Deck 4: Atmosphere and Surface Energy Balances

Question 1

The passage of shortwave and longwave energy through the atmosphere and water is an example of

A) absorption
B) transmission.
C) refraction.
D) insolation.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

When light passes from one medium to another, resulting in a change in speed and direction of insolation,

A) transmission happens.
B) Rayleigh scattering is the predominant effect.
C) refraction occurs.
D) it is usually not affected physically.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Molecule-to-molecule transfer of heat energy is

A) conduction.
B) convection.
C) advection.
D) latent heat.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is correctly matched?

A) conduction - molecule-to-molecule heat transfer
B) advection - strongly vertical mixing
C) radiation - assimilation and conversion of
D) convection - strongly horizontal mixing

Question 5

Earth's main energy outputs are

A) gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet radiation.
B) ultraviolet radiation and visible radiation.
C) visible and infrared radiation.
D) thermal infrared radiation.

Question 6

Which two gases are primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect because of their ability to absorb infrared energy?

A) oxygen and hydrogen
B) ozone and dust
C) nitrogen and oxygen
D) water vapor and carbon dioxide

Question 7

For the Earth's energy budget, ________ is energy income and ________ energy expenditures.

A) transmission; reflection
B) reflection; albedo
C) insolation; radiation to space
D) refraction; scatter

Question 8

An image that appears near the horizon when layers of air are at different temperatures and densities is a(n) ________ and an example of ________.

A) reflection; albedo
B) Rayleigh scatter; albedo
C) reflection; refraction
D) mirage; refraction

Question 9

The insolation received at Earth's surface is

A) usually low at the equator.
B) generally greater at high latitudes because of daylength.
C) greatest over low-latitude deserts with their cloudless skies.
D) inadequate to sustain life.

Question 10

A stove that circulates heated air to uniformly cook food is an example of ________ heat transfer.

A) conduction
B) convection
C) kinetic
D) latent

Question 11

Refraction results in changes in both ________ and ________ of light.

A) color and reflection
B) conduction and convection
C) Rayleigh scattering and mie scattering
D) albedo and absorption
E) speed and direction

Question 12

The principle that explains the differential scattering of shorter wavelength radiation and accounts for the Earth's blue sky is

A) mie scattering.
B) refraction.
C) Rayleigh scattering.
D) transmission.

Question 13

Which of the following is correct regarding the Northwest and Northeast Passages?

A) Until recently, sea ice blocked the routes, making them unavailable for shipping.
B) They have been used for shipping and circumnavigation since the 1800s.
C) They have been blocked since 2007 by increasing ice.
D) They are expected to remain open until 2015.

Question 14

Kinetic energy is defined as

A) stored energy.
B) energy flow between molecules.
C) the energy of motion.
D) energy gained or lost when a substance changes states.

Question 15

Conduction refers to

A) strong vertical movement of air in the atmosphere.
B) strong horizontal movement of air in the atmosphere.
C) the molecule-to-molecule transfer of heat energy.
D) the behavior of something.

Question 16

Scattering caused by atmospheric particles larger than the wavelengths of light is

A) mie scattering.
B) refraction.
C) Rayleigh scattering.
D) transmission.

Question 17

The science that specifically studies the climate at or near Earth's surface is

A) astronomy.
B) meteorology.
C) micrometeorology.
D) microclimatology.

Question 18

A vertical air current that is generated by temperature-induced density differences is an example of heat transfer by

A) advection.
B) convection.
C) conduction.
D) transmission.
E) diffusion.

Question 19

Earth's main energy inputs are

A) longwave radiation and ultraviolet light.
B) ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared radiation.
C) near infrared and far infrared (i.e., longwave radiation).
D) gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet radiation.

Question 20

Which of the following is true?

A) The poles receive the highest amount of insolation.
B) Th highest levels of insolation occur in the equatorial and tropical latitudes.
C) There is always a very predictable latitudinal gradient of insolation.
D) Insolation is equal at all surfaces across the globe.

Question 21

The albedo of a surface is a measure of which of the following processes?

A) transmission
B) reflection
C) scattering
D) solar radiation receipt

Question 22

The general term describing the pollution related decline in insolation to insolation to the Earth's surface is

A) greenhouse effect.
B) earthshine.
C) Global dimming.
D) Atmospheric albedo.

Question 23

Why is a greenhouse an imperfect analogy for how the Earth's atmosphere behaves?

