Question 1

Explain how the effects of El Niño-Southern Oscillation illustrate the importance of air and water currents in the global distribution of heat.

Accepted Answer

El Niño-Southern Oscillation is driven b

Question 2

Compared with coastal regions, the interior of a continent usually has _____ precipitation and ______ variation in climate.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

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 4

Decreased temperature in adiabatic cooling is a result of

Accepted Answer

A)  condensation of water vapour. 
B)  a decrease in volume. 
C)  absorption of sunlight. 
D)  a decrease in pressure. 
A)  condensation of water vapour. 
B)  a decrease in volume. 
C)  absorption of sunlight. 
D)  a decrease in pressure.

Question 5

Why is it difficult to predict how climate will change as a response to global warming?

Accepted Answer

A)  The future levels of greenhouse gases are difficult to predict. 
B)  It is difficult to predict how human technology might change the climate. 
C)  The global climate is complex. 
D)  Variability resulting from the Sun's effects is unknown. 
A)  The future levels of greenhouse gases are difficult to predict. 
B)  It is difficult to predict how human technology might change the climate. 
C)  The global climate is complex. 
D)  Variability resulting from the Sun's effects is unknown.

Question 6

Which is the correct order of the processes that occur in a Hadley cell?

Accepted Answer

A)  adiabatic cooling, warm air displacing cool air, air rising, adiabatic heating, latent heat release 
B)  adiabatic heating, air rising, warm air displacing cool air, latent heat release, adiabatic cooling 
C)  air rising, warm air displacing cool air, adiabatic heating, latent heat release, adiabatic cooling 
D)  air rising, adiabatic cooling, latent heat release, warm air displacing cool air, adiabatic heating 
A)  adiabatic cooling, warm air displacing cool air, air rising, adiabatic heating, latent heat release 
B)  adiabatic heating, air rising, warm air displacing cool air, latent heat release, adiabatic cooling 
C)  air rising, warm air displacing cool air, adiabatic heating, latent heat release, adiabatic cooling 
D)  air rising, adiabatic cooling, latent heat release, warm air displacing cool air, adiabatic heating

Question 7

Why is it difficult to calculate a regression line for a nonlinear regression like the one in the nearby graph?

Accepted Answer

The primary difficulty is due

Question 8

Which of the following ions is NOT an important nutrient for plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  K+ 
B)  Ca2+ 
C)  Na+ 
D)  H+ 
E)  Mg2+ 
A)  K+ 
B)  Ca2+ 
C)  Na+ 
D)  H+ 
E)  Mg2+

Question 9

What causes the characteristic reddish color of soil in laterization?

Accepted Answer

A)  high acidity 
B)  iron and aluminum oxides 
C)  high levels of organic matter 
D)  low cation exchange capacity 
A)  high acidity 
B)  iron and aluminum oxides 
C)  high levels of organic matter 
D)  low cation exchange capacity

Question 10

Explain why tropical soils often have low fertility.

Accepted Answer

Tropical soils undergo more weathering,

Question 11

Additional water vapour in the atmosphere has both positive and negative feedback. Why is this?

Accepted Answer

Because water vapour is a greenhouse gas

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

Explain how the Coriolis effect would change if Earth were egg-shaped, with a more narrow equatorial region.

Accepted Answer

A more narrow equatorial region would re

Question 14

The parent material of a soil is

Accepted Answer

A)  the organic matter from the vegetation on top of the soil. 
B)  the area from which the soil has been transported. 
C)  the bedrock underneath the soil. 
D)  the type of erosion that contributed to soil formation. 
A)  the organic matter from the vegetation on top of the soil. 
B)  the area from which the soil has been transported. 
C)  the bedrock underneath the soil. 
D)  the type of erosion that contributed to soil formation.

Question 15

Where is the solar equator?

Accepted Answer

A)  at the Tropic of Cancer 
B)  between the equator and 23.5º N, depending on the season 
C)  between 23.5º S and 23.5º N of the equator, depending on the season 
D)  along the equator 
E)  between the equator and the Tropic of Capricorn 
A)  at the Tropic of Cancer 
B)  between the equator and 23.5º N, depending on the season 
C)  between 23.5º S and 23.5º N of the equator, depending on the season 
D)  along the equator 
E)  between the equator and the Tropic of Capricorn

Question 16

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.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

If Earth were cylindrical, there would b

Question 18

One potential effect of climate change is that it could disrupt thermohaline circulation. What might cause this disruption?

Accepted Answer

Thermohaline circulation is driven by th

Question 19

The greenhouse effect occurs because of the absorption and reemission of _______ radiation by the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A)  visible light 
B)  infrared 
C)  ultraviolet 
D)  shortwave 
A)  visible light 
B)  infrared 
C)  ultraviolet 
D)  shortwave

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

The albedo of pavement and most roofs is

Exam 5: Climates and Soils

Explain how the effects of El Niño-Southern Oscillation illustrate the importance of air and water currents in the global distribution of heat.

Compared with coastal regions, the interior of a continent usually has _____ precipitation and ______ variation in climate.

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

Decreased temperature in adiabatic cooling is a result of

Why is it difficult to predict how climate will change as a response to global warming?

Which is the correct order of the processes that occur in a Hadley cell?

Why is it difficult to calculate a regression line for a nonlinear regression like the one in the nearby graph?

Which of the following ions is NOT an important nutrient for plants?

What causes the characteristic reddish color of soil in laterization?

Explain why tropical soils often have low fertility.

Additional water vapour in the atmosphere has both positive and negative feedback. Why is this?

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

Explain how the Coriolis effect would change if Earth were egg-shaped, with a more narrow equatorial region.

The parent material of a soil is

Where is the solar equator?

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

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

One potential effect of climate change is that it could disrupt thermohaline circulation. What might cause this disruption?

The greenhouse effect occurs because of the absorption and reemission of _______ radiation by the atmosphere.

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

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 Behaviours

Population Distributions

Population Growth and Regulation

Population Dynamics Over Space and Time

Predation and Herbivory

Parasitism and Infectious Diseases

Competition

Community Structure

Community Succession

Movement of Energy in Ecosystems

Movement of Elements in Ecosystems

Landscape Ecology, Biogeography, and Global Biodiversity

Global Conservation of Biodiversity

Filters

Compared with coastal regions, the interior of a continent usually has _ precipitation and __ variation in climate.