Geography 2050 Exam 1 (CH 1-3)
___ are mid level sheets that partially obscure the sun
altostratus
which is a naturla methane source?
anaerobic bacteria
the process of ___ turns water vapor into liquid
condensation
which is a water-vapor sink?
condensation
which sequence presents the process of collision and coalescence in the right order
condensation nuclei-cloud droplets- collision and coalescence- raindrops
which dies not cause the continental effect?
condensation of water
circulation of heat in the oceans and atmosphere is an example of energy movement through ___
convection
___ occurs when heated air parcels rise in the atmosphere
convective uplift
atoms of hydrogen and oxygen form attachments to make a water molecule through
covalent bonding
which type of cloud is associated with severe weather
cumulonimbus
which is a water-vapor source?
evaporation
air with a high dew-point temp has a lower specific humidity than air with a low dew point temp
false
on a climate diagram, the horizontal axis is always ___
months of the year
which color has the longest photon wavelength
red
___ clouds obscure the sun and make the whole sky gray
stratus
the division between the thermosphere and the exosphere is called the______
thermopause
the dew point temperatueris the temperature at which the air becomes saturated
true
up to 600 calories per gram of water are absorbed from teh environment during evaporation
true
vapor pressure expresses the water vapor content of the air by how much pressyre in millibars the water vapor exerts
true
volcanoes make acid rain pollution
true
water levels in some of the great lakes are lowering because evaporation is increasing
true
a positive feedback system causes a system to become
unstabilized
the temperature in a parcel of air is 30 degrees celsius at sea level and it has a dew point temperature of 0 degrees celsius, and has a moist adiabatic rate of 5 degrees celsius per 1000 meters. what will the temp of the air parcel be at 6000 meters altitude
-15 degrees celsius
at a given location, the sea level air temperature is 30 degrees Celsius. based on the average environmental lapse rate, what is the most likely temperature at 5000 meters in mountains near that same sea level location?
-2.5 degrees celsius
water freezes at ___ degrees celsius
0
solar radiation peaks at ___ micrometers
0.5
one degree of change in celsius is equal to ___ degrees of change in fahrenheit
1.8
terrestrial radiation peaks at ___ micrometers
10
the dry adiabatic rate of temperature change for an unsaturated air parcel is
10 degrees celsius per 1000 meters
water boils at ___ degrees celsius
100
on the march equinox, the latitude 41 degrees north receives ___ hours of daylight
12
the temperature of earth's surface is approximately ___ degrees celsius
14.6
the average distance between earth and the sun is ____ million kilometers
149.6
about 101,000 terawatts of energy are delivered to earth each day by the sun. worldwide, society consumes ___ terawatts of energy
15
globally, transpiration accounts for __ percent of water vapor in the atmosphere
15
on june 21, the latitude 41 degrees north receives ___ hours of daylight
15
how fast would you have to travel to stay beneath the subsolar point as it moved along the equator?
1670 kilometers per hour
the Clean Air Act was first enacted in
1970
when was the montreal protocol ratified?
1987
dew point temperatures above __ degrees celsius are uncomfortable to people
20
the temp of an air parcel is -20 degrees celsius at 4000 meters altitude. what will its temperature be if it descends to sea level
20 degrees celsius
what is the relative humidity for a parcel of air with 6 millibars vapor pressure and 30 millibars saturation vapor pressure
20%
alto clouds form above___ meters altitude
2000
stratus clouds form below ___ meters altitude
2000
the temperature in a parcel of air is 30 degrees celsius at sea level. how high will this unsaturated air parcel have to rise to reach 10 degrees celsius?
2000 meters
water boils at ___ degrees fahrenheit
212
what percentage of solar radiation is reflected by clouds and the atmosphere?
23%
the tropic of cancer is located at ___ latitude
23.5 degrees north
the tropic of capricorn if located at ___ latitude
23.5 degrees south
it takes Earth ___ hours to complete one rotation on its axis
24
overall, what percentage of solar radiation is reflected by earth?
30%
what percentage of solar energy goes to work evaporating water from earth's surface?
30%
the temperature in a parcel of air is 30 degrees celsius at sea level and it has a dew point temperature of 0 degrees celsius. how high will this unsaturated air parcel have to rise to become saturated?
