Weather_and_Climate-Chapter_2-Heating_Earth's_Surface_and_Atmosphere_Study_Guide

Which of the following would be true if Earth did not have an inclined axis? A) Earth would not have seasons. B) The poles would not have ice caps. C) The equator would have 24 hours of daylight throughout the year. D) The Northern Hemisphere would always be tilted towards the sun.

A) Earth would not have seasons.

At 45 degrees S latitude, the angle of the noon Sun is lowest and the length of daylight is shortest on: A) June 21. B) September 22. C) January 23. D) December 21. E) March 21.

A) June 21.

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.

The atmosphere is strongly ________ with respect to terrestrial radiation. A) absorptive B) reflective C) transparent D) conductive

A) absorptive

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.

A) equator.

Most of the radiation emitted by the earth and its atmosphere is in the category of: A) infrared. B) x-rays. C) ultraviolet. D) gamma

A) infrared.

Heat: A) is a transfer of energy from areas with high temperatures to those with low temperatures. B) is synonymous with temperature. C) is a measure of the average kinetic energy possessed by molecules. D) measures the total kinetic energy in a substance.

A) is a transfer of energy from areas with high temperatures to those with low temperatures.

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

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 to 23.5 degrees. C) vary from 0 to 47 degrees. D) remains constant at 90 degrees.

A) remain constant at 23.5 degrees.

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 that 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.

On the average, how much of the Sun's energy that is intercepted by the earth system is reflected to space? A) 19 percent B) 30 percent C) 25 percent D) 45 percent E) 51 percent

B) 30 percent

Which of the following correctly describes the equinoxes? A) They occur in June and December. B) Days and nights are equal in length in all parts of the world. C) The Sun's vertical rays are striking either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn. D) The length of daylight at the Arctic and Antarctic Circle is 24 hours.

B) Days and nights are equal in length in all parts of the world.

What would happen on Earth if the Sun were 'turned off' and ceased to provide heat for the Earth? A) Living organisms would slowly adapt to life without sunlight. B) Winds and ocean currents would stop. C) Intense storms would develop and persist for weeks at a time. D) The Earth would quickly overheat.

B) Winds and ocean currents would stop.

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.

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 longwave energy. D) radiate less total energy than cooler objects radiate.

B) emit more shortwave radiation than cooler objects do.

The absorption of longwave radiation by certain gases in the lower atmosphere is responsible for: A) photon effect. B) greenhouse effect. C) atmospheric window effect. D) adiabatic effect.

B) greenhouse effect.

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)

Most of the solar energy absorbed by planet Earth and its atmosphere is absorbed by: A) clouds. B) the earth's surface. C) atmospheric gases. D) atmospheric dust.

B) the earth's surface.

The type of energy that is responsible for sunburn is: A) infrared energy. B) ultraviolet energy. C) gamma ray energy. D) microwave energy.

B) ultraviolet energy.

During natural processes, heat transfer is always from: A) gases to solids. B) warmer to cooler substances. C) cooler to warmer substances. D) solids to liquids.

B) warmer to cooler substances.

Suppose the albedo of a planet is measured to be 40 percent. This means that: A) 60 percent of the Sun's energy is reflected. B) 40 percent of the Sun's energy is absorbed. C) 40 percent of the Sun's energy is reflected. D) more energy is reflected than absorbed.

C) 40 percent of the Sun's energy is reflected.

The process of ________ involves the movement or circulation of a mass or substance. A) radiation B) conduction C) convection

C) convection

Low sun angles result in reduced solar energy because: A) day lengths are shorter. B) absorption is reduced. C) energy is spread over a larger area. D) Sun - Earth distance is greater.

C) energy is spread over a larger area.

The absorption of longwave radiation by certain gases in the lower atmosphere is responsible for: A) photon effect. B) atmospheric window effect. C) greenhouse effect. D) adiabatic effect.

C) greenhouse effect.

The earth receives energy from the Sun by: A) scattering. B) convection. C) radiation. D) conduction.

C) radiation.

The primary cause of Earth's seasons is: A) changes in atmospheric thickness. B) varying orbital speed. C) tilt of Earth's rotation axis, which causes sun angles and daylight length to vary. D) regular changes in radiation emitted by the Sun. E) varying distance from the Sun, which changes how much radiation Earth receives from the Sun.

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

The atmosphere is highly ________ with respect to solar radiation. A) absorptive B) conductive C) transparent D) reflective

C) transparent

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

During reflection, A) radiation is separated into several groups of weaker rays that travel in different directions. B) radiation retains the same intensity but bounces back from the surface at a random angle. C) a portion of radiation is absorbed by the surface and the rest bounces off of the surface. D) radiation retains the same intensity and bounces back at the same angle with which it struck the surface.

D) radiation retains the same intensity and bounces back at the same angle with which it struck the surface.

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

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.

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

The primary factor which determines what type and how much radiation an object emits is its: A) color. B) conductivity. C) size. D) density. E) temperature.

E) temperature.

TRUE/FALSE. Snow-covered surfaces have a low albedo.

False

TRUE/FALSE. Low sun angles are associated with longer atmospheric path lengths.

True

TRUE/FALSE. The earth's axis is not perpendicular to the plane of its orbit around the Sun.

True