Deck 4: Insolation and Temperature

Question 1

The reddish tint of the Sun at sunset results from .

A) scattering
B) reflection
C) condition
D) advection
E) albedo

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Although several factors are involved, the main factor controlling the distribution of annual average temperature for Earth as a whole is

A) land/water contrasts.
B) latitude.
C) altitude.
D) longitude.
E) ocean currents.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The freezing point of water is _ on the Kelvin scale.

A) 0
B) 32
C) 60
D) 273
E) - 40

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following is closely related to a surface temperature inversion?

A) low pressure
B) significant vertical mixing
C) cold- air drainage
D) heating during the daytime
E) albedo

Question 5

Cooling of air expansion is called _ _.

A) advection
B) absorption
C) convection
D) conduction
E) the adiabatic process

Question 6

Vertical motion in air causes cooling of the lifted air. This phenomenon is governed by the _ effect.

A) adiabatic
B) latitudinal
C) Coriolis
D) inversion
E) albedo

Question 7

The extremely low surface temperatures in the Antarctic in July (southern hemisphere winter) clearly demonstrate the influence of .

A) aphelion
B) adiabatic cooling
C) lapse rates
D) greater cooling of land than water
E) ocean currents

Question 8

At 0 Kelvins,

A) ice forms.
B) water boils.
C) water freezes.
D) molecular motion stops.
E) ice melts.

Question 9

On the equatorward side of each subtropical gyre is found the

A) Gulf Stream.
B) Peru Current.
C) Equatorial Current.
D) West Wind Drift.
E) California Current.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of weather shelters used for official temperature measurements?

A) The shelter is painted white.
B) The thermometer is in the shade in the shelter.
C) The shelter is usually mounted over grass.
D) The shelter is sealed so air cannot reach the thermometer.
E) The shelter is a short distance off of the ground.

Question 11

The basic direction of flow of the Equatorial counter current is

A) to the east.
B) to the west.
C) to the southwest.
D) to the northeast.
E) to the south.

Question 12

In the electromagnetic spectrum, visible light occupies the band between 0.4 and 0.7 .

A) feet
B) millibars
C) micrometers
D) Kelvins
E) meters

Question 13

On maps of solar energy receipt, the main interruption to a strictly latitudinal pattern is

A) air pollution.
B) daylength.
C) angle of incidence.
D) altitude.
E) cloud cover.

Question 14

In the Southern Hemisphere about percent of the surface is land.

A) 55
B) )019
C) 19
D) 78
E) 1.9

Question 15

The Sun

A) generates energy through fission.
B) actually plays a minor role in energizing Earth's life forms.
C) is a relatively large star.
D) is the closest galaxy to Earth.
E) is a star of average size.

Question 16

The phenomenon of Rayleigh scattering is most closely associated with which visible electromagnetic wavelengths?

A) Blue
B) X- rays
C) Red
D) Violet
E) Green

Question 17

The atmosphere is heated, for the most part, from .

A) above
B) below
C) the thermosphere
D) the stratosphere
E) none of the above

Question 18

Solar energy is also known as .

A) insolation
B) convection
C) power
D) conduction
E) longwave energy

Question 19

Which of the following would NOT be a reason why land heats faster than water?

A) no mobility
B) less transmissivity
C) less evaporation
D) the presence of clouds
E) lower specific heat

Question 20

Most of the radiation incident upon the Earth falls within the part of the spectrum.

A) infrared
B) long wave
C) radar
D) short wave
E) x- ray

Question 21

The Sun's radiant energy reaches the Earth across space in approximately

A) 8 hours.
B) 8 seconds.
C) 8 days.
D) 8 months.
E) 8 minutes.

Question 22

In terms of long- term temperature increases in the atmosphere, which of the following is TRUE?

A) It appears that we can readily curb the carbon dioxide problem.
B) The greenhouse effect has never been shown to be real.
C) Increases in greenhouse gases have been observed.
D) Average global temperature has risen 5.0°C this century.
E) No changes have been observed in this century.

Question 23

objects radiate in shorter wavelengths than objects.

A) Red, green
B) Big, small
C) Tall, short
D) Hot, cold
E) Liquid, solid

Question 24

The main culprit for global warming appears to be

A) nitrous oxides.
B) carbon dioxide.
C) chlorofluorocarbons.
D) methane.
E) inaccurate computer models.

Question 25

Which of the following is a transfer of energy between substances?

A) translational kinetic energy
B) internal energy
C) heat
D) rotation
E) angle of incidence

Question 26

Heat transferred laterally in the atmosphere by horizontal wind movements is a process called .

A) transmission
B) absorption
C) advection
D) compression
E) reflection

Question 27

With respect to absorption of solar radiation, it is understood that are the most efficient absorbers.

A) dark- colored
B) light- colored
C) plastic
D) stone
E) snow

Question 28

The boiling point of water at sea level is 100°C, which is the same as Kelvin.

A) 373
B) 410
C) 32
D) 212
E) 0

Question 29

Thermometers usually use _ if they do not contain mercury.

A) alcohol
B) liquid nitrogen
C) sodium chloride
D) formaldehyde
E) silver

Question 30

The circumpolar ocean current in the Southern Hemisphere is the .

A) West Wind drift
B) Brazil current
C) Benguela current
D) Humboldt current
E) Gulf Stream

Question 31

The observed increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in this century is attributable to

A) human activities.
B) the end of the "Ice Age".
C) earthquakes.
D) grass fires set by lightning.
E) volcanoes.

Question 32

In terms of running the Earth's atmospheric processes, the significant energy comes from the Sun and .

A) reflection from Venus
B) the next closest star
C) Earth's interior
D) the moon
E) no other source

Question 33

The speed of light is closest to kilometers per second.

A) 3,000
B) 30,000
C) 3,000,000
D) 30,000,000
E) 300,000

Question 34

In a single second, the Earth receives as much energy from the Sun as

A) it reradiates in a week.
B) all powerplants generate in a week.
C) Earth has produced by volcanic eruptions since the beginning of Earth history.
D) humans use in a century.
E) humans have used since the beginning of civilization.

Question 35

The longest of all visible light waves are _.

A) green
B) ultraviolet
C) violet
D) red
E) yellow

Question 36

As the angle of incidence becomes less, the

A) distance from Earth to Sun increases.
B) tilt of Earth's axis increases.
C) less concentrated solar energy becomes.
D) amount of energy coming from the Sun decreases.
E) Sun appears higher in the sky.

Question 37

A(n) emits the maximum amount of radiation possible, at every wavelength, for its temperature.

A) isotherm
B) blackbody radiator
C) Kelvin
D) Celsius
E) albedo

Question 38

Compared to other substances in the Earth system, air is considered conductor of energy.

A) a very poor
B) an excellent
C) a poorer than average
D) a better than average
E) an average

Question 39

About percent of the total insolation is directly absorbed by the air.

A) 12
B) 62
C) 22
D) 92
E) 0.2

Question 40

Dallas, Texas is in the continental interior. San Diego, California is on the ocean. Which of the following is true?

A) There should not be much temperature difference if their latitudes are similar.
B) Dallas should have a larger yearly range of temperature than San Diego.
C) Dallas' summertime temperatures should be lower than San Diego's.
D) There should not be much temperature difference if their longitudes are similar.
E) San Diego's wintertime temperatures should be lower than Dallas'.

Question 41

The higher latitudes receive much less intense insolation than tropical zones because of .

A) Sun's angle of incidence
B) albedo
C) greenhouse effect
D) water's transmissivity
E) ocean's specific heat

Question 42

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) The Sun essentially functions as a blackbody.
B) The Sun is a type of Black Hole.
C) The atmosphere absorbs more energy directly from the sun than it reflects to space.
D) Earth emits more energy per area than the Sun.
E) Earth radiates energy to space.

Question 43

In an inversion, which is true?

A) The temperature decreases with altitude.
B) Air rises quickly.
C) Large storms tend to be formed.
D) Wind speeds are very high.
E) The temperature increases with altitude.

Question 44

A yearly net surplus of energy is experienced for all latitudes SOUTH of which Northern Hemisphere latitude?

A) 88° N
B) 58° N
C) 8° N
D) 0°N
E) 28° N

Question 45

Subsidence inversions are most closely associated with

A) low pressure storms.
B) the presence of cities.
C) high- pressure conditions.
D) the Intertropical Convergence.
E) the rising of air.

Question 46

Advection is a _ wind movement.

A) vertical
B) compressional
C) horizontal
D) convectional
E) expansive

Question 47

More than three- fourths of all sunshine falls on as it reaches Earth's surface.

A) soil
B) water
C) clouds
D) rocks
E) continents

Question 48

The solar energy reaching Earth travels a distance of million kilometers.

A) 30
B) 567
C) 8
D) 1
E) 150

Question 49

Which set of locations is associated with a striking, persistent upwelling of cold water to the ocean surface?

A) Polar coasts
B) middle latitude eastern coasts of continents
C) Subtropical coasts of continents
D) the middle of the Atlantic Ocean
E) the middle of the Pacific Ocean

Question 50

The albedo of the Earth system has been determined to be percent.

A) 75
B) 31
C) 2
D) 100
E) 15

Question 51

The energy emitted from the Sun is a product of _ _.

A) radioactive decay
B) fusion
C) fission
D) geysers
E) none of the above

Question 52

Earth's reradiation to space consists mainly of rays.

A) shortwave
B) longave
C) gamma
D) ultraviolet
E) x- rays

Question 53

Where on Earth does one expect the greatest latitudinal displacement of isotherms between January and July?

A) over the high latitude oceans
B) over the equatorial oceans
C) over the middle latitude oceans
D) over the middle latitude continents
E) over the equatorial continents

Question 54

Sea surface temperatures sensed by satellite allows us to study

A) day lengths.
B) ultraviolet energy.
C) the greenhouse effect.
D) hygrometer.
E) El Niño.

