by a central meridian. They are based on distance from Greenwich, England.
Which of the following is true regarding the concentration of CO2 and methane in the lower atmosphere? Select all that apply.
They are both higher than they have been in 650,000 years. They are currently increasing rapidly.
Which of the following best describes physical geographers' current interest in human features and processes across the earth?
They are interested in the interactions between physical and human features and processes.
Which of the following is true regarding lines of latitude?
They are parallel to each other.
Which of the following is true regarding temperature inversions?
They occur when the normal decrease in temperature with increasing altitude in the troposphere is reversed.
Anthropogenic pollutants are usually more harmful to humans than natural pollutants.
True
During summer, maritime locations tend to be cooler than continental locations.
True
It is possible for water vapor to change directly to ice.
True
Most of earth's fresh, surface water is found in ice caps and glaciers.
True
Relative humidity can increase without new water vapor being added to the atmosphere.
True
The land-sea breeze and mountain-valley breeze cycles are controlled by shifting thermal high and low pressure systems.
True
Which of the following would provide the best evidence that Earth's climate is changing?
a 50-year increase in global average temperatures
With regards to physical matter and resources, earth can be essentially considered
a closed system.
What type of front is produced where a cold air mass is moving into a warm air mass at the surface?
a cold front
Which of the following describes the moisture condition if precipitation and soil moisture are inadequate to meet potential evapotranspiration?
a deficit
Which of the following would you be most likely to find associated with a warm front?
a gentle, drizzly precipitation
Which of the following terms best describes the shape of the earth?
a geoid
If you are making a map that is likely to be photocopied and enlarged or shrunk by users, which type of scale would be best to include on your map?
a graphic scale
Earth's equator is an example of
a great circle
Which of the following provides the most accurate description of the Little Ice Age?
a mostly cold period with rapid, short-term climate fluctuations
In the system diagram, what is the term for the relationship or interaction between component A and component B? (.....A - B + C - A....) --->
a negative coupling
geography is described as
a spatial science
The Intertropical Convergence Zone is an example of which of the following?
a thermal low-pressure zone
When a system suddenly jumps to a new equilibrium level, we say the system has reached
a threshold.
A regional ocean current that is flowing from the equator towards a pole is most likely
a warm current.
The Gulf Stream current along the east coast of the United States is an example of
a warm current.
The El-Niño-Southern Oscillation phenomenon involves which of the following?
a weakening or reversal of the trade winds in the equatorial Pacific stoppage of ocean upwelling along the coast of Peru warmer than average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific connections to floods or droughts in various places throughout the world
Which of the following represents all earth's properties of area, shape, direction, proximity, and distance correctly?
a world globe
Insolation does not heat the earth until it is
absorbed
Select all the options that correctly complete this statement: The wavelength of electromagnetic energy changes when it is
absorbed
When water evaporates, latent heat is
absorbed by water molecules.
Which of the following types of fog results when warm, moist air moves horizontally to a colder area?
advection fog
What is the term for a water-bearing rock stratum?
an aquifer
A well in which water rises to the surface without any necessary pumping is known as
an artesian well.
What is the generic term for any line that connects points of equal value on a map?
an isoline
Circulation around a high pressure center is termed
anticyclonic
Which of the following statements regarding climatic change and variability is incorrect? spatial scale is important in making accurate assessments temporal scale is important in making accurate assessments climate in a smaller area will tend to be more variable than in a larger area any abrupt jump should be considered climatic change
any abrupt jump should be considered climatic change
What is the largest climatic type worldwide, occupying about 30% of the earth's land area?
arid and semiarid climates
What is the largest general climatic type worldwide, occupying about 30% of earth's land area?
arid and semiarid climates
Which of the following climatic types would you find in most of northern Africa?
arid desert
Which of the following objects would have the lowest albedo? fresh snow asphalt water concrete forest
asphalt
At which of the following locations is solar energy most concentrated?
at places where the angle of incidence is 90°
A parcel of air always becomes saturated under which of the following points?
at the dew point temperature
According to the land-sea breeze cycle, what type of wind should a person expect when visiting a coastal beach during the day?
