Deck 2: Climate

Question 1

The absorption and reradiation of infrared radiation by gases in the atmosphere is called the ________.

Answer 1

greenhouse effect

Question 2

The narrow region near the Equator where trade winds meet is referred to as the ________.

Answer 2

intertropical convergence zone

Question 3

The temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, cloudiness, and other atmospheric conditions that occur at a specific place and time are referred to as ________.

Answer 3

weather

Question 4

The deflection of air masses to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere is called the ________.

Question 5

________ is the amount of water vapour in the air expressed as a percentage of the saturation vapour pressure.

Question 6

In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer ________ occurs when solar rays fall directly on the Tropic of Capricorn.

Question 7

The amount of energy lost or gained per gram during a change of state is known as ________.

Question 8

The ability of the physical environment to support life is known as its ________.

Question 9

The ________ are formed by the air that reaches Earth's poles, slowly sinks to the surface, and flows southward is deflected by the Coriolis Effect.

Question 10

The ________ is the temperature at which atmospheric water condenses.

Question 11

Identify two benefits that snow cover has for vegetation.

Question 12

An east-west oscillation in weather patterns across the Pacific Ocean is referred to as the ________-Southern Oscillation.

Question 13

The average pattern of local, regional, or global weather conditions over a long period of time is ________.

Question 14

Air loses most of its water content as it moves up and over a mountain range and causes a ________ to form on the leeward side of the same range.

Question 15

The amount of force exerted over a given area of surface is called atmospheric ________.

Question 16

Radiation at higher latitudes is spread out over a larger area because of the angle of incidence and the ________.

Question 17

________ is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is used by plants to power photosynthesis.

Question 18

In the Northern Hemisphere, oceanic gyres circulate in a ________ direction.

Question 19

________ and water vapour are the major gases in the atmosphere that absorb energy from the sun.

Question 20

As altitude above sea level increases, both air pressure and density ________.

Question 21

What percentage of incoming solar radiation actually reaches Earth's surface?

A)100 percent
B)51 percent
C)15 percent
D)3 percent

Question 22

Water vapour and ________ are the two major atmospheric gases that absorb energy from the sun.

A)oxygen
B)nitrogen
C)hydrogen
D)carbon dioxide

Question 23

In which of the following areas is the solar radiation the greatest in June?

A)at the equator
B)at the Tropic of Cancer
C)at 90° in the southern hemisphere
D)at 90° in the northern hemisphere

Question 24

The systematic patterns of water movement are known as

A)circulations.
B)currents.
C)gyres.
D)trade winds.

Question 25

Relative humidity is the

A)amount of pressure at a given temperature at which water transforms from a liquid to a gaseous state.
B)amount of pressure that water vapour exerts independent of the pressure of dry air.
C)temperature at which saturation vapour pressure is achieved.
D)amount of water vapour in the air relative to the saturation vapour pressure.

Question 26

Seasonal variation in temperature and daylength is due to the

A)tilt of the Earth's axis.
B)greenhouse effect.
C)spinning of the Earth on its axis.
D)latitudinal variation in solar radiation striking the Earth's surface.

Question 27

Most organisms live in habitats that provide specific conditions or a ________ that may be very different than regional weather patterns.

Question 28

Of the 51 units of solar radiation that reach the Earth's surface, ________ units are lost to the evaporation of water.

A)51
B)30
C)23
D)7

Question 29

During an El Niño event, the waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean are unusually ________.

Question 30

Which of the following is an incorrect match?

A)equatorial low: rising air heated in the equatorial zone
B)subtropical high: semipermanent high-pressure belt of air at 30° north and south of the equator
C)Coriolis effect: deflection in the pattern of wind flow
D)subpolar low: right-deflected, southward-flowing stream of air

Question 31

Between 30-60° north latitude, wind currents typically

A)blow from west to east and are deflected toward the left.
B)blow from east to west and are deflected toward the left.
C)blow from west to east and are deflected toward the right.
D)blow from east to west and are deflected toward the right.

Question 32

Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth would

A)be much warmer than it currently is.
B)be much colder than it currently is.
C)have uniform temperatures and would lack seasons.
D)have constant sunlight.

Question 33

Habitability

A)is the ability of an organism to survive in a particular habitat.
B)is the ability of the physical environment to support life.
C)is the ability of the organism to take in resources.
D)is the ability of the physical environment to change.

Question 34

Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)

A)is the longwave radiation emitted from the Earth's surface.
B)includes wavelengths that are shorter than ultraviolet (UV)light.
C)includes only the solar energy with wavelengths of 400-700 nm.
D)is the energy that is absorbed by Earth's atmosphere.

Question 35

The rate of adiabatic cooling depends on the

A)amount of moisture in the air.
B)temperature of the air.
C)latitude.
D)season.

Question 36

The ________ effect can raise temperatures from 6°C to 8°C above those in the surrounding countryside.

Question 37

Surface currents in the ocean typically

A)flow most strongly from west to east in equatorial regions.
B)are colder on the western side of continents.
C)flow counterclockwise in gyres in the Northern Hemisphere.
D)flow unimpeded from east to west just north of Antarctica.

