Weather and Climate Test #2
Air pressure
Pressure produced by the motion, size, and number of gas molecules in the air and exerted on surfaces in contact with the air; an average force at sea level of 1 kg/cm3 (14.7Ib/in2). Normal sea-level pressure, as measured by the height of a column of mercury (Hg), is expressed as 1013.2 milibars, 760 mm of HG or 29.92 ins of Hg; measured by barometer;
What is the primary source of energy for the earth's atmosphere?
Radiant energy
Why doesn't all radiation directed at earth reach the surface?
Rays could be reflected, absorbed, or scattered.
Stratospheric Ozone
Shields UV rays, destroyed by chlorine compounds in refrigerants, aerosols, and CFS's
The total power density of the solar radiation at the mean earth-sun distance on a plane perpendicular to the direction of the sun, outside the earth's atmosphere and its value is 1353 W/m2.
Solar Constant
Insolation is governed by four factors:
Solar constant Transparency of the atmosphere Daily sunlight duration Angle at which the sun's rays strike the earth
___ ____ is the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the Sun
Solar radiation
What did we learn about how solids (soil=land) and liquids (water=oceans) heat and cool? why do they heat and cool in this way?
Solids absorbs heat energy quickly Water absorbs heat energy slowly
The higher latitudes receive much less intense insolation than tropical zones because of ________.
Sun's angle of incidence
Although the balance of the incoming and outgoing radiation holds for the entire planet as a whole, it is not maintained at each latitude. T or F
T
In July, isotherms in the Northern Hemisphere shift toward the poles over land since higher temperatures occur in continental interiors. T or F
T
The north-south migration of isotherms is more pronounced over the continents because the temperatures do not fluctuate as much over water. T or F
T
Latent heat is involved in the process of evaporation.
TRUE
What causes the stratosphere to warm?
Temperatures drop with altitude.
Which layer of the atmosphere contains ozone?
The Stratosphere
Sea-level pressure
The atmospheric pressure at mean sea level; all surface barometric pressure readings are adjusted to sea level to remove the effect of altitude on pressure
Wavelength
The distance between wave crests
atmosphere
The gases, droplets and particles surrounding the Earth's surface; a mixture of gas molecules, small suspended particles of solids/liquids, and falling precipitation;
Describe and explain the Greenhouse Effect.
The greenhouse effect is one of the most important heating processes in the troposphere. The greenhouse effect keeps Earth's surface and lower troposphere much warmer than would be the case of there were no atmosphere. The atmosphere easily allows the short wave energy from the sun in, but greenhouse gases inhibit the escape of long-wave energy and thus warms the earth.
How does a barometer work?
The mercury stops rising when its WEIGHT equals the air pressure
Respiration
The process by which plants oxidize carbohydrates to derive energy for their operations; essentially, the reverse of the photosynthetic process; releases carbon dioxide, water and heat energy into the environment.
Photosynthesis
The process by which plants produce their own food from carbon dioxide and water, powered by solar energy. The joining of carbon dioxide and hydrogen in plants, under the influence of certain wavelengths of visible light; releases oxygen and produces energy rich organic material, sugars, and starches.
Climatology
The science that studies long-term atmospheric conditions; relies on averages taken over a number of years in order to guage typical atmospheric conditions for locations across the earths surface; also concerned with the variability of the weather elements.
Millibar (mb)
A unit for expressing atmospheric pressure. Sea-level pressure is normally close to 1013 mb;
If the temperature at the surface of the earth (at sea level) is 100 degrees F, what is the temperature at 2000 feet if the normal lapse rate is 3.5 degrees F/1000 feet? A) 93 degrees F B) 96.5 degrees F C) 103.5 degrees F D) 107 degrees F
A) 93 degrees F
Why is the atmosphere heated chiefly by radiation from Earth's surface rather than by direct solar radiation?
About 50% of the solar energy is absorbed at Earth's surface 30% is reflected back to space 20% is absorbed by clouds and the atmosphere's gases
How much pressure is there in the air?
Approximately 14.7 pounds per square inch. We don't feel all this pressure because air inside and out of use are both at the same pressure, so you don't notice the weight unless one of the pressures change (ex, plane)
Together Nitrogen and Oxygen account for 99 % of all the permanent gases, with ____ making up most of the remainder (1%).