A) A greenhouse allows longwave radiation to escape and mix with the surrounding air, unlike the Earth's atmosphere.
B) The glass of a greenhouse is designed to allow transmission of both longwave and shortwave radiation, whereas certain atmospheric constituents only allow transmission of shortwave radiation.
C) It is exceedingly rare for a greenhouse to contain carbon dioxide like the Earth's atmosphere contains.
D) Passage of longwave radiation to space is delayed by certain atmospheric constituents, but not trapped like an actual greenhouse.

Question 24

Earth's average overall albedo is

A) 31 percent.
B) 51 percent.
C) 69 percent.
D) unknown.

Question 25

When a surface assimilates radiation, the process is called

A) absorption.
B) transmission.
C) diffuse radiation.
D) refraction.

Question 26

The sky (lower tropopause) appears blue in color because of

A) reflection.
B) scattering.
C) absorption of blue wavelengths of visible light.
D) diffuse radiation.

Question 27

The assimilation of radiation by molecules of matter is

A) refraction.
B) absorption.
C) reflection.
D) transmission.

Question 28

The Mount Pinatubo eruption in June 1991 affected the atmosphere in all of the following ways except which?

A) The atmospheric albedo increased.
B) An increase occurred in the amount of energy absorbed in the atmosphere.
C) A worldwide decrease in surface temperatures occurred in the two years after the eruption.
D) A decrease in atmospheric aerosols.

Question 29

On a cloudy day, Earth's surface receives

A) direct insolation.
B) diffuse radiation.
C) direct radiation.
D) a reduced daylength.

Question 30

The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines ________ global albedo, resulting in a temporary ________ of the Earth.

A) increased; cooling
B) decreased; cooling
C) increased; warming
D) decreased; warming

Question 31

An increase in the amount of high altitude, thin clouds would

A) cool the planet in a process called cloud-albedo forcing.
B) warm the planet in a process called cloud-greenhouse forcing.
C) have no effect on the planet's temperature because insolation is constant.

Question 32

Which of the following has the highest albedo?

A) forests
B) asphalt
C) dry, light sandy soils
D) fresh snow

Question 33

Which of the following is correctly matched?

A) insolation - shortwave radiation - UV, visible, and near infrared
B) insolation - longwave radiation - thermal infrared radiation
C) terrestrial radiation - shortwave radiation - UV, visible, and near infrared
D) terrestrial radiation - shortwave radiation - thermal infrared radiation

Question 34

If the surface of Earth were to suddenly turn white, the temperature of the planet would ________ because ________ insolation would be absorbed.

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

Question 35

Which of the following has the lowest albedo?

A) fresh snow
B) croplands
C) light roof
D) forests
E) the Moon

Question 36

Because of the process known as ________ the Sun appears above the horizon ________ it has actually risen.

A) transmission; before
B) transmission; after
C) refraction; before
D) refraction; after
E) reflection; before

Question 37

Which of the following is a nonradiative transfer of longwave radiation to the atmosphere?

A) The greenhouse effect.
B) Latent heat transfer.
C) Stratospheric ozone radiation.
D) Conduction from the surface.

Question 38

Which of the following is true of the albedo of water?

A) It changes, depending upon the Sun angle.
B) It is greatest when the Sun is low in the sky.
C) It never changes-albedos are constant values.
D) It is less for frozen water than for liquid water.

Question 39

If a surface absorbs insolation,

A) its temperature increases.
B) its temperature decreases.
C) its temperature is unaffected.
D) refraction occurs.
E) diffuse radiation occurs.

Question 40

The reflective quality of a surface is known as its

A) conduction.
B) absorption.
C) albedo.
D) scattering.

Question 41

If the amount of low, thick stratus cloud cover increases, the Earth's climates would likely ________ due to increased ________.

A) cool; absorption
B) cool; reflectivity
C) warm; absorption
D) warm; reflectivity

Question 42

Sensible heat transfer (H) refers to energy transfer between the air and the surface by

A) turbulent eddies, convection, and conduction.
B) evaporation of water.
C) reflection of insolation.
D) ground heating.

Question 43

The highest annual values for net radiation (NET R) occur

A) near the equator.
B) along the Tropic of Cancer.
C) in the midlatitudes.
D) north of the equator in the Arabian sea.

Question 44

Which of the following is not a reason for the energy deficit in the polar regions?

A) little seasonal variability
B) low sun angle
C) high albedo due to snow and ice
D) up to six months without insolation

Question 45

Which of the following is true relative to the Earth-atmosphere radiation system?

A) Averaged over a year, Earth's surface has an energy budget.
B) Averaged over a year, Earth's surface has an energy deficit.
C) Averaged over a year, Earth's atmosphere has an energy budget.
D) The Earth's energy is never in balance because surface surpluses are greater than atmosphere deficits.

Question 46

NET R values are positive

A) during the night when +LW is at a maximum.
B) after dusk due to a lag effect of outgoing infrared radiation.
C) during daylight hours, peaking just after noon with the peak of insolation.
D) during the daylight hours, peaking just after sunrise.

Question 47

Longwave radiation (+ LW) arriving at the Earth's surface

A) comes primarily from infrared energy emitted by the atmosphere.
B) comes directly from the Sun.
C) comes from diffuse solar radiation.
D) comes from UV radiation reflected from the bottoms of clouds.

Question 48

Which of the following is true of differences in latitudinal energy?

A) There is an energy balance between energy gains and losses around 36° latitude.
B) There is year-round energy deficit at the Tropic of Capricorn.
C) The equator has an energy balance in the summer, but a deficit in the winter.
D) Energy imbalances betweens the tropics and the poles are negligible.

Question 49

When water evaporates from a surface, which of the following occurs?

A) Energy is stored within the water.
B) Energy is released to the surface.
C) The surface is warmed.
D) Heat is transferred back and forth between the air and surface.

Question 50

In the surface energy budget, the term - SW represents

A) heat.
B) incoming energy.
C) surface albedo.
D) NET R.

Question 51

The analogy of a greenhouse is

A) completely unrelated to our Earth-atmosphere system, and should never have been used to describe global warming.
B) exactly how the Earth-atmosphere system operates.
C) a useful, but inaccurate model since atmospheric gases do not trap, but absorb heat.
D) while it incorrectly describes shortwave energy transmission, it perfectly encapsulates how longwave terrestrial radiation is trapped.

Question 52

Differential transmissivity of shortwave insolation and longwave terrestrial radiation by various atmospheric gases is better known as the

A) global dimming.
B) greenhouse effect.
C) cloud-albedo forcing.
D) global warming.

Question 53

When water evaporates, the energy that was used to evaporate the water

A) is stored as sensible heat in the evaporated water.
B) is stored as latent heat in the evaporated water.
C) is transferred to the air by advection when the water evaporates.
D) is conducted into the underlying layer of water.

Question 54

A study of jet contrails following the grounding of commercial flights after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks found that

A) contrails have a very limited effect on the Earth's energy budget.
B) contrails reduce diurnal temperature ranges in regions with a high density aircraft.
C) contrails contribute more to cloud-albedo forcing than cloud-greenhouse forcing.
D) contrails are difficult to distinguish from natural cirrus clouds.

Question 55

The relationship between the insolation curve and the air temperature curve on a graph of daily surface energy

A) exhibits a lag of several hours between the plotted lines.
B) shows little or no relationship between the two variables.
C) shows that peak temperatures occur near noon, whereas peak insolation receipt is at 3:00 or 4:00 P.M.
D) coincide at noon.

Question 56

The relationship between insolation and air temperature through the course of day shows

A) air temperature reaches a maximum at noon when insolation also reaches a maximum.
B) air temperature reaches a maximum afternoon, whereas insolution reaches a maximum at noon.
C) air temperature maximum and minimums are not related to insolation.
D) air temperature reaches a minimum at midnight when there is no insolation.

Question 57

Which of the following is not a reason for the energy surplus between the tropics?

A) high insolation
B) indirect solar radiation
C) consistent daylength
D) little seasonal variations

Question 58

Which of the following would be true for the net radiation balance in a midlatitude location?

A) Net R is constant throughout the year.
B) There is a surplus of Net R during the summer and a deficit during the winter.
C) There is a deficit of Net R during the summer and a surplus during the winter.
D) The season at which surpluses and deficits occur varies from one year to the next.

Question 59

On the average, which of the following is true regarding the distribution of shortwave and longwave energy at Earth's surface by latitude?

A) The equatorial zone is a region of net deficits.
B) The polar regions are areas of net surpluses.
C) The distribution shows an imbalance of net radiation from equator to poles.
D) More energy is lost than is gained in the equatorial regions.

Question 60

Net radiation (NET R) refers to

A) the net energy expended for ground heating and cooling.
B) the balance of all radiation incoming and outgoing at Earth's surface.
C) the amount of insolation coming into the surface.
D) the amount of insolation not absorbed at the surface.

Question 61

Which of these cities experiences (on average) the highest annual net radiation (NET R)?

A) Salvador, Brazil
B) Montreal, Canada
C) Edinburgh, Scotland
D) Barrow, Alaska

Question 62

Following the urban heat island profile from rural areas to a typical downtown urban area, which of the following is true?

