Deck 4: Insolation and Temperature

Question 1

Which wavelengths are most poorly transmitted through the atmosphere?

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

Answer 1

A

Question 2

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

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

Answer 2

D

Question 3

________ objects radiate in shorter wavelengths than ________ objects.

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

Answer 3

E

Question 4

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

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

Question 5

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

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

Question 6

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

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

Question 7

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

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

Question 8

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

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

Question 9

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

A) red
B) green
C) blue
D) violet
E) x-rays

Question 10

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

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

Question 11

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

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

Question 12

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

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

Question 13

Cooling because of air expansion is called ________.

A) conduction
B) convection
C) advection
D) adiabatic cooling
E) absorption

Question 14

The map of world average annual temperature range shows ________ to have the greatest range.

A) eastern Siberia
B) central Australia
C) northern Africa
D) southern South America
E) central Europe

Question 15

Which substance is the best transmitter of solar energy?

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

Question 16

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

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

Question 17

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

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

Question 18

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

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

Question 19

The Earth as a body has a yearly net loss of energy at the top of the atmosphere north of ________ degrees north latitude.

A) 10
B) 28
C) 56
D) 66.5
E) 90

Question 20

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

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

Question 21

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

A) 94
B) 64
C) 24
D) 14
E) 0.4

Question 22

Adiabatic processes cause cooling by ________.

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

Question 23

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

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

Question 24

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

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

Question 25

Radiation from the Earth is mostly absorbed in the lower troposphere and ________ back towards Earth.

A) reradiated
B) scattered
C) conducted
D) convected
E) reflected

Question 26

The process of evaporation of liquid water to vapor releases stored energy called

A) convection.
B) latent heat.
C) advection.
D) compression.
E) conduction.

Question 27

The longest of all visible light waves are ________.

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

Question 28

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

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

Question 29

For the most part the atmosphere is heated directly from the ________.

A) Sun
B) Earth's surface
C) storms
D) cyclones
E) reflection from the Moon

Question 30

"Jiggling" is a description of the motion of

A) chemical energy.
B) atoms.
C) electromagnetic radiation.
D) x-rays.
E) scales used to measure Kelvins.

Question 31

At 0 Kelvins,

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

Question 32

Earth's reradiation to space consists mainly of ________.

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

Question 33

The extremely low surface temperatures in the Antarctic in July (Southern Hemisphere winter) clearly demonstrate the influence of ________.

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

Question 34

In the Northern Hemisphere about ________ percent of the surface is land.

A) )039
B) 13.9
C) 39
D) 76
E) 91

Question 35

The absorption of longwave radiation in the atmosphere is popularly called

A) Coriolis effect.
B) scattering.
C) the greenhouse effect.
D) advection.
E) the carbon dioxide effect.

Question 36

A temperature inversion is mainly an inversion of the ________.

A) isotherms
B) normal lapse rate
C) Coriolis effect
D) gyres
E) topography

Question 37

Which of the following phenomena is NOT closely associated with atmospheric water vapor?

A) presence of latent heat
B) absorption of longwave energy
C) the greenhouse effect
D) absorption of terrestrial reradiation
E) adiabatic warming

Question 38

Advection is a(n) ________ wind movement.

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

Question 39

Only ________ of the Sun's energy reaches the Earth.

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

Question 40

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

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

Question 41

Which of the following electromagnetic wavelengths are LONGEST?

A) microwaves
B) visible energy
C) ultraviolet energy
D) cosmic rays
E) infrared energy

Question 42

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

A) Average global temperature has risen 5.0°C in the last 100 years.
B) No changes have been observed in the 21st century.
C) The greenhouse effect has never been shown to be real.
D) Increases in greenhouse gases have been observed.
E) It appears that we can readily curb the carbon dioxide problem.

Question 43

The circumpolar ocean current in the Southern Hemisphere is the ________.

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

Question 44

Most oceanic gyres are centered at ________ latitude.

A) 3°
B) 30°
C) 53°
D) 66°
E) 90°

Question 45

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

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

Question 46

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

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

Question 47

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

A) dark color
B) light color
C) stone
D) plastic
E) snow

Question 48

In the heating of the atmosphere, which amount of energy is SMALLEST?

A) solar radiation received at the surface
B) the albedo of the Earth system
C) solar radiation absorbed by ozone
D) solar radiation entering the atmosphere
E) solar radiation absorbed by the atmosphere

Question 49

The reddish tint of the Sun at sunset results from ________.

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

Question 50

The current observed increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is attributable to

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

Question 51

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

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

Question 52

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

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

Question 53

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

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

Question 54

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

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

Question 55

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

Question 56

Cool ocean currents deflect global Earth surface isotherms ________.

A) poleward
B) towards the Prime Meridian
C) equatorward
D) towards the closest continent
E) towards the ocean bottom

Question 57

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

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

Question 58

Ocean gyres flow ________ in the Southern Hemisphere.

A) clockwise
B) counterclockwise
C) northward
D) southward
E) towards the Equator

Question 59

Sea surface temperatures sensed by satellite allows us to study

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

Question 60

The belt of maximum solar energy input to Earth swings back and forth

A) between 0 through 90 degrees latitude.
B) through the middle latitudes.
C) through the area of energy deficit.
D) through the tropics.
E) through a total of 5 degrees of latitude.

Question 61

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

A) 0°N
B) 8°N
C) 28°N
D) 58°N
E) 88°N

Question 62

What process explains the slow rate of snowmelt on a sunny day when the air temperature is above freezing?

A) conduction
B) transmission
C) reflection
D) advection
E) convection

Question 63

The basic direction of flow of the equatorial counter current is

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

Question 64

The Sun

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

Question 65

Major surface currents are set in motion by

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

Question 66

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

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

Question 67

Almost all terrestrial radiation can be considered to be ________ and almost all solar radiation can be considered to be ________.

A) shortwave, longwave
B) shortwave, shortwave
C) longwave, longwave
D) longwave, shortwave
E) heat, light

Question 68

Which two of the following terms describe processes which are quite similar?

A) absorption and transmission
B) scattering and reflection
C) transmission and convection
D) absorption and adiabatic heating
E) radiation and conduction

Question 69

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

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

Question 70

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

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

Question 71

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

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

Question 72

The speed of light is closest to ________ kilometers per second.

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

Question 73

Subsidence inversions are most closely associated with

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

Question 74

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

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

Question 75

In an inversion, which is true?

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

Question 76

For atmospheric radiation, ________ micrometers is considered to be the boundary between "shortwaves" and "longwaves."

A) 1
B) 4
C) 10
D) 40
E) 100

Question 77

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

Question 78

The normal vertical temperature gradient (average lapse rate) in the troposphere is CLOSEST to how many degrees Celsius per 1,000 meters?

A) 1.5
B) 3.5
C) 6.5
D) 16.5
E) 32.5

Question 79

On the equatorward side of each subtropical gyre is found the

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

Question 80

On the average, sunlight received on the Earth's surface is only ________ as strong as that received at the edge of the atmosphere.

A) 1/100
B) 1/10
C) 1/4
D) 1/2
E) 1/8