GGY 230 Weather & Climate Final Review

GeoTutor:

Latent Heat

SmartFigure:

Sun Angle

What is the approximate length of the day in the Wasatch Mountains east of Salt Lake City on March 27, from first light to total darkness? A) 11 hours B) 9 hours C) 7 hours D) 15 hours E) 13 hours

E) 13 hours Correct. On March 27, this location experiences daylight from approximately 6 A.M. to 7 P.M. local time, for a total of 13 hours.

Interactive Animation:

Earth-Sun Relations

Chapter 2

Heating Earth's Surface & Atmosphere

SmartFigue:

Solstices & Equinoxes

Part B On March 22 and September 22, which placemarked location has a solar-noon Sun angle of 66.5∘? A) D B) C C) A D) B E) E

A) D Correct. At 23.5∘ north latitude, the solar-noon Sun angle here on the equinox would be 66.5∘ above the horizon.

Acid rain occurs primarily in which climate? A) Dfb B) Dfa C) Cs D) ET E) BS

A) Dfb The Dfb climate type receives precipitation throughout the year, and industrial sources of acid rain are located within or upwind of this climate type.

Part A During which of the following times does Buenos Aires, Argentina receive the same number of hours of sunlight as New York City, USA? Choose all that apply. A) Summer solstice B) Spring equinox C) Winter solstice D) Fall equinox

B & D Spring & Fall equinoxes The spring and fall equinoxes are times when all areas on earth receive the same amount of sunlight, about 12 hours per day.

When carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dissolves in water, it causes ________________. A) thawing of permafrost B) an increase in ocean acidity C) rising sea level D) melting of Arctic sea ice

B) an increase in ocean acidity

Instructions for Part D: 1)Turn on and open the Beam Depletion folder. Double-click the Sample Location layer. This square represents a hypothetical area near the equator where the energy from the sun could be measured. Because of the nearly spherical shape of the planet, however, the energy received near the equator on the equinox is more concentrated than energy received in higher latitudes.

2) Double-click the layers labeled A through E and examine their associated squares, comparing their sizes to the Sample Location layer. Use the Ruler tool to obtain rough measurements of each layer.

When do all locations on Earth experience equal lengths of day and night? Choose all that apply. A) March Equinox B) June Solstice C) December Solstice D) September Equinox

A & D March(Spring) & September(fall) Equinox

When are the Sun's rays perpendicular to Earth's surface at the equator? Choose all that apply. A) March Equinox B) December Solstice C) June Solstice D) September Equinox

A) March Equinox & D) September Equinox

Which of the following economic activities most closely coincides with the areas at risk of future drought? A) livestock ranching B) general farming C)specialty crop or livestock farming D) commercial wheat E) dairy farming

A) livestock ranching The areas of livestock ranching already receive less precipitation on average than other portions of the United States, and they are at risk of future droughts.

Which relationship below is correct? A) Fossil pollen is more abundant when temperatures are lower. B) Seasonal growth rates of coral are related to sea surface temperatures. C) Warm, wet years generally produce tree rings that are narrower than those formed during cold, dry years. D) The amount of oxygen-18 in glacial ice is higher when temperatures are cooler. E) Ice cores have more volcanic ash when temperatures are higher.

B) Seasonal growth rates of coral are related to sea surface temperatures.

When do the Sun's rays hit the Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes at the highest angle? A) Spring equinox B) Summer solstice C) Winter solstice D) Fall equinox **Hint 1.** The highest angle is the angle closest to 90 degrees. How does this angle change from winter to spring to summer?

B) Summer solstice **The Sun hits the Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes at about 73.5 degrees during the summer solstice. How is this associated with the warmer temperatures observed during summer?

Part B During which of the following times does the North Pole receive no hours of sunlight? A) Fall equinox B) Winter solstice C) Summer solstice D) Spring equinox

B) Winter solstice When the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun during the winter months, the North Pole receives little to no sunlight. What is happening in the South Pole during this time?

Dendrochronology is the study of __________. A) oxygen isotope data B) tree rings C) seafloor sediment data D) glacial ice data E)fossil pollen data

B) tree rings

In which material would convection occur? **Hint 1. How does heat move during convection? A) An electric stove coil B) Cement C) The atmosphere D) A wooden table

C) The atmosphere Heat is convected in the atmosphere when warm particles are moved from one location to another.

Part D Based on the location of the Sun and the North Star, determine the orientation of the Earth's axis at each location. Drag the appropriate labels to their respective targets. Labels may be used more than once. A) earth tilted to the east/right B) earth turned almost to where the pole is horizontal but higher on left C) earth tilted to the west/left D) earth's pole vertical

Cs Arrange all earth's to point towards the north star *The Earth's axis is tilted toward the North Star at approximately 23.5 degrees.

Assuming measurement is done at solar-noon on the equinox, which of the labeled layers A through E would receive the same amount of energy from the Sun as the Sample Location site? A) D B) A C) E D) B E) C

E) C The area at 45∘ N is approximately 1.4 times the size of the Sample Location layer and therefore receives about the same amount of energy.

Variations in the shape of Earth's orbit around the Sun are called _____________. A) sunspot cycle B) plate tectonics C) precession D) obliquity E) eccentricity

E) eccentricity

Thinking Spatially & Data Analysis:

Solar Energy and the Greenhouse Effect

Instructions for Part B-C: Turn on and open the Noon Sun Angle folder. Double-click each of the five placemarks labeled A through E, noting the latitude of each and considering the relationship this has on solar noon Sun angle during different times of year.

