Physical Geography Test 1 Questions and Answers

The distance between corresponding points on any two successive waves is known as the... A. frequency. B. electromagnetic specrum. C. Kelvin. D. wavelength.

D. wavelength.

A scale of 1 inch = 8 miles is an example of a... A, graphic scale. B. representative fraction. C. relative scale. D. written scale.

D. written scale.

If a clock on a ship indicates that it is 2:00 PM in its home port, while another clock on the ship indicates that it is 12:00 noon at the ship's present location, what is the difference in longitude between the ship's position and its home port? A. The ship is 45 degrees west of its home port. B. The ship is 30 degrees east of its home port. C. The ship is 2 degrees east of its home port. D. The ship is 2 degrees west of its home port. E. The ship is 30 degrees west of its home port.

E. The ship is 30 degrees west of its home port.

A vertical air current that is generated by temperature induced density differences is an example of heat transfer by... A. conduction. B. transmission. C. diffusion. D. advection. E. convection.

E. convection.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the coldest time of the year occurs in December at the time of the winter solstice.

F

The normal lapse rate for temperature decreases is na average of 3 degrees Celsius per 1000 m.

F

The sebsolar point is at the Tropic of Cancer on or about December 21.

F

Negative feedback tends to stabilize a system.

T

Photosynthesis in a plant leaf is an example of an open-system operation.

T

Positive feedback tends to amplify or encourage response in system operations.

T

Molecule to molecule transfer of heat energy is... A. Advection. B. Latent Heat. C. Convection. D. Conduction.

D. Conduction.

Which of the following is an example of a closed system? A. A river drainage basin B. An automobile C. A forest D. Earth (in terms of matter)

D. Earth (in terms of matter)

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the depletion of the ozone in the ozonosphere? A. The depletion is restricted to the arctic and antarctic regions. B. It results from the burning of fossil fuels. C. The notion that ozone is being depleted as a result of human activity has little scientific evidence to support it. D. It results from chemical reactions with chlorine derived from CFCs.

D. It results from chemical reactions with chlorine derived from CFCs.

What is the name of the location on the surface of Earth that receives insolation when the Sun is directly overhead? (When this occurs the Sun's rays are perpendicular to this surface.) A. Zenith B. Solar point C. North polar point D. Subsolar point

D. Subsolar point

A satellite imaging system that beams electromagnetic energy at a surface and then records the energy that is reflected is classified as a _______ system. A. holographic. B. photographic. C. passive. D. active.

D. active.

The reflective quality of a surface is known as its A. absorption. B. conduction. C. scattering. D. albedo.

D. albedo.

Standard time zones... A. are spaced at 5 degree intervals of longitude in North America. B. are only used in the developed countries. C. have yet to be generally established. D. are 15 degrees wide because Earth rotates through that distance in one hour.

D. are 15 degrees wide because Earth rotates through that distance in one hour.

The part of geography that embodies map making is known as... A. geodesy. B. theodesy. C. calligraphy. D. cartography.

D. cartography.

In terms of matter and resources, Earth is essentially a ___________ system; In terms of energy, Earth is a __________ system. A. open; closed B. open; open C. closed; closed D. closed; open

D. closed; open

Differential transmissivity of shortwave insolation and long wave terrestrial radiation by various atmospheric gases is better known as the... A. global warming. B. global dimming. C. cloud-albedo forcing. D. greenhouse effect.

D. greenhouse effect.

When water evaporates, the energy that was used to evaporate the water... A. is stored as sensible heat in the evaporated water. B. is transferred to the air by advection when the water evaporates. C. is conducted into the underlying later of water. D. is stored as latent heat in the evaporated water.

D. is stored as latent heat in the evaporated water.

The principle controls and influences of temperature patterns include... A. the distance of Earth from the sun and sunspot activity. B. latitude, altitude, land-water heating differences, cloud cover, ocean currents, and surface conditions. C. Earth's tilt, rotation, revolution, and sphericity. D. the seasons and human activity.