3000 meters
0 degrees celsius is equal to ____ degrees fahrenheit
32
water freezes at ___ degrees fahrenheit
32
95 degrees fahrenheit is equal to ___ degrees celsius
35
it takes Earth ___ days to revolve around the sun
365.25
at which latitude does the amount of absorbed solar radiation equal the amount of energy emitted by earth?
37 degrees
each year in the US, about __ lose their lives because of heat waves
400
over a six month period, the subsolar point migrates across ___ degrees of latitude
47
the temperature of one gram of dry sand will rise about ___ degree(s) celsius when 1 calorie is added to it
5
how many calories are required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water from 100 degrees to 101 degrees celsius
541
the moist adiabatic rate of cooling is usually about ___ degrees celsius per 1000 meters
6
during condensation, for every gram of water about __ calories are released to the surrounding environment
600
during evaporation, for every gram of water about ___ calories are absorbed from the surrounding environment
600
the arctic circle is located at ___ latitude
66.5 degrees north
the antarctic circle is located at ___ latitude
66.5 degrees south
overall, what percentage of solar radiation is absorbed by earth?
70%
during the 1995 heat wave in the chicago and milwaukee areas, more than ___ people lost their lives
700
cirrus clouds form above ___ meters
7000
the top of the mesosphere occurs at about ___ kilometers
80
by the middle of the century, about how much energy could come from fossil fuels
80%
globally, evaporation accounts for ___ percent of water vapor in the atmosphere
85
what percentage of the energy the world uses comes from fossil fuels
85%
if earth's axial tilt were 90 degrees, the subsolar point would migrate across ___ degrees of latitude each six months
90
the highest temperature officially recorded on earth was where?
Death Valley, California
which US state most likely has the highest specific humidity at any given time
Georgia
which atom comes from a CFC molecule and breaks the ozone apart?
chlorine
the ___ is the division between night and day
circle of illumination
___ clouds create a halo around the sun or moon
cirrostratus
___ clouds are wispy and thin
cirrus
which has the potentially highest albedo?
clouds
which is not an example of a renewable energy?
coal
the ice crystal process occurs in ___ clouds
cold
when an air parcel sinks, it____
compresses and warms
which scenario would most likely make rain
above freezing temperatures from cloud to ground
grass is green because it ____
absorbs all colors, but green is reflected
which will most likely happen to insolation if it strikes vegetation?
absorption
a conditionally unstable atmosphere mainly occurs when __-
an air parcel is unsaturated near the ground and saturated higher up
which will not change the dew point temperature
an increase in air temp
which location has the highest annual temp range?
at a high latitude and far inland
which location has the lowest average annual temperature?
at a high latitude and high elevation
The main source of anthropogenic carbon monoxide in urban areas is __________.
automobiles
what is not true about the december solstice
daylight hours get longer as one travels northward
on the ___ all locations within the antarctic circle receive 24 hours of daylight
december solstice
the process of ___ turns water vapor into ice
deposition
for every 10 degrees celsius increase in air temperature, saturation vapor pressure
doubles
what causes particulate matter to be high in Sahara in northern africa?
dust storms
the atmosphere is heated mostly by __
earth's surface
the process of ____ turns liquid water into water vapor
evaporation
which directly results from the absorption of solar energy
evaporation
which will occur least when the relative humidity is 100%
evaporation
which statement is not true about the LCL (lifting condensation level)
evaporation exceeds condensation above the LCL
when an air parcel rises it_____
expands and cools
CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) are gases that occur naturally in the atmosphere
false
CFCs are toxic gases made by people
false
NYC, located in the coast, has a strongly maritime climate
false
PM10 is more unhealthy than PM2.5
false
a jet contrail is a naturally forming cloud
false
all locations in the tropics are warm
false
as the atmosphere warms from anthropogenic climate change, scientists are certain that there will be more cloud cover
false
aurora autralis occurs in the northern hemisphere
false
clouds are made of water vapor
false
clouds form only in environments of net evaporation
false
condensation raises atmospheric humidity
false
copper is a good insulator. air is a good conductor
false
desert organisms such as the california desert tortoise are not harmed by solar power farms
false
earth's albedo is highest in tropical regions
false
earth's axis is tilted 25 degrees
false
fog is a type of alto cloud
false
for most locations, specific humidity increases at night
false
ground level ozone is harmless. Stratospheric ozone is harmful to people.
