Geography Test 2

Earth's average overall albedo is ________ .

31 percent

______________ is an indication of the average kinetic energy of individual molecules within the atmosphere.

Air temperature

Which of the following is related to Earth's albedo? A) transmission B) scattering C) convection D) none of these

B) Scattering

Which of the following has the lowest albedo? A) pack ice off the coast of Antarctica B) snow that is polluted and several days old C) dry concrete D) forests E) the Moon's surface in full sunlight

E) the Moon's surface in full sunlight

The earth-atmosphere radiation system ________.

If the surface and the atmosphere are considered separately, neither exhibits a balanced radiation budget, the surface exhibits an overall positive radiation balance, and the atmosphere exhibits an overall negative radiation balance.

The albedo of water ________ .

It changes, depending upon the Sun angle.

______________ are more strongly dominated by continentality than are Southern Hemisphere temperatures.

Northern Hemisphere temperatures

On the average, the distribution of shortwave and longwave energy at Earth's surface by latitude shows what?

The distribution shows an imbalance of net radiation from equator to poles.

The net radiation balance in a midlatitude location has ________.

a surplus of Net R during the summer and a deficit during the winter.

The analogy of a greenhouse is _____________.

a useful, but inaccurate model since atmospheric gases do not trap, but absorb heat.

The reflective quality of a surface is known as its ________ .

albedo

The best thermometer to use where temperatures drop below -39°C (-38.2°F) is _____________.

an alcohol thermometer

the distribution of shortwave and longwave energy at Earth's surface by latitude shows _____________.

an imbalance of net radiation from equator to poles.

Which of the following is correctly matched? a. convection strongly • horizontal mixing b. conduction • molecule-to-molecule heat transfer c. advection • strongly vertical mixing d. radiation • assimilation and conversion of molecules

b. conduction • molecule-to-molecule heat transfer Correct

Why do we see the sun for several minutes after the sunset?

because of absorption

Why do the highest annual values for latent heat evaporation on land occur in the tropics?

because there is a net annual energy surplus there, rainfall makes water available for evaporation from soils, and the dark color of forests (as opposed to sandy soils) results in the absorption of heat energy by vegetation.

Why is the Earth's sky blue?

because there is more scattering of the longer wavelengths of the visible bandwidth.

Net radiation refers to the balance of what?

both shortwave and longwave energy.

Maritime influences tend to _____________.

decrease both daily and monthly temperature ranges.

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

decrease; less

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

differences in the air temperature of layers near the surface, differences in the air density of layers near the surface, and refraction

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

differences in the air temperature of layers near the surface, differences in the air density of layers near the surface, refraction.

On a cloudy day, Earth's surface receives ________.

diffused radiation

Energy that is reflected from the atmosphere ________ .

does not act to heat the atmosphere.

Which of the following has the highest albedo? a. asphalt b. a black roof c. dry, light sandy soils d. forests e. fresh snow

e. fresh snow

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

exhibits a lag of several hours between the plotted lines.

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

firewood

The insolation received at Earth's surface is __________.

greatest over low-latitude deserts with their cloudless skies

If the amount of cloud cover increases in response to greenhouse warming, this will ___________ Earth's albedo and promote ___________. (For this question, assume that albedo effects dominate the temperature response.)

increase; cooling

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

increases; diminishes

Insolation __________

is the only energy input driving the earth's atmospheric system, consists of diffused radiation, and consists of direct radiation.

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

lower; quickly

The science that specifically studies the climate at or near Earth's surface is ________.

meteorology

______________ are made by taking the total of the daily temperatures for the month divided by the number of days in the month.

monthly mean temperature

Ocean temperature rarely rises above 31°C (88°F) because of __________ feedback caused by __________.

negative; evaporation.

When light passes from one medium to another __________.

refraction occurs a process that is important to the formation of rainbows.

Because of the process known as ________ the Sun appears above the horizon ________ it has actually risen.

refraction; before

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.

smaller than

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

speed and direction; refraction

In the surface energy budget, the term - SW represents ________.

the albedo value of the surface.

The Mount Pinatubo eruption in June 1991 affected the atmosphere in the following way

the atmospheric albedo increased, an increase occurred in the amount of energy absorbed in the atmosphere, and a worldwide decrease in surface temperatures occurred in the two years after the eruption.

Net radiation (NET R) refers to________.

the balance of all radiation incoming and outgoing at Earth's surface.

Conduction refers to ________.

the molecule-to-molecule transfer of heat energy that diffuses through the material.

High altitudes are cooler than low altitudes because ______________.

there are fewer air molecules to absorb and radiate sensible heat.

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

transmission

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

turbulent eddies, convection, and conduction.

Earth's main energy inputs are __________

ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared radiation.

The temperature on a cloudy night is likely to be __________ than that on a clear night because __________.

warmer; the clouds absorb heat energy and then reradiate some of it back to the ground

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

water vapor and carbon dioxide

The wind chill temperature index is based on ______________.

wind speed and air temperature

Longwave radiation (+ LW) arriving at the surface ________.

comes primarily from infrared energy emitted by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

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

convection.

An increase in the earth's albedo would ________ .

cool the planet