ATM S 211 Quiz/Assignment/TopHatQ's

Why do we have jet streams?

-It's about Angular Momentum Conservation. Angular -Momentum = Mass x speed x moment arm

Solar radiation heats the surface of earth. The largest of the three terms balancing this solar heating is. 1.) Thermals - upward turbulent flux of warm air 2.) Evaporation - upward turbulent flux of wet air 3.) Net long-wave radiation loss - downward minus upward long-wave flux at the surface

2.) Evaporation - upward turbulent flux of wet air

What is the most important role of a beer Kouzie? a.) To keep heat from conducting into the air? b.) To keep water vapor from condensing on the bottle/can?

B: Much more heat is added from the latent heat of condensation than by exchange of temperature through conduction and convection. 2,500,000 Joules per Kg of Vapor

Forcing from greenhouse gases produced by humans is positive and very well known, forcing from aerosols produced by humans is negative and poorly known. True False

False

Significant upward trend in solar activity since 1978 is the major driving force for recent global warming. True False

False

Between 1980 and 2016 the Northern Hemisphere warmed faster than the Southern Hemisphere. True False

True

Independent surface (Stevenson screens and ocean buckets) and upper air observations (balloons and satellite measurements) instrumental records all show warming. Meanwhile other things that you would expect to change with warming are changing in the expected sense (e.g. less glacier ice, more water vapor in atmosphere, less Arctic sea ice, less snowcover, . . . ) True False

True

The downward longwave radiation from the atmosphere provides more Watts per square meter to the surface than the Sun. True False

True

The climate forcing associated with the 11-year solar cycle has a magnitude, peak to peak of about a.) 0.2 Wm-2 b.) 1.5 Wm-2 c.) 1360 Wm-2 x 0.1% d.) Zero, since it is balanced by infrared emissions.

a.) 0.2 Wm-2

In order for a volcanic eruption to effectively cool the surface of Earth, it must have the following characteristic, a.) All of these b.) It should happen in the tropics where it lasts longer and more insolation is present. c.) Its efluent must contain a large amount of SO2, which then converts to H2SO4 aerosols. d.) It must be highly explosive and put material in the stratosphere.

a.) All of these

In the annual mean, over the Sahara and Arabian Deserts, a.) All of these b.) The Net Radiation at top-of-atmosphere is negative, the deserts lose energy. c.) The surface is hot, and the sky is clear.. d.) The mean motion of the air is downward. e.) The surface albedo is high.

a.) All of these

The biggest positive climate feedback is water vapor feedback, and the most uncertain climate feedback is cloud feedback. a.) Both statements are true. b.) Both statements are false.

a.) Both statements are true.

The most important greenhouse gas for human- induced climate forcing is: a.) CO2 b.) H2O c.) N2O d.) O3 e.) CFCs

a.) CO2

Doubling CO2 would produce a climate forcing of around X Wm-2, while the solar cycle produces a climate forcing of about Y Wm-2 a.) CO2 = 4Wm-2 and Solar cycle = 0.2 Wm-2 b.) CO2 = 0.2Wm-2 and Solar cycle = 4 Wm-2

a.) CO2 = 4Wm-2 and Solar cycle = 0.2 Wm-2

Svante Arrenhius, the swedish scientist,: a.) Did the first calculation of warming by CO2 increase. b.) Confirmed that CO2 has a radiative effect independent of water vapor. c.) Identified the infrared absorbing gases and recognized the likely role of CO2 in causing past climate changes. d.) First used the greenhouse effect analogy.

a.) Did the first calculation of warming by CO2 increase.

Water vapor is a very effective absorber and emitter of thermal infrared radiation because, a.) It is a bent triatomic molecule b.) It can undergo a phase change from gas to liquid at terrestrial temperatures. c.) Most of it is very near the surface. d.) It's saturation vapor pressure depends strongly on temperature.

a.) It is a bent triatomic molecule

Over the Sahara and Arabian Deserts the biggest contributions to the surface energy balance come from a.) Radiative heating and sensible cooling. b.) Ocean transport and evaporative cooling. c.) Energy Storage and radiative heating. d.) Radiative heating and evaporative cooling.

a.) Radiative heating and sensible cooling.