The Imagery Date indicated in the Google Earth™ viewer reflects the timing of image capture for the included satellite imagery; it will not impact your interpretation of this question. You may find it helpful to turn on the latitude and longitude grid by going to the View menu and selecting Grid.

Part A - The June and December solstices On the June and December solstices, the Sun's declination reaches its northernmost and southernmost extremes. Latitudes beyond the tropics never receive the direct rays of the Sun. The following conditions occur during the June solstice, which takes place annually on June 20 or 21: 1) The North Pole is tilted towards the Sun. 2) The Sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, its northernmost declination. 3) The Northern Hemisphere experiences summer, and daylength is at its longest. The Sun never sets at latitudes within the Arctic Circle, even at night, leading to the phenomenon of the "Midnight Sun," or constant light. The reverse occurs in the Southern Hemisphere, where daylength is at its shortest. South of the Antarctic Circle, however, there is constant darkness. 4) Daylength at the equator remains approximately equal to the length of night.

The reverse conditions occur during the December solstice, which falls on December 21 or 22: 1) The South Pole is tilted towards the Sun. 2) The Sun's direct rays fall on the Tropic of Capricorn, the southernmost point of declination. 3) The Southern Hemisphere experiences summer and its longest day of the year, and the "Midnight Sun" phenomenon occurs at latitudes within the Antarctic Circle. The Northern Hemisphere experiences the reverse conditions of a winter season, and the longest night of the year. Constant darkness occurs north of the Arctic Circle. 4)Day and night still remain approximately equal at the equator.

Ranking Task:

Understanding the Greenhouse Effect in Planet Atmospheres

Where does the length of day remain the same throughout the year? A) at the Tropic of Cancer B) at the equator C) at the Tropic of Capricorn D) within 10 degrees of the North Pole E) within 10 degrees of the South Pole

B) at the equator

How does the inclination of Earth's axis change over the course of a year? A) The inclination of Earth's axis becomes shorter. B) The inclination of Earth's axis becomes longer. C) The inclination of Earth's axis does not change. D) The inclination of Earth's axis becomes steeper. E) The inclination of Earth's axis becomes shallower.

C) The inclination of Earth's axis does not change.

The Sun is very hot, so it radiates _______ energy and the energy has a _______ wavelength than energy coming from Earth. **Hint 1. The sun primarily emits visible, ultraviolet, and infrared electromagnetic radiation. A) more; longer B) less; longer C) less; shorter D) the same; shorter E) more; shorter

E) more; shorter The Sun emits more energy than Earth and hotter objects emit shorter wavelength energy than cooler objects.

GeoTutor:

Seasons- The Solstices & Equinoxes

You are boiling a pot of water on an electric stove. The pot sits directly on the heating coil and is primarily heated by _____. **Hint 1. The pot is sitting directly on the heating coil so there is contact between the heating coil and the pot. Which heat transfer mechanism is most effective in this situation? A) radiation B) latent heat C) convection D) conduction E) sensible heat

D) conduction Conduction is the molecule-to-molecule transfer of heat from the heating coil to the bottom of the pot.

You remove the pot of boiling hot water and set it on a cooler part of the stove. Which mechanism is responsible for cooling the pot of water? A) radiation B) latent heat C) convection D) conduction E) All of the listed mechanisms cool the pot.

E) All of the listed mechanisms cool the pot. All of these mechanisms work together to cool the pot of boiling water.

The areas of desertification overlap the most with which climate type? A) BWk B) Am C) Dwc D) Dwa E) BSk

E) BSk Regions at risk of desertification are commonly found along the margins of deserts and commonly result from inappropriate land use.

Which of the following is the LEAST likely result of global climate change? A) increased temperatures in some areas B) cooler temperatures C) decreased human population D) increased flooding in some areas

C) decreased human population As the video mentioned, the population will increase dramatically, with some estimates being more than two billion additional people on the planet in the next few decades.

What is the December solstice? A) the time of the year when Earth's geographic North Pole is leaning most directly toward the Sun B) The time of the year when the Earth's geographic North and South Poles are leaning in similar ways toward the Sun. C) the time of the year when Earth's geographic North Pole is leaning most directly away from the Sun

C) the time of the year when Earth's geographic North Pole is leaning most directly away from the Sun

Part A The following images show four types (wavelengths) of light. Rank these from left to right based on the amount of each that is emitted (as thermal radiation) by Earth's surface, from greatest to least.If you think that two (or more) types should be ranked as equal, drag one on top of the other(s) to show this equality. A) Infrared B) Visible C) X-Ray D) Ultraviolet

Greatest Infrared then B-D on top of each other for least I put b in back then c and d on top also placed them in more of the middle with A closer to greatest Earth emits thermal radiation characteristic of its surface temperature, which means it is almost entirely infrared (extending, in principle, down into the radio). For Earth, the surface temperature is too low to emit any visible, ultraviolet, or X-ray light, so those are all ranked equally. (Note: Technically, thermal emission extends over all wavelengths, so even at low temperatures there might be an occasional photon of visible or higher-energy radiation. However, this emission is negligible for Earth, which is why we rank them all equal to zero.)

Why does the Northern Hemisphere have warm summers? Choose all that apply. **Hint 1. Seasons are caused by a number of different factors. A) The Sun's energy is more concentrated. B) The north pole is tilted toward the Sun. C) Earth is closer to the Sun in June. D) The Sun's rays hit the ground at a more perpendicular angle. E) Days are longer.

