Planet Earth Exam 1
Controls on wind speed & direction
-Earth's gravitational force -Pressure gradient force -Coriolis 'force' -Friction force (on surface)
Latitudinal geographic zones
-Equatorial & tropical -Subtropical -Midlatitude -Subarctic or Subantarctic -Arctic or Antarctic
A vertical air current that is generated by temperature-induced density differences is an example of heat transfer by A) convection. B) diffusion. C) conduction. D) advection E) transmission.
A
As a result of the characteristics of water, cities located near a coast should experience a temperature range that is __________ those of cities located in the interior at the same latitude. A) smaller than B) the same as B) the same as C) larger than
A
Based on composition, the atmosphere is divided into A) two broad classifications: homosphere and heterosphere. B) two functional areas that absorb radiation from the Sun. C) one continuous region. D) the troposphere and the stratosphere.
A
Conduction refers to A) the molecule-to-molecule transfer of heat energy that diffuses through the material. B) strong vertical motions in the atmosphere. C) the behavior of something. D) the vertical movement of air in response to temperature-induced density differences induced density differences.
A
Industrial smog results from the interaction of fog or humid air with the sulfur dioxide and particulates from burning coal particulates from burning coal. A) True B) False
A
The reaction of automobile exhaust and ultraviolet light A) produces photochemical smog. B) is affecting the stratospheric ozone concentration. C)p g roduces industrial smog. D) forms smoke and fog.
A
When light passes from space into the atmosphere, it changes __________ in a process known as __________. A) speed and direction; refraction B) speed and direction; reflection C) color; refraction D) color; reflection D) color; reflection E) color; Rayleigh scattering
A
Which of the following is true regarding the specific heat of land and water? A) Water can hold more heat energy than a Water can hold more heat energy than a comparable volume of rock. B) Land and water have very similar specific heat values. C) Land surfaces have a higher specific heat th f an water surfaces. D) The temperature of water will rise faster than that of land when exposed to the same amount of insolation.
A
Which of the following is true relative to net radiation at the thermopause? A) Positive values in lower latitudes and A) Positive values in lower latitudes and negative values toward the poles. B) Negative values along the equator and positive values toward the poles. C) Net radiation is evenly distributed with little change by latitude. D) Net radiation is composed of shortwave energy only.
A
Which of the following lists the correct sequence of gases, from most to least, in terms of percentage within the percentage within the homosphere homosphere? A) nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, trace gases B) oxygen, nitrogen, neon, hydrocarbons, carbon di id ox e C) nitrogen, argon, oxygen, xenon, carbon dioxide D) oxygen, ozone, nitrogen, PAN, carbon dioxide
A
Dynamic equilibrium
A changing trend over time May appear gradually & are compensated for by the system
Parallel
A line connecting all points along the same latitudinal angle
What is Earth's hydrologic system an example of?
A model
Model
A simplified, idealized representation of part of the real world A simplification to help understanding of complex processes
What type of feedback maintains stability, or in other words keeps a system functioning in other words, keeps a system functioning properly? A) Negative B) Positive C) Neutral
A) Negative
Latitude is the name of the _____
Angle
Longitude is the name of the _____
Angle
Longitude
Angular distance East or West of a point from the center of the Earth Lines run North & South
Latitude
Angular distance North or South of the equator Lines run East & West - parallel with the equator
Great Circle
Any circle of Earth's circumference whose center coincides with the center of the Earth
An angular distance measured east or west of a prime meridian from the center of Earth is termed A) zenith B) longitude C) latitude D) Greenwich distance.
B
Atmospheric and oceanic circulations are examples of the heat energy transfer by A) conduction. B) convection. C) advection. D) transmission.
B
If you were standing at 60° north latitude you would be within which latitudinal geographic zone? A) subtropical B) subarctic C) midlatitude D) subantarctic E) Antarctic
B
The two main portions of the solar spectrum which enter the atmosphere are which enter the atmosphere are A) infrared and gamma rays B) visible and infrared energy C) ultraviolet and visible light D) X-rays and visible light.
B
At night, temperatures at high elevations decrease __________ than at lower elevations because __________. A) less quickly; the air is thinner and contains less heat energy B) less quickly; the air is thicker and radiates energy away more rapidly C)more quickly; the air is thicker and radiates energy away more rapidly D) more quickly; the air is thinner and contains less heat energy
D
Based on function, the atmosphere has A) four regions beginning with the outermost thermosphere. B) the troposphere and the stratosphere. C) one continuous region. D) t f ti l th t b b di ti D) two functional areas that absorb radiation from the Sun.
D
How far north you live from the equator is measured as your __________, whereas an imaginary line marking all those places at that same distance north of the equator is called a __________. A) location; place B) meridian; longitude C) parallel; latitude C) parallel; latitude D) latitude; parallel E) longitude; meridian
D
If you began a trip at 60° west, 20° north and traveled 120° farther west and 50° south, your new position would be A) the Greenwich meridian at 30° south latitude. B) the International Dateline at 70° north latitude. C) the Greenwich meridian at 70° north latitude. D) the International Dateline at 30 D) the International Dateline at 30° south latitude. E) 30° north, 120° west.