false
ice has fewer hydrogen bonds than liquid
false
if earth's axial tilt were to increase, seasonality would decrease
false
in a snow gauge, 10 cm of snow usually melts into about 5 cm of water
false
in the US, the most intense sunlight occurs in florida
false
most of earth's electromagnetic radiation is in short wavelengths
false
most solar electromagnetic radiation is in long wavelengths
false
most solar electromagnetic radiation is in short wavenlengths
false
northern lights occur in the mesosphere
false
one of the world's most intense sunlight regions is equatorial africa
false
only nimbostratus make hail
false
polar air has a high relative humidity because the air is humid
false
radiation fog forms mainly over mountains
false
rain shadows occur in moist costal areas
false
relative humidity indicates the actual water vapor content of the air
false
satellites can measure precipitation by taking direct samples
false
the moist adiabatic lapse rate is always greater (faster) than teh dry adiabatic lapse rate
false
the problem with the ozonosphere was known since the 1920s, but wasnt taken seriously until 1974
false
the subsolar point moves as high as 38 degrees latitude north and south
false
the tropic of capricorn occurs at 23.5 degrees north latitude
false
transmission is the absorption of electromagnetic energy by an object
false
water has a lower specific heat than dry sand
false
water moves through earth's physical systems in the carbon cycle
false
when 2 objects of different temperatures come into contact, heat will flow from the object with a lower temperature to the object with a higher temperature
false
when an air parcel is cooler than the surrounding environment it is unstable
false
which is an anthropogenic source of carbon dioxide?
fossil fuels
the process of ___ turns liquid into ice
freezing
___ occurs when air masses lift air
frontal uplift
which is likely to occur when the dew point temp is below freezing
frost
the ___ is the result of heating inequalities across latitudes
global heat engine
without ___ earth's atmosphere would not have a natural greenhouse effect
greehouse gases
because of the greenhouse effect, which emits the most longwave radiation?
greenhouse gases
the __ is the temperature that it feels like to a person when teh air is hot and there is a high humidity
heat index temperature
warm air has a(n) ___ saturation vapor pressure than cold air
higher
the heat-index temperature is caused by
humidity
water molecules attach to each other through ___
hydrogen bonding
atmospheric humidity is measured with a
hygrometer
which location typically has teh highest specific humidity
in the tropics over water
the radiative equilibrium temperature of an object (such as eath's lower atmosphere) will remain unchanged as long as ___
incoming energy is equal to outgoing energy
as an air parcel's temperature decreases, the relative humidity within the parcel
increases
the continental effect ____ the annual temp range
increases
what is not true about the september equinox?
it is the first day of spring in teh northern hemisphere
what is not true about the june solstice
it is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere
how would the temp at the surface of earth likely respond if there were fewer tropical cirrus clouds
it would cool
how would the temp at the surface of earth likely respond if there were more stratus clouds
it would cool
what would happen to earth's radiative equilibrium temperature if earth's albedo were lowered?
it would increase
how would the temp at teh surface of earth respond if tehre were more midaltitude cirrus clouds
it would warm
on the ____ all locations within the arctic circle receive 24 hours of daylight
june solstice
in rising air parcels, clouds form at the
lifting condensation level
the process of ___ turns solid ice to liquid
melting
which location has the highest annual temperature range
north and central Eurasia
___ occurs when air moves over mountains
orographic lift
the path that earth and the other planets follow as they orbit the sun is called the ___
plane of ecliptic
after the oceans, ___ is/are the most important source of water vapor to the atmosphere
plants
earth's north pole points to
polaris
absorption of sunlight by earth's surface is an example of ___
radiation
which scenario would be most likely to make sleet?
rain falling through a deep layer of below freezing air near the ground
which scenario would be most likely to make freezing rain?
rain falling through a shallow layer of below freezing air near the ground
clouds are white because they___
reflect all colors equally
which will most likely happen to insolation if it strikes snow?