Which statement is false? a.) The equator receives more radiatoin during solstice than during equinox. b.) During equinox the days are the same length north and south of the equator. c.) During solstice the sun is 23.45 degrees north or south of the equator. d.) At equinox the sun is directly over the equator.

a.) The equator receives more radiatoin during solstice than during equinox.

Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the global distribution of net incoming radiation, which equals absorbed solar minus outgoing infrared radiation? a.) The turning point from net gain to net loss is 23.5 degrees latitude.. b.) The tropics experience a net gain. c.) The polar regions experience a net loss. d.) Motions in the atmosphere and ocean work to distribute the resultant energy imbalance.

a.) The turning point from net gain to net loss is 23.5 degrees latitude..

Which is correct about the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)? a.) Weaker trade winds are associated with El Niño phase. b.) Weaker trade winds are associated with La Niña phase. c.) El Niño is the cold phase. d.) La Niña is the warm phase.

a.) Weaker trade winds are associated with El Niño phase.

If a parcel of air moves from the equator, where it is moving with the surface of the Earth, and moves to 30S while conserving angular momentum, when it gets to 30S it will be going a.) 134 m/s easterly relative to surface b.) 134 m/s westerly relative to surface 134 m/s = 300 mph

b.) 134 m/s westerly relative to surface

The westerly subtropical Jet occurs, a.) 45N and 45S at about 12km altitude b.) 30N and 30S at about 12km altitude c.) 20N and 20S at about 5km altitude d.) 60N and 60S at about 10km altitude

b.) 30N and 30S at about 12km altitude

For a time horizon of 100 years in the future, Methane has a global warming potential 25 times that of CO2 because a.) Methane is increasing in the atmosphere much faster than CO2. b.) A kilogram of Methane added to the atmosphere produces a much larger climate forcing than a kilogram of carbon dioxide. c.) Currently there is much more CO2 in the atmosphere than CH4. d.) Methane resides in the atmosphere much longer than CO2.

b.) A kilogram of Methane added to the atmosphere produces a much larger climate forcing than a kilogram of carbon dioxide.

We know that the increase in CO2 in the atmosphere is caused by fossil fuel burning because. a.) the carbon-13 abundance in the atmosphere is decreasing b.) All of these c.) The carbon-14 (radiocarbon) in the atmosphere has decreased d.) It rises simultaneously with fossil fuel use. e.) The molecular oxygen in the atmosphere is decreasing

b.) All of these

The most important greenhouse gas is: a.) CO2 b.) H2O c.) N2O d.) O3 e.) CFCs

b.) H2O

The two largest terms in the global mean atmospheric energy balance are, a.) Meridional transport and radiative heating. b.) Heating by condensation and cooling by radiation c.) Sensible heating and evaporative cooling d.) Solar heating and evaporative cooling

b.) Heating by condensation and cooling by radiation

Although there are many greenhouse gases that humans are affecting, the primary concern is with carbon dioxide (CO2) because: a.) It absorbs terrestrial radiation more efficiently than any other gas. b.) It has the longest lifetime of any gas in the atmosphere. c.) It is transparent to solar radiation. d.) Humans are likely to produce so much of it by burning fossil carbon fuels. e.) None of the above.

b.) It has the longest lifetime of any gas in the atmosphere.

When you put ice in a drink, it keeps it cold because, a.) The ice is much colder than the water and has a high specific heat. b.)It takes a lot of energy to melt the ice, and all the ice must be melted before the water temperature can rise much above O˚C

b.) It takes a lot of energy to melt the ice, and all the ice must be melted before the water temperature can rise much above O˚C

The two largest terms in the global-mean SURFACE energy balance are, a.) Sensible heating and latent cooling b.) Latent cooling and radiative heating c.) Sensible heating and radiative cooling d.) Latent heating and poleward transport.

b.) Latent cooling and radiative heating

The two largest terms in the global-mean atmospheric energy balance are, a.) Sensible heating and latent cooling b.) Latent heating and radiative cooling c.) Sensible heating and radiative cooling d.) Latent heating and poleward transport.

b.) Latent heating and radiative cooling

The Hadley Cell Transports, a.) Potential energy, moisture and sensible energy poleward. b.) Potential energy poleward and Moisture equatorward. c.) Sensible energy poleward and potential energy equatorward.

b.) Potential energy poleward and Moisture equatorward.

