Heating Earth's Surface and Atmosphere

Which of the following characteristics of earths relationship to the sun explains the existence of earths seasons?

-Earth orbits around the sun, complete one orbit each year. -Earth spin on its axis, completing one rotation each day. -Earths axis is tilted relative to its orbital plane. -Earths axis always points in the same direction relative to the stars.

What two trends are commonly seen in modern monthly CO2 concentration charts?

1) an up-and-down seasonal trend, and 2) overall increasing CO2 levels through time

Now consider how atmospheric absorption would be different if the electromagnetic spectrum absorption capability were flipped in such a way that the areas of the chart that are now transparent were made opaque and the areas of the chart that are now opaque were made transparent. Indicate which of the following statements would be true for this scenario.

1. Humans would be subject to more x-ray radiation from space because our atmosphere would not block it. 2. Increased exposure to UV radiation.

You begin climbing Mt Whitney (4420 m) from your campsite, where the elevation is 2240 m and the temperature is 23°C. Using the environmental lapse rate, what would you expect the temperature to be when you arrive at the top?

10°C

The Vostok ice core curve shows CO2 concentrations over the last __________.

400,000 years

Using the figure below, which of the following would be an accurate temperature for Omaha, Nebraska? (Point C)

45 degrees (roughly between 40-50 degree isotherms, a temperature of 45 is reasonable).

Using the figure below, which of the following would be an accurate temperature for San Francisco, California? (Point B)

67 degrees (S.F. Is between the 60 and 70° isotherms, so 67 is a reasonable temperature).

A global awareness of a need to decrease the amount of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Occurring in the atmosphere came about in the 1970s and 1980s. Observation of which of the following conditions lead to this awareness?

A decrease in the amount of ozone over Antarctica in September to October every year.

Which of the following materials the best conductor of heat?

A filament in an incandescent light bulb.

The moon has ______________ because all energy is reradiated back to space.

A relatively low average surface temperature

What is the primary cause of the nearly 20 percent increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels since the 1960s?

Burning of fossil fuels

What is the most common result when heat radiation is released from earth?

Certain gases in the atmosphere absorb the heat.

Using the map below, determine which of the following cities would have similar temperatures to one another.

Chicago, Illinois (Point D) & Seattle, Washington (Point A).

What is the Chinese government's response to the use of cars in Beijing?

Develop public transportation.

How does wealth affect food consumption in Beijing?

Diets change from vegetables to meat.

Which of the following is an example of convection heat transfer?

Heating water to a boiling on a stove.

According to what we know about the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services, which of the following statements best describes how humans should interact with tropical rainforest?

Humans should leave primary growth forests and their residence in tact, and ensure that secondary growth forest have a chance to regrow.

The image below shows that about 30 percent of the Sun's energy is reflected and scattered back into space. How would a 50 percent increase in Earth's albedo impact average surface temperatures?

Ice sheets would advance, thereby increasing Earth's overall albedo and further cooling Earth's surface. Higher albedo would result in cooler temperatures on Earth.

What is the major problem with London's water system?

It was designed and built 150 years ago.

Where would you expect to find the highest temperatures in July?

Land in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where would you expect to find the lowest temperatures in January?

Land in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where would you expect to find the highest temperatures in January?

Land in the Southern Hemisphere.

Where would you expect to find the lowest temperatures in July?

Land in the Southern Hemisphere.

Incoming solar energy absorbed by earth's surface is later released to the atmosphere as energy in what form?

Longer wavelength infrared radiation.

What is different about how waste is processed in Beijing?

Many poor people in Beijing recycle waste they find to make money.

Where do all locations on earth experience equal lengths of day and night?

March equinox

How does the availability of food in London compare with that in Beijing?

Most food in London is imported, and in Beijing it is grown locally.

Which specific gas is most abundant in earth's atmosphere?

Nitrogen

How do the oceans contribute to maintaining a climate that is habitable for humans?

Oceans absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Which gas in the atmosphere is vital to virtually all life that exists on earth?

Oxygen

Which is not one of the variable components of earth's atmosphere?

Oxygen.

Which component of earth's atmosphere is not a primary pollutant?

Ozone

What impact will increased carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans have on coral reefs?

Reefs will degrade over time, ultimately resulting in large-scale mortality.

In which atmospheric layer is maximum concentration of ozone located?

Stratosphere

In which of the following layers of the atmosphere just temperature increases with increasing height?

Stratosphere and thermosphere.

When do the sun's rays hit the northern hemisphere midlatitudes at the highest angle?

