Environmental Science Test 2

Two parcels of warm air (A and B) at the land surface rise vertically. The temperatures of the two air parcels at the surface are the same. As the two bodies of air rise vertically, parcel A forms clouds starting at 1,500 m altitude, while parcel B forms clouds starting at 2,500 m. Which parcel of air has a higher initial water vapor content, A or B? A. A B. B

A. The one that forms clouds at the lower altitude has a higher initial water vapor content.

When an ocean wave strikes the shore at an angle, one end slows down, causing the wave to bend. The effect is called: A. refraction B. wave bending C. beach drift D. rip tide

A. refraction

Continuous erosion causes the cliff to move back or retreat inland. Over time, a __________ is formed at the foot of the cliff. A. wave-cut platform B. spit C. barrier island D. sea arch

A. wave-cut platform

The proportion of light (shortwave radiation) reflected from a surface is defined as: A. Radiation reflectivity B. Albedo C. Wavelength D. Light reflectance

Albedo

If the air temperature increased from 20oC to 30oC, while the actual amount of water vapor in the air remained at 1 KPa (KiloPascal), how would the relative humidity change? A. Increase B. Decrease C. No change

Answer Key: B Feedback: It would decrease because the value of the saturation vapor pressure will decrease.

Clouds that form very close to the ground are referred to as dew. True False

Answer Key: False Feedback: Clouds that form close to the ground are referred to as fog.

Neap tides occur when the moon lies at right angles to a line drawn between the Sun and the Earth. True False

Answer Key: True Feedback: Spring tides occur when the Earth, Sun, and Moon are lined up.

A large body of air with approximately uniform temperature and humidity at any given altitude is called a(n): A. Front B. Air mass C. Atmospheric cell D. Cyclone

B. Air mass

The altitude at which condensation begins (the temperature of the rising air parcel reaches the dew point temperature) is referred to as: A. Dew point altitude B. Condensation level C. Saturation temperature D. None of the above

B. Condensation Level

The mouth or lower course of a river in which the river's current meets the sea's tide is called a: A. Lagoon B. Estuary C. Fjord D. Delta

B. Estuary

The migration (seasonal movement between 23.5oN and 23.5oS) of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) results in: A. Seasonality in temperatures in the equatorial zone B. Seasonality in precipitation in the tropical zone (from equator to tropics of Cancer and Capricorn) C. Monsoons in the mid-latitude zone D. Hurricanes in the mid-Atlantic

B. Seasonality in precipitation in the tropical zone

The vertical mixing of water in a lake or ocean basin that occurs between the autumn and spring (in the temperate and polar regions) is called: A. discharge B. turbulence C. turnover D. subduction

C. Turnover

When waves strike shore at an angle, they form a ____________ that flows parallel to the shore. A. ebb current B. rip current C. longshore current D. undertow

C. longshore current

The vertical layer of water in a lake or ocean where the water density increases rapidly with depth is called the: A. thermocline B. epilimnion C. pycnocline D. density profile

C. pycnocline

Greenhouses gasses such as carbon dioxide readily absorb incoming shortwave radiation. True False

False

A descending air mass creates a zone of low atmospheric pressure at the surface. True or false?

False.

A passive continental margin is associated with a convergent tectonic boundary between ocean and continental plates. True False

False.

For temperatures above 4oC, the density of water increases with increasing temperature. True False

False.

Gyres rotate in a counterclockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere. True False

False.

Hurricanes (tropical cyclones) in the Northern Hemisphere rotate (centered at the eye) in a clockwise direction. True False

False.

In general, mean annual precipitation is greater on the western margins of the continents in the Northern hemisphere as compared to the eastern margins (coastal regions). True False

False.

Successive high tides occur every 12 hours. True False

False.

The net radiation balance is zero at night. True False

False.

The pressure and density of air (the atmosphere) increases with increasing altitude. True False

False.

The salinity of sea surface waters is greatest in the equatorial waters of the oceans. True False

False.

Wind is horizontal air flow in response to differences in pressure. Winds flow from areas of low pressure into areas of higher pressure. True False

False.

A spit may block the entrance to a bay, forming a tombolo. True False

False. Baymouth bar.

When a tidal current moves toward the land and away from the sea, it is referred to as an ebb tide. True False

False. This is referred to as a flood tide.

Net radiation can be positive, negative, or even zero. True False

True

Seasonal variations in net radiation and surface temperature increase as you move from the equator to the poles. True False

True

The decrease in air temperature with increasing altitude is referred to as the lapse rate. True False

True

A warm front forms when moving warm air collides with a stationary (or more slowly moving) cold mass. True False

True.

In general, mean annual precipitation decreases with increasing latitude from the equator to the poles. True False

True.

In the Northern Hemisphere, a cyclone consists of winds spiraling counterclockwise into a low pressure region. True False

True.

Patterns of atmospheric and ocean circulation function to transport thermal energy from the tropics (region of surplus net radiation) to the polar regions (regions of deficit net radiation). True False

True.

Sea breezes blow inland during the day, and land breezes blow out to sea at night. True False

True.

Seasonal variation in mean monthly temperature (difference in temperature between the warmest and coldest month) increases as you move from coastal environments toward the continental interior. True False

True.

The coriolis effect causes air travelling from the equator north (toward the north pole) to deflect to the right in a clockwise fashion. True False

True.

Between 35oN and 90oN latitude there is a deficit in the net radiation balance (amount of outgoing longwave radiation exceeds the amount of incoming shortwave radiation). True or False?

True. Between the equator and 35oN there is a surplus in the net radiation balance, while between 35oN and the north pole there is a deficit.

Cooling of the ocean makes the surface water of the ocean denser. True False

True. Water increases density with decreasing temperature down to 4oC.