reflection
rainbows are caused by ___
refracted sunlight
___ expresses humidity as a percent
relative humidity
when the air's water vapor content is equal to teh air's vapor capacity, the air is
saturated
the vapor pressure at which saturation occurs is called teh ___
saturation vapor pressure
hotter objects emit ___ than relatively cooler object
shorter wavelengths at a faster rate
if the sun stopped shining, the global heat engine would
shut down
the ___ refers to the height of the sin about the horizon at noon
solar altitude
where in hte US are dew point temperatures typically highest
southeast
___ expresses humidity in grams of water per kg of air
specific humidity
a negative feedback system causes a system to become
stabilized
the process of ___ turns ice into water vapor
sublimation
which process does not happen in the hydrologic cycle
sublimation from plants
warm air has a(n) ___ vapor pressure than cold air
temperature does not change vapor pressure
advection fog forms when ___
the ground cools the air above
radiation fog forms when___
the ground cools the air above
the moist adiabatic rate of cooling is different from teh dry adiabatic rate of cooling because of
the release of latent heat within a cloud
what is not true about hte March equinox?
the subsolar point is over the tropic of capricorn
the energy that drives the hydrologic cycle comes from ___
the sun
what happens after an object absorbs a photon of energy?
the temperature of the objects increases
which is not among the problems with fossil fuels
they are available in large amounts
which describes insolation travelling through earth's atmosphere?
transmission
plants move water vapor to teh atmosphere through
transpiration
air with a high dew point temp has a higher vapor pressure than air with a low dew point temp
trie
adiabatic temp changes occur inside a parcel of air
true
air temp and relative humidity are inversly related
true
all clouds take 3 basic forms: stratiform, cumuliform, and cirriform
true
all objects emit electromagnetic radiation
true
alpenglow forms as light is scattered in the atmosphere
true
an air parcel is a body of air with a uniform humidity and temp
true
astronomical seasons refer to the changing position of the sun, moon, and stars
true
cirrus clouds are composed entirely of ice crystals
true
cirrus clouds can cause both positive and negative feedbacks in the climate system
true
cloud droplets form around condensation nuclei
true
cloud droplets remain suspended in teh atmospehre because they are too light to fall to the ground
true
cloud negative forcing causes cooling of the atmosphere. cloud positive forcing causes warming of the atmosphere
true
concentrated solar power (CSP) generates electricity by creating steam from water heated by sunlight
true
currently, clouds cause net cooling worldwide
true
decreased snow cover due to warmer winters is also enhancing evaporation from the great lakes
true
earth is closer to the sun in january than in july
true
evaporation cools teh environment. condensation warms the environment
true
evaporation of water into the atmosphere can saturate teh air
true
fog over the ocean is always advection fog
true
hailstones start as graupel and grow larger the longer the hail is suspended in a cloud
true
heavy rains are made by cumulonimbus
true
ice is less dense than liquid water
true
ice nuclei are required for the formation of snowflakes
true
lines of equal temperature are called isotherms
true
meteorological seasons refer to the changing of weather conditions over the course of a year
true
most anthropogenic pollutants come from burning fossil fuels
true
northern lights are also called aurora boealis
true
only in the tropics can the solar altitude be 90 degrees
true
over most of the oceans, evaporation exceeds precipitation
true
ozone molecules break apart naturally in the stratosphere
true
ozone molecules form naturally in the stratosphere
true
particulate matter is an aerosol
true
photovoltaic (PV) panels generate electricity from sunlight
true
precipitation includes solid or liquid water that falls from teh cloud to the ground
true
radiometers are used to measure the amount of reflected shortwave radiation at earth's surface
true
renewable energy does not put ancient carbon in the atmospehre
true
sensible heat changes the temperature of a substance. latent heat does not
true
temperature is the average kinetic movement of molecules in a substance, measured by a thermometer
true
the Air Quality Index ranks air quality by its effects on human health
true
the average sea-level air pressure is 1013.25 millibars
true
the difference between the highest and lowest air temperatures for a given location is called the temperature range
true
the greater the temperature contrast between two objects in contact, the faster heat will flow from one to the other
true
the gulf stream current reduces the annual temperature range for northern europe
true
the heat-index themperature is determined by measuring atmospheric humidity and temperature
true
the kelvin scale has no negative numbers
true
the latent heat of evaporation occurs in natural outdoor settings wehre the temperature of water is well below 100 degrees celsius
true
the leeward side of a mountain range is often warmer and drier than the windward side
true
the lower albedo of cities and the materials of which they are made creat the urban heat island effect
true
the moist rate of adiabatic cooling varies depending on how much water vaper is condensing to liquid
true
the more waetr vapor that condenses, teh slower the rate of moist adiabatic cooliong with occur
true
the term insolation is short for "incoming solar radiation"
true
tropical air has a high relative humidity because the air is humid
true
ultraviolet radiation has shorter wavelengths than visible light
true
water weighs 1 kg per liter or 8.3 lbs per gallon
true
which wavelengths causes sunburns?