Argon
Since water dissolves all substances to some degree, it can be termed a/an __________. (a) antacid (b) universal solvent (c) universal solute (d) polymer (e) receiver
B. Universal solvent
What are the main sources of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Biologic Respiration, Volcanic Activity, decay, and Natural/Human related combustion.
atmospheric compound with greatest infrared absorption rate
CFCS
CFC equations
Cl +O --> ClO + O2 (destroys ozone) ClO + O --> Cl+ O2 (prevents ozone from forming Result? Net reduction in UV absorption
Which mechanism is least important as a means of heat transfer in the atmosphere?
Conduction
5 carbon dioxide sources
Decay of plants Volcanic eruptions Exhalation of animals Burning fossil fuels Deforestation
Land-water heating difference
Differences in the degree and way that land and water heat, as a result of contrasts in transmission, evaporation, mixing and specific heat capacities. Land surfaces heat and cool faster than water and have continentality, whereas water provides a marine influence.
For the most part the atmosphere is heated directly from the ________.
Earth's surface
Solar radiation
Electromagnetic radiation from the Sun, which is concentrated in visible wavelengths
Why is the solar radiation arriving at Earth's surface less intense where the angle of the Sun is low?
Energy is spread over a larger area
The absorption of longwave radiation in the atmosphere is popularly called the
Greenhouse effect.
Amplitude
Half the height from the peak of the crest to the lowest point of the wave
The region from about the base of the thermosphere to the top of the atmosphere is often called the ______. 90km and upwards
Heterosphere
The well-mixed region of the Earth's atmosphere is known as the_____. It is comprised of the Troposphere, Stratosphere, and the Mesosphere
Homosphere
Annual Air Temp Cycle
Influence by Annual Net Radiation Patterns: Depend on LATITUDE
What generally happens to atmospheric pressure with increasing altitude?
It decreases. Air is less dense at higher altitudes, meaning there are less molecular collisions. The temperature of the air at higher altitudes is cooler. This means that the molecules are moving slower and result in fewer collisions. Rising air is also associated with low pressure at the surface.
The _______________ temperature scale is used in scientific research because temperature readings are proportional to the actual kinetic energy in a material. - Kelvin - Kaveney - Christopherson - Fahrenheit - Celsius
Kelvin
Land and Water Contrasts
Land heats faster than water heat is water penetrates and is distributed Rock and Soil= low specific heat capacity less energy to increase temp Water- high specific heat capacity more energy to raise heat Water allows mixing by wind generated waves: uniform temp Water: constant evaporation and cooling
How does a surface with a low albedo compare to one with a high albedo?
Low albedo - low reflection High albedo - high reflection
Ozone equations
O2 + UV (energy) --->O+O O+O2-->O3 (ozone) O3+UV-->O2 +O+infrared radiation (heat) Breakdown of O3 by UV radiation:good thing
How does water get from the oceans onto land?
Ocean water evaporates to form gaseous water and moves into the atmosphere, where it condenses into liquid water and falls out of the atmosphere to land as rain.
Most of the Earth's water is believed to have originally come from ______ _______
Outgassing/ Small meteors
Name 3 permanent gases and 3 variable gases
Permanent Gases- Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Argon Variable Gases- Water Vapor, Ozone, Methane.
Meteorology
The science that studies the atmosphere and its processes (such as cloud formation, lightning, and wind movement) that cause what we refer to as "weather"; deals with the physics of this atmosphere.
The ____ ____ is the average amount of radiation received at a point, perpendicular to the sun's rays, that is located outside the earth's atmosphere at the earth's mean distance from the sun.
The solar constant
ELR (environmental lapse rate)
The specific change of temperature with altitude at any particular time and location
Speed of Light The speed of propagation of electromagnetic radiation through a perfect vacuum. It is a constant of about 670 million mph, one billion kph, 186,000 statute miles per second or about 300,000 kilometers per second.
The speed of propagation of electromagnetic radiation through a perfect vacuum. It is a constant of about 670 million mph, one billion kph, 186,000 statute miles per second or about 300,000 kilometers per second.