D. latitude, altitude, land-water heating differences, cloud cover, ocean currents, and surface conditions.

An angular distance measured north or south of the equator of the equator is termed... A. Greenwich distance. B. zenith. C. longitude. D. latitude.

D. latitude.

A line connecting all points along the same longitudinal angle is called a... A. great circle. B. prime latitudinal angle. C. parallel. D. meridian.

D. meridian.

The two most abundant gases in the atmosphere are... A. oxygen and carbon dioxide. B. nitrogen and water vapor. C. water vapor and carbon dioxide. D. nitrogen and oxygen.

D. nitrogen and oxygen.

The term "net radiation" refers to... A. the total amount of energy received by Earth. B. radiation emitted by satellite networks. C. the total amount of energy radiated by Earth. D. the difference in amount of incoming and outgoing radiation.

D. the difference in amount of incoming and outgoing radiation.

Kinetic energy is defined as... A. energy gained or lost when a substance changes state. B. energy flow between molecules. C. stored energy. D. the energy of motion.

D. the energy in motion.

The passage of either shortwave or long wave energy through the atmosphere and water is an example of... A. refraction. B. absorption. C. insolation. D. transmission.

D. transmission.

Earth's average overall albedo is... A. 31 percent. B. 51 percent. C. 69 percent. D. unknown.

A. 31 percent.

Which of the following describes the property of equal area on a map? A. Equivalence. B. Proximity. C. Equidistance. D. Conformality.

A. Equivalence.

Which of the following is TRUE regarding Earth's axis? A. The axis is tilted 23.5 degrees from a perpendicular to the pane of the ecliptic. B. Axial tilt is unrelated to the phenomenon of seasonal change. C. The amount of axial tilt fluctuates during the year and forms the basis for seasonal changes. D. The axis remains parallel to the plane of the ecliptic.

A. The axis is tilted 23.5 degrees from a perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic.

Where does the greatest distortion in a Mercator projection occur? A. Towards the poles B. Om the middle of latitudes C. The equator D. There is no distortion in a Mercator projection.

A. Towards the poles

Based on temperature, the atmosphere is divided into... A. four regions: ranging from troposphere to the thermosphere. B. nitrogen, oxygen, argon. C. two functional areas that absorb radiation from the Sun. D. two broad regions.

A. four regions: ranging from the troposphere to the thermosphere.

The amount of detail on a large scale map is generally ________ than on than small scale maps. A. greater B. less C. It is impossible to compare the relative detail of the same features on maps of different scales.

A. greater

The insolation received at Earth's surface is... A. greatest over low-latitude deserts with their cloudless skies. B. generally greater at high latitudes because of day length. C. usually low at the equator. D. inadequate to sustain life.

A. greatest over low-latitude with their cloudless skies.

The equinox... A. has 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night for all locations. B. is when the subsolar point is at one of the tropics. C. occurs 4 times a year. D. is the longest day of the year at any given place.

A. has 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night for all locations.

Acid deposition results from... A. nitric acid and sulfuric acid, formed from nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. B. carbonic acids dissolved from atmospheric carbon dioxide. C. hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. D. hydrochloric acid, formed from the combination of hydrogen chloride and water.

A. nitric acid and sulfuric acid, formed from nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

As arctic temperature rise, summer sea ice and glacial melt accelerates; lighter color surfaces are thereby replaced with dark-colored surfaces leading to more absorption and surface heating. This is an example of _____ feedback. A. positive B. negative C. dynamic D. reverse

A. positive

6.4 degrees/1000 m refers to... A. the normal lapse rate. B. an environmental lapse rate. C. a latitudinal lapse rate. D. a measure of air pressure.

A. the normal lapse rate.

Geography" literally means... A. to write (about) Earth. B. map making. C. the study of rocks. D. place memorization.

A. to write (about) the Earth.

The dominant wavelength emitted by Earth is... A. gamma radiation. B. X-ray radiation. C. thermal infrared. D. visible light.