blowing from sea towards land
Which of the following air masses is usually the most stable?
cP
Which of the following cloud types would be found at the highest altitude?
cirrus
Regional-scale ocean currents or gyres in the Northern Hemisphere typically flow
clockwise
Which of the following are the three criteria used to classify the atmosphere?
composition, temperature, and function
What provides most of the energy that strengthens tornadoes?
condensation
Which of the following accurately describes atmospheric conditions if the environmental lapse rate is between the dry adiabatic and moist adiabatic rates?
conditionally unstable
Which type of energy transfer involves molecule-to-molecule contact?
conduction
Which of the following best describes climatic conditions during the Pleistocene Epoch?
constantly fluctuating glacial/interglacial cycles
The consistent afternoon thunderstorms that occur in Florida during the summer are usually produced by which lifting mechanism?
convection
The physical transfer of heat through vertical movement of air is known as
convection.
Which of the following is a capability of a geographic information system? Select all that apply.
data storage, manipulation and analysis, map production with different spatial information layers
Satellite images are based on
digital data that are stored electronically and then transmitted to earth by radio waves.
Because geography uses elements from both the physical and human systems to explain the spatial distribution of various phenomena, we can call geography a(n) ____________ science.
eclectic
Which of the following features are typically represented on topographic maps? Select all that apply.
elevation (NOT rainfall, atmospheric pressure, or wind)
What is the term for the property of equal area on a map?
equivalence
Which of the following types of fog is most likely to form over water rather than land?
evaporation fog
Earth's energy budget is balanced at all latitudes.
false
It is much easier to minimize distortion on small-scale maps.
false
Milankovitch cycles relate to the radiative output of the Sun
false
Over the oceans, there is more precipitation than evaporation.
false
Ten years of climate data are usually sufficient to characterize climatic change in an area
false
The principal weakness of paleoclimatic proxies is that they are all highly co-dependent and thus cannot be used to verify one another.
false
The scientific method should be seen as a sequence with distinct starting and ending points.
false
The temperature of the atmosphere decreases with increasing altitude in the stratosphere.
false
At the surface of the earth, air flows
from high pressure to low pressure.
Which of the following processes produces the energy we receive from the sun?
fusion
Which of the following terms best identifies the focus of physical geography?
geosystems
Which of the following statements regarding glacial-interglacial cycles during the Pleistocene is incorrect? as much a third of Earth's land surface was covered with ice during glacials they appear to be primarily controlled by changes in Earth-Sun orbital relations glacial advance is encouraged by stronger seasonality the Last Glacial Maximum was about 20,000 years ago
glacial advance is encouraged by stronger seasonality
Most of the earth's fresh water is in which of the following forms?
glaciers and ice caps
Select all options that correctly complete the sentence: When Earth's axial tilt is at 24.5° rather than the current 23.5° it causes
greater seasonality, which encourages glacial retreat.
Which of the following would best describe an area with a very high dew point?
humid
Which two climatic types are found along most of the East coast of the United States?
humid continental and humid subtropical
Which of the following climatic types would you be least likely to find on the west coast of the midlatitudes?
humid subtropical
Which of the following climatic types would you find in most of the southeastern United States?
humid subtropical
Which of the following paleoclimatic proxies provides records of climate with annual resolution and lengths over 100,000 years?
ice cores
According to the mountain-valley breeze cycle, which of the following times would be best to take a bicycle trip up a canyon, assuming you want the wind at your back?
in the afternoon
In most places, when is relative humidity usually the lowest?
in the afternoon
Loss of stratospheric ozone is occurring primarily in which of the following places?
in the higher latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere
Which of the following would be most likely to be portrayed on a very large-scale map?
individual streets in a town
Electromagnetic energy reaches the earth atmosphere system from the sun via which of the following energy transfer processes? Select all that apply.
insolation
Which of the following statements about the Medieval Climate Anomaly is incorrect? temperatures were as warm or warmer than they are today crops were planted further north than where they can survive today it had no influence on human migration and settlement it occurred between about A.D. 800 and 1200
it had no influence on human migration and settlement
Which of the following is true regarding sea-level rise in response to global warming?