Part of atmosphere that absorbs X-rays and short-wave ultraviolet radiation. Very hot. The aurora is caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with oxygen and nitrogen molecules in this layer of the atmosphere.
Thermosphere
Because air is a poor conductor of heat, convection is much more important than conduction in heat transfer within the atmosphere. T or F
True
High angle solar energy will traverse a shorter course through the atmosphere than low angle solar energy.
True
T/F The earth's radiative equilibrium temperature is lower than the earth's observed average surface temperature.
True
The radiation balance of a given place fluctuates with changes in cloud cover, atmospheric composition, and sun angle (all of the above). T or F
True
Visible light comprises a large part of the electromagnetic energy received by Earth.
True
Within the troposphere, temperatures decrease with increasing altitude above Earth's surface. True/False
True
Sun burning/UV rays
UV C: .20-.29 wavelength MOST HARMFUL UV B: .29-.32 wavelength sun burning, skin cancer UV A: .32-.40 wavelength sun burning
How do the wavelengths of Ultraviolet compare to Infrared Radiation?
Ultraviolet - short wavelengths Infrared - long wavelengths
An energy balance between the low and high latitudes drives both ___ __ and ___ __
global winds ocean currents
urban heat island
has an average both max and min temp higher than nearest rural setting
Earth's ___ ___refers to the annual balance of incoming and outgoing radiation.
heat budget
Earth's first atmosphere 4.6 billion years ago was most likely comprised of ____ and _____
hydrogen and helium
Although the Sun emits many forms of radiation, most of the energy is concentrated in the _________________ parts of the spectrum.
infrared and ultraviolet
At night objects on the ground cool by the process of emitting ____ _____
infrared radiation
Clouds, like water vapor and carbon dioxide, are good absorbers of ____ ____
infrared radiation
The earth emits maximum radiation in the _____ portion of the spectrum, while the sun emits maximum radiation at _____ wavelengths
infrared, visible
The proper order of waves from longest to shortest is:
infrared, visible, ultraviolet
The steady, incoming solar radiation received at the top of the atmosphere is named the ________.
insolation
Ultraviolet Radiation
is a form or electromagnetic waves. They have short wavelengths.
temperature inversion
is an increase in temperature with height in the atmosphere. It occurs with the rapid cooling of land on a cold, clear, winter night when the wind is calm.
ozone
is made up of three oxygen molecules and is what protects us from the sun's harmful UV radiation, which causes cancer, cataracts, and DNA mutation and harms plants and other animals on Earth.
Temperature maps commonly use lines of constant (equal) temperature called __________________ to portray the spatial pattern of temperature.
isotherms
Which heats more quickly - land or water?
land
The "greenhouse effect" takes place because the earth's atmosphere lets _______________ through (is transparent to) but traps (absorbs) some ______________ radiation.
light (visible wavelengths) ..... heat (infrared)
Carbon dioxide and water vapor primarily absorb:
longer wavelength Earth radiation
One millionth of a meter
micrometer
Solar energy and terrestrial reradiation are usually measured in units of length called ________.
micrometers
Which of the following gases is a relatively poor absorber of incoming solar radiation?
nitrogen
Where on Earth does one expect the greatest latitudinal displacement of isotherms between January and July?
over the middle latitude continents
Which of the following gases is the best absorber of ultraviolet light?
oxygen
A good absorber is a good __________________.
radiator
Which of the following has/have the longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum?
radio waves
The longest wavelength of visible light is the color __________.
red
Clouds are most likely to ________ incoming solar radiation.
reflect
When water condenses, it ________ heat energy and ________ the surrounding air.
releases; heats
An increase in air pressure will cause the mercury in a barometer to __________. -rise -fall -freeze -none of the above-barometers do not measure air pressure
rise
The process that explains how light reaches into a shaded area or room when direct sunlight is absent is:
scattering
The Earth's energy budget is in balance when the amount of incoming _______________ radiation equals the outgoing ______________ radiation.
short wave - long wave
The warm zone near the top of the stratosphere is the result of heating from the absorption of ___ ___
solar energy.