A) Commercial and urban residential areas have the highest late afternoon temperatures.
B) Large urban parks do not mitigate against the urban heat island.
C) On average, urban areas are 1 to 3°C higher than nearby rural areas.
D) The temperature variations between urban and rural environments are negligible.

Question 63

Which of the following is true regarding anthropogenic heat production in cities?

A) It can contribute 250 percent more heat energy in winter than is contributed by insolation.
B) It contributes little heat energy relative to that arriving from insolation.
C) It is too small to be considered a relevant part of the energy budget.
D) The production of this heat energy contributes very little to air pollution.

Question 64

The time of maximum daily temperature occurs

A) at the same time that maximum insolation occurs, because that is when maximum energy is available for heating the air.
B) before the time of maximum insolation, because the residual heat energy left over in the atmosphere from the previous day adds to the energy supplied by insolation.
C) before the time of maximum insolation occurs, because the thermosphere transfers heat energy to the surface during the early morning hours as the D and E layers in the ionosphere become active.
D) after the time of maximum insolation, because an energy surplus accumulates in the atmosphere while the Sun is still high in the sky and reaches a peak in mid-afternoon.
E) after the time of maximum insolation, because the ground starts to reflect heat energy in the late afternoon, and this creates an energy surplus.

Question 65

The reflective quality of a surface is called its albedo and is expressed as a percentage.

Question 66

Which of the following is not associated with urban environments?

A) higher relative humidity than that in surrounding rural areas
B) greatly increased condensation nuclei relative to surrounding rural areas
C) increased precipitation relative to surrounding rural areas
D) lower annual mean wind speeds relative to surrounding rural areas

Question 67

Which of the following is not true of solar energy?

A) The United States receives as much energy in 35 minutes of insolation as we produce by burning fossil fuels in the United States in a year.
B) It can provide both heat and electricity.
C) Photovoltaic capacity has not increased in recent years.
D) Experimental photovoltaic cells have broken the 40% efficiency barrier.

Question 68

A(n) ________ is trapped airborne pollution that can raise temperatures by absorbing insolation and reradiating heat to the surface.

A) urban heat island (UHI)
B) "cool" roof
C) urban canyon effect
D) dust dome

Question 69

Solar cookers could replace ________ as an affordable source of energy in rural villages in third world countries.

A) natural gas
B) nuclear power
C) fusion power
D) fire wood

Question 70

Which of the following related to the promise of solar energy is incorrect?

A) The Earth receives 100,000 terawatts of solar energy per hour.
B) The energy produced by fossil fuels in the U.S. in a year is equivalent to 35 minutes of insolation.
C) The technology for solar energy is not yet available for widespread use.
D) Periods of cloudiness and night are current drawbacks to available solar technology.

Question 71

On land, the highest annual values for latent heat of evaporation (LE) occur

A) near the poles.
B) over the subtropics.
C) in the tropics.
D) in the midlatitudes.

Question 72

The greater the albedo of a surface, the less it is heated by insolation.

Question 73

Which of the following combinations of NET R terms would be associated with a hot, dry climate? (LE = latent heat of evaporation; H= sensible heat; G=ground heating and cooling)

A) LE large; H small; G large
B) LE small; H large; G large
C) LE small; H small; G small
D) LE large; H small; G small

Question 74

Refraction is responsible for rainbows and mirages.

Question 75

Which of the following is false?

A) Urbanized surfaces tend to be sealed.
B) Urban surfaces have lower albedos and higher NET R values.
C) The amount of Human-produced heat is not significant in New York City.
D) A city responds much as a desert surface during and after a rainstorm.

Question 76

High latitudes have a higher albedo in winter than do low latitudes.

Question 77

Energy that is reflected from Earth's surface plays a substantial role in heating the atmosphere.

Question 78

Which of the following is not a strategy used planners and architects to mitigate against the effects of the urban heat island?

A) planting of urban forests (parks and open spaces)
B) using dark covered asphalt
C) designing rooftop gardens ("green" roofs)
D) using lighter-colored materials on roofs and other surfaces

Question 79

Over the oceans, the highest annual values for latent heat of evaporation (LE) occur

A) near the poles.
B) over the subtropics.
C) in the tropics.
D) in the midlatitudes.

Question 80

Which of the following is not responsible for the urban heating effect?

A) Heat generated by homes, vehicles, and factories.
B) Increase in human-made materials that conduct more energy than natural surfaces.
C) Increased albedo of urban environments relative to that of natural landscapes.
D) The concentration of people, machines and heat generating devices adds more heat to the environment.
E) Increased air pollution that absorbs and reradiates heat to surface.