ultraviolet
which is a CFC sink?
ultraviolet radiation
the collision and coalescence process occurs in ___ clouds
warm
which has the most potential as a renewable energy source in terms of the theoretical maximum energy production?
wind
the temperature at the top of the troposphere is about ___ degrees Celsius
-60
the temperature at the top of the mesosphere is about ___ degrees celsius
-90
the temperature at the top of the stratosphere is about ___ degrees Celsius
0
when there is ___ it gets warmer as altitude increases
a temperature inversion
clouds are composed of______
aerosols
what is the most likely source of carbon monoxide for equatorial Africa in winter?
agricultural waste burning
which is not a primary pollutant?
ground level ozone
which is not an example of particulate matter?
ozone
auroras are caused by___
the solar wind
gases enter teh atmosphere through gas sinks
false
most of the pollution is caused by acid rain from drilling operations
false
nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere are a type of aerosol
false
the tropopause is higher above earth's surace at the poles than at the equator
false
ultraviolet rays do what?
form ozone molecules, break apart ozone molecules, and break apart CFC molecules
the tropopause is the division between what?
the troposphere and stratosphere
which is not one of the three main factors that concentrate or dispense pollution
vegetation
at sea level there is/are ___ kilogram(s) per square centimeter of air pressure on average
1
the atmospheric lifetime of a CFC molecule can be ___ years or more
1000
on average, the top of the troposphere occurs at about ____ kilometers
12
at sea level, there are ___ pounds per square inch of air pressure on average
14.7
the geographically most extensive hole in the ozonosphere occurred in what year>
2000
the ozonosphere is anticipated to return to 1980 levels by about the year ___
2040
99% of the atmosphere is found below ___kilometers
32
the top of the stratosphere occurs at about ___ kilometers
50
the top of the thermosphere is found at ___ kilometers
600
which city has the lowest air pressure on average?
Ulan Bator, Mongolia- 1,350 meters (4,429 feet)
a primary pollutant is defined as ___
a pollutant that enders the air or water directly from the source
what is responsible for the downward trend in these pollutants?
enactment of the US Clean Air Act
which is photochemical smog?
ground level ozone
which is a CFC source?
human activity
the main source of VOCs is ___
incomplete burning of gasoline
what causes particulate matter to be high in eastern asia?
industrial emissions
what causes particulate matter to be high in northern india?
industrial emissions
what causes particulate matter to be high in the eastern US?
industrial emissions
which statement is not true of the exosphere
it is where meteors burn up as they enter the atmosphere from space
the division between the mesosphere and the thermosphere is called the ____
mesopause
____ facilitate(s) a reduction of ozone in the ozonosphere
nacreous clouds
where are stratospheric ozone concentrations hte lowest?
over the south pole
which is not a greenhouse gas? Water vapor Oxygen Methane Ozone
oxygen
chlorine atoms change ozone molecules to what?
oxygen molecules and oxygen atoms
which is a main characteristic of the stratosphere?
permanent temperature inversion
which is a sink for carbon dioxide?
photosynthesis
which condition is not among the human health problems caused by exposure to increased levels of ultraviolet radiation?
respiratory problems
which is a nitrous oxide source?
soil bacteria
the timing of the solar wind coincides with the timing of ___
solar flare activity
given the geographic pattern of ozonosphere thinning, which location would have the highest UV radiation levels at ground level?