it is one of the most certain impacts of global warming it will likely have particularly negative impacts on some of the poorest nations it is the result of both melting ice and thermal expansion
In the lake system diagram example above, if lake surface area increases, what will happen to evaporation? ( ...lake level + shoreline + lake surface area + evaporation - lake level...) --->
it will increase
With ice-albedo feedback, if temperature increases initially, what will happen to temperature after a complete loop?
it will increase further
What is the main source of energy for both tornadoes and hurricanes?
latent heat
What is the name of the heat energy involved in phase or state changes in water?
latent heat
By which of the following processes does earth's surface lose most of the insolation it absorbs?
latent heat transfer
Which of the following most strongly controls patterns of temperature on the surface of the earth?
latitude
Maximum temperatures usually occur after peak radiation in a given day or year. In a maritime location, this lag is usually
longer compared to a continental location.
Radiation emitted by the earth falls within which of the following parts of the electromagnetic spectrum?
longwave
Which of the following is correctly matched? Select all that apply. low pressure—counter-clockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere low pressure—counter-clockwise rotation in the Southern Hemisphere high pressure—sinking air in the Northern Hemisphere low pressure—sinking air in the Southern Hemisphere
low pressure—counter-clockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere high pressure—sinking air in the Northern Hemisphere
The specific heat of land is ________ than that of water, and therefore heats more ________.
lower; quickly
What type of air mass would you most likely experience in the southeastern United States?
mT
Which of the following air masses would be warm and wet?
mT
What two air masses usually collide to produce strong midlatitude cyclones, severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes?
mT and cP
The Coriolis force is strongest
near the poles.
What type of feedback is represented by the lake system diagram example? ( ...lake level + shoreline + lake surface area + evaporation - lake level...) --->
negative feedback
Which type of feedback will produce self-regulation and stability in a system? ( ...lake level + shoreline + lake surface area + evaporation - lake level...) --->
negative feedback
What is the usual result of the scientific method? Select all that apply.
new knowledge a need for continued observation and testing
Which of the following cloud types would be associated with rain?
nimbostratus
Which of the following cloud types would be found at the lowest altitude?
nimbostratus
Which of the following gases makes up most of our atmosphere?
nitrogen
Which of the following represents a body of facts that is specific to geography? landforms climate political systems settlement patterns none of these; geography is governed more by method and approach than a specific body of facts
none of these; geography is governed more by method and approach than a specific body of facts
Which area of the world experiences the largest annual range in temperature?
northeastern Asia
Which of the following comes first in the scientific method?
observation
Which of the following represents an application of global positioning systems?
ocean navigation tracking changes in the elevation of mountains backpacking research in physical geography
Which of the following mechanisms of atmospheric uplift is least likely to be found over the ocean, helping to explain why evaporation is greater than precipitation over the oceans in the hydrologic cycle?
orographic
Which of the following does not help to explain why we have seasons?
perihelion and aphelion
Ice-albedo feedback is an example of which kind of feedback?
positive
Milankovitch cycles match the timing of glacial-interglacial cycles during the Pleistocene, but not the magnitude of the reconstructed changes. What probably explains this discrepancy?
positive feedback
Which of the following is an example of active remote sensing?
radar
Solar radiation is primarily ________ whereas radiation from the Earth is exclusively ________.
shortwave; longwave
The larger the scale of a map, the ________ the extent covered by the map and the ________ the amount of detail it provides.
smaller; more
In the Northern Hemisphere, an object traveling from west to east will initially be deflected to the ________ by the Coriolis force.
south
When light passes into the atmosphere, it changes ________ in a process known as ________.
speed and direction; refraction
Air that sinks or does not rise is considered
stable
Select all the options that correctly complete this statement: When ice melts or water evaporates, latent heat is
stored in water molecules.