The largest terms in the global mean surface energy balance are, a.) Longwave cooling and condensation heating b.) Radiative heating and evaporative cooling c.) Ocean Transport and Net radiative heating. d.) Consenation heating and radiative cooling.

b.) Radiative heating and evaporative cooling

Which of the following is NOT TRUE a.) Sea level rises when mountain glaciers melt. b.) Sea level rises when sea ice melts. c.) Sea level rises when icebergs slide into the ocean. d.) Sea level rises when the ocean warms.

b.) Sea level rises when sea ice melts.

The Cloud Radiative Effect is, a.) The amount by which clouds contribute to the warming caused by a climate forcing. b.) The amount by which the radiation balance at the top of the atmosphere changes if you insert the clouds and leave everything else, e.g. temperature and water vapor, unchanged. c.) The Amount by which clouds change the surface temperature of Earth. d.) All of the above.

b.) The amount by which the radiation balance at the top of the atmosphere changes if you insert the clouds and leave everything else, e.g. temperature and water vapor, unchanged.

Which of the following is NOT an important cause for the strong greenhouse effect that keeps the surface temperature of Earth warmer than it would be without an atmosphere containing greenhouse gases. a.) The atmosphere is relatively transparent to solar radiation. b.) The atmosphere reflects infrared radiation. c.) The atmosphere absorbs and emits infrared radiation d.) The surface absorbs solar radiation and emits thermal infrared radiation

b.) The atmosphere reflects infrared radiation.

Which of the following are NOT TRUE about the poleward transport of energy by the ocean and atmosphere a.) The ocean transport peaks nearer the equator than the atmospheric transport. b.) The atmospheric transport peaks near the subtropical jet at 30N and 30S c.) The total peaks at about 40N and 40S. d.) The atmosphere does more transport than the ocean in middle latitudes.

b.) The atmospheric transport peaks near the subtropical jet at 30N and 30S

Which of the following statements is False? a.) Hotter objects emit more radiant energy per unit of emission area. b.) The sky is blue because the atmosphere is cold at high altitudes. c.) Hotter objects emit shorter wavelength radiation. d.) Albedo is the fraction of incident solar radiation that is reflected back.

b.) The sky is blue because the atmosphere is cold at high altitudes.

Between 1940 and 1980 global mean land temperature: a.) declined about 0.4˚C b.) remained almost constant c.) increased by about 0.6˚C d.) increased by about 0.2˚C

b.) remained almost constant

In 2011 a group led by Berkeley professor Richard Muller did an independent analysis of the global surface temperature record and found that,: a.) While stations considered to be 'poor' might be less accurate, they record the same warming as other stations. b.) Surface air temperature had increased c.) All of these d.) The urban heat island effect does not bias the global trend of temperature e.) Over the past 50 years the land temperature warmed by 0.9˚C

c.) All of these

The angular momentum of the atmosphere is greatest a.) In the Subtropical jet stream b.) In the trade winds. c.) At the equator if the wind is zero or westerly. d.) In the polar night jet.

c.) At the equator if the wind is zero or westerly.

Global warming potential estimates the impact on warming of releasing a kilogram of a greenhouse gas into the atmosphere by considering, a.) The efficiency of the molecule in absorbing IR radiation and warming the surface. b.) The time that the released gas will remain in the atmosphere. c.) Both of the above

c.) Both of the above

Potential Evapotranspiration is the amount of evaporation plus transpiration: a.) That is derived from potential energy. b.) That is the summertime maximum. c.) That could occur if the surface is wet. d.) That could occur if vegetation is present.

c.) That could occur if the surface is wet.

