Geography Exam 1
What is the altitude at the top of our atmosphere? A. 480 km (300 mi) above Earth's surface B. 32,000 km (20,000 mi) C. 50 km (31 mi) above Earth's surface D. 80 km (50 mi) above Earth's surface E. 18 km (11 mi) above Earth's surface
480 km (300 mi) above Earth's surface
Which of the following factors contribute to air pressure? A. The amount of air molecules B. The size of air molecules C. The motion of air molecules D. Gravity E. All of the above
All of the above
Which of the following is driven by solar energy? A. Weather B. Ecosystems C. Ocean currents D. Global winds E. All of the above.
All of the above.
Why do temperatures increase in the stratosphere? A. Because intense gamma rays and cosmic rays increase kinetic energy B. Because noctilucent clouds catch sunlight after sunset C. Because the ozone hole allows more ultraviolet energy to reach Earth's surface D. Because ozone absorbs UVC and UVB energy and re-radiates heat E. Because atmospheric density increases
Because ozone absorbs UVC and UVB energy and re-radiates heat
Which of the following statements about air pollution is correct? A. Temperature inversions act to increase vertical mixing of the atmosphere. B. Arctic haze is mainly caused by high-latitude volcanoes. C. Anthropogenic sources of air pollution produce a greater quantity of pollutants than natural sources. D. Dust carried on the wind from South America contributes to the soils of Africa. E. Cross-boundary drift of pollution was an issue that played a role in the formation of the European Union.
Cross-boundary drift of pollution was an issue that played a role in the formation of the European Union.
Which of the following statements is correct? A.The Milky Way Galaxy is 11 light-hours across. B. The Moon is approximately 150 million km (93 million mi) from Earth. C. Our Solar System is 8 minutes 20 seconds across at the speed of light. D. The speed of light is roughly 500,000 kmps (186,000 mps). E. Earth is approximately 150 million km (93 million mi) from the Sun.
Earth is approximately 150 million km (93 million mi) from the Sun.
Which of the following statements is correct about the seasons? A. If the tilt of Earth's axis increased, seasonal differences would become smaller. B. The Sun's altitude at local noon varies by 23.5 degrees over the course of a year. C. The ground speed of Earth's rotation is the same all over Earth. D. The positions of sunrise and sunset do not change over the course of a year. E. On average, dawn and twilight last longer at higher latitudes.
On average, dawn and twilight last longer at higher latitudes.
Which of the following statements is correct? A. On January 3, the Sun is overhead at the Tropic of Cancer. B. On July 4, the Earth is closest to the Sun. C. On June 21, the Sun is directly overhead at the Arctic Circle. D. On March 21, there is equal day and night everywhere on Earth. E. On December 21, the Sun is overhead at the equator.
On march 21 there is equal day and night everywhere on earth
Which type of atmospheric pollutant can cause human health problems by entering the lungs and bloodstream? A. PM2.5 B. peroxyacetyl nitrates (PAN) C. PM10 D. volatile organic compounds (VOC) E. carbon dioxide
PM2.5
What term describes the average amount of solar radiation received at the top of the atmosphere when the Earth is at its average distance from the Sun? A. Solar constant B. Longwave radiation C. Insolation D. Shortwave radiation E. Subsolar point
Solar constant
Which of the following statements about the Clean Air Act (CAA) is correct? A. The CAA cost an estimated $5 trillion to $49 trillion to implement from 1970 to 1990. B. The costs of implementation greatly outweighed the benefits from 1970 to 1990. C. The concentration of many air pollutants has declined since 1970, saving trillions of dollars. D. The economic benefits of the CAA were estimated to be $22.2 billion from 1970 to 1990.
The concentration of many air pollutants has declined since 1970, saving trillions of dollars.
Which of the following statements regarding the seasons is correct? A. The five factors that give rise to the seasons are revolution, rotation, tilt, axial parallelism, and sphericity. B. Earth's axial tilt is about 40 degrees. C. The Sun's altitude refers to its distance from Earth. D. Alaska is the only U.S. state to receive sunlight at a 90 degree angle. E. The rotational velocity of Earth at the equator is 40,075 kmph (24,902 mph).