A) The Sun's energy is more concentrated. B) The north pole is tilted toward the Sun. D) The Sun's rays hit the ground at a more perpendicular angle. E) Days are longer. (A,B,D,E)

_____ occurs when a change in one part of the climate system triggers a change in another part of the climate system. A) Plate tectonics B) A negative-feedback mechanism C) A climate-feedback mechanism D) A positive-feedback mechanism E) Global warming

C) A climate-feedback mechanism

Part C On December 22, which placemarked location has a solar-noon Sun angle of 21.5∘? A) E B) B C) C D) D E) A

C) C At 45∘ north latitude, the solar-noon Sun angle here on December 22 would be 21.5∘ above the horizon.

Part A Which of the following statements is most accurate? More cities with poor urban air quality are located within Patagonia than in any other region of South America. A) All cities with poor urban air quality that are located along the coasts also have issues with coastal pollution. B) The majority of cities with poor urban air quality are located along polluted rivers. C) Cities with poor urban air quality are located within, or next to, mountainous areas in western South America. D) Most cities with poor urban air quality are located within the Amazon River basin.

C) Cities with poor urban air quality are located within, or next to, mountainous areas in western South America. Almost half of the cities with poor urban air quality in South America are located along the mountain ranges of western South America.

How is temperature defined? **Hint 1. Temperature is used to describe how warm or cold an object is. A) energy associated with an object by virtue of its motion B) energy transferred into or out of an object. C) a measure of the average kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules in a substance D) energy released or absorbed due to a phase change E) the transfer of heat through molecular collisions from one molecule to another

C) a measure of the average kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules in a substance The average kinetic energy is used to describe temperature

Which of the following scenarios are examples of positive-feedback mechanisms? Check all that are correct. A) Deforestation near the Sahara Desert causes the soil to be exposed. Exposed soil evaporates moisture more readily. Insufficient moisture leads to the death of trees. B) A warmer atmosphere causes more evaporation. Water vapor is a greenhouse gas, so this increases the temperature. C) Earth warms and radiation cools Earth, much like a warm cup of coffee cools down if you let it sit on a table. D) Warmer temperatures cause snow to melt. This makes the ground darker, allowing more solar radiation to be absorbed. The warmer ground warms the atmosphere. E) A warmer atmosphere causes more evaporation. More water vapor in the atmosphere leads to more cloud cover, which reflects more incoming solar radiation back to space and cools the surface.

A) Deforestation near the Sahara Desert causes the soil to be exposed. Exposed soil evaporates moisture more readily. Insufficient moisture leads to the death of trees. B) A warmer atmosphere causes more evaporation. Water vapor is a greenhouse gas, so this increases the temperature. D) Warmer temperatures cause snow to melt. This makes the ground darker, allowing more solar radiation to be absorbed. The warmer ground warms the atmosphere.

What happens to the energy that the ground absorbs in the form of visible sunlight? A) It is returned upward in the form of infrared light. B) It is returned upward in the form of visible light. C) It makes the ground continually get hotter and hotter.

A) It is returned upward in the form of infrared light. Remember that objects emit thermal radiation characteristic of their temperatures. Earth's surface has a temperature for which its thermal radiation peaks in the infrared. In other words, Earth absorbs energy from space in the form of visible light, and returns this energy to space in the form of infrared light.

In which situation is radiation the most dominant form of heat transfer? **Hint 1. What is radiation? In what type of materials does it occur? A) The movement of heat from the Sun to Earth B) The movement of heat within the mantle C) The movement of heat within a lake D) The movement of heat within a stove coil

A) The movement of heat from the Sun to Earth Heat radiated from the Sun heats the Earth.

Part A On the following diagram, identify the correct locations of the following words and phrases: Drag the appropriate labels to their respective targets. A) __________ passes through the atmosphere. B) Most radiation is_______ by the Earth's surface resulting in _______ of the lower atmosphere. C) Some solar radiation is _______ by Earth and its atmosphere. D) Long wave infrared radiation is ________ from Earth's surface E) Some infrared radiation passes directly through the atmosphere and out to space while other infrared radiation is absorbed by ___________ The effect of this is to warm the Earth's surface and the lower atmosphere F)_____________ 1) Infrared Radiation 2) Reradiated 3)Warming 4) reflected 5) greenhouse gases 6) Absorbed 7) Solar radiation

A) _SOLAR RADIATION_ passes through the atmosphere. B) Most radiation is_ABSORBED_ by the Earth's surface resulting in _WARMING_ of the lower atmosphere. C) Some solar radiation is _REFLECTED_ by Earth and its atmosphere. D) Long wave infrared radiation is _RERADIATED_ from Earth's surface E) Some infrared radiation passes directly through the atmosphere and out to space while other infrared radiation is absorbed by _GREENHOUSE GASES__ The effect of this is to warm the Earth's surface and the lower atmosphere F)_INFRARED RADIATION_ A)7 B)6 &3 C)4 D)2 E)5 F)1

Which natural region is most associated with poor urban air quality? A) steppe B) tundra C) desert and semidesert D) broadleaf forest E) humid subtropical

A) steppe With abundant natural resources, infrastructure, water bodies (Black Sea and Caspian Sea), and relatively mild climate, southwestern Russia is an area that has greater populations and more cities with poor urban air quality.

What is the June solstice? A) the time of the year when Earth's geographic North Pole is leaning most directly toward the Sun B) the time of the year when Earth's geographic North Pole is leaning most directly away from the Sun C) The time of the year when Earth's geographic North and South Poles are leaning in similar ways toward the Sun

A) the time of the year when Earth's geographic North Pole is leaning most directly toward the Sun

Which location receives the most sun energy per unit area during the spring equinox? A) Northern Hemisphere polar regions B) Equatorial regions C) Southern Hemisphere polar regions D) Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes E) Southern Hemisphere mid-latitudes ***Hint 1. Cause?** What influences how much sun energy per unit area is received? How does this vary from pole to pole?

B) Equatorial regions *****The equator always receives the most sun energy per unit area because the sunlight always hits the equatorial regions at the highest angle (90 degrees).

Earth emits thermal radiation, which means it has a spectrum that __________. A) has a few emission lines scattered about at all different wavelengths B) is continuous with a peak at a wavelength determined solely by Earth's surface temperature C) is continuous except for having evenly spaced absorption lines in all parts of the spectrum

B) is continuous with a peak at a wavelength determined solely by Earth's surface temperature

You go camping in Canada with a friend. You both go to bed when the Sun goes down and get up when the Sun comes up, but you both notice that you are not getting enough sleep! What time of year are you most likely near? **Hint 1. The length of the day (and night) changes with the seasons. A) fall (autumnal) equinox B) summer solstice C) spring (vernal) equinox D) winter solstice

B) summer solstice Days are longest near the summer solstice, so nights would be shortest.

Part D The greenhouse effect raises Earth's surface temperature (from what it would be otherwise) because the infrared light radiated by Earth's surface __________. A) travels directly out to space B) becomes permanently trapped by greenhouse gases C) is temporarily absorbed by greenhouse gases and then reemitted in random directions

C) is temporarily absorbed by greenhouse gases and then reemitted in random directions This absorption and reemission means that the infrared light follows a much longer path through the atmosphere until it reaches space than it would without greenhouse gases. In essence, the greenhouse gases keep more infrared light in the atmosphere at any one time, thereby raising the temperature from what it would be otherwise.

Which of the following materials the best conductor of heat? **Hint 1. How does heat move during conduction? A) A wool blanket B) Water C) The Sun D) A filament in an incandescent light bulb

D) A filament in an incandescent light bulb Light bulb filaments are made of metal; metals are good conductors.

Which location receives the most sun energy per unit area during the winter solstice? A) South Pole B) Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes C) Southern Hemisphere mid-latitudes D) Equatorial regions **hint** What affects how much sun energy per unit area is received?

D) Equatorial regions **During the winter solstice, the most sun energy per unit area occurs at the equator.

What is the source of longwave infrared radiation? A) Longwave infrared radiation is produced when the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts. B) Longwave infrared radiation is emitted from the Sun. C) Longwave infrared radiation comes from the process of joining together two or more atomic nuclei to form a single heavier nucleus. D) Longwave infrared radiation is caused by the radioactive decay of an unstable atomic nucleus as it loses energy. E) Longwave infrared radiation is emitted from Earth's surface.

E) Longwave infrared radiation is emitted from Earth's surface. Longwave infrared radiation is emitted from Earth's surface. Visible light from the Sun is transformed into heat and is reradiated as infrared radiation. Essentially, light energy has been transformed into heat energy.

Scattering of sunlight off of air molecules during the middle of the day causes the sky to look _______. A) yellow B) white C) black D) red E) blue

E) blue Atmospheric gases scatter shorter wavelength light (blue) more effectively than longer wavelength light (red), so the sky looks blue at mid-day. This is called Rayleigh scattering.

The areas that are at very high risk of desertification are most commonly associated with which range of annual average precipitation? A) over 80 inches B) 60 to 79 inches C) 40 to 59 inches D) 20 to 39 inches E) less than 19 inches

E) less than 19 inches Desertification commonly takes place on the margins of deserts and results largely from inappropriate land use. Typically this is an impact that can be addressed with good planning efforts by government. An example is the Great Dust Bowl in the American Midwest.

Part A Match the type of heat transfer with its correct definition. **Diagram matches Fig. 2.11 pg. 39

Hint 1. How does heat move? Review the examples of each type of heat transfer discussed in the video. How does heat move in each of these situations?

Part B - The March and September equinoxes At the two equinoxes, Earth's tilt is neither toward nor away from the Sun. As a result, the Sun's declination is at the equator, meaning its rays fall directly there. The circle of illumination passes through the poles, resulting in near-equal days and nights everywhere on Earth, including the North and South Poles, as Figure 2 shows. Figure 2. Sunlight at the Equinoxes

On the March equinox, which occurs on March 20 or 21, the Northern Hemisphere experiences spring and the Southern Hemisphere has autumn. On the September equinox, which occurs on September 22 or 23, the reverse is true. After the spring equinox, in either hemisphere, days grow longer until reaching their maximum at the summer solstice. Then, they begin to shorten again until the autumnal equinox when daylength once again is equal to the length of the night. Days continue to shorten after this event until they are at their shortest at the winter solstice.

The following images show the four terrestrial planets in our solar system. Rank the planets from left to right based on the strength of the greenhouse effect occurring at their surfaces, from strongest to weakest. A) Mars B) Mercury C) Earth D) Venus

Strongest to weakest D- C- A-B The greenhouse effect is caused by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, so more greenhouse gas means a stronger greenhouse effect. That is why the rankings here are the same as the rankings for Part B.

