Deck 6: Air-Sea Interface

Question 1

Sound travels more slowly in the SOFAR channel than in the areas of the ocean immediately above and below it.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

With respect to incoming solar radiation,radiation emitted back into the atmosphere has:

A)a longer wave frequency.
B)a longer wavelength.
C)a shorter wave period.
D)a shorter wavelength.
E)the same wavelength.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The doldrums can be found at the Equator.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

A mole of methane is able to absorb much more heat than one mole of carbon dioxide.

Question 5

The percentage of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth's oceans and landmasses is about:

A)25%.
B)30%.
C)50%.
D)70%.
E)90%.

Question 6

The trade winds can be found between 30^o and 60^o N and S latitudes.

Question 7

A hurricane is a very strong high-pressure system.

Question 8

Near the poles,more energy is reflected back into space than is absorbed.

Question 9

A hurricane contains more energy than has been generated in the US over the last twenty years.

Question 10

With respect to the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere,the amount of energy radiated back into space between 35^oN and 40^oS latitude is:

A)about the same as the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere.
B)dependent upon the weather conditions such as cloud cover in the local area.
C)greater than the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere.
D)less than the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere,
E)unrelated to latitude.

Question 11

The wavelength of energy radiated from the Earth back into the atmosphere is longer than the incoming solar radiation.

Question 12

A maritime polar air mass is likely to be dry and cold.

Question 13

The best climate models indicate that Earth's average surface temperature has risen by 5^oC in the last 100 years.

Question 14

The jet stream is a fast moving easterly flowing air mass.

Question 15

An iceberg is a variety of sea ice.

Question 16

The angle at which direct sunlight strike the ocean's surface is important in determining the amount of solar energy that is absorbed.

Question 17

A cold front is likely to have heavy,brief showers associated with it.

Question 18

The greenhouse gas that accounts for most of the natural greenhouse effect in Earth's atmosphere is carbon dioxide.

Question 19

The strength of a hurricane is ranked from 1 to 5 on the"

A)Coriolis Scale.
B)Fujita Scale.
C)Moh's Scale.
D)Richter Scale.
E)Saffir-Simpson Scale.

Question 20

Colder air moving over significantly warmer ocean surface water may produce:

A)a cold front.
B)a warm front.
C)changes in coastal wind direction.
D)increased coastal precipitation..
E)sea smoke.

Question 21

Refer to the figure below and use the numbers that correspond to global wind belts and latitudes to answer questions

The strongest winds on Earth are:

A)1 & 2.
B)1 & 3
C)2 & 3.
D)2 & 4.
E)3 & 4.

Question 22

Winds blowing from the north in the southern hemisphere will appear to :

A)be deflected toward the east.
B)be deflected toward the west.
C)circulate counterclockwise.
D)circulate clockwise.
E)travel in a straight line.

Question 23

A cold air mass moving into an area occupied by relatively warm air is called a(n)

A)cold front.
B)high pressure system.
C)low pressure system.
D)occluded front.
E)warm front.

Question 24

Refer to the figure below and use the numbers that correspond to global wind belts and latitudes to answer questions

The area of the globe (latitude)that is characterized by falling air masses and little precipitation is:

A)1.
B)2.
C)3.
D)5.
E)6.

Question 25

Refer to the figure below,and use the information on the map corresponding to the ocean's climatic regions to answer questions

The oceanic climate region that is characterized by sea ice coverage in the winter and open water (but cold)in the summer is indicated by the number:

A)2.
B)3.
C)4.
D)5.
E)6.

Question 26

The Tropic of Capricorn is located at:

A)0º longitude.
B)23.5^oN latitude.
C)23.5^oS latitude.
D)30^oN latitude.
E)60ºS latitude.

Question 27

The doldrums refer to the same region as the:

A)intertropical convergence zone
B)jet stream
C)subtropical jet stream.
D)subtropics.
E)trade winds

Question 28

Refer to the figure below,and use the information on the map corresponding to the ocean's climatic regions to answer questions

The oceanic climate region(s)in the majority of strong cyclonic storms are produced is indicated by the number:

A)1.
B)1 & 2
C)2.
D)3.
E)3 & 4.

Question 29

A maritime tropical air mass is likely to be:

A)dry and cold.
B)dry and warm.
C)wet and cold.
D)wet and the same temperature.
E)wet and warm.