southern Australia
the division between the stratospehre and teh mesosphere is called the ___
stratopause
a problem with HFCs is that they are ___
strong greenhouse gases
which causes acid rain?
sulfur dioxide
what did the montreal protocol mandate?
the phaseout of CFCs
clouds in the troposphere end at the tropopause because___
the stratosphere is too warm
the division between the troposphere and the stratosphere is called the ___
tropopause
the lowest-most layer of the atmosphere is called the ___
troposphere
a greenhouse gas absorbs and emits heat
true
in the stratosphere, air flows mostly horizontally
true
methane is a greenhouse gas
true
most meteors burn up in the mesosphere
true
natrual gas extraction is creating air pollution for rural areas of the west such as Wyoming
true
on average, the dead sea has the highest air pressure on earth
true
the atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen molecules
true
the atmosphere is kept pinned to earth by gravity
true
the environmental lapse rate in the troposphere is 6.5 degreed celsius per 1000 meters
true
the height of the equatorial tropopause is about 18 kilometers
true
the height of the polar tropopause is about 8 kilometers
true
tropos in Greek means to turn over and to mix
true
water vapor can occupy up to 4% of the atmosphere by volume
true
what type of solar radiation causes ozone molecules to break apart and reform
ultraviolet radiation
which is a methane sink?
ultraviolet radiation
which is a nitrous oxide sink?
ultraviolet radiation
which is an ozone sink?
ultraviolet radiation
which is an ozone source?
ultraviolet radiation
the main source of particulate matter in northern africa is __
windblown dust
the surface of the land and oceans absorbs ___ percent of solar radiation
47%
the gas that causes the ozonosphere thinning is
CFCs
the sky is blue because of ___
Rayleigh scattering
the lowest temperature ever officially recorded was in___
antarctica
the farthest position of earth's orbit around the sun is called __
aphelion
which statement best describes the relationship between air temp and saturation vapor pressure
as air temp increases, saturation vapor increases exponentially
the main source of particulate matter in the US is ___
coal burning
snaw has a lower albedo than vegetation
false
solar panels on rooftops are an example of centralized solar energy production
false
stratocummulus clouds bring rain
false
sunlight becomes less diffuse at high latitudes
false
the higher the molecular density of air, the lower the air pressure
false
the latent heat of melting is the energy that is used to evaporate liquid
false
at high latitudes, earth radiates ___ energy than it absorbs
more
the process of the latent heat of evaporation requires ___ calories than the latent heat of vaporization
more
which is a natural source of carbon dioxide?
volcanic activity
which does not occur as water changes phase from liquid to vapor?
warming of the surrounding environment
which is not one of the special properties of water?
water erodes continents
if earth's axial tilt were 0, the subsolar point would migrate across ___ degrees of latitude each six months
0
on december 21, the latitude 80 degrees north receives ___ hours of daylight
0
how many calories are required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water from 30 degrees to 31 degrees celsius
1
the temperature of 1 gram of water will rise ___ degree(s) celsius when one calorie is added to it
1
temperatures in upper reaches of the thermosphere are as high as ____ degrees Celsius
1200
during the august 2003 heat wave, about ___ people in europe lost their lives
70,000
which molecule does not occur naturally?
CFCs and HFCs
which air pollutant has dropped most between 1990 and 2012?
CO
which city has teh highest air pressure on average?
Cairo, Egypt- 23 meters (75 feet)
the atmosphere is thicker in the tropics than at higher latitudes mostly because of ___
Earth's rotation
under the montral protocol, CFCs have mostly been replaced by what chemical?
HFCs
which pollutant has dropped the least between 1990and 2012?
PM10
the southern hemisphere has ____ average annual temperature range compared to the northern hemisphre
a lower
which is not found in the troposphere?
a permanent temperature inversion
which scenario would be most likely to make snow
below freezing temps from cloud to ground
the largest official hailstone ws the size of a
bowling ball
the main source of anthropogenic carbon monixide in remote areas is ___
burning agricultural wastes and forests
the main source of nitrogen dioxide pollution is ___
burning of coal and gasoline
how is ozone broken down naturally?
by reactions with ultraviolet radiation
how is ozone formed naturally?
by reactions with ultraviolet radiation