Video:

Temperatures & Agriculture

CHAPTER 14

The Changing Climate

SmartFigure:

3 Mechanisms of Heat Transfer

Part A Which of the following does the video say would most likely result from an increase in carbon dioxide levels, independent of any change in temperature? A) Higher carbon dioxide levels can be good for photosynthesis. B) Higher carbon dioxide levels will increase plant diseases. C) Higher carbon dioxide levels will decrease water intake. D) Higher carbon dioxide levels will increase the pH of soils.

A) Higher carbon dioxide levels can be good for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is a necessity for plants because plants create their food through photosynthesis. If only carbon dioxide levels were increasing, the agriculture on Earth could improve.

An increase in carbon dioxide _____ the greenhouse effect and _____ the absorption of radiation emitted from Earth's surface. A) strengthens; increases B) strengthens; decreases C) weakens; increases D) weakens; decreases E) does not change; does not change

A) strengthens; increases Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas that increases the greenhouse effect.

What causes it to be colder in the winter and warmer in the summer in the northern hemisphere? A) Summer temperatures are warmer because the Earth is closer to the Sun during the summer. B) Summer temperatures are warmer because more sun energy per unit area is received during this time. C) Summer temperatures are warmer because less sun energy per unit area is received during this time. D) Summer temperatures are warmer because the Earth is farther from the Sun during the summer. **Hint 1** How does sun angle change during the seasons? How does this influence surface temperature?

B) Summer temperatures are warmer because more sun energy per unit area is received during this time. ***Why would less sun energy lead to higher temperatures?

According to the video, in which of the following areas are human populations the most vulnerable to climate change? A) Australia B) countries near the equator C) Europe D) Canada

B) countries near the equator The video describes that the hardest hit areas could be the low latitudes. There are several reasons for this: (1) the low latitudes could experience increases in their already-hot temperatures; (2) they could receive decreased precipitation, and rain-fed agriculture is critical in these areas; (3) these areas are expected to see dramatic increases in population in future decades; (4) most equatorial countries are also lacking the wealth and advanced infrastructure seen in more-developed nations. The combination of all these reasons makes this region the most vulnerable to climate changes.

Part D Based on your careful review of the diagram below showing the relationship between solar energy and the greenhouse effect, which three of the following statements are probably true? Check all that apply. A) The greenhouse effect has little effect on Earth's climate. B) The greenhouse effect makes Earth warm enough to support life as we know it. C) The oceans are a secondary source of solar radiation. D) The greenhouse effect is at least partly a natural process. E) Solar energy fuels the greenhouse effect.

B) The greenhouse effect makes Earth warm enough to support life as we know it. source of solar radiation. D) The greenhouse effect is at least partly a natural process. E) Solar energy fuels the greenhouse effect. Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would be too cold to support life. As shown in the diagram, the greenhouse effect is caused by solar radiation and its interaction with Earth's atmosphere. The greenhouse effect starts with incoming solar radiation, which passes through the atmosphere to Earth's surface. The greenhouse effect is basically a natural process that helps to warm Earth's atmosphere to a suitable temperature. The Sun provides the incoming solar radiation that provides light and heat. As insolation reaches Earth, different surfaces either reflect or absorb the Sun's rays. Earth's atmosphere serves as a blanket, helping to keep the warmth in and thus making possible life as we know it. Without the naturally occurring greenhouse effect, Earth would be too cold for people and the other animals and plants that it supports.

Which of the following climate types is likely to experience the most warming? A) humid continental, cool summer B) humid subtropical C) arctic D) tropical rainy E) arid

C) arctic Warmer temperatures would reduce the snow and ice at the higher latitudes. This would act as a positive feedback mechanism because surface albedo would decrease and the amount of energy absorbed at the surface would increase.

Condensation is a phase change from _______ to _______, which _______ the surrounding air. **Hint 1. Condensation is the opposite of evaporation. A) liquid; gas; warms B) liquid; gas; cools C) gas; liquid; warms D) gas; liquid; cools E) gas; liquid; neither warms nor cools

C) gas; liquid; warms Condensation warms the surrounding air and melts the ice in your glass of lemonade! One other example of condensation is cloud formation.

Part C Given the location of the Sun and the tilt of the Earth in the image below, label which of the four locations represents the summer solstice, winter solstice, fall equinox, and spring equinox respectively. Drag the appropriate labels to their respective targets. A) Winter Solstice B) Summer Solstice C) Fall Equinox D) Spring Equinox

1) B 2) D 3) A 4) C (Positions Arrangement numbered from west to north to east to south of the sun diagram)

Drag the definitions into their respective bins. Each item may be used only once. 1) Conduction 2) Convection 3) Radiation A) movement of heat via the movement of particles B) Movement of heat through space or air C) Movement of heat through a solid

1)Conduction C-Movement of heat through a solid 2) Convection A) movement of heat via the movement of particles 3) Radiation B) Movement of heat through space or air

Match the words in the left column to the appropriate blanks in the sentences on the right. Make certain each sentence is complete before submitting your answer. A) Absorbed B) Less than C) More than D) Released E) Same as 1) Latent heat released during dew formation is_________ the latent heat required for water to freeze its liquid state. 2) The latent heat released during rainfall is _________ the heat released during snowfall. 3) Latent heat absorbed during evaporation of lake water is _______ the latent heat released during fog formation. 4) Latent heat is ________ during glacial melt. 5) Latent heat is ________ during frost formation.