Question 38

All the following could be used to describe or define "environmental lapse rate" EXCEPT

A)this rate ignores the affect of moving air.
B)this is the rate at which air temperature decreases with increasing altitude.
C)this rate takes into account the influence of moisture on air temperature.
D)this rate is influenced by air pressure.

Question 39

The atmospheric region that is furthest from the Earth's surface is called the

A)mesosphere.
B)stratosphere.
C)thermosphere.
D)troposphere.

Question 40

Of the following areas on Earth's surface, which area moves fastest and has the greatest linear velocity?

A)the North Pole (90° north)
B)Barcelona, Spain (41° north)
C)the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° south)
D)the Equator (0°)

Question 41

A hotter object emits higher energy wavelengths than a cooler object.

Question 42

The physical environment influences organisms on a generational timescale.

Question 43

Weather is the long-term average of local, regional, or global conditions.

Question 44

In the vicinity of the Equator, air typically

A)rises, cools, and precipitates.
B)descends, warms, and precipitates.
C)rises, cools, and is dry.
D)descends, warms, and is dry.

Question 45

Mean global temperatures change with latitude and season.

Question 46

Snow can be ________ of the total annual precipitation in the prairies.

A)5%
B)10%
C)25%
D)35%

Question 47

Most of the energy from the sun that strikes Earth is used to power living systems.

Question 48

________ is considered a primary influence on local climate.

A)Aspect
B)Soil temperature
C)Rainfall
D)Vegetation

Question 49

Cooler air is denser than warmer air.

Question 50

During winter in the Southern Hemisphere, the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)

A)sits directly over the equator.
B)is shifted into the northern latitudes.
C)is shifted into the southern latitudes.
D)does not exist.

Question 51

The transformation of water vapour to a liquid state is known as

A)condensation.
B)evaporation.
C)saturation.
D)solidification.

Question 52

Precipitation is generally greater

A)in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere.
B)in coastal areas than in interior areas.
C)at horse latitudes (approximately 30° of latitude)than at equatorial latitudes.
D)on the leeward side of mountains than on the windward side.

Question 53

Masses of air and water are deflected to the left in the Northern Hemisphere and to the right in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 54

During El Niño conditions,

A)surface water temperatures are warmer in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
B)less rainfall occurs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
C)trade winds across the Pacific Ocean are strong.
D)increased upwelling of nutrient-rich water occurs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Question 55

Solar radiation is more direct in tropical latitudes than in temperate latitudes.

Question 56

Habitats in the Northern Hemisphere that are positioned on north-facing slopes generally ________ than those habitats situated on south-facing slopes.

A)have a higher rate of evaporation
B)have a greater soil moisture
C)experience higher air temperatures
D)experience greater fluxes in weather conditions

Question 57

Some variation in the solar radiation striking the Earth's surface is linked to ________ activity.

A)sunspot
B)El Niño
C)La Niña
D)glacial

Question 58

Densely populated urban areas tend to have

A)higher relative humidity than rural areas.
B)higher temperatures than rural areas.
C)higher wind speeds than rural areas.
D)less fog than rural areas.

Question 59

Atmospheric temperature increases with an increase in altitude.

Question 60

Air loses moisture as it rises over a mountain for all the following reasons, EXCEPT that

A)as air cools it loses its ability to hold moisture.
B)air has a lower saturation of water vapour at higher altitudes.
C)air that encounters a mountain is too heavy to rise up and over unless it loses excess water vapour.
D)water converts from a gaseous to liquid state.

Question 61

The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)tends to migrate toward regions of the globe with the warmest surface temperature.

Question 62

Precipitation is highest in polar regions.

Question 63

Rainfall in the Southern Hemisphere is greater than rainfall in the Northern Hemisphere because the oceans cover a greater proportion of the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 64

Define albedo and explain its significance concerning the ice caps and global climate change.

Question 65

Explain why seasonality occurs and why it is more pronounced at temperate and polar latitudes.

Question 66

Cold air can hold more water than warm air.

Question 67

The complicated circulation of air in Earth's atmosphere is due to both the Earth's rotation and irregular land masses on Earth's surface.

Question 68

Explain how the trade winds develop and why these were so important to 17th century merchant sailors.

Question 69

Trade winds are instrumental in forming the oceanic currents that originate at the Equator.

Question 70

Why do the amount of rainfall and the composition of vegetation differ greatly on the opposite sides of a mountain range?

Question 71

The water vapour capacity of air cannot be exceeded.

Question 72

Explain why air temperature decreases as one moves further from Earth's surface into higher altitudes.

Question 73

The average temperature in a city is greater than in the surrounding open countryside.

Question 74

Explain the differences between weather, climate, and microclimate. Which is most important for individual organisms? Give an example.

Question 75

Vegetation is usually more dense and vigorous on the leeward side of mountains than on the windward side.

Question 76

In temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, north-facing slopes are more humid than south-facing slopes.

Question 77

Explain how or why the Earth's surface emits more energy than it receives from the sun.

Question 78

Explain why the saturation vapour pressure increases with air temperature. How does relative humidity change in response to air warming or cooling?

Question 79

Surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean are cooler during El Niño conditions than during La Niña conditions.

Question 80

Why is it that, in general, more rain falls in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere?