Question 1

Cool air is _______ dense than warm air; as air cools, it _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  more; rises 
B)  more; sinks 
C)  less; rises 
D)  less; sinks 
A)  more; rises 
B)  more; sinks 
C)  less; rises 
D)  less; sinks

Question 2

Climatic variation occurs over which time scales?

Accepted Answer

A)  Daily time scales only 
B)  Daily and yearly time scales only 
C)  Yearly and decade time scales only 
D)  Across daily, seasonal, and yearly time scales 
A)  Daily time scales only 
B)  Daily and yearly time scales only 
C)  Yearly and decade time scales only 
D)  Across daily, seasonal, and yearly time scales

Question 3

If perihelion were in July instead of January, seasonality would _______ in the Northern Hemisphere and _______ in the Southern hemisphere.

Accepted Answer

A)  increase; decrease 
B)  increase; increase 
C)  decrease; increase 
D)  decrease; decrease 
A)  increase; decrease 
B)  increase; increase 
C)  decrease; increase 
D)  decrease; decrease

Question 4

High-pressure systems typically form over the Atlantic Ocean during the summer. If such systems did not form as often, _______ would become _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  South Carolina; wetter 
B)  Toronto; wetter 
C)  South Carolina; drier 
D)  Paris; wetter 
A)  South Carolina; wetter 
B)  Toronto; wetter 
C)  South Carolina; drier 
D)  Paris; wetter

Question 5

Fish such as salmon, which are born in freshwater streams but spend most of their adult lives in the ocean, are termed

Accepted Answer

A)  catadromous. 
B)  anadromous. 
C)  androgynous. 
D)  oscillatory. 
A)  catadromous. 
B)  anadromous. 
C)  androgynous. 
D)  oscillatory.

Question 6

Suppose Earth's rotation were somewhat faster than it is now. From the standpoint of a fixed viewer on Earth's surface, wind moving south in the Northern Hemisphere would appear to be deflected to the _______ and it would be deflected to a _______ extent than it is now.

Accepted Answer

A)  east; greater 
B)  east; lesser 
C)  west; greater 
D)  west; lesser 
A)  east; greater 
B)  east; lesser 
C)  west; greater 
D)  west; lesser

Question 7

Refer to the figure.
  The map is of an imaginary planet that is roughly the same as Earth. Like Earth, it is tilted on its axis by about 23F1F1F1S1$\degree$F1F1F10, and it rotates around a sun-like star in approximately one year. Which site would mostly likely have the greatest variation in temperature during the year?

Accepted Answer

A)  Site A 
B)  Site B 
C)  Site C 
D)  Site D 
A)  Site A 
B)  Site B 
C)  Site C 
D)  Site D

Question 8

Over the last century, which cycle has had the greatest effect on cycles of salmon production in the North Pacific?

Accepted Answer

A)  El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) 
B)  Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) 
C)  Sunspot activity cycle 
D)  Lunar cycle 
A)  El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) 
B)  Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) 
C)  Sunspot activity cycle 
D)  Lunar cycle

Question 9

A leak from an oil pipeline is flowing into an Alaskan lake that is approximately 1 km wide and 20 m deep. When oil spills into a body of water, much of it floats on top but some can adhere to tiny particles in the water column and be carried into deeper water.
During which season(s) would the oil most likely remain on the surface and be easiest to clean up? Why? During which season would you expect the most oil to move into deeper water? Why?

Accepted Answer

The best seasons to clean up the oil wou

Question 10

In recent years, major episodes of very cold weather have sometimes been highlighted by non-scientists as evidence that the climate is not really warming. What fundamental misunderstanding does this illustrate and how does this relate to the challenge in detecting the Pacific Decadal Oscillation?

Accepted Answer

Weather refers to the current temperatur

Question 11

Which statement best explains why atmospheric pressure declines with altitude?

Accepted Answer

A)  As altitude increases, there are fewer air molecules pressing down on a given molecule of air. 
B)  At higher altitudes, air is cooler and thus does not move around as much as the warmer air at lower altitudes. 
C)  As altitude increases, air holds less moisture and thus feels lighter. 
D)  There is more subsidence as altitude increases. 
A)  As altitude increases, there are fewer air molecules pressing down on a given molecule of air. 
B)  At higher altitudes, air is cooler and thus does not move around as much as the warmer air at lower altitudes. 
C)  As altitude increases, air holds less moisture and thus feels lighter. 
D)  There is more subsidence as altitude increases.

Question 12

In comparison to deeper waters, surface oceanic waters are

Accepted Answer

A)  colder. 
B)  saltier. 
C)  less dense. 
D)  Both a and b 
A)  colder. 
B)  saltier. 
C)  less dense. 
D)  Both a and b

Question 13

Suppose water sample A has a pH of 4.3. The pH of a sample of water that has 10 times a lower concentration of H+ ions as sample A would be

Accepted Answer

A)  3.3. 
B)  3.8. 
C)  5.3. 
D)  14.3. 
A)  3.3. 
B)  3.8. 
C)  5.3. 
D)  14.3.

Question 14

Named for their importance to shipping, the trade winds blow to the _______ in the Northern Hemisphere, to the _______ in the Southern Hemisphere, and _______ the equator.

Accepted Answer

A)  west; east; away from 
B)  east; west; toward 
C)  west; west; toward 
D)  east; west; away from 
A)  west; east; away from 
B)  east; west; toward 
C)  west; west; toward 
D)  east; west; away from

Question 15

If Earth were heated slightly more at the equator, Hadley cells should be become slightly _______ pronounced, and there would likely be slightly _______ rain at around 30°N.