1) C Latent heat released during dew formation is_MORE THAN_ the latent heat required for water to freeze its liquid state. 2) B The latent heat released during rainfall is _LESS THAN_ the heat released during snowfall. 3) E Latent heat absorebed during evaporation of lake water is _SAME AS_ the latent heat released during fog formation. 4) A Latent heat is _ABSORBED_ during glacial melt. 5) D Latent heat is _RELEASED_ during frost formation. ** As you saw, the absorption and release of latent heat as Earth's water transitions from one phase to another plays a crucial role in all the weather-related phenomena you see around you. (You can apply this understanding to larger-scale weather types, too. Part B will help you understand why cyclones are stronger in some areas than in others.)

Which of the following are true of equinoxes? Select the three that apply. 1) Daylength decreases after autumnal equinox 2) Midnight Sun or constant light at the North Pole during the March equinox 3) Solar declination at the equator 4) Solar declination at the Tropic of Cancer 5) 12-hour daylength at all latitudes

1) Daylength decreases after autumnal equinox 3) Solar declination at the equator 5) 12-hour daylength at all latitudes As you have seen, the main characteristics of equinoxes are solar declination at the equator and 12 hours of day and night at all latitudes. The characteristics of equinoxes and solstices explain why daylight seems to linger longer from spring to summer and why some people try to find a cause to celebrate when they reach the winter solstice.

Drag the appropriate labels to their respective targets. (Points numbered from bottom left to top to right ) Point 1: Dot N of Arctic circle & W of SA & E of Prime meridian; about -50S and close to -50Wish Point 2: Dot just under the Tropic of Capricorn W of SA Point 3: Just UNDER 20 N line Point 4: Just ABOVE 20 N

1) Least likely to strengthen cyclones 2) Third most likely to strengthen cyclones 3) Second most likely to strengthen cyclones 4) Most likely to strengthen cyclones **Now that you understand latent heat, you can readily appreciate how even hidden energy affects everyday weather phenomena that occur all around you—from the morning dew to Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Drag the appropriate labels to their respective targets. Place the blue solstice characteristic labels in the blue targets and the pink solstice name labels in the pink targets. The yellow lines, of course, represent the Sun's rays. Answers from left to right top then left to right bottom

1) Longer nights, Shorter days 2) Sun's declination, summer, Northern Hemisphere 3) Midnight Sun planet 2 4) Sun's declination, summer, Southern Hemisphere 5) equal days and nights Bottom 6) June Solstice (planet 1) 7) December Solstice (planet 2) You can see that solstices mark the extreme points of the Sun's declination—the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere during the June solstice, and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere during the December solstice. The hemisphere experiencing the direct rays of the Sun experiences summer and the longest daylengths of the year, with its highest latitudes experiencing constant daylight, also called the "Midnight Sun." Days and nights at the equator remain approximately equal, as always. Earth's orbit around the Sun includes two other major positions of Earth relative to the Sun's rays, one transitioning to the June solstice and the other to the December solstice. Those two positions signal the start of the other two seasons of the year.

Why does it get warmer when it snows on an otherwise cold winter day? The answer lies in our understanding of latent heat. Energy is present in all states of matter, whether solid, liquid, or gas. Latent heat is the amount of energy absorbed or released by matter as it transitions from one state or phase to another without a change in temperature of the substance. You cannot sense or feel latent (or hidden) heat, but you can see its effects around you every day. Here are some key facts to note: **Use to Answer following** 1) Latent heat of melting and freezing: When matter transitions from a higher to a lower order state (e.g., melting of water from solid ice to liquid), energy is absorbed to break molecular bonds. In the reverse transition to a more compacted phase (e.g., from liquid water to solid ice), energy is released. The amount of energy in these two transitions is the same. **Diagram(latent Heat and Phase transitions) that goes with similar to fig. 2.10 on p. 38 & 2.12 on 40 use given diagram

2) Latent heat of condensation and vaporization/evaporation: The latent heat of condensation, or the energy released when matter transitions from a gas to a liquid state, is equal to the latent heat of vaporization (also called evaporation), which is the amount of energy absorbed when a liquid changes to a gas. The amount of latent heat involved in these two processes is the same, but it is several times greater than the latent heat of freezing and melting because these transitions are to and from a gas, the least compact state of matter. 3) Latent heat when skipping phases: Two transitions skip phases—sublimation, or the transition from ice (solid) to water vapor (gas), and its reverse, deposition, the transition from water vapor (gas) to ice (solid). In these transitions, water skips the liquid phase. Such phase transitions involve the greatest amounts of latent heat because they equal the total amount of latent heat involved in all phase changes that fall in between. See the phase changes illustrated in the diagram below.

The greenhouse effect plays an important role in Earth's climate, providing the warmth needed to make the world warm enough to support all life. The ways that energy from the Sun interacts with greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere and our planet's surface are described in the diagram below. 1) In general, shortwave energy from the Sun can be reflected or absorbed when it gets to the planet.

2)Energy that is absorbed at the planet's surface is reradiated as longwave infrared radiation, which makes its way out to space and is waylaid by greenhouse gas molecules, which are able to hold onto infrared energy and then release it back into the atmosphere. Although additional greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere are now intensifying the greenhouse effect, the greenhouse effect is a natural process. Without any greenhouse gases, our planet's temperature would be well below freezing.