Pressure
standard 14.7 lbs/in squared = 1,013,250 dynes/cm cubed = 1,013.2 millbar; Force/Area;
In this atmospheric layer, the temperature is relatively constant for the first 10 kilometers, then it increases:
stratosphere.
The ___ which has a surface temp of 6000 k (10,000 f) emits abt 160,000 times more energy per unit area than does earth which has an average surface temp of 288 K (59 degrees F)
sun
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 atoms or molecules in a substance.
temprature
describe the water cycle
the Sun's energy turns water into water vapor, water vapor enters Earth's atmosphere, if it cools, it changes back into a liquid, called condensation, when condensation occurs high in the atmosphere clouds form, made of tiny droplets that become larger drops, they fall to earth as precipitation
The intense solar radiation received at any one point on the earth's surface depends on
the location of the sun relative to that point.
The lag in daily temperature refers to the time lag between
the time of maximum solar radiation and the time of maximum temperature
The seasonal variation in the angle of the Sun affects where on Earth the solar rays are most concentrated and the ________________ of atmosphere the rays penetrate.
thickness
Low sun angles are associated with longer atmospheric path lengths.
true
Near the poles, more energy is reflected back into space than is absorbed.
true
The wavelength of energy radiated from the Earth back into the atmosphere is longer than the incoming solar radiation.
true
"Convection" means heat is being transferred ________.
vertically
A variable gas in the atmosphere nearly absent from the higher elevations is ________.
water vapor
The gas that shows the most variation from place to place and from time to time in the lower atmosphere is _________
water vapor H20
Which combination of the following gases is mainly responsible for the greenhouse effect?
water vapor and carbon dixoide
The many different types of radiation is defined by its ______
wavelengths
Heat Budget
• The annual balance btwn incoming and outgoing radiation • Earth's avg temp remains relatively constant despite cold spells and heat waves
Atmospheric Window
• The band where the atm is transparent to radiation btwn 8 and 12 micrometers - Ex. Much like window glass is transparent to visible light • Most significant bec. it is located where Earth's radiation is most intense
Reflection
• The process where light bounces back from an object at the same angle at which it encounters a surface and with the same intensity
Advection
• Wind, ocean currents. Contributes to temp changes • Denotes the horizontal component of convective flow, a common term for this is "wind"
pressure at sea level is = force/area
= 14.7 lbs/inch2
What is angle of insolation?
A measure of how high the sun is up from the horizon.
What are the 3 mechanisms of energy transfer?
- Conduction - Convection - Radiation
In which atmospheric layer(s) does temperature decrease/increase with altitude?
- In the troposphere, temperatures decrease. - In the Thermosphere, temperature increases with altitude.
Solar radiation
-accounts for 99.9% of the energy that heats the earth's atmosphere -varies by latitude, time of year, and time of day -its uneven distribution creates weather the transfer occurs at the speed of light (3 x 10 ^8 m/s), and doesn't need a medium, so it can occur in the vacuum of space. As the wavelength of the radiation decreases, the amount of energy it carries increases. Short wavelength radiation can be dangerous, but long wave radiation is not.
Temperature maps commonly use lines of constant (equal) temperature called __________________ to portray the spatial pattern of temperature. -thermal equators -temperature lines -wind chill potential -isotherms -isokelvins
-isotherms
One of the primary reasons that water changes temperature more slowly than soil or rock is because of its higher ________. -absolute heat -volume -ambient temperature -specific heat -absolute temperature
-specific heat
Places with the largest annual temperature ranges on Earth are __________________. -the middle latitudes, which are neither too hot, nor too cold-tropical regions -subpolar locations within the continental interiors of North America and Asia -polar regions -along the west coasts of the continents
-subpolar locations within the continental interiors of North America and Asia
The sun radiates maximum energy at ___ micrometer which is in the visble range
0.5
The most abundant gases in the atmosphere are:
1 Nitrogen- 78% 2. Oxygen- 21% 3.
Laws of radiation
1) All objects continually emit radiant energy over a range of wavelengths 2) Hotter objs radiate more total energy per unit area than do colder objects; 3) Hotter objects radiate more energy in the form of short wavelengths radiation than do cooler objects 4)Objects that are good absorbers of radiation at a particular wavelength are also good emitters at that same wavelength.
