Question 1

The "normal" high temperature for a given day is determined from the ____.

Accepted Answer

The "normal" high temperature for a given day is determined from the 30 year averaged high temperature for that day.

Question 2

Maximum air temperature in a given day usually occurs ____.

Accepted Answer

The maximum air temperature usually occurs 2-4 hours after maximum solar heating, when the Earth's surface has had enough time to absorb and re-radiate the sun's energy.

Question 3

In clear weather, the air next to the ground is usually ____ than the air above it at night, and ____ than the air above it during the day.

Accepted Answer

At night, the ground loses heat causing the air near it to cool down. During the day, the ground absorbs heat causing the air near it to warm up. This creates a temperature gradient where the air near the ground is cooler at night and warmer during the day.

Question 4

Which of the following would contribute to higher surface air temperatures?

Accepted Answer

Dry sandy soil with little vegetation would contribute to higher surface air temperatures because it has lower heat capacity and albedo (reflectivity), allowing it to absorb and retain more solar radiation, which heats up the air above it.

Question 5

The minimum daily temperature typically occurs at ____.

Accepted Answer

The minimum daily temperature typically occurs just before sunrise, which corresponds to the coldest part of the night. As the sun rises and starts to warm the atmosphere, temperatures begin to rise. Midnight and 3:00 am are typically colder than sunrise, but they do not represent the minimum daily temperature for a given day. Sunset is usually much warmer than the minimum daily temperature as the sun has been warming the atmosphere throughout the day.

Question 6

In a hilly region, the best place to plant crops that are sensitive to low temperatures is ___.

Accepted Answer

Hillsides are often the best place to plant crops sensitive to low temperatures because cold air tends to settle in valleys, making the valley floors colder. Hillsides can provide more moderate temperatures and better air circulation, reducing the risk of frost.

Question 7

Cold and cloudy nights are warmer than cold and clear nights (other factors being equal) because ____.

Accepted Answer

Clouds act as a blanket, trapping heat and absorbing outgoing infrared radiation from the Earth's surface. This radiation is then radiated back to the surface, thereby keeping the air and surface warmer than if the sky were clear.

Question 8

During the afternoon, the greatest temperature difference between the surface air and the air a meter or so above occurs on a ____.

Accepted Answer

On a sunny, calm day, the surface heats up significantly more than the air a meter or so above, leading to the greatest temperature difference due to reduced mixing and the direct heating of the ground by the sun.

Question 9

One would expect near-ground temperatures to be coldest when the night is ___.

Accepted Answer

Clear skies allow for heat to radiate away from the ground, dry conditions limit heat retention, and calm winds prevent mixing of the cool air near the surface with the slightly warmer air above, all leading to colder temperatures at the ground level.

Question 10

The diurnal range of temperature is greatest ____

Accepted Answer

The diurnal range of temperature is greatest 2 feet above the ground because at this height, the temperature is influenced by the heat storage and release properties of the ground, as well as the exchange of energy with the atmosphere.

Question 11

Nighttime radiation inversions occur on most ____.

Accepted Answer

Nighttime radiation inversions occur on clear, calm nights when the ground cools rapidly through radiation and the air closest to the ground also cools, causing it to become denser and settle to the ground. This creates a layer of cool air close to the ground, with warmer air above it, resulting in the inversion. Windy or rainy conditions disrupt the cooling and heating patterns necessary for nighttime radiation inversions to occur.

Question 12

Assuming that the night will remain clear, calm, and unsaturated, the predicted minimum temperature is 32°F. Suddenly, the wind speed increases and remains gusty throughout the night. The minimum temperature will most likely be ____.

Accepted Answer

The increase in wind speed causes mixing of the air near the surface with the air above. This mixing tends to keep temperatures from dropping as low as they would under calm conditions, leading to a higher minimum temperature than predicted.

Question 13

Lines on a map connecting points of equal temperature are called ____.

Accepted Answer

Lines on a map connecting points of equal temperature are called isotherms, which is best represented by choice B. Isobars are lines connecting points of equal pressure, thermals refer to columns of rising air, and thermographs are instruments used to measure temperature changes.

Question 14

The temperature of the soil is strongly influenced by solar radiation. At what depth within the soil would you expect to find the smallest annual variation in temperature?

Accepted Answer

The depth at which the smallest annual variation in temperature occurs is known as the annual temperature range. This range decreases with depth as the thermal conductivity of soil becomes more important in influencing temperature changes. At a depth of 10 centimeters, soil temperature is usually buffered against daily and seasonal temperature changes, resulting in the smallest annual temperature variation.

Question 15

Over the earth as a whole, one would expect to observe the smallest variation in temperature from day to day and from month to month ____.

Accepted Answer

Small islands near the equator are located in areas of consistently warm temperature and receive little variation in temperature from day to day and month to month. The other choices listed are influenced by factors such as latitude, ocean currents, and land masses that can lead to greater temperature variations.

Question 16

Thermal belts are ____.

Accepted Answer

Thermal belts are warmer hillsides that are less likely to experience freezing temperatures. This is because warm air rises during the day and cold air sinks, causing the cooler air to settle in the valleys, while the warmer air rests on the hillside. This creates a temperature difference between the valley floor and the hillside, resulting in a thermal belt.

Question 17

How many cooling degree-days would there be for a day with a maximum temperature of 95°F and a minimum temperature of 65°F? (Assume a base temperature of 65°F)

Accepted Answer

The answer of How many cooling degree-days would there be...

Question 18

Which of the following areas would you expect to find warmer night temperatures (assuming all other factors are equal)?

Accepted Answer

Downtown areas in cities generally have higher night temperatures due to the urban heat island effect, where buildings and other human structures trap and retain heat, causing the surrounding temperature to increase.

Question 19

Which of the following would you expect to have smaller diurnal temperature ranges (assuming all other factors are equal)?

Accepted Answer

Coastal cities typically have smaller diurnal temperature ranges due to the moderating effect of the nearby ocean. The ocean acts as a heat sink, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night, leading to more stable temperatures throughout the day.

Question 20

Orchard heaters and wind machines are most useful in preventing damaging low temperatures from occurring next to the ground on ____.

Accepted Answer

Orchard heaters and wind machines work by mixing the colder air near the ground with warm air above, so they are most effective in still air. Therefore, they are most useful in preventing damaging low temperatures from occurring next to the ground on clear, calm nights.

Quiz 3: Air Temperature