Lesson 3

The lowest temperature during the 24-hour day is usually observed A. at sunset. B. near midnight. C. several hours before sunrise. D. around sunrise. E. several hours after sunrise.

D. around sunrise

At the top of the earth's atmosphere during the early summer, which latitude would receive the most solar radiation during a 24-hour day? A. 0° B. 30° C. 45° D. 60° E. 90°

E. 90 degrees **page 58 graph

The winter solstice marks the A. beginning of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere. B. date when the noon sun is over latitude 23.5°S. C. longest night of the year at middle latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. D. both A and B. E. all of the above.

E. all of the above

A radiation inversion is most commonly observed A. when it is raining. B. during the afternoon. C. at sunset. D. just above the ground during the hours of darkness. E. in the upper atmosphere.

D. just above ground during the hours of darkness

Hypothermia is most common in A. hot, humid weather. B. cold, wet weather. C. hot, dry weather. D. cool, dry weather. E. rapidly changing weather.

B. cold wet weather

How often is the sun directly overhead at Mexico City (latitude 19°N)? A. once a year B. twice a year C. three times a year D. four times a year E. never

B. twice a year

At which latitude below is the sun highest in the sky at noon on March 21? A. 13°N B. 23°N C. 33°N D. 43°N E. 54°N

A. 13 degrees N

In the Southern Hemisphere, the length of the daylight period is the longest on June 22 at A. 20°S. B. 40°S. C. 60°S. D. 80°S. E. none of the above—because the length of the daylight period is about the same at all of these latitudes.

A. 20 degrees S

Under clear skies at noon on the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which location would experience the greatest intensity of solar radiation? A. Atlanta, Georgia (latitude 33° 10'N) B. Quito, Ecuador (latitude 0° 5'S) C. Havana, Cuba (latitude 23° 0'N) D. Toronto, Canada (latitude 43° 10'N) E. Sao Paulo, Brazil (latitude 23° 30'S)

A. Atlanta, Georgia

In the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere on each day between Christmas and New Year's, the length of daylight A. increases. B. decreases. C. shows no change.

A. Increases

Solar panels on a solar home built in the Southern Hemisphere should face A. north. B. south. C. east. D. west. E. any direction; all sides receive the same amount of sunlight.

A. North **Northern Hemisphere panels face south**

For an entire clear day in late March, the average amount of solar radiation reaching the earth's surface is greatest in A. Yucatan, Mexico (latitude 20°N). B. southern Louisiana (latitude 30°N). C. northern Missouri (latitude 40°N). D. central Minnesota (latitude 45°N). E. central Manitoba, Canada (latitude 53°N).

A. Yucatan (20 degrees)

The wind-chill factor A. relates body heat loss with wind to an equivalent temperature with no wind. B. indicates the temperature at which water freezes on exposed skin. C. takes into account humidity and air temperature in expressing the current air temperature. D. tells farmers when to protect crops from a freeze. E. determines how low the air temperature will be on any given day.

A. body heat loss with wind to an equivalent temp with no wind

The primary cause of a radiation inversion is A. infrared radiation emitted by the earth's surface. B. infrared radiation absorbed by the earth's surface. C. solar radiation absorbed by the earth's surface. D. solar radiation reflected by the earth's surface. E. infrared radiation absorbed by the atmosphere and cl

A. infrared radiation emitted by the earth's surface

Suppose yesterday morning you noticed ice crystals (frost) on the grass, yet the minimum temperature reported in the newspaper was only 35°F. The most likely reason for this apparent discrepancy is that A. temperature readings are taken in instrument shelters more than 5 feet above the ground. B. the thermometer was in error. C. the newspaper reported the wrong temperature. D. the thermometer was read before the minimum temperature was reached for that day. E. the thermometer was read incorrectly—an observer error.

A. readings taken in instrument shelters more than 5 ft above the ground

The distance between the sun and the earth is A. the same for all seasons. B. greatest in the Northern Hemisphere during summer. C. greatest in the Northern Hemisphere during winter. D. greatest in the Northern Hemisphere during spring. E. greatest in the Northern Hemisphere during autumn.

B. Greatest in the northern hemisphere during the summer

On which date would the sun's rays be closest to being perpendicular to the earth's surface at noon local time in the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere? A. March 21 B. June 21 C. July 1 D. July 21 E. August 1

B. June 21

For an entire clear day in late June, the average amount of solar radiation reaching the earth's surface is greatest in A. Yucatan, Mexico (latitude 20°N). B. southern Louisiana (latitude 30°N). C. northern Missouri (latitude 40°N). D. central Minnesota (latitude 45°N). E. central Manitoba, Canada (latitude 53°N).

B. Southern Louisiana (30 deg)

In the Northern Hemisphere, the day that has the fewest hours of daylight is A. the summer solstice. B. the winter solstice. C. the vernal equinox. D. the autumnal equinox. E. a day in mid-winter (around January 10).

B. Winter solstice

On what day would you expect the sun to be directly overhead (at the zenith) at noon in Lima, Peru (latitude 12°S)? A. August 15 B. December 22 C. February 4 D. March 20 E. April 21

C. February 4th

Wind machines can prevent surface air temperatures from reaching readings below freezing by A. blowing smoke over an orchard or field. B. increasing the evaporation rate from fruits and vegetables. C. mixing surface air with warmer air directly above. D. reducing the rate of cooling by evaporation. E. increasing the likelihood of condensation on fruits and vegetables

C. Mixing the surface air with the warmer air directly above

The most important reason why summers in the Southern Hemisphere are not warmer than summers in the Northern Hemisphere is that A. the earth is closer to the sun in January. B. the earth is farther from the sun in July. C. more than 80 percent of the Southern Hemisphere is covered with water. D. the sun's energy is much less intense in the Southern Hemisphere. E. the days are shorter.

C. More than 80% is water

When does the daily maximum temperature occur? A. at sunrise B. at solar noon C. between solar noon and sunset D. at sunset E. between sunset and sunrise

C. between solar noon and sunset

5. The length of the daylight period on September 22 is the longest at A. Barrow, Alaska (latitude 71° 20'N). B. Anchorage, Alaska (latitude 61° 20'N). C. Seattle, Washington (latitude 47° 30'N). D. San Diego, California (latitude 32° 45'N). E. none of the above—the length of the daylight period is about the same at all of these locations.

E. none of the above

The days and nights are of equal length all year long at A. the North Pole. B. 66.5°. C. 30°. D. 23.5°. E. the equator.

e. equator