Principle Temperature Controls
1. Latitude (affects isolation) 2. Altitude a. high altitude: greater daily range b. high altitude: lower annual average 3. Cloud Cover a. high albedo effect b. or Green house effect c. Moderated temperature: cooler days/warmer nights
Name some reasons that water heats up more slowly than land with equal energy.
1. Water reflects more; 2. Water is transparent; 3. Water layers mix; 3. More of the heat added to water results in vaporization rather than changing the temperature.
urban environment factors:
1. material - have a lot more concrete; tend to have larger range in temp known as the DTR 2. geometric shape - alters climate 3. human activity - use lots of heat during winter and some escapes and heats surrounding area 4. impermeable surface 5. pollution - creates dust vail over city
The max radiation emitted from earth occurs at a wavelength of ____ micrometers, well w/in the infrared heat range
10
At what depth within the soil would you expect to find the smallest annual variation in temperature?
10 centimeters
Normal sea-level air pressure is _____. -29.92 cm of mercury -1013.2 millibars -29.92 millibars -760 millibars
1013.2 millibars
At sea level, the average or standard value of atmospheric pressure is ____millibars and ____inches of mercury.
1013.25 mb 29.92 inHg
What is the weight of a 1" square column of air at sea level?
15 lbs
If the maximum temperature for a particular day is 26 degrees C and the minimum , temperature is 14 degrees C, the daily mean would be:
20 degrees C
The percentage of solar radiation directed to Earth absorbed by the clouds and the atmosphere is about:
25%
Averaged over the entire year, a zone around the Earth between ___ degrees North and __ degrees South receives more solar radiation than is lost to space.
38;38
What percent of radiation is lost before reaching Earth's surface?
45%
On the average, about __ percent of the energy that reaches the top of the atmosphere is absorbed at Earth's surface.
50
The percentage of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth's oceans and landmasses is about:
50%.
What is the percentage of oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere?
99%
What is the atmosphere composed of?
99% permanent gases and 1% variable gases
Compare visible, infrared UV radiation. For each, indicate whether it is considered short wavelength
Visible: "white light" however is an array of colors, each color corresponding to a specific range of wavelengths Infrared: cannot see, skin detects as heat, longer wavelength associated with color red, long wavelength. Ultraviolet: invisible waves located next to violet, responsible for sunburn, short wavelength
The elements sulfur, potassium and sodium in ocean salt comes from___________
a chemical weathering of rocks
With respect to incoming solar radiation, radiation emitted back into the atmosphere has:
a longer wavelength
green house effect
a phenomenon in which the natural greenhouse gases absorb the outgoing long wave radiation from the Earth and re-radiate some of it back to the Earth. It is a process for maintaining an energy balancing process between the amount of long wave radiation leaving the Earth and the amount of energy coming in from the Sun.
The transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity is called a) conduction b) convection c) radiation d) all of these (a, b, and c) e) none of these
a) conduction
The wavelengths emitted by the earth are: a) longer than those emitted by the sun b) shorter than those emitted by the sun c) about the same as those emitted by the sun except when the sun is experiencing sunspots d) none of these
a) longer than those emitted by the sun
Clouds play an important role in the earth's energy budget because they a) reflect solar energy b) reflect the earth's infrared energy c) absorb heat from the air d) cool the air around them
a) reflect solar energy
During natural processes, heat transfer is always from a) warmer to cooler substances b) solids to liquids c) cooler to warmer substances d) either a) or c)
a) warmer to cooler substances
Earth's average overall albedo is a.)31% b.)51% c.)69% d.)unknown
a.)31%
The sun produces which of the following a.)mainly visible light and infrared b.)mainly ultraviolet and xrays c.)only radiant energy that is beneficial d.)only solar wind
a.)mainly visible light and infrared
If a system responds to a change in input by moving further away from its equilibrium condition, what type of feedback has occurred? a.)positive b.)neutral c.)negative d.)Not enough information is given to indicate what type of feedback has occurred
a.)positive
When water evaporates, it __________ heat energy and __________ the surrounding air.