D. visible light.

-273 degrees Celsius is... A. an average boiling temperature. B. 0 degrees absolute temperature. C. the same as 273 Kelvin. D. not possible on any scale.

B. 0 degrees absolute temperature.

Which of the following best describes Geographic Information Systems? A. Deriving accurate measurements from photographs. B. Computer-based tool for management and analysis of geographic information. C. A constellation of satellites for accurately determine location anywhere near Earth's surface. D. Acquiring information about objects without having physical contact with them.

B. Computer-based tool for management and analysis of geographic information.

The principle that explains the scattering of shortwave of radiation and accounts for Earth's blue sky is... A. transmission. B. Rayleigh scattering. C. refraction. D. Mie scattering.

B. Rayleigh scattering.

Global average air temperatures worldwide... A. have appeared to stabilize after a century of increase. B. are being influenced by human-induced changes in the greenhouse effect. C. are at present demonstrating no apparent trend one way or another. D. are generally lower than 20 years ago.

B. are being influenced by human-induced changes in the greenhouse effect.

Three criteria used for classification of the atmosphere... A. structure, origin, temperature. B. composition, temperature, and function. C. structure, origin, evolution. D. composition, origin, evolution.

B. composition, temperature, and function.

A scale of 1:900,000 is __________ a scale of 1:24,000. A. equal to B. smaller than C. twice as much D. larger than

B. smaller than

Remote sensing is... A. a subjective determination of temperature. B. the monitoring of a distant objects without physical contact. C. based on the principle that surfaces must be physically handled and directly measured for study. D. an earthbound technique not used in modern satellites.

B. the monitoring of a distant objects without physical contact.

Light travels at a speed of approximately... A. 1,000,000 kilometers per second. B. 300,000 kilometers per hour. C. 300,000 kilometers per second. D. 80,500 kilometers per hour.

C. 300,000 kilometers per second.

When does Earth's perihelion position, the point of orbit when it is closest to the Sun, occur? A. During the Northern Hemisphere's autumn. B. During the Northern Hemisphere's spring. C. During the Northern Hemisphere's winter. D. During the Northern Hemisphere's summer.

C. During the Northern Hemisphere's winter.

Why are temperature inversion noteworthy regarded air pollution? A. Air pollution is completely inhibited from forming. B. Mesospheric conditions are replicated for the troposphere. C. Vertical mixing of pollutants is halted, trapping the pollutants under the inversion layer. D. Surface pollution is moderated by allowing surface area to mix with the air above.

C. Vertical mixing of pollutants is halted, trapping the pollutants under the inversion layer.

The tropopause altitude is highest _____ because of the _____. A. during the summer; increased atmospheric pressure B. at the poles; diffuse solar radiation C. at the equator; intense heating from the surface D. during the winter; Sun's direct rays hitting the Tropic of Capricorn

C. at the equator; intense heating from the surface

As reported by the National Weather Service, the heat index... A. combines air pressure and temperature in a comfort index. B. is generally reported during critical weather months. C. relates temperature and relative humidity. D. gives you an indication of the effect of wind on the skin.

C. relates temperature and relative humidity.

The dominant wavelength of energy emitted by the Sun is... A. longer than that emitted by the Earth. B. the same length as emitted by the Earth. C. shorter than that emitted by the Earth.

C. shorter than that emitted by the Earth.

The temperature on a cloudy night is likely to be ______ the temperature on a clear night--all other factors being equal. A. colder than B. the same as C. warmer than

C. warmer than

Temperature inventions occur... A. during episodes of reduced air pollution. B. when surface temperatures are higher than overlying layers of air. C. when surface temperatures are cooler than overlying air. D. when there is good air drainage and ventilation of the surface air.

C. when surface temperatures are cooler than overlying air.

Maritime influences tend to decrease both daily and monthly temperature ranges.

T

Atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude.

T

Continentality results in a greater range between maximum and minimum daily and yearly temperatures.

T

Latitudinal energy imbalances drive global circulation patterns.

T