Meteorology Chapter 2

On the average, how much of the Sun's energy that is intercepted by the earth system is reflected to space?

30 percent

The temperature of a cloud is measured at 280 K. Given the Stefan-Boltzmann constant of 5.67 × 10-8, what is the rate of radiation emitted by the cloud?

349 W/m2

Suppose the albedo of a planet is measured to be 40 percent. This means that:

40 percent of the Sun's energy is reflected

Flagstaff, AZ is at 35 degrees N latitude. What is the angle of the Sun's noon rays here on March 21?

55 degrees

Which of the following does NOT happen to solar radiation as it passes through the atmosphere? A) Intensification B) Scattering C) Transmission D) Absorption

A) Intensification

Which of the following correctly describes the equinoxes? A) The length of daylight at the Arctic and Antarctic Circle is 24 hours. B) The Sun's vertical rays are striking either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn. C) Days and nights are equal in length in all parts of the world. D) They occur in June and December.

C) Days and nights are equal in length in all parts of the world.

In meteorological terminology, the primary difference between convection and advection is:

Convection represents vertical heat transfer and advection represents horizontal heat transfer

Which of the following associations is INCORRECT? A) aphelion — Earth furthest from the sun B) vernal equinox — equal day/equal night C) summer solstice — solar declination at the Tropic of Cancer D) autumnal equinox — shortest day of the year for the Arctic Circle

D) autumnal equinox — shortest day of the year for the Arctic Circle

Which of the following gases is the best absorber of ultraviolet light? A) nitrogen dioxide B) water vapor C) carbon dioxide D) oxygen E) carbon monoxide

D) oxygen

Which of the following describes the role played by the water cycle in determining the earth's heat budget? A) has no significant role B) transfers heat from atmosphere to space C) transfers heat from atmosphere to surface D) transfers heat from surface to atmosphere

D) transfers heat from surface to atmosphere

The length of daylight gets progressively longer going south from the equator on:

December 21

A 300-meter-thick cloud cover can reflect no more than 14 percent of incoming solar radiation, true or false?

FALSE

A change in the temperature of an object signifies that its heat (or energy) content is stable, true or false?

FALSE

Advection refers to vertical convection motions, true or false?

FALSE

As an object cools, the wavelengths of its maximum radiation shorten, true or false?

FALSE

Conduction in the oceans redistributes most of the "extra" heat from the equatorial regions to the polar regions, true or false?

FALSE

Distance variations between the earth and the Sun are extremely important in understanding seasonal temperature variations, true or false?

FALSE

Heat transfer by convection in the atmosphere is usually downward, from air to ground, true or false?

FALSE

Meteorologically, conduction is the most important mechanism of heat transfer, true or false?

FALSE

Microwaves have the shortest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, true or false?

FALSE

Seasonal temperature variations are due primarily to the changing distance between the earth and the Sun, true or false?

FALSE

Snow-covered surfaces have a low albedo, true or false?

FALSE

The North Pole remains pointed towards the sun at all times, regardless of where the Earth is in its orbit, true or false?

FALSE

The equator receives vertical rays from the Sun year 'round, true or false?

FALSE

The primary reason why planet Earth radiates much less energy than the Sun is because of its much smaller size, true or false?

FALSE

The troposphere warms as a direct result of shortwave energy passing into it, true or false?

FALSE

Visible light comprises more than half of the total solar energy, true or false?

FALSE

The first day of the climatological season of summer is:

June 1

At 45 degrees S latitude, the angle of the noon Sun is lowest and the length of daylight is shortest on:

June 21

New York City has its greatest length of daylight on:

June 21

The 90 degrees angle rays strike the Tropic of Cancer on:

June 21

The longest day of the year in the United States occurs on:

June 21

The date that the Sun "rises" at the North Pole is:

March 21

The spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on approximately:

March 21

Earth is closest to the Sun during:

Northern hemisphere winter

The date that the Sun "sets" at the North Pole is:

September 22

All objects emit radiation, true or false?

TRUE

Although electromagnetic radiation is described with a variety of names and wavelengths, it is all fundamentally similar in behavior, true or false?

TRUE

Deserts experience cool nighttime temperatures because of a weaker greenhouse effect, true or false?

TRUE

Fairbanks, Alaska, has more hours of daylight in June than Miami, Florida, true or false?

TRUE

In Australia, the summer solstice occurs a few days before Christmas, true or false?

TRUE

Low sun angles are associated with longer atmospheric path lengths, true or false?

TRUE

More solar energy is reflected back to space than is absorbed directly by the atmosphere, true or false?

TRUE

Perihelion occurs during the Northern Hemisphere's winter, true or false?

TRUE

Sun angle is the angular distance from the observer's horizon to the Sun at noon, true or false?