absorbs; cools
enviromental temp/ normal lapse rate
average rate of decrease in temperature with altitude in the troposphere. 3.5°F/1,000 ft (6.4°C/km) of altitude. useful for comparing temperatures; may deviate above or below the normal lapse rate of 6.4 C per km, or 1000 m (3.5 F per 1000 ft); actual lapse rate at a particular place and time
Earth's ____ ____ remains relatively constant despite seasonal cold spells and heat waves.
avg temp
The earth emits terrestrial radiation a) only at night b) all the time c) only during winter d) only over the continents
b) all the time
Why do atmospheric temperatures decrease with height in the troposphere? a) air at higher levels is too thin b) atmosphere is heated by the ground c) solar radiation is weaker at higher levels d) atmospheric path length is too long
b) atmosphere is heated by the ground
Wind is an example of a) conduction b) convection c) radiation d) all of these (a, b, and c) e) none of these
b) convection
Scattering a) changes the wavelength of light b) is responsible for the redness of sunsets c) prevents nearly half of incoming solar radiation from reaching the surface of the earth d) is the primary mechanism of heat transfer in the atmosphere e) all of these
b) is responsible for the redness of sunsets
Convection is least likely to happen in a a) liquid b) solid c) gas d) Convection only happens in a vacuume
b) solid
The reflective quality of a surface is known as its a.)conduction b.)albedo c.)scattering d.)absorption
b.)albedo
The dominant wavelength emitted by Earth is a.) xray radiation b.)infrared c.)visible light d.)gamma radiation
b.)infrared
Which of the following sequences is arranged in order from shorter wavelength to longer wavelength? a.)radio waves, light, heat, xrays b.)xrays, UV, visible, infrared c.)gamma rays, microwaves, visible, xrays d.)infrared, visible, UV, xrays
b.)xrays, UV, visible, infrared
Why does the temperature increase with height in the stratosphere?????
because the Ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation (UV);The ozone then reemits this energy in the form of heat into the stratosphere, warming it up in the mid-upper parts of the layer
On the average, how much of the sun's energy that is intercepted by the earth is reflected to space? a) 19% b) 25% c) 30% d) 45% e) 51%
c) 30%
Suppose the albedo of a planet is measured to be 40%. This means that a) 60% of the sun's energy is reflected b) 40% of the sun's energy is absorbed c) 40% of the sun's energy is reflected d) none of these
c) 40% of the sun's energy is reflected
The atmosphere is heated primarily by a) absorption of solar radiation b) conduction from the ground c) absorption of earth radiation d) convection from the ground
c) absorption of earth radiation
The earth receives energy from the sun by a) conduction b) convection c) radiation d) all of these (a, b, and c) e) none of these
c) radiation
f an imbalance occurs between incoming and outgoing energy at the earth's surface a) minimum temperatures occur b) maximum temperatures occur c) temperatures either increase or decrease d) temperatures remain steady
c) temperatures either increase or decrease
What is the name for solar energy that is intercepted by Earth? a.) advection b.) albedo c.) insolation d.) transmission energy
c.) insolation
With respect to air, water, and material resources, which of the following is true? a.)A leaf is an open system of air, but closed in terms of material resources b.)A leaf is a closed system c.)A leaf is an open system d.)A leaf is an open system in terms of water, but closed in terms of energy resources
c.)A leaf is an open system
Which of the following is true regarding locations at high elevations? a.)The density of air increases with increasing elevation b.)Higher elevations experience higher temperatures during the day because they are closer to the Sun c.)Higher elevations experience lower average temperatures during both day and night d.)Temperature at night, and in the shadows, are greater at higher elevations
c.)Higher elevations experience lower average temperatures during both day and night
Based on information discussed previously in the course, you know that average temperatures in the troposphere ___ with increasing elevation because the atmosphere is heated ___ a.)decrease; from the bottom-up by reflected insolation b.)increase; from the top-down by energy emitted from the stratosphere c.)decrease; from the bottom-up by terrestrial infrared energy d.)increase; from the top-down by insolation
c.)decrease; from the bottom-up by terrestrial infrared energy
Which of the following has the highest albedo? a.)asphalt b.)forests c.)fresh snow d.)dry, light sandy soils
c.)fresh snow
The term "net radiation" refers to a.)radiation emitted by satellite b.)the total amount of energy received by Earth c.)the difference in amount of incoming and outgoing radiation d.)the total amount
c.)the difference in amount of incoming and outgoing radiation
____ are the most important regulator of solar radiation.
clouds
Some of the air in the lowest layer of the atmosphere that was heated by radiation and conduction is transported by ______ to the higher layers of atmosphere
convection
much of the heat transported in the atmosphere and oceans occurs by _____
convection.