Summer solstice

What causes it to be colder in the winter and warmer in the summer in the northern hemisphere?

Summer temperatures are warmer because more sun energy per unit area is received during this time.

Which of the following statements about the Earth's solstices is correct?

The December solstice is the time of year when earths geographic South Pole is leaning most directly toward the sun.

Based on what you know about how the angle of incidence of the Sun's rays affects temperatures on Earth, determine which of the following statements are correct.

The Southern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight than the Northern Hemisphere during January. The Northern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight than the Southern Hemisphere during July.

In which material would convection occur?

The atmosphere.

If the greenhouse effect ceased to exist on earth, which of the following would result?

The average surface temperature would drop to below the freezing temperature of water.

Which of the following is true about Venus?

The high abundance of greenhouse gases absorb most outgoing long wave radiation.

How does the inclination of Earth's axis (relative to the plane of its orbit) change over the course of a year?

The inclination of Earth's axis does not change.

In which situation is radiation the most dominant form of heat transfer?

The movement of heat from the Sun to Earth.

Which of the following happens on June 21 or 22 each year?

The northern hemisphere experience is the longest day of the year.

How will increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels affect oceans?

The oceans will become more acidic.

Which of the following factors influence surface temperatures?

The presence of land, the presence of ocean currents, and the angle of incidence of the Sun.

December solstice is ______________.

The time of year when Earths geographic north pole is leaning most directly away from the sun

Which of the following is true when comparing the Amundsen-Scott South Pole station and Barrow, Alaska CO2 concentration curves?

They show opposite seasonal curves.

Why are scientists doing research in an underwater lab in the Great Barrier Reef?

To replicate future carbon dioxide levels and measure the changes in coral reef productivity, mortality and health

In which layer of the atmosphere to most weather phenomena occur?

Troposphere

What is one obstacle to building a large wind power array in London?

Wind power is much more expensive than other forms of electricity.

Climbing to the top of Mt. Whitney in California, what would you expect to happen to the temperature on the mountain as you ascend?

You would experience a decrease in temperature as you climb.

In the climate system diagram, modeling results show that observed changes in temperature closely align with __________.

a combination of both natural and human effects

What would best address the problem of waste in London?

build more recycling facilities.

Which of the following has led to anomalously high concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the past 60 years?

burning fossil fuels.

In addition to water vapor, which gas has the ability to absorb heat energy?

carbon dioxide

Which gas in earths atmosphere has a significant role in the heating of the atmosphere?

carbon dioxide

Which energy source is the biggest polluter in London?

coal

What human activity is the main source of air pollution in Beijing?

driving cars

When are the Sun's rays perpendicular to Earth's surface at the equator?

during the March equinox and September equinox

Where does the length of day remain the same throughout the year?

equator

Which location receives the most sun energy per unit area during the spring equinox?

equatorial regions

Which location receives the most sun energy per unit area during the winter solstice?

equatorial regions

In the 360 field trip video, most of the forest you observed was secondary growth forest, but other parts of the rainforest or primary growth forest. Which of the following attributes are characteristic of a secondary growth forest?

fewer species of plants & trees with thin trunks.

Which rays of the electromagnetic spectrum are useful in weather forecasting?

infrared

Which rays of the electromagnetic spectrum do we feel as heat is transferred between Earth and the atmosphere?

infrared

The dense atmosphere of Venus is ______________, causing most incoming solar radiation to be ______________.

light in color; reflected

It is known that temperature increases as you ascend in the stratosphere. What compound is responsible for the increase in temperature?

ozone

CO2 levels drop during spring and summer months because __________.

photosynthetic organisms are absorbing CO2

How does the energy of the sun reach earth?

radiation

The Sun emits ______________ radiation, but it is radiated back off of planetary bodies as ______________ radiation.

shortwave, longwave

Acid rain in the northeast, which accelerates the weathering of rock and the deterioration and corrosion of paint, Is caused by the reaction of oxygen, water, and which of the following substances?

sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide

Which parameter is used to define the four layers of Earth's atmosphere?

temperature

The June solstice is ______________.

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

When considered by weight percent, what is the principal source for the majority of primary pollutants in Earth's atmosphere?

transportation

Which sequence correctly lists the four layers in Earth's atmosphere from closest to farthest from the surface?

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere

Which rays of the electromagnetic spectrum are responsible for causing sunburn when you spend too much time exposed at the beach?

ultraviolet

Which atmospheric gas absorbs the most terrestrial radiation?

water vapor.

Which of the following solutions would most effectively reduce air pollution in London?

widen and create more bicycle lanes