Question 1

What is the polar front and how does it influence the development of the polar jet stream?

Accepted Answer

The polar front is where cool, polar air meets warm, tropical air. The temperature difference between these two air masses creates a steep temperature and pressure gradient that intensifies high altitude wind speeds. The polar jet is strongest during the winter as the polar front migrates to lower latitudes. In summer, the jet stream is weaker as the polar front migrates to higher latitudes.

Question 2

Sand spits are formed from sand

Accepted Answer

A) carried along the coast by longshore transport. 
B) swept up from the seafloor and heaped up along the shore by wave action. 
C) swept up from the continental rise. 
D) swept into a heap by tidal currents. 
A) carried along the coast by longshore transport. 
B) swept up from the seafloor and heaped up along the shore by wave action. 
C) swept up from the continental rise. 
D) swept into a heap by tidal currents. A

Question 3

Temperature increases with altitude in the

Accepted Answer

A) troposphere. 
B) thermosphere. 
C) mesosphere. 
D) all of these 
A) troposphere. 
B) thermosphere. 
C) mesosphere. 
D) all of these B

Question 4

The ionosphere is an electrified ion-rich area

Accepted Answer

A) within the stratosphere and uppermost thermosphere. 
B) where atoms lose their electrons and become negatively charged. 
C) where nitrogen and oxygen atoms gain electrons and become positively charged. 
D) where atoms lose their electrons and become positively charged. 
A) within the stratosphere and uppermost thermosphere. 
B) where atoms lose their electrons and become negatively charged. 
C) where nitrogen and oxygen atoms gain electrons and become positively charged. 
D) where atoms lose their electrons and become positively charged.

Question 5

The ionosphere

Accepted Answer

A) is produced by the action of solar radiation and atmospheric atoms. 
B) consists of ozone ions. 
C) reflects solar ultraviolet and atmospheric atoms. 
D) occurs at roughly the same altitude as high clouds. 
A) is produced by the action of solar radiation and atmospheric atoms. 
B) consists of ozone ions. 
C) reflects solar ultraviolet and atmospheric atoms. 
D) occurs at roughly the same altitude as high clouds.

Question 6

The jet streams

Accepted Answer

A) are high-speed winds in the upper troposphere. 
B) play an essential role in the transfer of heat energy from the Equator to the Poles. 
C) are generated by strong temperature and pressure gradients. 
D) are high speed winds generated by temperature and pressure differences. 
A) are high-speed winds in the upper troposphere. 
B) play an essential role in the transfer of heat energy from the Equator to the Poles. 
C) are generated by strong temperature and pressure gradients. 
D) are high speed winds generated by temperature and pressure differences.

Question 7

The extremely hot temperature of the thermosphere has very little significance because

Accepted Answer

A) the dense air molecules in this region move too quickly to absorb much solar radiation. 
B) there is very little ozone in the air to absorb the solar radiation. 
C) there are not enough air molecules and atoms colliding with one another to generate heat energy. 
D) the thermosphere is very far from Earth's surface. 
A) the dense air molecules in this region move too quickly to absorb much solar radiation. 
B) there is very little ozone in the air to absorb the solar radiation. 
C) there are not enough air molecules and atoms colliding with one another to generate heat energy. 
D) the thermosphere is very far from Earth's surface.

Question 8

In the Northern Hemisphere, air rushing into a low-pressure region

Accepted Answer

A) spirals in a clockwise direction. 
B) sinks. 
C) spirals in a counterclockwise direction. 
D) rises. 
A) spirals in a clockwise direction. 
B) sinks. 
C) spirals in a counterclockwise direction. 
D) rises.

Question 9

The trade wind belts are regions of generally

Accepted Answer

A) little rainfall. 
B) heavy rainfall. 
C) low temperatures. 
D) westerly winds. 
A) little rainfall. 
B) heavy rainfall. 
C) low temperatures. 
D) westerly winds.

Question 10

As a scuba diver descends into the open ocean, pressure

Accepted Answer

A) increases and temperatures decrease. 
B) decreases and temperatures increase. 
C) and temperatures decrease. 
D) and temperatures increase. 
A) increases and temperatures decrease. 
B) decreases and temperatures increase. 
C) and temperatures decrease. 
D) and temperatures increase.

Question 11

Going from continental land toward the deep ocean basin, the continental margin consists of the

Accepted Answer

A) slope, the shelf, and the rise. 
B) rise, the slope, and the shelf. 
C) shelf, the slope, and the rise. 
D) shelf, abyssal plain, and the mid-ocean ridge. 
A) slope, the shelf, and the rise. 
B) rise, the slope, and the shelf. 
C) shelf, the slope, and the rise. 
D) shelf, abyssal plain, and the mid-ocean ridge.

Question 12

What causes the jet streams to form?

