Meteorology Chapter 2 Questions
On the average, how much of the Sun's energy that is intercepted by the earth system is reflected to space? [Page 45]
30 percent
Using the analemma above, calculate the noon Sun angle for a latitude of 40° N on February 14. Choose the correct answer below. [Page 57]
37°. (Use analemma to find the latitude. 13°S. Find the difference between 40°N and 13°S. 53°. Subtract 90-53. 37°.)
Suppose the albedo of a planet is measured to be 40 percent. This means that: [Page 45]
40 percent of the Sun's energy is reflected.
Flagstaff, AZ is at 35 degrees N latitude. What is the angle of the Sun's noon rays here on March 21? [Page 34]
55 degrees
Flagstaff, AZ is at 35 degrees N latitude. What is the angle of the Sun's noon rays here on March 21? [Page 34]
55 degrees (90-35)
Clouds play an important role in the earth's energy budget because they: [Page 49]
Both absorb longwave radiation and re-radiate it towards the surface and reflect solar energy
In meteorological terminology, the primary difference between convection and advection is: [Page 40]
Convection represents vertical heat transfer and advection represents horizontal heat transfer.
Which of the following would be true if Earth did not have an inclined axis? [Page 32]
Earth would not have seasons.
(T/F): A 300-meter-thick cloud cover can reflect no more than 14 percent of incoming solar radiation. [Page 45]
False
(T/F): Advection refers to vertical convection motions. [Page 40]
False
(T/F): As an object cools, the wavelengths of its maximum radiation shorten. [Page 43]
False
(T/F): Distance variations between the earth and the Sun are extremely important in understanding seasonal temperature variations. [Page 30]
False
(T/F): Heat transfer by convection in the atmosphere is always downward, from air to ground. [Page 40]
False
(T/F): Microwaves have the shortest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. [Page 41]
False
(T/F): Objects that are good absorbers of radiation are usually poor emitters of radiation. [Page 43]
False
(T/F): Seasonal temperature variations are due primarily to the changing distance between the earth and the Sun. [Page 30]
False
(T/F): Snow-covered surfaces have a low albedo. [Page 45]
False
(T/F): The North Pole remains pointed towards the sun at all times, regardless of where the Earth is in its orbit. [Page 32]
False
(T/F): Visible light comprises more than half of the total solar energy. [Page 41]
False
Meteorologically, conduction is the most important mechanism of heat transfer. [Page 39]
False
The troposphere warms as a direct result of shortwave energy passing into it. [Page 49]
False
The first day of the climatological season of summer is: [Page 36]
June 1
At 45 degrees S latitude, the angle of the noon Sun is lowest and the length of daylight is shortest on: [Page 33]
June 21
New York City has its greatest length of daylight on: [Page 33]
June 21
The length of daylight gets progressively longer going south from the equator on: [Page 33]
June 21
The 90 degrees angle rays strike the Tropic of Cancer on: [Page 33]
June 21.
The LONGEST period of daylight of the year in the United States occurs on: [Page 34]
June 21.
The date that the Sun "rises" at the North Pole is: [Page 33]
March 21
The spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on approximately: [Page 33]
March 21
Which of the following gases does not absorb any significant portion of incoming solar radiation? [Page 48]
Nitrogen
The date that the Sun "sets" at the North Pole is: [Page 33]
September 22
(T/F): All objects emit radiation. [Page 42]
True
(T/F): Although electromagnetic radiation is described with a variety of names and wavelengths, it is all fundamentally similar in behavior. [Page 41]
True
(T/F): Deserts, with their very dry air, experience cool nighttime temperatures because of a weaker greenhouse effect. [Page 49]
True
(T/F): Fairbanks, Alaska (65°N), has more hours of daylight in June than Miami, Florida (26°N). [Page 34]
True
(T/F): In Australia, the summer solstice occurs a few days before Christmas (December 25). [Page 33]
True
(T/F): More solar energy is reflected back to space than is absorbed directly by the atmosphere. [Page 51]
True
(T/F): Perihelion occurs during the Northern Hemisphere's winter. [Page 30]
True
(T/F): Pure white sunlight contains all of the colors of the visible light spectrum. [Page 40]
True
(T/F): The Sun 'rises' at the South Pole on September 22. [Page 34]
True
(T/F): The atmosphere is heated chiefly by radiation emitted from the earth's surface. [Page 49]
True
(T/F): The earth's axis is not perpendicular to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. [Page 32]
True
(T/F): The higher the temperature of a radiating body, the shorter the wavelength of maximum radiation. [Page 42]
True
(T/F): Water vapor accounts for the majority of atmospheric warming in the lower troposphere. [Page 49]
True
(T/F): When an object absorbs radiant energy, its temperature increases. [Page 41]
True
Low sun angles are associated with longer atmospheric path lengths. [Page 31]
True
Sun angle is the angular distance from the observer's horizon to the Sun at noon. [Page 33]
True
The higher the temperature of a radiating body, the shorter the wavelength of maximum radiation. [Page 42]
True
What would happen on Earth if the Sun were 'turned off' and ceased to provide heat for the Earth? [Page 30]
Winds and ocean currents would stop
Objects with higher temperatures: [Page 42]
emit more shortwave radiation than cooler objects do
Low sun angles result in reduced solar energy because: [Page 31]
energy is spread over a larger area
Of the following choices, the surface with the HIGHEST albedo is: [Page 45]
fresh snow
The absorption of longwave radiation by certain gases in the lower atmosphere is responsible for: [Page 49]
greenhouse effect
Most of the radiation emitted by the earth and its atmosphere is in the category of: [Page 42]
infrared
Scattering: [Page 46]
is responsible for the redness of sunsets.
