Weather and climate study guide 2

25. TRUE/FALSE: low sun angles are associated with longer atmospheric path lengths

TRUE

28. Which of the following gases does not absorb any portion of incoming solar radiation? a. water vapor b. oxygen c. ozone d. nitrogen

d. nitrogen

10. Which of the following is a measurement of the average kinetic energy possessed by the atoms or molecules in a substance? a. potential energy b. latent energy c. heat d. temperature

d. temperature

15. The primary factor which determines what type and how much radiation an object emits is its: a. color b. conductivity c. atmospheric gases d. temperature

d. temperature

36. If an imbalance occurs between incoming and outgoing energy at the earth's surface, a. temperatures remain steady b. maximum temperatures occur c. minimum temperatures occur d. temperatures either increase or decrease

d. temperatures either increase or decrease

34. Clouds play an important role in the earth's energy budget because they; a. absorb longwave radiation and re-radiate it towards the surface b. cool the air around them c. reflect solar energy d. reflect the earth's infrared energy e. both A and C

e. Both A and C

20. TRUE/FALSE: snow covered surfaces have a low albedo

FALSE

33. The atmosphere is heated primarily by: a. absorption of Earth's longwave radiation b. absorption of solar radiation c. conduction from the ground d. convection from the ground

a. absorption of Earth's longwave radiation

23. The atmosphere is strongly ______ with respect to terrestrial radiation. a. absorptive b. reflective c. transparent d. conductive

a. absorptive

27. Most of theradiation emitted by the earth and its atmosphere is in the category of: a. infrared b. x rays c. ultraviolet d. gamma

a. infrared

29. The wavelengths emitted by the earth are: a. longer than those emitted by the sun b. ultraviolet c. shorter than those emitted by the sun d. about the same as those emitted by the sun except when the sun is experiencing sunspots

a. longer than those emitted by the sun

8. Over the course of this year the tilt of Earth's polar axis will: a. remain constant at 23.5 degrees b. vary from 0-23.5 degrees c. vary from 0-47 degrees d. remains constant at 90 degrees

a. remain constant at 23.5 degrees

32. Earth's sky is blue during the day because: a. the molecules in the atmosphere scatter blue wavelengths of light b. the atmosphere absorbs blue wavelengths of light c. the sun produces more blue wavelengths than it produces in any other color d. red wavelengths are lost as solar radiation passes through the vacuum of space

a. the molecules in the atmosphere scatter blue wavelengths of light

21. On average how much of the suns energy that is intercepted by the earth system is reflected to space? a. 19% b. 30% c. 25% d. 45% e. 51%

b. 30%

30. The earth emits terrestrial radiation: a. only over the continents b. all the time c. only at night d. only during winter e. only during the day

b. all the time

14. Objects with higher temperatures: a. emit only shortwave radiation b. emit more shortwave radiation than cooler objects do c. emit most of their energy in the form of long-wave energy d. radiate less total energy than cooler objects radiate

b. emit more shortwave radiation than cooler objects do

24. which of the following gases is the best absorber of ultraviolet light? a. water vapor b. oxygen (including ozone) c. carbon dioxide d. carbon monoxide e. nitrogen dioxide

b. oxygen (including ozone)

19. Suppose the albedo of a planet is measured to be 40 percent. This means that: a. 60 % of the suns energy is reflected b. 40% of the suns energy is absorbed c. 40% of the suns energy is reflected d. more energy is reflected than absorbed

c. 40% of the suns energy is reflected

11. he process of _____ involves the movement or circulation of a mass or substance a. radiation b. conduction c. convection

c. convection

17. The absorption of longwave radiation by certain gasses in the lower atmosphere is responsible for: a. photon effect b. atmospheric window effect c. greenhouse effect d. adiabatic effect

c. greenhouse effect

13. The earth receives energy from the sun by: a. scattering b. convection c. radiation d. conduction

c. radiation

5. During the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the circle of illumination passes directly through the: a. equator b. Tropic of Capricorn c. poles d. Tropic of Cancer

c. tilt of Earth's rotation axis which causes sun angles and daylight length to vary

4. The primary cause of Earth's seasons is: a. changes in atmospheric thickness b. varying orbital speed c. tilt of Earth's rotation emitted by the sun d. regular changes in radiation emitted by the sun

c. tilt of Earth's rotation emitted by the sun

22. The atmosphere is highly _____ with respect to solar radiation. a. absorptive b. conductive c. transparent d. reflective

c. transparent