Which of the following characteristics of Earth's relationship to the Sun explains the existence of Earth's seasons? Choose all that apply. A) Earth orbits around the Sun, completing one orbit each year. B) Earth has a satellite called the Moon, which rotates around Earth. C) Earth's axis is tilted relative to its orbital plane. D) Earth's axis always points in the same direction relative to the stars. E) Earth spins on its axis, completing one rotation each day.

A) Earth orbits around the Sun, completing one orbit each year. C) Earth's axis is tilted relative to its orbital plane. D) Earth's axis always points in the same direction relative to the stars. E) Earth spins on its axis, completing one rotation each day. (A,C,D,E)

What happens to most of the incoming solar energy on Earth? A) Most incoming solar energy is absorbed by Earth's land and water surfaces. B) Most incoming solar energy is absorbed deep into Earth's core, where it plays a crucial role in plate tectonics. C) Most incoming solar energy is diffused by clouds and plays little, if any, role in Earth's temperature. D) Most incoming solar energy enters Earth's crust at the edges of tectonic plates, providing energy to convection cells in Earth's mantle, thus fueling volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. E) Most incoming solar energy is reflected by Earth's atmosphere back into space.

A) Most incoming solar energy is absorbed by Earth's land and water surfaces. Most incoming solar energy, shortwave radiation, is absorbed by Earth's land and water.

On a day with half cloud cover, what happens to the visible light headed toward Earth? A) The clouds reflect some of it back to space, and some still reaches the surface. B) It is absorbed by the clouds, which causes the clouds to heat up. C) It reaches the surface just as it does on a cloudless day.

A) The clouds reflect some of it back to space, and some still reaches the surface. Clouds have a cooling effect because they reflect visible light. However, they do not reflect all of it; if they did, cloudy days would be dark as night.

Which atmospheric constituent predominately cools the atmosphere? A) aerosols B) carbon dioxide C) CFCs D) methane E)nitrous oxide

A) aerosols

Which of the following is not a likely consequence of global warming? A) an increase in the pH of the oceans B) melting sea ice C) thawing permafrost D) higher minimum temperatures E)rising sea level

A) an increase in the pH of the oceans

On a cloudless day, what happens to most of the visible light headed toward Earth? A) It is reflected by Earth's atmosphere. B) It is absorbed and reemitted by gases in Earth's atmosphere. C) It is completely reflected by Earth's surface. D) It reaches Earth's surface, where some is reflected and some is absorbed.

D) It reaches Earth's surface, where some is reflected and some is absorbed. Most visible light passes through our atmosphere, and this light heats the surface as it is absorbed.

________ is defined as the fraction of incoming sunlight that is reflected back to space A) Absorption B) Scattering C) Reflection D) Planetary albedo E Transmission

D) Planetary albedo Albedo is the fraction of radiation that is reflected by an object. Planetary albedo is the average reflectivity of the entire planet.

Greenhouse gases _____. A) absorb and emit shortwave radiation B) absorb longwave and emit shortwave radiation C) absorb shortwave and emit longwave radiation D) absorb and emit longwave radiation E) absorb and emit both shortwave and longwave radiation

D) absorb and emit longwave radiation Greenhouse gases absorb longwave (infrared) radiation from Earth and emit this energy in all directions. Some of this energy is directed downward to warm the atmosphere.

The primary cause for an increase in atmospheric CO2 is combustion of fossil fuels. Another significant contributor to CO2 increase is ____________. A) more cattle and rice paddies B) the use of aerosol spray cans C) the use of fertilizers D) deforestation

D) deforestation

Visual Activity:

Exploring the Cause of the Greenhouse Effect

Part B In Part A, you found that Earth emits only infrared light. This infrared light can be absorbed by greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, in the atmosphere. In fact, all the terrestrial planets emit infrared light from their surfaces. The following images show the four terrestrial planets in our solar system. Rank these planets from left to right based on the total amount of infrared-absorbing greenhouse gases in their atmospheres, from greatest to least. A) Mars B) Mercury C) Earth D) Venus

Greatest green house abundance to Least D- C- A- B Venus has a thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide. Earth has greenhouse gases primarily in the form of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane. Mars has an atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide, but its atmosphere is so thin that it contains less total greenhouse gas than Earth's atmosphere. Mercury has essentially no atmosphere at all.

PART A: The role and amounts of latent heat involved in everyday weather phenomena Phase transitions such as freezing, condensation, and vaporization take place continuously. Identify everyday weather occurrences in terms of these transitions. Hint 1. Weather phenomena and latent heat To determine the heat-energy characteristics of these weather-related phenomena, first you will need to figure out what phases of water these phenomena fall in: 1) Solid - frozen water, snowfall 2) Liquid - rainfall, dew 3) Gas - fog Second, consider which state the current water phase transitioned from. For instance, for dew to form, gaseous water has to transition into a liquid state through condensation.

Hint 2. Phase changes and energy release and absorption In order for water to change states from solid to liquid and from liquid to gas, hydrogen bonds must be broken and this requires energy. Water is in its highest energy state when it is solid (ice) and lowest energy state when it is gaseous. The liquid state is in between. More energy is absorbed to change water from a higher order (ice) to a lower order (liquid or gas). On the other hand, latent heat is released when water changes from a lower order to a higher order state. Hint 3. The process of snowfall Snow falls when water changes directly from its gaseous state to a solid (ice) state without going through the liquid state. Hint 4. Vaporization & evaporation Vaporization and evaporation involve the transition of a liquid into a gaseous state.