The five factors that give rise to the seasons are revolution, rotation, tilt, axial parallelism, and sphericity.
What is the ozonosphere? A. the layer of the atmosphere where oxygen is created B. the layer that extends from the surface to 18 km (11 mi) above the surface C. another name for the mesosphere D. the layer with the highest temperatures E. the layer of the atmosphere that absorbs significant amounts of ultraviolet radiation
The layer of the atmosphere that absorbs significant amounts of ultraviolet radiation
Which of the following statements regarding solar wind is correct A. The solar wind is guided toward Earth's equator by the magnetosphere. B. The solar wind consists of electrically charged particles. C. The auroras always appear as a reddish glow in the upper atmosphere. D. Solar wind causes the aurora borealis over the southern hemisphere. E. Sunspot activity varies randomly, but the total number in any year is roughly constant.
The solar wind consists of electrically charged particles.
Which of the following statements about the transfer of energy from the Sun to Earth is correct? A. The South Pole receives more insolation than the North Pole during their respective summers because the South Pole has more ice. B. The poles are regions of net energy surplus. C. The tundra is a region of net energy gain. D. The highest net radiation values are found over arctic land masses. E. The tropics receive 2.5 times more energy than the poles.
The tropics receive 2.5 times more energy than the poles
What type of energy is absorbed in the ozonosphere? A. cosmic rays B. x-rays C. radio waves D. UVC and UVB E. gamma rays
UVC and UVB
The atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere are examples of __________ systems. A. abiotic B. latitudinal C. biotic D. tectonic E. longitudinal
abiotic
Which of the following statements regarding the march of the seasons is correct? A. The Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn receive 24 hours of daylight on the solstices. B. The Sun is directly over the equator on the solstices. C. The declination of the Sun changes as a result of Earth's changing angle relative to the plane of the ecliptic over the course of a year. D. All locations on Earth receive 12 hours of daylight on the equinoxes. E. The poles receive 12 hours of daylight on the solstices
all locations on earth receive 12 hours of daylight on the equinoxes
which of the following is true of the global positioning system A. the system includes 27 satellites B. a gps receiver senses signals from several satellites C. clocks calculae the distance between satellites and receivers D. receivers triangulate distance from satellites to determine location E. all of the above
all of the above
which of the following factors is a key strength of gis A. geographers can use layers of information to analyze patterns B. geographers can rapidly produce new maps based on updated information C. geographers can create new information by combining layers of information D. the applications of gis run across many disciplines E. all of the above factors are strengths of gis
all of the above factors are strengths of gis
on a globe, lines of latitude
are parallel to one another
What is the main reason that there is such a variation in average temperatures at higher latitudes? A. Revolution B. Daylength C. Axial tilt D. Sphericity E. Declination
axial tilt
The dividing line between day and night is called the A. axial parallelism B. plane of the eliptic C. subsolar point D. solar maximum E. circle of illumination
circle of illumination
modern official time is based on average times from around the world and is known as
coordinated universal time
all of the following geometric shapes are common map projection surfaces except A. plane B. cone C. cylinder D. cube
cube
climate change is causing all of the following except A. decreased rainfall in Africa B. longer growing season in the United States C. earlier fall frosts in the United States D. animal migration patterns are changing
earlier fall frosts in the United States
which term provides the most detailed description of the earth's shape A. ellipsoid B. obtuse ellipsoid C. sheroid D. oblate spheroid
ellipsoid
the major decision in selecting a flat map projection showing the whole earth is deciding between A. equal area and equivalence B. true shape and conformality C. equal area and true shape D. spherical shape and planar shape E. true shape and true distance
equal area and true shape
In the homosphere, __________ A.There is roughly 78% oxygen B. the amount of carbon dioxide has remained relatively constant over the last 200 years C. gases are layered by gravity D. gases are uniformly mixed E. the bottom begins at 80 km (50 mi) and the top extends to 480 km (300 m