All radiation emitted by the earth and its atmosphere is in the category of a) ultraviolet b) gamma c) blackbody d) infrared
d) infrared
Most of the solar energy absorbed by planet earth and its atmosphere is absorbed by a) atmospheric gases b) clouds c) atmospheric dust d) the earth's surface
d) the earth's surface
The most extreme northern and Southern parallels to experience perpendicular rays of the Sun at local noon are located at a.) 45 north & south b.) 90 north & south c.) 66.5 north & south d.) 23.5 north & south
d.) 23.5 north & south
If the temperature at the surface of the Earth (at sea level) is 100F, what is the temperature at 2000 feet if the normal lapse rate is 3.5F/1000ft? a.)107F b.)103.5F c.)96.5F d.)93F
d.)93F
Which of the following explains why the sky is blue? a.)Large molecules scatter small wavelengths more than large wavelengths b.)Small molecules scatter long wavelengths of light more than short wavelengths c.)Small molecules scatter the same amount of light as large molecules d.)Small molecules scatter short wavelengths of light more than long wavelengths
d.)Small molecules scatter short wavelengths of light more than long wavelengths
Earth's main energy inputs are a.)near infrared and far infrared (longwave radiation) b.)longwave radiation and ultraviolet light c.)ultraviolet, violet, and near infrared radiation d.)gamma rays, xrays, and ultraviolet radiation
d.)gamma rays, xrays, and ultraviolet radiation
When water evaporates, the energy that was used to evaporate the water a.)is transferred to the air by advection when the water evaporates b.)in conducted into the underlying layer of water c.)is stored as sensible heat in the evaporated water d.)is stored as latent heat in the evaporated water
d.)is stored as latent heat in the evaporated water
Temperatures decrease with increasing altitude in what two atmospheric layers? a.)troposphere and stratosphere b.)stratosphere and thermosphere c.)stratosphere and mesosphere d.)troposphere and mesosphere e.)None of the above-temperature decreases with increasing altitude in all layers of the atmosphere
d.)troposphere and mesosphere
Which two gases are primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect because of their ability to absorb infraed energy? a.)oxygen and hydrogen b.)nitrogen and oxygen c.)ozone and dust d.)water vapor and carbon dioxide
d.)water vapor and carbon dioxide
Air density normally
decreases with increasing height
The _____ (mass/volume) of air decreases with height; ____ = mass/volume (grams/m3); computed by determining the mass of air in a given volume.
density
Low sun angles result in reduced solar energy because a) energy is spread over a larger area b) sun - earth distance is greater c) atmospheric path length is longer d) absorption is reduced e) both a) and c)
e) both a) and c)
The absorption of terrestrial radiation by certain gases in the lower atmosphere is called the: a) adiabatic effect b) atmospheric window effect c) photon effect d) gray-body effect e) greenhouse effect
e) greenhouse effect
Which of the following gasses is the best absorber of ultraviolet light? a) water vapor b) nitrogen dioxide c) carbon monoxide d) carbon dioxide e) oxygen
e) oxygen
The highest temperatures in the atmosphere occur in the ___ because ____ a.)mesosphere, solar radiation b.)thermosphere, carbon dioxide c.)stratosphere, methane d.)troposphere, infrared e.)thermosphere,solar radiation
e.)thermosphere,solar radiation
ultraviolet radiation
electromagnetic waves with wavelengths that are shorter than visible light but longer than X-rays
Short wave radiation
energy from the sun; 9% of the total energy that comes from the sun;
Which type of solar radiation is the most powerful?
gamma rays
The atmosphere is a mixture of:
gas molecules, small particulates, and moisture