Atmospheric gases scatter shorter wavelength light (blue) more effectively than longer wavelength light (red), so the sky looks blue at mid-day. This is called Rayleigh scattering. Exploration 7 - Earth-Sun Geometry This Exploration will help you visualize and investigate key topics using Google Earth™. Open the Google Earth™ .kmz file for this item. In the Places panel on the left, expand the Temporary Places folder. Introduction: Seasonal variations are a routine part of life on Earth. But what causes such significant shifts in the amount of insolation received at a given location over the course of a year? The answer lies in the constantly transitioning geometric relationship between Earth and Sun. In this Exploration, we consider the geometric relationships that result in Earth's seasons.

Instructions for all Parts Make sure you have opened the KMZ file from the blue box on the left. From the Places panel, expand 07. Earth-Sun Geometry.kmz. Instructions for Part A: Double-click the Period of Daylight layer. The region on the map is of Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Mountains, but your view should appear dark. This is because the Sunlight function has been turned on and set to 4:01 A.M.. Move the cursor over the slider then click the Wrench icon to open the Date and Time Options dialog window. Under the Display time in option, click on the Specific time zone button, then select the MST Mountain Standard Time from the dropdown list, and click OK. Use the Time slider at the top-left corner of the display to change the time of day, watching the movement of sunlight across the landscape at this location on this date.

Part D The following images show the four terrestrial planets in our solar system. Rank the planets from left to right based on the amount by which the greenhouse effect increases their surface temperatures, compared to what their temperatures would be without the greenhouse effect, from largest to smallest increase. A) Mars B) Mercury C) Earth D) Venus

Largest increase to Smallest D-C-A-B A stronger greenhouse effect means a greater temperature increase, which is why the rankings here are the same as the rankings for Parts B and C. The differences are quite extreme: Mercury has no greenhouse effect, so its temperature is determined solely by its distance from the Sun and its reflectivity. The greenhouse effect raises the temperature of Mars by about 6°C from what it would be otherwise; it raises Earth's temperature by about 31°C (which means our planet would be frozen over without the greenhouse effect); and it raises Venus's temperature by about 510°C, explaining the extremely high temperature of Venus.

Part B - Latent heat and tropical cyclones When ocean and sea surfaces heat up sufficiently, evaporation occurs. The warm vapor rises into the atmosphere, then cools and condenses, releasing its stored latent heat. Existing storms and tropical cyclones—which are called hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean and typhoons in the Pacific and Indian oceans—gather up the released heat, which gives them greater energy and strength. Higher values of latent heat of evaporation indicate greater evaporation per unit area. This in turn signals the release of greater amounts of latent heat when condensation occurs. Therefore, latent heat of evaporation is one factor affecting the strength of tropical cyclones—the higher the values of latent heat of evaporation, the more powerful a storm. The map shows isolines indicating areas with the same values of latent heat of evaporation across the globe. Isolines, which are very useful in geographic and geologic studies, join areas of the same value, such as height or heat. **diagram of global for this Assume that latent heat of evaporation is the only determining factor affecting cyclone strength, and that all target areas experience cyclones. ......

The key below the map provides a general idea of the range of latent heat of evaporation within which a target area falls—for example, the deepest blue indicates latent heat of evaporation between 15 and 25 watts per square meter. Compare the isoline values indicating the amount of latent heat of evaporation around each target area to identify the following: 1) The target area that is MOST likely to experience the strengthening of cyclones 2) The target area that is SECOND most likely to experience the strengthening of cyclones 3) The target area that is THIRD most likely to experience the strengthening of cyclones 4) The target area that is LEAST likely to experience the strengthening of cyclones **Note that you will use the value of the isolines and not the color on the maps to help determine the relative strengths of cyclones. This is because a single color code on the map represents a range of isoline values. **Hint 1. Focusing on isoline values Isolines join areas with the same values. Comparing the isoline values around the different target areas can help determine the similarities and differences in values of the latent heat of evaporation.

Why does sunlight feel less intense in the winter than in summer? And why do nights seem so much longer in winter, too? Seasonal variations can be felt in the changes in daylength (the time span between sunrise and sunset) and in the intensity of insolation, or incoming solar radiation. These variations are caused by Earth's rotation, revolution, unchanging axial tilt, and sphericity. These factors influence the angle at which the Sun's rays hit Earth's surface during the year. The Sun's rays are most intense when they are directly overhead, or at the subsolar point. The latitude at which the Sun is directly overhead is known as the Sun's declination. The shift of the Sun's declination from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn and back marks the progression of the seasons over a year.

The progression of the seasons can be seen in Figure 1. The varying daylengths at different latitudes can be seen with the help of the circle of illumination—the line marking Earth's lighted and dark areas. The circle of illumination halves the equator throughout the year, resulting in near-equal days and nights at all times of the year, but it varies at other latitudes according to the season. The Arctic and Antarctic Circles can have constant daylight or constant twilight depending on whether they are tilted toward or away from the Sun, respectively. Note in Figure 1 how the circle of illumination covers more or less of Earth at a given latitude during the year, which indicates how long or short daylight will be. Figure 1. The Progression of the Seasons Diagram shows all of the earth's positions while rotating the sun and when