gases are uniformly mixed
a geographic study of the effects of hydro-logic fracturing on groundwater falls under the traditional spatial theme of A. region B. movement C. human-earth relationships D. location E. place
human-earth relationships
in the scientific method, a tentative explanation for a phenomena is called a(n) A. theory B. experiment C. hypothesis D. observation E. measurement
hypothesis
Which of the following statements about the Human-Atmosphere-Pollution System is correct? A. pollution is worst over North America and Europe B. it is an open system C. sulfur oxides produce haze and reduce visibility D. particulate matter leads to acid rain E. it is a closed system
it is an open system
How can the temperature in the thermosphere exceed 1200° C but not be "hot"? A. little molecular motion B. low atmospheric density C. low kinetic energy D. high levels of molecular energy transfer
low atmospheric density
__________ feedback acts to stabilize a system A. dynamic B. negative C. stabilizing D. steady state E. positive
negative
All of the following emit compounds that can form acid rain EXCEPT: A. automobile emissions B. coal-powered electrical plants C. steel manufacturing D. nuclear power plants
nuclear power plants
Which of the following statements about energy from the sun is correct A. the surface temperature of the sun is about 6000 degrees Fahrenheit B. about 4% of the suns radiation is in the visible light spectrum C. on an energy distribution curve, the sun's emissions peak around .5 micrometers D. earth acts as a blackbody because of it's dark color E. the earth emits shorter-wave radiation than the sun
on an energy distribution curve, the sun's emissions peak around .5 micrometers
which of the following statements is correct A. Our Solar System is located at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. B. The Milky Way Galaxy is contains several thousand stars. C. Our Solar System contains thousands of planets. D. Our Solar System formed from a large, slowly rotating, collapsing cloud of dust and gas. E. The Milky Way Galaxy is composed of one star, eight planets, four dwarf planets, and some asteroids.
our solar system formed a large, slowly rotating, collapsing cloud of dust and gas
Hawaii is characterized by unique physical features, such as active volcanoes and tropical rainforests, as well as, cultural features such as Polynesian influences and a thriving tourism industry. This description aligns most closely with which traditional spatial theme in geography? A. location B. place C. region D. movement E. human-earth relationships
place
the following are all passive remote sensing platforms with the EXCEPTION of A. radarsat-1 B. landsat satellite imagery C. geos satellite imagery D. aerial photography
radarsat-1
which of the following methods is characteristic of geography A. place analysis B. physical analysis C. geological analysis D. location analysis E. spatial analysis
spatial analysis
On a tangent planar projection, the only location where all globe properties are preserved is the: A. standard parallel B. standard medium C. standard point D. rhumb line
standard point
Which of the following statements about the Sun and its radiation is correct? A.Sunspot activity varies on a roughly 11-year cycle. B. Solar wind travels at the speed of light. C. The magnetosphere interacts with solar wind to create auroras over the equator. D. The Sun creates heat and light through nuclear fission. E. Research into solar wind is carried out on Earth's surface.
sunspot activity varies on a roughly 11-year cycle
When classified by temperature, what are the layers of the atmosphere from the surface of the Earth up? A. ozonosphere and ionosphere B. troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere C. D layer, E layer, and the F1 and F2 layers D. homosphere and heterosphere
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere
What can be done to reduce black carbon emissions in developing countries? A. reduce the use of chemicals that break down ozone B. reduce vehicle emission standards C. increase coal-based energy production D. use cleaner burning stoves E. reduce nitrogen emissions
use cleaner burning stoves
which of the following is endogenic A. wind patterns B. volcanic activity C. glacial movement D. photosynthesis E. ocean currents
volcanic activity
What are some variable atmospheric components of the troposphere? A. carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen B. nitrogen, carbon, oxygen C. nitrogen, argon D. water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide
water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide