Question 1

In the surface energy budget,the term - SW↑ represents

Accepted Answer

SW↑ represents the reflected shortwave radiation, which is related to the albedo value of the surface. Albedo is the fraction of solar energy reflected from the Earth back into space.

Question 2

Over the ocean,the highest annual values for latent heat of evaporation (LE)occur in the

Accepted Answer

The subtropics experience high latent heat of evaporation due to warm temperatures and minimal cloud cover, which allows for more solar radiation and evaporation.

Question 3

Which of the following is true regarding anthropogenic heat production in cities?

Accepted Answer

Anthropogenic heat production can contribute up to 250 percent more heat energy in winter than that contributed by insolation. This is due to various human activities such as heating buildings, transportation, and industrial processes.

Question 4

When water evaporates,the energy that was used to evaporate the water

Accepted Answer

When water evaporates, the energy that was used is stored as latent heat in the evaporated water. This is because the heat energy is used to break the bonds between the water molecules, turning them into a gas (water vapor) without increasing the temperature. This heat energy is then released when the water vapor condenses back into liquid form.

Question 5

In terms of latitudinal distribution,the highest annual value for LE over land

Accepted Answer

The highest annual value for latent heat (LE) over land is typically found in the equatorial regions, between 10° N and 10° S latitudes, due to high temperatures and abundant moisture leading to significant evaporation and transpiration.

Question 6

The urban heating effect

Accepted Answer

The urban heating effect is exacerbated by the concentration of people, machines, and heat-generating devices that add more heat to the urban environment. This effect can cause cities to be several degrees Celsius warmer than surrounding rural areas.

Question 7

Sensible heat transfer (H)refers to energy transfer between the air and the surface by

Accepted Answer

Sensible heat transfer involves the transfer of heat between the air and surface through convection (movement of air), conduction (direct transfer), and turbulent eddies (movement of air in small scales). Evaporation of water (option B) is related to latent heat transfer, not sensible heat transfer. Reflection of insolation (option C) and cloud development in the stratosphere (option D) do not relate to heat transfer between air and surfaces. Advection across land water interfaces (option E) would involve both sensible and latent heat transfer.

Question 8

Which of the following combinations of NET R terms would be associated with a hot,dry climate? $ (+\mathrm{SW} \downarrow= $ insolation)- SW↑ = albedo LE = latent heat of evaporation)

Accepted Answer

A hot, dry climate would have a high incoming solar radiation (SW↓ large) and a low reflected solar radiation (SW↑ small) due to a low albedo. In addition, a hot, dry climate would have low latent heat of evaporation (LE small) as there is little water available for evaporation. Therefore, choice B, which has both SW↓ large and SW↑ small as well as LE small, is the best choice for a hot, dry climate.

Question 9

The science that specifically studies the climate at or near Earth's surface is

Accepted Answer

Microclimatology is the science that specifically studies the climate at or near Earth's surface. Geography is a broader field, meteorology deals with weather and the atmosphere as a whole, micrometeorology focuses on small-scale atmospheric processes, and astronomy deals with celestial objects and phenomena.

Question 10

Which of the following would be true for the net radiation balance in a midlatitude location?

Accepted Answer

In midlatitude locations, the angle of incidence of solar radiation varies throughout the year due to the tilt of the Earth's axis. This results in a surplus of net radiation during the summer months when the angle of incidence is most direct, and a deficit during the winter months when the angle of incidence is more oblique. Hence, the correct answer is option B.

Question 11

Consider the continent of Greenland,which is located at high latitudes and is covered to a depth of thousands of feet by glaciers.Given these facts,which of the following is true regarding its energy budget?

Accepted Answer

Greenland's high albedo (the reflectivity of its surface) due to the vast amounts of ice and snow covering the continent means that a large portion of incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space, resulting in a significant negative shortwave radiation balance (SW↑). The other options presented are not necessarily true for Greenland's energy budget.

Question 12

The highest annual values for latent heat of evaporation (LE)on land occur in the tropics because

Accepted Answer

The dark color of forests (as opposed to sandy soils) results in the absorption of heat energy by vegetation. The tropics have dense vegetation cover in the form of forests, which have a high absorption of solar radiation, resulting in more evaporation and hence higher latent heat of evaporation values.

Question 13

When water evaporates from a surface,which of the following occurs?

Accepted Answer

During evaporation, water molecules gain kinetic energy and overcome the attractions of neighboring molecules, leading to a phase change from liquid to vapor. This results in a decrease in temperature on the surface from which evaporation occurs, as the water molecules with the highest kinetic energy leave the surface, causing a cooling effect. Therefore, the surface is cooled during evaporation (choice C).

Question 14

Which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

Urban surfaces typically have lower albedos, meaning they absorb more solar radiation, and higher net radiation (NET R) values due to the heat retained by buildings and infrastructure.

Question 15

The time of maximum daily temperature occurs

Accepted Answer

The time of maximum daily temperature occurs after the time of maximum insolation because an energy surplus accumulates in the atmosphere while the Sun is still high in the sky and reaches a peak in mid-afternoon. The ground also starts to reflect heat energy in the late afternoon, which creates an additional energy surplus. Therefore, the maximum daily temperature occurs several hours after the maximum insolation.

Question 16

Which of the following terms links Earth's energy in the hydrosphere,atmosphere,and biosphere?

Accepted Answer

The latent heat of evaporation links the energy in the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere as it is the energy required to transform liquid water into water vapor during the process of evaporation. This energy is absorbed from the surroundings, leading to cooling and a decrease in temperature, and when water vapor condenses back into liquid, the energy is released back into the surroundings as sensible heat. This process is an important component of the water cycle, which regulates the distribution of water and energy on Earth's surface.

Question 17

Net radiation (NET R)refers to

Accepted Answer

Net radiation refers to the balance of all radiation incoming and outgoing at Earth's surface. It takes into account both incoming solar radiation (insolation) and outgoing radiation from Earth's surface and atmosphere, including reflected sunlight and heat radiated by the Earth. Net radiation is an important component in understanding Earth's energy balance and climate.

Question 18

The principal expenditures of NET R from a moist,nonvegetated surface are

Accepted Answer

The principal expenditures of net radiation (NET R) from a moist, nonvegetated surface are sensible heat transfer, latent heat of evaporation, and ground heating. These processes account for the distribution of energy received from the sun.

Question 19

Longwave radiation (+ LW↓)arriving at the surface

Accepted Answer

Longwave radiation arriving at the surface comes primarily from infrared energy emitted by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is due to the greenhouse effect, where certain gases in the atmosphere trap outgoing radiation, effectively warming the planet.

Question 20

Which of the following is true of the daily surface energy balances for El Mirage (desert location at 35° N)and Pitt Meadows (Pacific coast location at 49° N)?

Accepted Answer

The question implies that the daily surface energy balances for El Mirage and Pitt Meadows have been compared, and asks which statement is true. Option A, B, D, and E can be ruled out because they state that the expenditure for LE, G, H, or the daily surface energy balances, respectively, are similar between the two locations. However, there is no such information or comparison given in the question. 
Option C is correct because it states that the NET R, which is the net radiation balance, for the desert surface and the moist vegetated surface are similar, although the values for individual terms in the heat balance equation may differ from one another. This is plausible because the desert location at 35° N and the Pacific coast location at 49° N would have different solar radiation inputs, but may show similar values for other components of the energy balance such as sensible and latent heat fluxes, and soil heat fluxes.

Quiz 4: Atmosphere and Surface Energy Balances

In the surface energy budget,the term - SW↑ represents

Over the ocean,the highest annual values for latent heat of evaporation (LE) occur in the

Which of the following is true regarding anthropogenic heat production in cities?

When water evaporates,the energy that was used to evaporate the water

In terms of latitudinal distribution,the highest annual value for LE over land

The urban heating effect

Sensible heat transfer (H) refers to energy transfer between the air and the surface by

Which of the following combinations of NET R terms would be associated with a hot,dry climate? $(+\mathrm{SW} \downarrow=$ insolation) - SW↑ = albedo LE = latent heat of evaporation)

The science that specifically studies the climate at or near Earth's surface is

Which of the following would be true for the net radiation balance in a midlatitude location?

Consider the continent of Greenland,which is located at high latitudes and is covered to a depth of thousands of feet by glaciers.Given these facts,which of the following is true regarding its energy budget?

The highest annual values for latent heat of evaporation (LE) on land occur in the tropics because

When water evaporates from a surface,which of the following occurs?

Which of the following is true?

The time of maximum daily temperature occurs

Which of the following terms links Earth's energy in the hydrosphere,atmosphere,and biosphere?

Net radiation (NET R) refers to

The principal expenditures of NET R from a moist,nonvegetated surface are

Longwave radiation (+ LW↓) arriving at the surface

Which of the following is true of the daily surface energy balances for El Mirage (desert location at 35° N) and Pitt Meadows (Pacific coast location at 49° N) ?

Quiz 4: Atmosphere and Surface Energy Balances

In the surface energy budget,the term - SW↑ represents

Over the ocean,the highest annual values for latent heat of evaporation (LE) occur in the

Which of the following is true regarding anthropogenic heat production in cities?

When water evaporates,the energy that was used to evaporate the water

In terms of latitudinal distribution,the highest annual value for LE over land

The urban heating effect

Sensible heat transfer (H) refers to energy transfer between the air and the surface by

Which of the following combinations of NET R terms would be associated with a hot,dry climate? (+SW↓= (+\mathrm{SW} \downarrow= (+SW↓= insolation) - SW↑ = albedo LE = latent heat of evaporation)

The science that specifically studies the climate at or near Earth's surface is

Which of the following would be true for the net radiation balance in a midlatitude location?

Consider the continent of Greenland,which is located at high latitudes and is covered to a depth of thousands of feet by glaciers.Given these facts,which of the following is true regarding its energy budget?

The highest annual values for latent heat of evaporation (LE) on land occur in the tropics because

When water evaporates from a surface,which of the following occurs?

Which of the following is true?

The time of maximum daily temperature occurs

Which of the following terms links Earth's energy in the hydrosphere,atmosphere,and biosphere?

Net radiation (NET R) refers to

The principal expenditures of NET R from a moist,nonvegetated surface are

Longwave radiation (+ LW↓) arriving at the surface

Which of the following is true of the daily surface energy balances for El Mirage (desert location at 35° N) and Pitt Meadows (Pacific coast location at 49° N) ?

Which of the following combinations of NET R terms would be associated with a hot,dry climate? $(+\mathrm{SW} \downarrow=$ insolation) - SW↑ = albedo LE = latent heat of evaporation)