Accepted Answer

A) Pressure gradients. 
B) Temperature gradients. 
C) Pressure and temperature gradients. 
D) None of the above. 
A) Pressure gradients. 
B) Temperature gradients. 
C) Pressure and temperature gradients. 
D) None of the above.

Question 13

A strong temperature gradient contributes to steep pressure gradients and this can create very strong

Accepted Answer

A) latitudes. 
B) winds. 
C) doldrums. 
D) frictional force. 
A) latitudes. 
B) winds. 
C) doldrums. 
D) frictional force.

Question 14

Earth's earliest atmosphere was lacking in

Accepted Answer

A) carbon dioxide. 
B) hydrogen. 
C) free oxygen. 
D) photosynthesis. 
A) carbon dioxide. 
B) hydrogen. 
C) free oxygen. 
D) photosynthesis.

Question 15

Fresh water enters the ocean by runoff from stream and rivers,

Accepted Answer

A) precipitation of rain over the ocean, and evaporation of coastal waters. 
B) evaporation of surface water, and melting of glacial ice. 
C) precipitation, and melting of glacial ice. 
D) none of these 
A) precipitation of rain over the ocean, and evaporation of coastal waters. 
B) evaporation of surface water, and melting of glacial ice. 
C) precipitation, and melting of glacial ice. 
D) none of these

Question 16

The atmosphere is divided into several layers. The troposphere is the

Accepted Answer

A) lowest and thickest layer, where Earth's weather occurs. 
B) lowest and thinnest layer, where Earth's weather occurs. 
C) atmosphere's third and thickest layer. 
D) lowest and least dense layer in the atmosphere, where Earth's weather occurs. 
A) lowest and thickest layer, where Earth's weather occurs. 
B) lowest and thinnest layer, where Earth's weather occurs. 
C) atmosphere's third and thickest layer. 
D) lowest and least dense layer in the atmosphere, where Earth's weather occurs.

Question 17

Compared with equatorial open ocean waters, open ocean water in the northern Pacific

Accepted Answer

A) is colder and less dense 
B) has a higher salinity content. 
C) is colder and more dense. 
D) has a lower salinity content. 
A) is colder and less dense 
B) has a higher salinity content. 
C) is colder and more dense. 
D) has a lower salinity content.

Question 18

Many of the world's larger deserts are the result of

Accepted Answer

A) warm ocean currents. 
B) extremely high temperatures. 
C) strong prevailing northwesterly winds. 
D) belts of high atmospheric pressure. 
A) warm ocean currents. 
B) extremely high temperatures. 
C) strong prevailing northwesterly winds. 
D) belts of high atmospheric pressure.

Question 19

Why are temperature fluctuations greater over land than water?

Accepted Answer

The high specific heat capacity of water

Question 20

Earth's lower atmosphere is warm because of

Accepted Answer

A) incoming solar radiation. 
B) terrestrial radiation. 
C) cloud cover. 
D) outgoing short-wave radiation. 
A) incoming solar radiation. 
B) terrestrial radiation. 
C) cloud cover. 
D) outgoing short-wave radiation.

Exam 24: The Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climatic Effects

What is the polar front and how does it influence the development of the polar jet stream?

Sand spits are formed from sand

Temperature increases with altitude in the

The ionosphere is an electrified ion-rich area

The ionosphere

The jet streams

The extremely hot temperature of the thermosphere has very little significance because

In the Northern Hemisphere, air rushing into a low-pressure region

The trade wind belts are regions of generally

As a scuba diver descends into the open ocean, pressure

Going from continental land toward the deep ocean basin, the continental margin consists of the

What causes the jet streams to form?

A strong temperature gradient contributes to steep pressure gradients and this can create very strong

Earth's earliest atmosphere was lacking in

Fresh water enters the ocean by runoff from stream and rivers,

The atmosphere is divided into several layers. The troposphere is the

Compared with equatorial open ocean waters, open ocean water in the northern Pacific

Many of the world's larger deserts are the result of

Why are temperature fluctuations greater over land than water?

Earth's lower atmosphere is warm because of

Patterns of Motion and Equilibrium

Newtons Laws of Motion

Momentum and Energy

Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites

Fluid Mechanics

Thermal Energy and Thermodynamics

Heat Transfer and Change of Phase

Static and Current Electricity

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Waves and Sound

Light

Atoms and the Periodic Table

The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

Elements of Chemistry

How Atoms Bond and Molecules Attract

Mixtures

How Chemicals React

Two Classes of Chemical Reactions

Organic Compounds

Rocks and Minerals

Plate Tectonics and Earths Interior

Shaping Earths Surface

Geologic Timereading the Rock Record

Driving Forces of Weather

The Solar System

Stars and Galaxies

The Structure of Space and Time

Prologue: the Nature of Science

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