Question 30

Refer to the figure below and use the numbers that correspond to global wind belts and latitudes to answer questions

The wind belt that corresponds to the doldrums is labeled:

A)1.
B)2.
C)3.
D)5.
E)6.

Question 31

The temperate regions are characterized by:

A)cold fronts.
B)high pressure.
C)easterly winds.
D)trade winds.
E)westerly winds.

Question 32

As a result of the Coriolis effect in the northern hemisphere,winds are deflected:

A)at a 45º angle form the original direction.
B)at a 90º angle from the original direction.
C)to the east of the original direction.
D)to the left of the original direction.
E)to the right of the original direction.

Question 33

The percentage of solar radiation directed to Earth absorbed by the clouds and the atmosphere is about:

A)10%.
B)25%.
C)30%.
D)50%.
E)70%.

Question 34

Refer to the figure below and use the numbers that correspond to global wind belts and latitudes to answer questions

The westerlies wind belt is the area corresponding to:

A)1.
B)2.
C)3.
D)4.
E)5.

Question 35

Hurricanes are an efficient way to:

A)decrease salinity in affected estuaries.
B)eradicate rainfall deficits.
C)raise local sea level due to storm surge.
D)redistribute heat from one area to another.
E)remove old-growth coastal forests.

Question 36

Low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere rotate:

A)at a 45º angle from the prevailing wind direction.
B)clockwise.
C)counterclockwise.
D)to the left.
E)to the right.

Question 37

Idealized pressure belts and wind systems are significantly modified by Earth's tilted axis of rotation and:

A)differences in the heat capacity of ocean and land.
B)differences in the latitudinal albedo.
C)Ekman transport.
D)latitudinal variations in the Coriolis effect.
E)variations in incoming solar radiation over many years

Question 38

The deflection of air masses to the right or left (depending on latitude)as they move from one latitude to another is called the:

A)Coriolis effect.
B)Cyclonic effect.
C)Ekman spiral.
D)Hadley cell.
E)Saffir-Simpson scale.

Question 39

The zone ocean where sound can travel extremely long distances is called the:

A)pycnocline.
B)SOFAR channel.
C)SONAR channel.
D)surface mix layer.
E)thermocline.

Question 40

The atmospheric component that contributes to the majority of greenhouse warming on Earth is:

A)carbon dioxide.
B)methane.
C)nitrous oxide.
D)ozone.
E)water vapor

Question 41

The gas(es)that is (are)increasing atmospheric concentration relative to other gases in the atmosphere annually is (are):

A)carbon dioxide.
B)chlorofluorocarbons.
C)methane.
D)nitrous oxide.
E)ozone.

Question 42

Burning of fossil fuels is chemically similar to:

A)autotrophic processes.
B)chemosynthesis.
C)metabolism.
D)photosynthesis.
E)respiration.

Question 43

Which of the following atmospheric constituents has the greatest ability to absorb heat (a per mole basis)?

A)carbon dioxide
B)chlorofluorocarbons
C)methane
D)ozone
E)water vapor

Question 44

Worldwide,the SOFAR channel is located at an approximate ocean depth of:

A)100 meters.
B)250 meters.
C)500 meters.
D)1000 meters.
E)4000 meters.

Question 45

Concerned individuals can reduce their personal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions by doing all of the following except:

A)install low flow plumbing fixtures.
B)planting trees and increasing green space areas.
C)purchase recycled products.
D)reducing the area covered by pavement or structures (houses,garages,pools,decks,etc)in urban and suburban areas.
E)use of compact fluorescent light bulbs in place of incandescent bulbs.

Question 46

Since 1750,the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has increased by almost:

A)10%.
B)20%.
C)30%.
D)40%.
E)50%.

Question 47

Which of the following is not a consequence of global warming?

A)droughts in prime agricultural areas
B)increasing hurricane frequency
C)melting of glacial ice
D)shifts in the world-wide distribution of plant and animal communities
E)All of the above are consequences of global warming.

Question 48

An agreement amongst 60 nations to voluntarily limit greenhouse gas emissions is called the:

A)Coriolis Protocol.
B)IPCC.
C)Keating Conference.
D)Kyoto Protocol.
E)United Nations Environmental Programme.

Question 49

When ice forms from seawater,the remaining seawater will have a:

A)darker color.
B)decreased density.
C)higher salinity.
D)higher temperature.
E)lower temperature.