PHY 118 Chapter 1+2 HW and Quiz

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

nitrogen

Which two gases make up a combined total of 99% of clean, dry air in the homosphere?

nitrogen and oxygen

This atmospheric component absorbs damaging ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.

ozone

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

perihelion

The earth receives energy from the Sun by:

radiation

The earth receives energy from the Sun by:

radiation.

The longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum are:

radio

photosynthesis

releases oxygen into the atmosphere.

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

Decay of plants, animals eating, and volcanic eruptions are all part of which major Earth system cycle?

the carbon cycle

The basic elements of weather and climate include all of the following, except:

the chemical composition of the air. (These are the basic elements of weather and climate) the type and amount of cloudiness. the humidity of the air. the temperature of the air. the pressure of the air.

Atmospheric pressure is caused by:

the weight of the air above.

The primary cause of Earth's seasons is:

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

Assuming the average value of the environmental lapse rate, what would be the temperature in the troposphere at a height of 3 km if the temperature at the surface is 20°C?

0.5°C

The ozone layer is found in the:

Stratosphere

Decay of plants, animals eating, and volcanic eruptions are all part of which major Earth system cycle?

The Carbon Cycle

Dust and aerosols in the atmosphere are associated with all of the following EXCEPT:

altering the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere

Dust and aerosols in the atmosphere are associated with all of the following EXCEPT:

altering the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere They are associated with: optical phenomena such as red sky at sunset reflection of solar energy condensation and cloud formation

Which one of the following is not a term used to designate one of the "spheres" of the earth's environment?

aquasphere

The majority of the water outside of the oceans is in the form of:

glacial ice

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

greenhouse effect

The Montreal Protocol:

has already created a reduction in ozone-depleting gases in the atmosphere.

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.

The term meteorology:

is the study of the atmosphere and its related weather systems.

he two types of heat recognized by meteorologists are:

latent and sensible heat

The two types of heat recognized by meteorologists are:

latent heat and sensible heat.

The wavelengths emitted by the earth are:

longer than those emitted by the Sun.

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 energy associated with motion is called:

Kinetic Energy

The level of the atmosphere with the highest temperatures is the:

Mesosphere

This country has the greatest variety of weather in the world.

United States

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

convection

With an increase in altitude, air pressure:

decreases at a decreasing rate

On the average, for every 1 km increase in altitude in the troposphere the air temperature:

drops about 6.5 degrees Celsius.

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

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

fresh snow.

Studies have shown that on average ozone depletion is greatest over this area.

Antarctica

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 correctly describes the equinoxes?

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

Which of the following statements is an expression of climate?

February is the wettest month in Los Angeles, CA, with an average rainfall of 3.92 inches.

The level of the atmosphere with the highest temperatures is the:

Thermosphere

In the process of scientific inquiry, a theory is best defined as:

a hypothesis that has been extensively tested and is generally accepted by the scientific community.

Air may best be described as:

a mixture

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

absorb

The atmosphere is strongly ________ with respect to terrestrial radiation.

absorptive

Scientists believe that a growing amount of this gas in the atmosphere will probably bring about a warming of the lower atmosphere.

carbon dioxide

The atmosphere is highly ________ with respect to solar radiation.

transparent

The four thermal layers of the atmosphere in order beginning from the surface are:

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere

During natural processes, heat transfer is always from:

warmer to cooler substances.

This variable atmospheric component can exist in all three states of matter (solid, liquid, and gas) at the temperatures and pressures that normally exist on Earth.

water

Which of the following is the MOST important atmospheric component with regard to the earth's climate and the formation of weather systems?

water vapor