OCE 1001 Chapter 6 FSU Exam 2

Earth's atmosphere is heated primarily by __________.

re-radiation of solar energy from Earth's surface back into the atmosphere as infrared radiation

The percentage of solar radiation reflected from the surface of Earth back into space is known as the __________.

Albedo

Of the following statements about the tilt of Earth's axis, which one is true? Select only one answer.

An increase in Earth's tilt would cause colder winters and warmer summers.

Of the following physical properties of the atmosphere, which is/are true? Choose all that apply.

-The air temperature is warmer near Earth's surface than in the upper part of the troposphere. -Warm air holds more water vapor than cool air. -Low pressure at the surface is associated with rising air (movement away from the surface). -Air always moves from high-pressure regions toward low-pressure regions.

Of the following statements about the transfer of heat on Earth, which is/are true? Choose all that apply.

-Water vapor in the air carries latent heat with it, which is released in other areas. -Air currents move warmer air from the tropics to higher latitudes. -Ocean currents move warm water from the tropics to higher latitudes.

The average albedo of Earth's surface is about

30%

Which of the following will cause the highest air pressure at the surface?

A column of cool, dense air

Which of the following will cause the lowest air pressure at the surface?

A column of warm, less dense air

The trade winds blow in which of the following directions in the Southern Hemisphere? A)From northeast to southwest B)From northwest to southeast C)From southeast to northwest D)From southwest to northeast

A) From northeast to southwest

Considering our current technology, how much of the U.S. energy needs could realistically be supplied by renewable wind energy? A)20% B)35% C)5% D)70% E)50%

A)20%

Why does rain occur near a cold front? A)Rising warm air cools, resulting in cloud formation and rain. B)Falling cold air cools, resulting in cloud formation and rain. C)Rising warm air warms, resulting in cloud formation and rain. D)Falling cold air warms, resulting in cloud formation and rain.

A)Rising warm air cools, resulting in cloud formation and rain.

The strength of a hurricane is ranked from 1 to 5 on the: A)Saffir-Simpson Scale. B)Moh's Scale. C)Fujita Scale. D)Coriolis Scale. E)Richter Scale.

A)Saffir-Simpson Scale.

Which type of ice found in the marine environment does NOT form from freezing seawater? A)Shelf ice B)Rafted ice C)Ice ribbons D)Ice floes E)Pancake ice

A)Shelf ice

Of the following statements about the doldrums, which is/are true? A)The doldrums are an area of low atmospheric pressure. B)This is also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). C)There is usually little wind but a lot of rain associated with the doldrums. D)The doldrums are the boundary between the northeast trade winds and the southeast trade winds. E)The doldrums are the wind boundary between the trade winds and the prevailing westerlies.

A)The doldrums are an area of low atmospheric pressure. B)This is also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) C)There is usually little wind but a lot of rain associated with the doldrums. D)The doldrums are the boundary between the northeast trade winds and the southeast trade winds.

The air in the center of the eye of the hurricane is ________ air moving ________. A)cool dry; downward B)warm moist; upward C)warm moist; downward D)cool dry; upward

A)cool dry; downward

The air surrounding of the eye of the hurricane is ________ air moving ________. A)warm moist; upward B)cool dry; upward C)warm moist; downward D)cool dry; downward

A)warm moist; upward

The trade winds occur in which of the following regions? A)Equatorial (0 to 5 degrees) B)5 to 30 degrees C)30 degrees D)30 to 60 degrees E)60 degrees F)60 to 90 degrees G)Poles (90 degrees)

B)5 to 30 degrees

The prevailing westerly winds blow in which of the following directions in the Southern Hemisphere? A)From northeast to southwest B)From northwest to southeast C)From southeast to northwest D)From southwest to northeast

B)From northwest to southeast

Where does rain occur in a cold front? A)Rain occurs along and in front of a cold front. B)Rain occurs along and behind a cold front. C)Rain occurs along and to the right of a cold front. D)Rain occurs along and to the left of a cold front.