The energy associated with motion is called: [Page 37]
kinetic energy
The two types of heat recognized by meteorologists are: [Page 38]
latent heat and sensible heat
The wavelengths emitted by the earth are: [Page 41]
longer than those emitted by the Sun.
Crepuscular rays: [Page 46]
occur when water droplets scatter all wavelengths of sunlight equally.
Which of the following gases is the best absorber of ultraviolet light? [Page 48]
oxygen
Early in January the earth is closer to the Sun than at any other time of year. This position is termed: [Page 30]
perihelion
During the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the circle of illumination passes directly through the: [Page 33]
poles
What kind of energy does gravity give to hailstones suspended in a thunderstorm? [Page 37]
potential energy
The earth receives energy from the Sun by: [Page 40]
radiation
What is the only form of heat transfer that can operate in a vacuum? [Page 40]
radiation
During reflection, [Page 45]
radiation retains the same intensity and bounces back at the same angle with which it struck the surface
The longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum are: [Page 41]
radio
Clouds are most likely to ________ incoming solar radiation. [Page 45]
reflect
Over the course of this year, the tilt of Earth's polar axis will: [Page 31]
remain constant at 23.5 degrees
While sitting outside at a picnic, you and your family start discussing how hot it is outside and plan to take a dip in the lake to cool off. What type of heat have you experienced in order to make this statement?
sensible heat
The primary factor which determines what type and how much radiation an object emits is its: [Page 42]
temperature
Which of the following is a measurement of the average kinetic energy possessed by the atoms or molecules in a substance? [Page 38]
temperature
If an imbalance occurs between incoming and outgoing energy at the earth's surface: [Page 50]
temperatures either increase or decrease
Radiation is intercepted in the atmosphere and its wavelength is measured at 0.7 micrometers. This radiation was most likely emitted by: [Page 41]
the Sun.
The UV Index can tell you: [Page 42]
the approximate time it will take you to sunburn on a given day, based on your skin type
Most of the solar energy absorbed by planet Earth and its atmosphere is absorbed by: [Page 44]
the earth's surface
Earth's sky is blue during the day because: [Page 46]
the molecules in the atmosphere scatter blue wavelengths of light
An analemma is best used to determine: [Page 56]
the solar declination on any day of the year.
The primary cause of Earth's seasons is: [Page 34]
tilt of Earth's rotation axis, which causes sun angles and daylight length to vary
Which of the following describes the role played by the water cycle in determining the earth's heat budget? [Page 51]
transfers heat from surface to atmosphere
The atmosphere is highly ________ with respect to solar radiation. [Page 49]
transparent
The atmosphere is largely ________ to terrestrial radiation that has a wavelength between 8 and 12 micrometers. [Page 48]
transparent
During natural processes, heat transfer is always from: [Page 38]
warmer to cooler substances.
Earth's perihelion: [Page 30]
would not exist if the earth's orbit were circular.
When encountering terrestrial longwave radiation, clouds are most likely to ________ it. [Page 49]
absorb
The atmosphere is heated primarily by: [Page 49]
absorption of Earth's longwave radiation.
The atmosphere is strongly ________ with respect to terrestrial radiation. [Page 49]
absorptive
Wind is an example of: [Page 45]
advection
The earth emits terrestrial radiation: [Page 42]
all the time
Which of the following associations is INCORRECT? [Page 33]
autumnal equinox — shortest day of the year for the Arctic Circle
Earth's current angle of inclination is: [Page 32]
23.5°
Wavelengths of the visible spectrum are between: [Page 40]
0.4 and 0.7 micrometers
Based on the analemma above, what is the approximate location of the solar declination on August 26? [Page 56]
10° N
An astronomer tells you that he has discovered a new planet that he calls Planet X. All he knows about Planet X so far is that it has a very dense atmosphere with a temperature approximately 5 times warmer than that of Earth. What hypothesis can you reasonably make regarding the atmosphere of Planet X? [Page 50]
The atmosphere of Planet X has a higher concentration of greenhouse gases than Earth's does
What is the 'atmospheric window'? [Page 48]
The range of infrared wavelengths that can most easily escape Earth's atmosphere
The transfer of heat through matter by molecular collisions is called: [Page 39]
conduction.
The process of ________ involves the movement or circulation of a mass or substance. [Page 39]
convection
Thermals and advection are both types of: [Page 40]
convection
The vertical movements of air molecules that result in heat transfer are known as ________, while horizontal movements are known as ________. [Page 40]
convection, advection