D
The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is characterized by A) warm, dry rising air. B) cold, dry sinking air. C) cold, dry rising air. D) warm, wet rising air
D
The auroras in the upper atmosphere are caused by A) AM radio broadcasts. B) various weather phenomena. C) the interaction of electromagnetic energy with atmospheric gases. D) the interaction of the solar wind and atmospheric gases.
D
The highest temperatures in the atmosphere occur in the __________ because __________. A) troposphere; infrared radiation from the ground heats this layer more than any other layer heats this layer more than any other layer B) mesosphere; high intensity solar radiation causes strong chemical reactions with ozone, and this heats the layer to very high temperatures. C) thermosphere; carbon dioxide has accumulated to very high levels in this layer very high levels in this layer D) thermosphere; it is in direct contact with high energy solar radiation E) stratosphere; methane is such an effective greenhouse gas
D
The most extreme northern and southern parallels to experience perpendicular rays of the sun at local noon are located at sun at local noon are located at A) 90° north and south B) 66.5° north and south C) 45° north and south D) 23.5° north and south.
D
Which of the following is correctly matched? A) steady state equilibrium; small fluctuations about an average condition B) dynamic equilibrium; small fluctuations about an average condition that changes gradually over time C) equilibrium; balance of inputs and outputs D) All of the above are correctly matched.
D
Which of the following is correct? A) Earth represents a vast integrated system. B) Earth represents a closed system in terms of matter. C) Earth represents an open system in terms of energy. D) All of above E) A and B
D) All of the above
Greenwich Prime Meridian
Earth's prime meridian passes through the old Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England - set by a treaty
What parallel is a great circle?
Equatorial Parallel
Global pressure and wind zones
Equatorial low pressure zone (ITCZ) Shift in the ITCZ Subtropical high pressure zone Subpolar low pressure zone Polar high pressure zone Sub l tropical jet stream Polar jet stream Land-sea breezes Mountain-valley breezes
Latitudinal Zones
Geographic Grid
Negative feedback
If the feedback information discourages change in the system •Leads to stability - causes self-regulation •Common in natural systems (nature)
Positive feedback
If the feedback information encourages change in the system - stimulates change •If unchecked, the system can create a runway (snowball effect) o Can lead to instability, disruption, or death of organisms
Meridian is the name of the ______
Line
Parallel is the name of the _____
Line
Meridian
Line connecting all points along the same longitude
Open system
o Earth as an open system in terms of energy because solar energy enters freely and heat energy leaves. o Inputs of energy & matter flow into the system and outputs of energy & matter flow from it.
Closed system
o Earth is a closed system in terms of physical matter & resources (air, water, material resources) o A system that is shut off from the surrounding environment so that it is self-contained.
Prime Meridian
Meridian at 0 degrees
Lower latitudes
Nearer the equator
Higher latitudes
Nearer the poles
What type of feedback is common in nature?
Negative
Which type of feedback leads to stability?
Negative
Industrial Smog
Results from the interaction of fog or humid air with the sulfur dioxide and particulates from burning coal particulates from burning coal.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Spectrum of all possible wavelengths of electromagnetic energy
What is rivers changing their form to adjust for inputs of sediment and water an example of?
Steady-state equilibrium
What to we use to identify structural sources of the problematic behavior patterns, determine positive and negative feedbacks?
Systems analysis
Threshold concept
Tipping point System can no longer maintain its character -> new operational level
Different feedback configurations lead to _______
Various different systems behavior
Steady-state equilibrium
When rates of inputs & outputs are equal and the amounts of energy and matter in storage with the system are constant
If the amount of cloud cover increases in response to greenhouse warming, this will __________ the earth's albedo and promote __________. (For this question, assume that albedo effects dominate the temperature response.) A) decrease; warming B) ;g decrease; cooling C) increase; cooling D) increase; warming
C
In general, as distance from the subsolar point increases, the average annual insolation __________ and the average annual temperature __________. A) decreases; increases B) increases; decreases B) increases; decreases C) decreases; decreases D) increases; increases
C
The increase in meltponds in Arctic regions is an example of A) positive feedback, as the melt ice freezes it increases the area of ice increases the area of ice. B) negative feedback, as the ice melts the water freezes, increasing the amount of ice. C) positive feedback, because the melt ponds absorb more solar energy than the ice do absorb more solar energy than the ice do. D) negative feedback, because the ponds reflect more sunlight than ice and therefore absorb less energy.
C
Which of the following is true regarding the depletion of ozone in the ozonosphere? A) The depletion is restricted to the arctic and antarctic regions. B) The notion that ozone is being depleted as a result of human activity is pure conjecture and has little scientific evidence to support it. C) It results from chemical reactions with chlorine that is derived from CFCs. D) It results from the burning of fossil fuels.
C
Which of the following is true? A) The Northern and Southern hemispheres are dominated equally by continentality. dominated equally by continentality. B) The Northern and Southern hemispheres are dominated equally by maritime influences. C) Northern Hemisphere temperatures are more strongly dominated by continentality than are Southern Hemisphere temperatures. D) Southern Hemisphere temperatures are more strongly dominated by continentality than are Northern Hemisphere temperatures.
C
The sky (lower tropopause) appears blue in color because of A) diffuse radiation. B) reflection. C) absorption of blue wavelengths of visible light. D) scattering D) scattering. E) A & D
E