The Atmosphere warms the surface via the greenhouse effect because: (chose all that applies) a.) The atmosphere reflects the infrared radiation emitted by the surface of Earth. b.) The atmosphere absorbs solar radiation. c.) The atmosphere emits infrared radiation. d.) Clouds reflect solar radiation. e.) The ocean is dark.

c.) The atmosphere emits infrared radiation.

Insolation at the top of the atmosphere is less at high latitudes that the equator because. a.) The poles are farther from the sun than the equator. b.) The albedo is higher in high latitudes because of snow and ice. c.) The insolation arrives at a large angle to the surface area in high latitudes and gets spread out more. d.) The Earth rotates faster at the poles than the equator.

c.) The insolation arrives at a large angle to the surface area in high latitudes and gets spread out more.

The sun emits shorter wavelength radiation, with more energetic photons than the Earth because: a.) The sun is a gas and the earth is a rock with different emissivities b.) The sun is yellow and Earth is bluish green c.) The sun is much hotter than Earth d.) The sun is farther away than Earth.

c.) The sun is much hotter than Earth

The Stevenson Screen, a slatted white box, placed a fixed distance above the ground to enclose meteorological instruments to measure, pressure, temperature and humidity . . . Etc. was invented by a.) Adlai Stevenson b.) Robert Louis Stevenson c.) Thomas Stevenson d.) George H. Stevenson

c.) Thomas Stevenson

Currently, the largest sources of sea level rise are: a.) Arctic Sea Ice Melting and Greenland Ice Streams Accelerating b.) Warming of the Ocean and the Pine Island Ice Stream c.) Warming of the Ocean and Melting of Mountain Glaciers d.) Melting of Mountain Glaciers and Ice Sheet Calving in Greenland and Antarctica.

c.) Warming of the Ocean and Melting of Mountain Glaciers

What is the primary reason the ocean has a greater overall heat content than the atmosphere? a.) The ocean is much larger in volume than the atmosphere, allowing more capability for heat storage. b.) The ocean is more well-mixed compared to the atmosphere, allowing more potential for heat storage. c.) Water has a higher heat capacity than air, and the ocean has more mass than the atmosphere.. d.) None of these answers are the primary reason.

c.) Water has a higher heat capacity than air, and the ocean has more mass than the atmosphere..

If there were no natural greenhouse effect, the surface temperature would be_____________ (cooler/warmer). If there were no enhanced greenhouse effect due to emissions of greenhouse gases, the surface temperature would be___________(cooler/warmer).

cooler, cooler

The great sand deserts of the Sahara and Arabia can have annual-mean net negative radiation balance at the Top-of-Atmosphere because, a.) The surface is very hot and the air is dry. b.) The surface sand has a high albedo. c.) The atmosphere supplies the missing heat by sinking of air. d.) All of the above.

d.) All of the above.

We know that Human Forcing is causing a global warming of the earth because. a.) We know the CO2 is coming from humans. b.) We know it is warming. c.) Our best models cannot produce the warming observed in the 20th Century without including the human forcing from greenhouse gases. d.) All of the above.

d.) All of the above.

Global Dimming refers to a.) An observed reduction in downward solar radiation at the Earth's surface between about 1990 and 2010. b.) A gradual decline in the total solar irradiance since 1950. c.) A reduction of the total solar irradiance since 2010. d.) An observed reduction in downward solar radiation aat the Earth's surface between about 1950 and 1980.

d.) An observed reduction in downward solar radiation aat the Earth's surface between about 1950 and 1980.

Which greenhouse gas contributes the most to the current greenhouse gas radiative forcing relative to pre-industrial times? a.) Methane b.) Water vapor c.) Nitrous Oxide d.) Carbon dioxide e.) Ozone

d.) Carbon dioxide

Which of the following is NOT TRUE? a.) Hotter bodies emit more energetic photons. b.) The Earth emits thermal infrared radiation with wavelengths around 10 microns, or 10000 nanometers. c.) Hotter bodies emit more blackbody radiation d.) Hotter bodies emit longer wavelength radiation.

d.) Hotter bodies emit longer wavelength radiation.

The climate sensitivity is often quantified as? a.) Increase in global mean top of atmosphere temperature from doubling preindustrial CO2 level. b.) Increase in global mean top of atmosphere temperature from dividing preindustrial CO2 level by 2. c.) Increase in global mean surface temperature from dividing preindustrial CO2 level by 2. d.) Increase in global mean surface temperature from doubling the preindustrial CO2 level.

d.) Increase in global mean surface temperature from doubling the preindustrial CO2 level.

The CO2 concentration in the Northern Hemisphere atmosphere (e.g. Mauna Loa, HI) shows the following seasonal variation. a.) Maximum in Fall, minimum in Spring b.) Maximum in Summer, minimum in Winter c.) Minimum in Summer, maximum in Winter d.) Maximum in Spring, minimum in Fall

d.) Maximum in Spring, minimum in Fall

How do Volcanic eruptions cool the climate? a.) Ash falls and whitens the surface, reflecting solar radiation b.) Volcano adds CO2, cooling climate c.) Volcano heats atmosphere, causing more IR emission to space d.) Volcano injects large amounts of Sulfur Dioxide into the stratosphere, where it forms small sulfuric acid droplets that stay around a long time and reflect solar radiation, cooling the surface.

d.) Volcano injects large amounts of Sulfur Dioxide into the stratosphere, where it forms small sulfuric acid droplets that stay around a long time and reflect solar radiation, cooling the surface.

What is the most abundant and important greenhouse gas and why is it not driving current climate change? a.) Carbon dioxide is the most abundance but it is well-mixed. b.)Methane is the most abundant but it has a less potent warming effect. c.) Ozone is the most abundant but it has a cooling effect. d.) Water vapor is the most abundant but it has a short residence time, meaning it is continually lost to condensation and precipitation.

d.) Water vapor is the most abundant but it has a short residence time, meaning it is continually lost to condensation and precipitation.

Sea Level Change be measured a.) with buoys that float on the ocean b.) with sticks mounted to land but stuck in the ocean c.) with satellites using radar altimetry d.) b and c

d.) b and c

We know that the Earth is warming because,: a.) Surface Air Temperature is increasing b.) Sea Ice is melting c.) Sea Surface Temperature is increasing d.) Mountain glaciers are melting e.) All of the above

e.) All of the Above

How do we know for certain that the rising CO2 in the atmosphere is coming from Fossil fuel combustion? a.) CO2 rises at the same time as fossil fuel combustion b.) the carbon-13/carbon-12 ratio is declining: the new CO2 has the ratio you see in plants, so it must have come from fossil fuel, rather than release of CO2 from ocean water or volcanoes. c.) There is very little carbon-14 in the new carbon, so it has to have been buried a long time - fossil d.) The oxygen ratio in the atmosphere is decreasing so CO2 is being added from another reservoir. e.) All of the above

e.) All of the above

Measuring land ice change, like Greenland, can be done with a.) gravity measurements from orbiting satellites b.) Laser or radar altimetry from satellites or planes c.) infrared satellite images d.) a and b e.) All of the above

e.) All of the above

Methane is increasing because of a.) Natural gas extraction leakage b.) Cow Burps c.) Rice paddies d.) A and C e.) All of the above

e.) All of the above

What are some Differences between Volcanic Eruptions and Human Volcano? a.) Volcanic eruptions are random and episodic, while the human volcano is more continuous b.) Volcanic eruptions are most important for climate when they spew SO2 into the stratosphere (more than 10 miles up), while the human volcano mostly only puts aerosols in the troposphere. c.) The most important volcanic eruptions have been tropical, whereas the human volcano is mostly Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes. d.) If the human volcano stopped, its aerosol effects would be mostly gone in a couple weeks, while an explosive volcano's emission affects climate for a couple years. e.) All of the above

e.) All of the above

Individual locations have warm and cold years from time to time, but if you average over the whole globe the steading warming of Earth's Surface is more apparent. True False

true