Accepted Answer

A)  more; more 
B)  less; more 
C)  more; less 
D)  less; less 
A)  more; more 
B)  less; more 
C)  more; less 
D)  less; less

Question 16

During January, in which location would you expect a strong high-pressure system to develop?

Accepted Answer

A)  In the United States, around Colorado 
B)  In the Atlantic Ocean, near Bermuda 
C)  In South America, around the equator 
D)  In South Africa 
A)  In the United States, around Colorado 
B)  In the Atlantic Ocean, near Bermuda 
C)  In South America, around the equator 
D)  In South Africa

Question 17

Which statement about oceanic currents is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Deep oceanic currents meet surface currents at zones of upwelling. 
B)  Because they move so slowly, oceanic currents contribute little to the exchange of heat between the tropics and the polar regions. 
C)  Oceanic currents can have profound effects on the climates of regions where they flow. 
D)  Dense downwelling currents move to the equator. 
A)  Deep oceanic currents meet surface currents at zones of upwelling. 
B)  Because they move so slowly, oceanic currents contribute little to the exchange of heat between the tropics and the polar regions. 
C)  Oceanic currents can have profound effects on the climates of regions where they flow. 
D)  Dense downwelling currents move to the equator.

Question 18

Which statement about climate is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Climate usually has little effect on the rate of periodic disturbances in an area. 
B)  The timing of a change to the physical environment is often ecologically important. 
C)  Climate influences the rates of abiotic processes that affect organisms. 
D)  The distribution of organisms tends to reflect extremes, rather than averages, in the climates of particular locales. 
A)  Climate usually has little effect on the rate of periodic disturbances in an area. 
B)  The timing of a change to the physical environment is often ecologically important. 
C)  Climate influences the rates of abiotic processes that affect organisms. 
D)  The distribution of organisms tends to reflect extremes, rather than averages, in the climates of particular locales.

Question 19

Which continent shows precipitation patterns closest to what would be predicted based on the positions of the Hadley, Ferrell, and polar circulation cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  Africa 
B)  Asia 
C)  Europe 
D)  North America 
A)  Africa 
B)  Asia 
C)  Europe 
D)  North America

Question 20

Some models of climate change suggest that the Gulf Stream may become weaker as global temperature increases. Such a weakening in the Gulf Stream would most likely result in

Accepted Answer

A)  warming in Seattle. 
B)  warming in London. 
C)  cooling in Seattle. 
D)  cooling in London. 
A)  warming in Seattle. 
B)  warming in London. 
C)  cooling in Seattle. 
D)  cooling in London.

Exam 2: The Physical Environment

Cool air is _______ dense than warm air; as air cools, it _______.

Climatic variation occurs over which time scales?

If perihelion were in July instead of January, seasonality would _______ in the Northern Hemisphere and _______ in the Southern hemisphere.

High-pressure systems typically form over the Atlantic Ocean during the summer. If such systems did not form as often, _______ would become _______.

Fish such as salmon, which are born in freshwater streams but spend most of their adult lives in the ocean, are termed

Suppose Earth's rotation were somewhat faster than it is now. From the standpoint of a fixed viewer on Earth's surface, wind moving south in the Northern Hemisphere would appear to be deflected to the _______ and it would be deflected to a _______ extent than it is now.

Over the last century, which cycle has had the greatest effect on cycles of salmon production in the North Pacific?

In recent years, major episodes of very cold weather have sometimes been highlighted by non-scientists as evidence that the climate is not really warming. What fundamental misunderstanding does this illustrate and how does this relate to the challenge in detecting the Pacific Decadal Oscillation?

Which statement best explains why atmospheric pressure declines with altitude?

In comparison to deeper waters, surface oceanic waters are

Suppose water sample A has a pH of 4.3. The pH of a sample of water that has 10 times a lower concentration of H+ ions as sample A would be

Named for their importance to shipping, the trade winds blow to the _______ in the Northern Hemisphere, to the _______ in the Southern Hemisphere, and _______ the equator.

If Earth were heated slightly more at the equator, Hadley cells should be become slightly _______ pronounced, and there would likely be slightly _______ rain at around 30°N.

During January, in which location would you expect a strong high-pressure system to develop?

Which statement about oceanic currents is false?

Which statement about climate is false?

Which continent shows precipitation patterns closest to what would be predicted based on the positions of the Hadley, Ferrell, and polar circulation cells?

Some models of climate change suggest that the Gulf Stream may become weaker as global temperature increases. Such a weakening in the Gulf Stream would most likely result in

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Cool air is _ dense than warm air; as air cools, it _.

If perihelion were in July instead of January, seasonality would _ in the Northern Hemisphere and _ in the Southern hemisphere.

High-pressure systems typically form over the Atlantic Ocean during the summer. If such systems did not form as often, _ would become _.

Suppose Earth's rotation were somewhat faster than it is now. From the standpoint of a fixed viewer on Earth's surface, wind moving south in the Northern Hemisphere would appear to be deflected to the _ and it would be deflected to a _ extent than it is now.

Suppose water sample A has a pH of 4.3. The pH of a sample of water that has 10 times a lower concentration of H⁺ ions as sample A would be

Named for their importance to shipping, the trade winds blow to the ___ in the Northern Hemisphere, to the _ in the Southern Hemisphere, and _____ the equator.

If Earth were heated slightly more at the equator, Hadley cells should be become slightly _ pronounced, and there would likely be slightly _ rain at around 30°N.