TRUE

The Sun 'rises' at the South Pole on September 22, true or false?

TRUE

The atmosphere is heated chiefly by radiation emitted from the earth's surface, true or false?

TRUE

The atmosphere of Venus is composed primarily of carbon dioxide, true or false?

TRUE

The earth's axis is not perpendicular to the plane of its orbit around the Sun, true or false?

TRUE

The higher the temperature of a radiating body, the shorter the wavelength of maximum radiation, true or false?

TRUE

Water vapor accounts for the majority of atmospheric warming in the lower troposphere, true or false?

TRUE

When an object absorbs radiant energy, its temperature increases, true or false?

TRUE

Objects with higher temperatures:

emit more shortwave radiation than cooler objects do

Low sun angles result in reduced solar energy because:

energy is spread over a larger area

Of the following choices, the surface with the HIGHEST albedo is:

fresh snow

The absorption of longwave radiation by certain gases in the lower atmosphere is responsible for:

greenhouse effect

Most of the radiation emitted by the earth and its atmosphere is in the category of:

infrared

Heat:

is a transfer of energy from areas with high temperatures to those with low temperatures

Scattering:

is responsible for the redness of sunsets

The energy associated with motion is called:

kinetic energy

The two types of heat recognized by meteorologists are:

latent heat and sensible heat

The intensity of the Sun's rays at a place is determined by the time of year and the ________ of the place.

latitude

The wavelengths emitted by the earth are:

longer than those emitted by the Sun

Which of the following gases does not absorb any portion of incoming solar radiation?

nitrogen

Crepuscular rays:

occur when water droplets scatter all wavelengths of sunlight equally

Early in January the earth is closer to the Sun than at any other time of year. This position is termed:

perihelion

During the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the circle of illumination passes directly through the:

poles

The earth receives energy from the Sun by:

radiation

During reflection:

radiation retains the same intensity and bounces back at the same angle with which it struck the surface

The longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum are:

radio

Clouds are most likely to ________ incoming solar radiation.

reflect

Over the course of this year, the tilt of Earth's polar axis will:

remain constant at 23.5 degrees

The primary factor which determines what type and how much radiation an object emits is its:

temperature

________ is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the individual atoms or molecules in a substance.

temperature

If an imbalance occurs between incoming and outgoing energy at the earth's surface:

temperatures either increase or decrease

Radiation is intercepted in the atmosphere and its wavelength is measured at 1.0 micrometers. This radiation was most likely emitted by:

the Sun

The UV Index can tell you:

the approximate time it will take you to sunburn on a given day, based on your skin type.

Most of the solar energy absorbed by planet Earth and its atmosphere is absorbed by:

the earth's surface

The Stefan-Boltzmann Law states that:

the rate of radiation emitted by a body is proportional to the fourth power of its temperature

An analemma is best used to determine:

the solar declination on any day of the year

The primary cause of Earth's seasons is:

tilt of Earth's rotation axis, which causes sun angles and daylight length to vary

The atmosphere is ________ to terrestrial radiation that has a wavelength between 8 and 11 micrometers.

transparent

The atmosphere is highly ________ with respect to solar radiation.

transparent

The type of energy that is responsible for sunburn is:

ultraviolet energy

During natural processes, heat transfer is always from:

warmer to cooler substances

Earth's perihelion:

would not exist if the earth's orbit were circular.

When encountering terrestrial longwave radiation, clouds are most likely to ________ it.

absorb

Clouds play an important role in the earth's energy budget because they:

absorb longwave radiation and re-radiate it towards the surface and reflect solar energy

The atmosphere is heated primarily by:

absorption of Earth's longwave radiation

The atmosphere is strongly ________ with respect to terrestrial radiation.

absorptive

Wind is an example of:

advection

The earth emits terrestrial radiation:

all the time

At what time of year is the earth's axis not tilted either toward or away from the Sun?

autumnal equinox

The temperature of a pool of lava is measured at 1275 K. Given a Wien's constant value of 2898 μmK, what is the wavelength of maximum emission from the lava?

2.273 μm

Wavelengths of the visible spectrum are between:

0.4 and 0.7 micrometers

An astronomer tells you that he has discovered a new planet that he calls Planet X. All he knows about Planet X so far is that it has a very dense atmosphere with a temperature approximately 5 times warmer than that of Earth. What hypothesis can you reasonably make regarding the atmosphere of Planet X?

The atmosphere of Planet X has a higher concentration of greenhouse gases than Earth's does

The transfer of heat through matter by molecular collisions is called:

conduction

During a cold winter, snow can provide a useful shelter material for animals and humans because of its low ________.

conductivity

The process of ________ involves the movement or circulation of a mass or substance.

convection

Thermals and advection are both types of:

convection