Your friend, knowing you are enrolled in Geography 101, decides to test your knowledge by asking you to identify the extensive, flat layer of clouds that has formed at low altitudes. Which of the following terms would you appropriately use?
stratus
If you do not like extreme seasonal changes in temperature, in which of the following climatic types would you be least happy?
subarctic
Which climatic type experiences the greatest annual temperature ranges due to continentality?
subarctic
What are the dominant controls over Mediterranean climates?
subtropical highs during summer and the westerlies during winter
Which of the following pressure cells are located near 60° N in the Pacific Ocean? Select all that apply.
the Aleutian Low
Most of the United States is located between which of the following pairs of parallels?
the Arctic Circle and and the Tropic of Cancer
Which of the following pairs of earth's global pressure systems are involved in the monsoon phenomenon?
the ITCZ and the subtropical highs
You are standing at the Tropic of Cancer at noon and you have no shadow. What day is it?
the June solstice
Where are most of the world's desalination plants located?
the Middle East
The "greenhouse effect" refers to
the absorption of longwave radiation by gases such as carbon dioxide and methane
Which of the following correctly defines potential evapotranspiration?
the amount of water that would evaporate or transpire if it were available
Which of the following locations will experience a 12-hour daylength at the vernal equinox? Select all that apply.
the equator the Tropic of Cancer Provo, Utah (40° N latitude) the Arctic Circle (EVERYWHERE)
Where would you be most likely to find frontal lifting?
the midlatitudes
If net condensation is occurring in a rising parcel of air, at what rate will the parcel of air cool as it rises?
the moist adiabatic rate
The plane of the earth's orbit about the sun is known as
the plane of the ecliptic.
0° longitude is also known as
the prime meridian
Which region in the United States is most susceptible to water deficits?
the southwest
In which of the following locations would one be most likely to find warm, dry, descending air?
the subtropical highs
What is the principal control over arid desert climates?
the subtropical highs
Which of the following objects radiates electromagnetic energy?
the sun the earth you
When isotherms on a temperature map bend poleward, it indicates a location where
the temperature is warmer than expected based on latitude.
When were problems with air pollution first reported?
the time of the Romans (2000 years ago)
About 90% of the total mass of the atmosphere is contained within which of the following layers?
the troposphere
What is the term for the boundary between the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation?
the water table
Air flowing from the subtropical highs to the subpolar lows produces which of the following global wind belts?
the westerlies
Which global wind belt is most common in the contiguous 48 United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii)?
the westerlies
You are standing at the Tropic of Capricorn at noon and you have no shadow. What day is it?
the winter (December) solstice
Which of the following is correct regarding the influence of clouds on global warming?
they may enhance or dampen initial warming depending on the type of cloud produced
Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska are all part of
tornado alley.
Which of the following paleoclimatic proxies provides climatic information with the highest resolution?
tree rings
Which of the following climatic types has very strong seasonality with regards to precipitation, but not temperature?
tropical monsoon
Which of the following climatic types does not have a strong seasonal component?
tropical rainforest
Which climatic type is influenced by the ITCZ during part of the year, and the subtropical highs during another part?
tropical savanna
Clouds may cause either cooling or heating of the lower atmosphere.
true
Hotter objects emit energy at shorter wavelengths than colder objects.
true
Milankovitch cycles act to alter Earth's climate principally by influencing seasonality.
true
The scientific method includes both positive and negative feedback.
true
Which of the following accurately describes the commonly used Mercator projection? Select all that apply.
true shape, cylindrical
How many times each year does the subsolar point pass over the equator?
twice
Which of the following best describes the current emphasis in the field of physical geography?
understanding how the earth's systems interact to produce natural phenomena
Which of the following most accurately characterizes the goal of geography?
understanding why a place has the characteristics that it does
A parcel of air that is warmer than its surroundings is considered
unstable
The peak of radiation we receive from the sun falls within which of the following parts of the electromagnetic spectrum?
visible
What conditions are found with a thermal low pressure center?
warm, rising air
The specific heat of water is greater than that of land. This means
water heats more slowly than land does.
Areas that experience monsoon circulation are characterized by ________ summers and ________ winters.
wet; dry
Which of the following is affected most strongly by the Coriolis force?
winds in the upper atmosphere
Which of the following best describes moisture conditions for Mediterranean climates?
winter-wet, summer-dry
A scale given as "one centimeter to one kilometer" is an example of which type of scale?
written
What is the term for the subsurface zone where air exists with water in the space between soil and rock particles?
zone of aeration
