GEOL 1340 - Assignment 1

Water vapor

Between about 5 and 7 micrometers, ________ is an efficient absorber of longwave radiation.

through the greenhouse effect through conduction through latent heat in water vapor through convection

How is energy transferred from Earth's surface to Earth's atmosphere?

45%

How much of the Sun's incoming radiation is absorbed by Earth's surface?

31%

How much of the Sun's incoming radiation is scattered or reflected back to space before any heating effect is felt on Earth?

released into the power grid for others to use, generating a credit to the homeowner

If a home uses a large supply of solar panels to generate electricity, but has no battery system, surplus electricity that is produced is usually __________.

DC power had to be converted to AC.

In the solar panel system presented in the video, which of the following was necessary to generate usable electrical current for a home?

8 and 12

Longwave radiation is generally not effectively absorbed by all greenhouse gases in the atmosphere between ________ micrometers, allowing some longwave radiation to be emitted directly to space.

reflection by clouds

Only some shortwave radiation from the Sun reaches Earth's surface. What is the leading cause of this radiation loss?

Ozone

Oxygen and _______ are effective absorbers of longwave radiation between 9 and 10 micrometers.

Which of the following statements about Earth's solstices is correct?

The December solstice is the time of year when Earth's geographic South Pole is leaning most directly toward the Sun.

Chlorofluocarbons

The completely anthropogenic greenhouse gas with the greatest rate of increase.

Ozone

The greenhouse gas, as shown in the figures, which has both natural and anthropogenic sources.

How does the inclination of Earth's axis (relative to the plane of its orbit) change over the course of a year?

The inclination of Earth's axis does not change.

Carbon dioxide

The largest relative contributor to the anthropogenic greenhouse effect.

Methane

The second largest relative contributor to the anthropogenic greenhouse effect.

Areas of open water

What characteristic best describes the areas with the lowest levels of reflected shortwave radiation in both June in the Northern Hemisphere and December in the Southern Hemisphere?

Atmospheric temperature would decrease.

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun decreased and was less than the longwave radiation lost to space?

Atmospheric temperature would remain the same.

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun was the same as the longwave radiation lost to space?

Atmospheric temperature would increase.

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of outgoing longwave radiation decreased so that it was less than incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun?

Atmospheric temperature would decrease.

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of shortwave radiation reflected at Earth's surface increased significantly?

Atmospheric temperature would increase.

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of shortwave radiation reflected by clouds decreased significantly?

March equinox

When do all locations on Earth experience equal lengths of day and night?

There are solar panels on the roof and power lines going to the home.

Which of the following would indicate that a home is using solar power to generate electricity and is NOT using batteries?

Methane

_________ is a greenhouse gas that humans are emitting into the atmosphere through agriculture and livestock production.

Carbon dioxide

_________ is the least effective absorber of longwave radiation between the entire range of about 5 and 12 micrometers.

When are the Sun's rays perpendicular to Earth's surface at the equator?

during the March equinox and September equinox

December solstice

the time of the year when Earth's geographic North Pole is leaning most directly away from the Sun

June solstice

the time of the year when Earth's geographic North Pole is leaning most directly toward the Sun

Water vapor

The largest relative contributor to the natural greenhouse effect.

at the equator

Where does the length of day remain the same throughout the year?

Photons carrying energy from the sun chemically react with silicon crystals to generate a flow of electrons.

Which of the following best describes the energy conversion sequence in the solar panel system described in the video?

Earth spins on its axis, completing one rotation each day. Earth's axis is tilted relative to its orbital plane. Earth orbits around the Sun, completing one orbit each year. Earth's axis always points in the same direction relative to the stars.

Which of the following characteristics of Earth's relationship to the Sun explains the existence of Earth's seasons?

The tilt of Earth's axis

Which of the following factors best explains the shift in insolation seen between the four monthly data sets?

the lack of efficient and inexpensive battery technology

Which of the following is a challenge to using solar-generated electricity in places not connected to a power grid?

The large expanse of asphalt that makes up the intersection.

Which of the following items seen in the Havana 360 Degree image would likely emit the greatest amount of longwave radiation?

A wet monsoon

Which of the following nonanthropogenic factors best explains the pattern of solar radiation seen along the southwest coast of India during June?

The Sahara Desert

Which of the following regions maintains a relatively high surface albedo throughout the year?

Of the two vehicles parked near Computer World, the silver Honda CRV has higher levels of light transmission through its automotive glass than the darker Ford Expedition's tinted windows.

Which of the following statements is best supported by the view provided in the St. Paul's Chapel 360 Degree image?