Question 1

As the temperature of the air increases, what happens to the saturation point of water vapor in the air?

Accepted Answer

A)  The saturation point increases. 
B)  The saturation point decreases. 
C)  The saturation point remains the same. 
D)  The saturation point increases then decreases. 
A)  The saturation point increases. 
B)  The saturation point decreases. 
C)  The saturation point remains the same. 
D)  The saturation point increases then decreases. A

Question 2

How much solar radiation is reflected by Earth's atmosphere and surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  24 percent 
B)  33 percent 
C)  45 percent 
D)  60 percent 
A)  24 percent 
B)  33 percent 
C)  45 percent 
D)  60 percent B

Question 3

Warm temperatures and high precipitation break down clay particles, leach silicon, and lead to a predominance of iron and aluminum. This condition is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  cation release. 
B)  laterization. 
C)  weathering. 
D)  podsolization. 
A)  cation release. 
B)  laterization. 
C)  weathering. 
D)  podsolization. B

Question 4

Which of the following human activities is NOT a significant source of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  generating electricity 
B)  using landfills 
C)  using refrigerants 
D)  agriculture 
E)  hunting 
A)  generating electricity 
B)  using landfills 
C)  using refrigerants 
D)  agriculture 
E)  hunting

Question 5

What is the most important process in chemical weathering of rock?

Accepted Answer

A)  displacement of certain elements in minerals by hydrogen ions 
B)  displacement of certain elements in minerals by calcium ions 
C)  displacement of certain elements in minerals by potassium ions 
D)  leaching of relatively insoluble oxides, such as titanium and silicon 
A)  displacement of certain elements in minerals by hydrogen ions 
B)  displacement of certain elements in minerals by calcium ions 
C)  displacement of certain elements in minerals by potassium ions 
D)  leaching of relatively insoluble oxides, such as titanium and silicon

Question 6

Urban heat islands are warmer than surrounding areas. How might albedo contribute to urban heat islands?

Accepted Answer

Urban heat islands (UHIs) are metropolit

Question 7

The plant hardiness map developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that the ordering of the zones of plant hardiness is generally related to

Accepted Answer

A)  annual rainfall. 
B)  time of first frost. 
C)  longitude. 
D)  latitude. 
A)  annual rainfall. 
B)  time of first frost. 
C)  longitude. 
D)  latitude.

Question 8

What kind of oceanic circulation would you predict for the western coasts of continents?

Accepted Answer

A)  cold currents moving poleward from the equator 
B)  warm currents moving poleward from the equator 
C)  cold currents moving from the poles toward the equator 
D)  warm currents moving from the poles toward the equator 
A)  cold currents moving poleward from the equator 
B)  warm currents moving poleward from the equator 
C)  cold currents moving from the poles toward the equator 
D)  warm currents moving from the poles toward the equator

Question 9

Which of the following changes will increase climate warming?

Accepted Answer

A)  melting of glaciers and ice caps 
B)  increased intensity of storms and hurricanes 
C)  changes in oceanic circulation 
D)  increased precipitation 
A)  melting of glaciers and ice caps 
B)  increased intensity of storms and hurricanes 
C)  changes in oceanic circulation 
D)  increased precipitation

Question 10

Water near the equator is at a higher elevation than water near the midlatitudes because of

Accepted Answer

A)  gravity. 
B)  salinity. 
C)  temperature. 
D)  precipitation. 
A)  gravity. 
B)  salinity. 
C)  temperature. 
D)  precipitation.

Question 11

Imagine Earth as a cylinder with a pole at each end. How would the distribution of heat from the Sun change?

Accepted Answer

If we imagine Earth as a cylinder with a

Question 12

Explain why western Europe is much warmer than the same latitudes in eastern Europe.

Accepted Answer

Western Europe is much warmer than the s

Question 13

At what time of year does the Northern Hemisphere receive the most direct sunlight?

Accepted Answer

A)  December solstice 
B)  June solstice 
C)  September equinox 
D)  March equinox 
A)  December solstice 
B)  June solstice 
C)  September equinox 
D)  March equinox

Question 14

Explain why tropical soils often have low fertility.

Accepted Answer

Tropical soils often have low fertility

Question 15

Which of the following has the highest albedo?

Accepted Answer

A)  grass 
B)  snow 
C)  water 
D)  rainforest 
E)  pavement 
A)  grass 
B)  snow 
C)  water 
D)  rainforest 
E)  pavement

Question 16

Which of the following phenomena triggers an El Niño-Southern Oscillation event?

Accepted Answer

A)  development of an unusually cold high-pressure air mass in the Antarctic region 
B)  increased freshwater added to the surface currents, resulting in low salinity 
C)  reversal of high- and low-pressure areas in the equatorial central Pacific Ocean 
D)  cold water upwelling in the eastern Indian Ocean 
A)  development of an unusually cold high-pressure air mass in the Antarctic region 
B)  increased freshwater added to the surface currents, resulting in low salinity 
C)  reversal of high- and low-pressure areas in the equatorial central Pacific Ocean 
D)  cold water upwelling in the eastern Indian Ocean

Question 17

What is the cause of the higher climatic variability in the Northern Hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  Significant mountain ranges interrupt convection currents. 
B)  More human activities affect the climate. 
C)  Water surface area is less. 
D)  More oceanic currents carry cold water from the poles. 
A)  Significant mountain ranges interrupt convection currents. 
B)  More human activities affect the climate. 
C)  Water surface area is less. 
D)  More oceanic currents carry cold water from the poles.

Question 18

Compare and contrast the two soil processes called podsolization and laterization.

Accepted Answer

Podsolization and laterization are two s

Question 19

Some have proposed that humans might, individually, attempt to combat climate change by replacing their roof shingles with light or white-colored shingles rather than dark or black-colored shingles when replacing the roof of their homes. The notion behind this idea is

Accepted Answer

A)  decreasing the albedo of Earth's surface. 
B)  increasing the albedo of Earth's surface. 
C)  decreasing the reflectivity of Earth's surface. 
D)  increasing the absorption of Earth's surface. 
A)  decreasing the albedo of Earth's surface. 
B)  increasing the albedo of Earth's surface. 
C)  decreasing the reflectivity of Earth's surface. 
D)  increasing the absorption of Earth's surface.

Question 20

Which is the correct order of the soil horizons, starting at the surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  A, B, C, E, O, R 
B)  R, A, E, B, C, O 
C)  O, E, C, B, A, R 
D)  O, A, E, B, C, R 
A)  A, B, C, E, O, R 
B)  R, A, E, B, C, O 
C)  O, E, C, B, A, R 
D)  O, A, E, B, C, R

Exam 5: Climates and Soils

As the temperature of the air increases, what happens to the saturation point of water vapor in the air?

How much solar radiation is reflected by Earth's atmosphere and surface?

Warm temperatures and high precipitation break down clay particles, leach silicon, and lead to a predominance of iron and aluminum. This condition is known as

Which of the following human activities is NOT a significant source of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

What is the most important process in chemical weathering of rock?

Urban heat islands are warmer than surrounding areas. How might albedo contribute to urban heat islands?

The plant hardiness map developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that the ordering of the zones of plant hardiness is generally related to

What kind of oceanic circulation would you predict for the western coasts of continents?

Which of the following changes will increase climate warming?

Water near the equator is at a higher elevation than water near the midlatitudes because of

Imagine Earth as a cylinder with a pole at each end. How would the distribution of heat from the Sun change?

Explain why western Europe is much warmer than the same latitudes in eastern Europe.

At what time of year does the Northern Hemisphere receive the most direct sunlight?

Explain why tropical soils often have low fertility.

Which of the following has the highest albedo?

Which of the following phenomena triggers an El Niño-Southern Oscillation event?

What is the cause of the higher climatic variability in the Northern Hemisphere?

Compare and contrast the two soil processes called podsolization and laterization.

Some have proposed that humans might, individually, attempt to combat climate change by replacing their roof shingles with light or white-colored shingles rather than dark or black-colored shingles when replacing the roof of their homes. The notion behind this idea is

Which is the correct order of the soil horizons, starting at the surface?

Introduction: Ecology, Evolution, and the Scientific Method

Adaptations to Aquatic Environments

Adaptations to Terrestrial Environments

Adaptations to Variable Environments

Terrestrial and Aquatic Biomes

Evolution and Adaptation

Life Histories

Reproductive Strategies

Social Behaviors

Population Distributions

Population Growth and Regulation

Population Dynamics Over Space and Time

Predation and Herbivory

Parasitism and Infectious Diseases

Competition

Mutualism

Community Structure

Community Succession

Movement of Energy in Ecosystems

Movement of Elements in Ecosystems

Landscape Ecology and Global Biodiversity

Global Conservation of Biodiversity

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