Question 55

Because of the specific shapes of the individual continents

A) cold Arctic Ocean water is prevented from entering the Atlantic Ocean.
B) there is no subtropical gyre in the South Atlantic.
C) gyres exist.
D) warm Pacific Ocean water is prevented from entering the Arctic Ocean.
E) ocean currents exist.

Question 56

The only major country still using the Fahrenheit scale for temperature determination is _ .

A) U.S.A.
B) W. Germany
C) Canada
D) Brazil
E) Iraq

Question 57

The main oceanic gyres are centered at latitude.

A) 3°
B) 53°
C) 30°
D) 90°
E) 66°

Question 58

Only of the Sun's energy reaches the Earth.

A) 1 millionth
B) 2 millionth
C) 2 billionth
D) 1 trillionth
E) 1 billionth

Question 59

The only ocean current in the world whose flow is unbroken by any continent is .

A) Japan current
B) east Australian current
C) Humboldt current
D) North Pacific drift
E) West Wind drift

Question 60

Between 0.7 micrometers and 1,000 micrometers are the wavelengths.

A) ultraviolet
B) visible
C) x- ray
D) infrared
E) microwave

Question 61

Which of the following does NOT refer to the transfer of electromagnetic radiation?

A) transmission
B) conduction
C) absorption
D) scattering
E) reflection

Question 62

The specific heat of water is greater than that of land. This means

A) land cools more slowly than does water.
B) water is warmer than land.
C) land is warmer than water.
D) water cools more slowly than does land.
E) none of the above

Question 63

Which two terms are NOT closely related?

A) reflection, scattering
B) atmospheric absorption, ultraviolet energy
C) reflection, albedo
D) albedo, longwaves
E) longwaves, atmospheric absorption

Question 64

The radiation coming from the Sun is most plentiful at .5 micrometers. The most plentiful radiation coming from the Earth is at micrometer(s).

A) 10
B) 0
C) 5
D) 2
E) 0.5

Question 65

The text's map of the average daily insolation received in the 48 coterminous United States shows the to have the highest values.

A) northeast
B) central
C) northwest
D) southwest
E) southeast

Question 66

Adiabatic processes cause cooling by .

A) convection
B) decompression
C) conduction
D) insertion
E) radiation

Question 67

The result of a horizontal cold air intrusion into a warmer air zone produces a(n) .

A) advection inversion
B) lapse rate
C) subsidence inversion
D) radiational inversion
E) isotherm

Question 68

Which of the following is TRUE?

A) Earth's energy budget is unbalanced by latitude.
B) Earth's energy budget is perfectly balanced.
C) Earth's energy budget is vertically unbalanced.
D) Earth's energy budget is the cause of all weather.
E) all of the above

Question 69

Which of the following is the most prolific producer of carbon dioxide?

A) The production of electricity from solar energy.
B) The production of wind energy.
C) The growth of plants.
D) The production of nuclear energy.
E) The burning of fossil fuels.

Question 70

Major surface currents are set in motion by

A) the wakes of ships.
B) winds.
C) salinity differences.
D) shapes of coastlines.
E) density differences.

Question 71

The most plentiful terrestrial wavelengths are 20 times than solar wavelengths.

A) more powerful
B) faster
C) slower
D) longer
E) shorter

Question 72

The MAIN source of atmosphere heating is from the

A) absorption of insolation.
B) absorption of ultraviolet energy from the Sun.
C) reradiation of energy from the Earth.
D) conduction of energy from the Earth.
E) convection of energy from the Earth.

Question 73

An isotherm bends towards the Equator as it passes from the ocean over the land. One can infer

A) the season is summer.
B) the season is spring.
C) the season is fall.
D) it is warmer over the land than the ocean.
E) the season is winter.

Question 74

Which wavelengths are most poorly transmitted through the atmosphere?

A) solar radiation
B) visible blue
C) radiation of 0.5 micrometer wavelengths
D) shortwaves
E) longwaves

Question 75

Given land/water heating contrasts, one would expect to find the coldest winter temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere

A) in Siberia (70°N).
B) in southern Canada (50°N).
C) over the oceans off of Alaska.
D) near the North Pole.
E) in Oklahoma (35°N).

Question 76

Overall, the Southern Hemisphere has a milder winter than the Northern Hemisphere because

A) the Sun is closest to Earth during the Southern Hemisphere winter.
B) the days are shorter in the Northern Hemisphere.
C) ocean currents are almost non- existent in the Southern Hemisphere.
D) there is more water in the Southern Hemisphere.
E) all of the above

Question 77

Solar energy and terrestrial reradiation are usually measured in units of length called .

A) calories
B) micrometers
C) nanometers
D) isotherms
E) langleys

Question 78

The low temperature of the day is 50°F and the high temperature is 60°F. The noon temperature is 58°F. The mean temperature of the day would be

A) 60.
B) 55.
C) 50.
D) 58.
E) impossible to determine from the above.

Question 79

In which of the below does electromagnetic radiation change its wavelengths?

A) reflection
B) transmission
C) scattering
D) convection
E) absorption and emission

Question 80

Which substance is the best transmitter of solar energy?

A) murky water
B) rock
C) soil
D) air
E) They are all approximately equal in transmissivity.