Meteorology Ch 15 Self check quizzes

Numerical global climate models predict that a ___ change in the Sun's energy output could signficantly alter the mean temp of the Earth-atmoshpere-ocean system. 1% 10% 25% 5%

1%

The latitude of highest mean annual surface temperature, the heat equator, is located about____ degrees north of the geographical equator. 5 10 15 20

10

The creation of national weather services and the foundaiton of the International Meteorological Organization (today's WMO) have provided us w/ detailed temp records for the past ____ yrs. 1000 or so 100 or so 10,000 or so

100 or so

The sunspot cycle is approximately ___ yrs. 11 22 44 65 100

11

The peak of the last major glacial advance over NA occurred about ____ yrs ago . 1 million 2 million 100k 18k-20k 10,500

18-20k

The scientific community didn't widely accept the plate tectonics theory until: The 1960s 1930s 1970s

1960

A period wen the global avg annual temp trended downward was 1980s through the 1990s 1880s through the 1930s 1960s through the 1970s

1960s-1970s

By international agreement, climate averages are computed form weather records compiled over a___ year period. 15 20 25 D.30 100

30

If this morning's low temperature was 20 deg and this afternoon's high temp was 64 deg, the day's avg temp was___. 84 35 44 42 60

42

The warmest decade of the 20th century: 1980s 1920s 1930s 1990s 1960s

90s

The Medeival Warm Ep lasted from about ___ to ___ 1400-1900 950-1250 1945-1978 1850-1950 720-1853

950...

The ocean Influences radiational heating and cooling of the planet. Absorbs a majority of the solar radiation striking Earth's surface. Transfers heat to the atmosphere via latent heating All of the above None of the above

All of the above

A climate ep favoring the thinning and retreat of existing glaciers is A glacial climate A maritime climate An interglacial climate The Hypsithermal The Medieval Warm Period

An interglacial climate

Typically, trends in climate are geographically non-uniform in: Magnitude only Sign (direction) only Both magn. And sign

Both mag and sign

Climate varies: Spatially (from one location to another) Temporally (through time) Both spatially and temporally

Both spatially and temporally

Carbon dioxide lvls in the atmosphere have been rising primarily bcus of Burning of coal and other fossil fuels Clearing of forests The greenhouse effect Increasingly widespread of CFCs

Burning of coal

For any month across the entire nation, temperature and precipitation anomalies exhibit The same sign (direction) everywhere The same magnitude everywhere. The same sign but different magnitudes Different signs and different magnitudes. None of the above is correct

Different signs and different magnitudes

Plate tectonics was an important control of climate Over the past 100 yrs Over the past 1000 yrs During the Ice Age During the 100s of millions of yrs that constitute geological time.

During the 100s of millions of yrs that constitute geological time.

As compared to the climate that prevailed through most of geological time, the climate of the past 2 million yrs has Had avg global temperatures around 10 C degrees higher than in the past. Seen an increase in severe weather events Favored the development of continental-scale glacial ice sheets

Favored the development of continental scale glacial ice sheets

Climate: Does not change through time. Changes everywhere in the same direction Is naturally variable Is determined by latitude alone None of the above

Is naturally variable

An increase in the magnitude of a temp change with increasing____ is known as polar amplification Elevation Albedo Latitude Precipitation

Latitude

The large-scale climatic impact of violent volcanic eruptions depends on the volume of ____injected into the stratosphere. CFCs Sulfer oxide gases and aerosols Methane Carbon dioxide Ash

Sulfer oxide

Sea lvl rise would Disrupt coastal ecosystems Ruin agricultural lands Threaten historical, cultural, and recreational resources All of the above

all

The Maunder minimum Refers to a period of greatly diminished sunspot activity. Occurred during the Little Ice Age. Is linked to changes that took place on the Sun All of the above None of the above

all

The residence time of an aerosol in the stratosphere is generally longer than its residence time in the troposphere bcus There is no precipitation in the stratosphere The stratosphere is extremely stable Little exchange of air occurs between the stratosphere and the troposphere All of the above None of the above

all

A possible source of error in the long term, instrument based climate record: Changes in reliability of weather instruments Gaps in monitoring networks Moderating influence of urbanization All of the above None of the above

all of the above

Polar Amplification of climate change... Likely took place during the Pleistocene Ice Age Consists of an increase in the magnitude of climate change w/ increasing latitude. Is an example of the geographical nonuniformity of climate change All of the above None of the above

all of the above

The Sun's total output of radiation Varies slightly with sunspot number. Varies slightly from 1 yr to the next Is most accurately measured by instruments onboard Earth-orbiting satellites All of the above None of the above

all of the above

The Younger Dryas Was a period of cooler conditions Triggered re-advanced of glacial ice sheets Was relatively short lived All of the above None of the above

all of the above

The spatial variability of annual precipitation can be attributed to: Topography The distribution of land and sea Planetary scale circulation All of the above

all of the above

Climate change may consist of More frequent weather extremes An upward trend in mean temp Less freq drought A downward trend in mean monthly precipitation Any of the above

any of the above

A statistically significant cycle in the instrument based climate record The annual radiation/temp cycle The diurnal radiation/temperature cycle. Both are correct

both

Milankovitch argued that regular changes in the Earth-Sun geometry explained the large-scale climatic fluctuations during the Ice Age primarily by Altering the solar constant. Changing the seasonal latitudinal distribution of solar radiaition on Earth Producing sunspots. Increasing the planetary albedo. Altering the aerosol content of the troposphere.

changing the seasonal latitdu...

As a rule, ___ skies increase the diurnal (day-night) temp range Overcast Clear Partly cloudy

clear

As the tilt of the Earth's axis increases, winters become ___ and summers become ___ in both hemispheres. Colder...... warmer Warmer... colder

colder...warmer

Localities in the continental interior of NA and Asia are characterized by ___ climates. Continental Maritime

continental

A more reflective earth (higher planetary albedo) is a _____ Earth Warmer Cooler

cooler

Solar energy output ____ as the sunspot number decreases. Increases Decreases Doesn't change

decreases

Evidence from ___ firmly established Milankovitch cycles as a cause of climatic fluctuations. Tree growth ring records Deep sea sediment cores Ancient pollen records Records of grape harvests on Cape Cod Volcanic lava flows

deep sea sediment cores

The sun's energy output varies ___ with sunspot number Directly Indirectly

directly

Lvls of atmospheric carbon dioxide ____ during the growing season and ____ in winter. Rise....fall Fall...rise

fall/rise

The Little Ice Age Lasted from about 1400 to 1900 Was a period of renewed continental scale glaciation over the northern U.S> Was caused by volcanic eruptions Was a period when the globe was at least 6 C degrees colder than at present Took place long b4 civilization was established

lasted from about 1400-1900

Typically, monthly temperatures anomaly patterns are ___ rainfall anomaly patters. More complex than Less complex than About as complex as

less complex as

The net effect of more sulfate aerosols in the troposphere : An enhanced greenhouse effect Lower air temp A lower planetary albedo

lower air temp

Temp of the Sun's photosphere, giving the sunspot a dark appearance. Lower than About the same as Higher than

lower than

Localities downwind of a large body of h20 r characterized by ___climates. Continental Maritime

maritime

All other factors unchanged, rising lvls of carbon dioxide _____ during the growing season and ___ in winter. Rise Fall Remain at current lvls

rise

Which of the following climate controls varies in the most regular manner? Solar radiation Monsoon circulation Western wave pattern Storm tracks

solar radiation

From the 1980s into the early 21st century, the trend in global avg annual temp was Upward Downward

upward