B)Rain occurs along and behind a cold front.

Where does rain occur in a warm front? A)Rain occurs along and to the left of a warm front. B)Rain occurs along and in front of a warm front. C)Rain occurs along and behind a warm front. D)Rain occurs along and to the right of a warm front.

B)Rain occurs along and in front of a warm front.

Why does rain occur near a warm front? A)Rising warm air warms, resulting in cloud formation and rain. B)Rising warm air cools, resulting in cloud formation and rain. C)Falling cold air cools, resulting in cloud formation and rain. D)Falling cold air warms, resulting in cloud formation and rain.

B)Rising warm air cools, resulting in cloud formation and rain.

Which of the following locations has/have the potential to reliably harness wind power as a renewable energy source? Choose all that apply. A)along the equator B)between 5 and 30 degrees latitude C)between 30 and 60 degrees latitude D)around 30 degrees latitude E)at the poles

B)between 5 and 30 degrees latitude C)between 30 and 60 degrees latitude

Earth's polar regions (above 60° latitude) are classified as deserts because __________. A)only snow falls in those areas, and snow is not considered to be precipitation the albedo is too great in those areas B)cold, dry sinking air in the polar high regions produces little precipitation C)all available water in the polar regions is tied up in glaciers and icecaps D)mountains surrounding the polar regions prevent moist air from moving into the areas

B)cold, dry sinking air in the polar high regions produces little precipitation

Air warmed by the land that rises and is replaced by cooler air from the ocean may produce a: A)land breeze. B)typhoon. C)sea breeze. D)tropical cyclone. E)cold front.

C) sea breeze.

How are rain patterns different near warm and cold fronts? A)Rain near a cold front occurs over a wider spatial area and is more intense than near a warm front. B)Rain near a cold front occurs over a smaller spatial area and is less intense than near a warm front. C)Rain near a cold front occurs over a smaller spatial area and is more intense than near a warm front. D)Rain near a cold front occurs over a wider spatial area and is less intense than near a warm front.

C)Rain near a cold front occurs over a smaller spatial area and is more intense than near a warm front.

Why are tropical cyclones not likely to occur in mid-latitude regions? A)Easterly tradewinds prevent cyclones from reaching the mid-latitudes. B)Mid-latitude regions are typically not affected by maritime tropical air masses. C)Westerly winds steer cyclones into cooler ocean water. D)Continental Arctic air masses dominate climate in mid-latitude regions. E)The Coriolis effect weakens in the mid-latitudes and cannot sustain cyclonic winds.

C)Westerly winds steer cyclones into cooler ocean water.

Idealized pressure belts and wind systems are significantly modified by Earth's tilted axis of rotation and: A)variations in incoming solar radiation over many years. Ekman transport. B)latitudinal variations in the Coriolis effect. C)differences in the heat capacities of the ocean and land. D)differences in the latitudinal albedo.

C)differences in the heat capacities of the ocean and land.

The largest loss of life from a hurricane is usually due to: A)high winds. B)intense precipitation. C)storm surge. D)low atmospheric pressure. E)none of the above.

C)storm surge.

The thickness of sea ice is limited primarily by __________ A)heat conducted upward through the water column B)increased salinity of the water excluded from the crystal lattice of the sea ice C)the insulating nature of the ice itself. D)the length of the winter season

C)the insulating nature of the ice itself.

Ali G has a baboon like ______________.

Clitoris.

The prevailing westerly winds blow in which of the following directions in the Northern Hemisphere? A)From northeast to southwest B)From northwest to southeast C)From southeast to northwest D)From southwest to northeast

D)From southwest to northeast

What determines whether a front is called a cold front or a warm front? A)The type of front is determined by which air mass is heavier. B)The type of front is determined by which air mass is older. C)The type of front is determined by which air mass is higher. D)The type of front is determined by which air mass is moving. E)The type of front is determined by which air mass is larger.

D)The type of front is determined by which air mass is moving.

In which direction must the merry-go-round be pushed to simulate the Coriolis effect on Earth? A)clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere B)clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere C)back and forth D)counterclockwise E)clockwise

D)counterclockwise

Hurricanes frequently make landfall on the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, but rarely, if ever, occur on the Pacific coast. The primary reason for the rarity of west coast hurricanes is that __________. A)the Coriolis effect, necessary for the rotation of hurricanes, does not exist outside the tropics B)the Rocky Mountains serve as a barrier to keep storms away from the coast C)hurricanes do not occur in the eastern Pacific the western deserts keep the humidity too low for hurricanes to form D)the ocean water does not get warm enough to supply the needed heat energy for hurricanes

D)the ocean water does not get warm enough to supply the needed heat energy for hurricanes

In coastal regions, sea breezes happen ________ and land breezes happen ________. A)in the morning; in the afternoon B)in the morning; at night C)in the afternoon; in the morning D)at night; in the morning E)in the afternoon; at night F)at night; in the afternoon

E)in the afternoon; at night

Hurricanes frequently make landfall on the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, but rarely, if ever, occur on the Pacific coast. The primary reason for the rarity of west coast hurricanes is that __________. A)the Coriolis effect, necessary for the rotation of hurricanes, does not exist outside the tropics B)the Rocky Mountains serve as a barrier to keep storms away from the coast C)hurricanes do not occur in the eastern Pacific D)the western deserts keep the humidity too low for hurricanes to form E)the ocean water does not get warm enough to supply the needed heat energy for hurricanes

E)the ocean water does not get warm enough to supply the needed heat energy for hurricanes

Weather (short-term conditions of air temperature, wind speed/direction, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure) occurs because __________.

Earth's surface is heated unevenly by the Sun

The trade winds blow in which of the following directions in the Northern Hemisphere?

From northeast to southwest

The intensity of solar radiation received at lower latitudes (near the equator) compared to higher latitudes (near the poles) is:

Greater

In order to be considered a ______________, wind speeds must be in excess of 74 mph.

Hurricane

When does Brazil experience the longest night of the year?

June 21

The two factors that are most important in determining the density of air are:

Temperature and water vapor content

The lowermost portion of the atmosphere where most weather occurs is called the:

Troposphere

As shown in the video, what causes the item to deflate?

The higher pressure inside the item forces the air out into the lower pressure of the room.

Which of the following statements about the Coriolis effect is correct?

The magnitude of the Coriolis effect depends on how long the object is in motion.

In a _________________, wind speeds are below 38 miles per hour.

Tropical Depression

A disorganized array of clouds and thunderstorms with little or no rotation is known as a _______________.

Tropical Disturbance

If winds are between 38 and 74 miles per hour, the condition is called a ______________________.

Tropical Storm

Half or more of ________________ (s) eventually become hurricanes.

Tropical storm

The storm is given a name once it reaches the _______________ stage.

Tropical storm

The Coriolis effect is due to changes in the ________ of Earth with latitude.

Velocity

What common household item is used in this video to demonstrate differences in atmospheric pressure?

balloon

The temperate regions are characterized by: (a) cold fronts (b) high pressure (c) easterly winds (d) trade winds (e) westerly winds

e) westerly winds

As discussed in the video, air always moves from _____ atmospheric pressure regions to _____ atmospheric pressure regions.

high;low

As a result of the Coriolis effect in the northern hemisphere, winds always are deflected:

to the right of their original direction

You just got your pilot's license, and you want to fly your plane from point A to point B. You remember from your oceanography class that you must account for the Coriolis effect when aiming for your destination. Where must you aim to land at point B? A)directly at B B)to the west of B C)to the north of B D)to the east of B E)to the south of B

to the west of B

All the following are true of the movement of Earth's atmosphere except :

warm air is less dense than cool air so it tends to sink toward the Earth's surface.