Deck 3: Seasonal and Daily Temperatures

Question 1

Everything else being equal, above which of the following surfaces does the lowest air temperature occur on a winter night?

A)surface covered with water
B)surface covered with vegetation
C)surface covered with snow
D)bare surface

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Consider the scenario in which peas are planted in Ontario on May 1. If the peas need 1200 growing degree-days before they can be picked, and if the mean temperature for each day from May to July is 21°C, in about how many days will the peas be ready to pick? (Assume a base temperature of 4°C).

A)70
B)30
C)120
D)40

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following weather conditions are necessary for Indian summer weather conditions to occur in the eastern part of Canada?

A)a strong slow-moving low pressure area just east of Nova Scotia
B)a strong fast-moving low pressure area over New Brunswick
C)a cold front moving off Ontario
D)a strong slow-moving high pressure area off the southeast coast

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following statements describes where the sun rises and sets on June 22 in the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere?

A)It rises in the northeast and sets in the southwest.
B)It rises in the southeast and sets in the southwest.
C)It rises in the southeast and sets in the northwest.
D)It rises in the northeast and sets in the northwest.

Question 5

After which of the following times of year does the number of daylight hours begin to shorten in the Northern Hemisphere?

A)spring equinox
B)winter solstice
C)autumn equinox
D)summer solstice

Question 6

In a hilly region, which of the following locations is the best place to plant crops that are sensitive to low temperatures?

A)on the valley floor
B)along the hillsides
C)in any dry location
D)on the top of the highest hill

Question 7

The Earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5° with respect to the plane of its orbit around the sun. Which of the following describes what would happen in middle latitudes if the angle was increased to 40°?

A)hotter summers and colder winters than at present
B)cooler summers and milder winters than at present
C)hotter summers and milder winters than at present
D)cooler summers and colder winters than at present

Question 8

On which of the following days at the North Pole will the sun rise above the horizon?

A)June 22
B)December 22
C)March 21
D)September 23

Question 9

Which of the following statements describes wind-chill factor?

A)It indicates the temperature at which water freezes on exposed skin.
B)It relates body heat loss in wind conditions to an equivalent temperature with no wind.
C)It tells farmers when to protect crops from a freeze.
D)It takes into account humidity and air temperature in expressing the current air temperature.

Question 10

Which of the following statements gives an important reason for the large daily temperature range over deserts?

A)Free convection cells are unable to form above the hot desert ground.
B)Dry air is a very poor heat conductor.
C)There is little water vapour in the air to absorb and re-radiate infrared radiation.
D)The light coloured sand radiates heat very rapidly at night.

Question 11

Which of the following statements helps to explain why northern latitudes are cooler than latitudes farther south even though they experience 24 hours of sunlight on June 22 each year?

A)Solar energy is used to melt frozen soil in northern latitudes.
B)Increased cloud cover absorbs solar energy in northern latitudes.
C)Most of the sun's energy is absorbed by snow and ice in northern latitudes.
D)Solar energy is spread over a smaller area in northern latitudes.

Question 12

When compared to land, how does water heat?

A)more slowly
B)more slowly at first, and then more quickly
C)more quickly
D)at same rate

Question 13

During which of the following months does Indian summer most likely occur?

A)August
B)June
C)October
D)December

Question 14

Which of the following places receives the greatest amount of solar radiation?

A)south pole
B)north pole
C)top of the atmosphere
D)surface of the Earth

Question 15

Which of the following terms refers to a thermometer with a small constriction just above the bulb?

A)thermocouple
B)electrical thermometer
C)minimum thermometer
D)maximum thermometer

Question 16

During which of the following afternoon weather conditions do the greatest temperature differences occur between surface air and the air several metres above surface?

A)cloudy, windy
B)clear, windy
C)cloudy, calm
D)clear, calm

Question 17

In which of the following weather conditions is hypothermia most common?

A)cold, dry
B)cold, wet
C)hot, dry
D)hot, humid

Question 18

Referring to the diagram, sunlight energy is added at equal rates to soil and water. Which of the following factors contributes to the different temperatures of the two surfaces?

A)angle of the sun on the horizon
B)heat capacity
C)composition of the overlying atmosphere
D)time of the year

Question 19

Which of the following processes cool both the ground and the air above on a clear, calm night?

A)conduction
B)radiation
C)convection
D)evaporation

Question 20

What is the angle of the sun in Toronto, Ontario (latitude 44°N) on December 21?

A)16.5°
B)18.5°
C)20.5°
D)22.5°

Question 21

On December 22 each year, which of the following latitudes experiences the fewest hours of daylight?

A)0^° (equator)
B)20°S
C)60°N
D)60°S

Question 22

Assuming a base temperature of 18°C, how many cooling degree-days are there for a day with a maximum temperature of 35°C and a minimum temperature of 18°C?

A)10
B)8.5
C)7.5
D)5.5

Question 23

At which of the following heights does the greatest variation in daily temperature usually occur?

A)at ground level
B)at the level where thermals stop rising
C)at the top of a high-rise apartment building
D)about 2 metres above the ground

Question 24

Which of the following conditions are ideal for a strong radiation inversion?

A)cloudy, windy, moist, summer night
B)clear, calm, moist, summer night
C)cloudy, calm, moist, winter night
D)clear, calm, dry, winter night

Question 25

At any given time, how much of the Earth is illuminated by the sun?

A)one-half
B)two-thirds
C)one-third
D)one-fourth

Question 26

Assuming a base temperature of 18°C, how many heating degree-days are there for a day with a maximum temperature of -1°C and a minimum temperature of -7°C?

A)26
B)24
C)22
D)20

Question 27

Which of the following statements describes how wind machines can prevent surface air temperatures from reaching extremely low readings?

A)They blow smoke over an orchard or field.
B)They reduce the rate of cooling by evaporation.
C)They mix surface air with air directly above.
D)They increase the evaporation rate from fruits and vegetables.

Question 28

In which of the following places does spring begin in the month of September?

A)Rome, Italy
B)Peterborough, Ontario
C)Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
D)Los Angeles, California

Question 29

Which of the following describes what wind machines do during a radiation inversion?

A)They lift warm air away from the surface.
B)They mix the air at high altitudes
C)They mix the air near the ground.
D)They bring cool upper air to lower altitudes.

Question 30

Suppose the air is calm, and the air temperature is -10°C. If the wind speed increases to 30 knots (with no change in air temperature), which of the following temperatures would be indicated on the thermometer?

A)a temperature of -30^°C
B)a temperature between -10^°C and -30^°C
C)a temperature of -10^°C
D)a much higher temperature than -10^°C

Question 31

Which of the following terms refers to wind that horizontally blows warmer or colder air into a location?

A)net radiation
B)advection
C)sensible heat flux
D)convective flux

Question 32

Which of the following is the name for a thermometer that measures temperature and records it on a piece of chart paper?

A)minimum thermometer
B)thermistor
C)maximum thermometer
D)thermograph

Question 33

Suppose the temperature at night is going to drop to -5°C, and a fairly stiff wind is predicted. Assuming that cost is not a factor, which of the following methods is probably the best way to protect an orchard against a hard freeze?

A)Use helicopters.
B)Use wind machines.
C)Put orchard heaters to work.
D)Sprinkle the crops with water.

Question 34

Which of the following properties makes an ideal shelter for housing a temperature-measurement instrument?

A)white and in the dark
B)white and in the shade
C)black and in the dark
D)black and in the shade

Question 35

In which of the following locations can the smallest variation in day-to-day and month-to-month temperature be observed?

A)the Pacific coast of North America
B)high in the mountains in the middle of a continent
C)the centre of a large land mass
D)a small island near the equator

Question 36

Which of the following instruments derives the air temperature by measuring emitted infrared energy?

A)bimetallic thermometer
B)radiometer
C)electrical resistance thermometer
D)thermistor

Question 37

The term normal refers to weather data averaged over which of the following time periods?

A)at least a day
B)several months
C)one year
D)30 years

Question 38

Which of the following statements accurately applies to the relation between a location and its annual temperature range?

A)Annual temperature ranges tend to be smaller at high latitudes than near the equator.
B)Annual temperature ranges tend to be much greater in the middle of an ocean.
C)Locations with identical annual temperature ranges have identical temperature patterns.
D)Annual temperature ranges tend to be much smaller near an ocean coastline than in the middle of a continent.

Question 39

Which of the following is generally most associated with longer days?

A)less insolation
B)more heating-degree days
C)fewer heating-degree days
D)more insolation

Question 40

Which of the following describes the most likely situation when the temperature of the air is at absolute zero?

A)The rate of molecular motion is at its maximum.
B)Molecules contain a minimum amount of energy.
C)Molecules occupy a large volume.
D)The air temperature is 0°C.

Question 41

Which of the following features is characteristic of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?

A)Astronomical winter ends in the Northern Hemisphere.
B)At middle latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, it marks the longest night of the year.
C)At high latitudes the days and nights are of equal length.
D)The noon sun is overhead at latitude 23.5°N.

Question 42

In which of the following circumstances is a radiation inversion most commonly observed?

A)in the upper atmosphere
B)during the afternoon
C)just above the ground
D)at sunset

Question 43

Which of the following compares the geographical pattern of average air temperature near sea level in the Southern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere?

A)It is more homogeneous in the Southern Hemisphere.
B)It is equally homogeneous in both hemispheres
C)It is less homogeneous in the Southern Hemisphere.
D)It is more heterogeneous in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 44

Which of the following thermometers has a small dumbbell-shaped glass index marker in the tube?

A)electrical thermometer
B)bimetallic thermometer
C)maximum thermometer
D)minimum thermometer

Question 45

Under which of the following conditions do the strongest radiation inversions occur?

A)clear skies
B)precipitation
C)partly cloudy skies
D)overcast skies

Question 46

At which of the following times is the lowest temperature usually observed?

A)several hours before sunrise
B)near sunset
C)several hours before sunset
D)near sunrise

Question 47

Which of the following describes the month and season in the Southern Hemisphere when it is January and winter in the Northern Hemisphere?

A)It is January and winter.
B)It is July and summer.
C)It is July and winter.
D)It is January and summer.

Question 48

Which of the following is the temperature scale that sets the freezing point of pure water at 0° and the boiling point at 100°?

A)Fahrenheit
B)absolute
C)Celsius
D)Kelvin

Question 49

In the Northern Hemisphere, which side of a roof is the best place to put a solar panel?

A)on the side facing north
B)on the side facing east
C)on the side facing south
D)on the side facing west

Question 50

At which of the following locations and times is the deepest radiation inversion likely observed?

A)in a deep valley during the summer
B)on a desert in winter
C)in polar regions in winter
D)at the top of a high mountain in winter

Question 51

Assume that the night will remain clear, calm, and unsaturated, and the predicted minimum temperature is 0°C. Suddenly the wind speed increases and remains gusty throughout the night. What would be the most likely minimum temperature?

A)higher than predicted due to mixing
B)much lower than predicted due to radiational cooling
C)about the same as predicted, but occurring earlier in the night
D)higher than predicted due to the release of latent heat

Question 52

Which of the following statements gives one of the main reasons for warm summers in middle latitudes?

A)The sun is higher in the sky.
B)The days are shorter.
C)The Earth receives more less solar radiation
D)The Earth is far from the sun in summer.

Question 53

At which of the following times does radiational cooling typically occur?

A)afternoon
B)late morning
C)dusk
D)overnight

Question 54

Which of the following is the temperature scale that sets the freezing point of pure water at 32° and the boiling point at 212°?

A)Fahrenheit
B)Celsius
C)Kelvin
D)British

Question 55

Which of the following defines the lag in daily temperature?

A)the time between the daily minimum and maximum solar energy received at the surface
B)the time between the daily minimum and maximum temperature
C)the time between the daily minimum temperature and maximum solar radiation
D)the time between the daily maximum solar radiation and maximum temperature

Question 56

Which of the following defines thermal belts?

A)pockets of cold air resting on a valley floor at night
B)warmer hillsides that are less likely to experience freezing conditions
C)cold, below-freezing air found at the top of a mountain
D)pockets of warm air resting on a valley during the afternoon

Question 57

Which of the following describes the difference in the growing seasons on north-facing and south-facing hillsides in the Northern Hemisphere?

A)North-facing and south-facing hillsides have growing seasons of identical lengths.
B)North-facing hillsides have a longer growing season than south-facing hillsides.
C)North-facing hillsides have a shorter growing season than south-facing hillsides.
D)The growing season of north-facing hillsides starts and ends later than south-facing hillsides.

Question 58

In clear weather, how does the range of daily air temperature next to the ground compare to the range for air above?

A)It is equal.
B)It may be greater or smaller.
C)It is greater.
D)It is smaller.

Question 59

Which of the following accurately describes the typical impact of cloud cover on daily temperatures?

A)Maximum daily temperatures under hazy skies are less than those under clear skies.
B)Daily temperatures minima and maxima are not influenced by cloud cover.
C)Minimum daily temperatures under hazy skies are less than those under clear skies
D)Maximum daily temperatures under hazy skies are greater than those under clear skies.

Question 60

When compared to land, how does water heat cool off?

A)at same rate
B)more slowly at first, and then more quickly
C)more slowly
D)more quickly

Question 61

Which of the following describes what a liquid thermometer will do when held in direct sunlight?

A)It will measure a much lower temperature than that of the air.
B)It will not be able to maintain a constant measurement.
C)It will accurately measure the air temperature.
D)It will measure a much higher temperature than that of the air.

Question 62

Which of the following instruments most likely contains alcohol?

A)minimum thermometer
B)maximum thermometer
C)bimetallic thermometer
D)thermograph

Question 63

In the Northern Hemisphere, which of the following days has the fewest hours of daylight?

A)autumnal equinox
B)summer solstice
C)winter solstice
D)vernal equinox

Question 64

Suppose the air temperature is -5°C, the wind is blowing at 55 km/h, and the wind chill temperature is -15.3°C. Which of the following temperatures and wind speeds are equivalent to these conditions?

A)a -10°C air temperature and 10 km/h wind
B)a 0°C air temperature and 45 km/h wind
C)a 10°C air temperature and 60 km/h wind
D)a 5°C air temperature and 60 km/h wind

Question 65

How often during a year is the sun directly overhead at Mexico City (latitude 19°N)?

A)twice
B)never
C)four times
D)once

Question 66

Which of the following describes when the use of sprinklers to prevent crop damage from cold air works best?

A)when the surface air temperature remains below freezing for a few hours
B)when the air is fairly humid
C)when the ice is allowed to cool to -15^° C
D)when the air is fairly dry

Question 67

Which of the following statements correctly expresses the relationship between one degree of change on the Celsius scale and one degree of change on the Fahrenheit scale?

A)One degree change on the Celsius scale is larger than one degree of change on the Fahrenheit scale.
B)One degree change on the Celsius scale is equal to one degree of change on the Fahrenheit scale.
C)One degree increase on the Celsius scale is equal to one degree of decrease on the Fahrenheit scale.
D)One degree change on the Celsius scale is smaller than one degree of change on the Fahrenheit scale.

Question 68

Which of the following describes when the maximum daytime surface temperature typically occurs?

A)before the Earth receives its most intense solar radiation
B)after the Earth receives its most intense solar radiation
C)concomitantly with when the most intense solar radiation is received
D)exactly when the Earth receives its most intense solar radiation

Question 69

At which of the following locations are the days and nights of equal length all year long?

A)at latitude 66.5°
B)at latitude 23.5°
C)at the equator
D)at latitude 44.5°

Question 70

For maximum winter warmth in the Northern Hemisphere, in which direction should large windows in a house face?

A)north
B)east
C)south
D)west

Question 71

Which of the following regions would be the "land of the midnight sun" during winter in the Northern Hemisphere?

A)near the equator
B)middle latitudes
C)Rocky Mountains
D)high latitudes

Question 72

Which of the following is a factor that causes seasons to occur?

A)the length of the daylight hours
B)the changing shape of Earth's orbit around the sun
C)the changing distance between the Earth and the sun
D)the constant angle at which sunlight reaches the Earth

Question 73

During summer near the North Pole, how much time does the sun spend lying above the horizon, when compared to the mid-latitudes?

A)The sun starts lying and disappearing above the horizon later.
B)The sun lies above the horizon for a shorter period of time.
C)The sun lies above the horizon for a longer period of time.
D)The sun lies above the horizon for the same amount of time.

Question 74

In most areas, which of the following times of the day is warmest about 5 metres above the ground?

A)around noon
B)in the afternoon between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.
C)in the early evening after 6:00 p.m.
D)just before sunset

Question 75

In which of the following locations are thermal belts usually found?

A)seacoast
B)mountain tops
C)hillsides
D)valley floors

Question 76

Which of the following gives the primary cause of a radiation inversion?

A)solar radiation absorbed by the Earth's surface
B)infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface
C)solar radiation reflected by the Earth's surface
D)infrared radiation absorbed by the Earth's surface

Question 77

If you were to travel from latitude 50°N to latitude 20°N during the month of December, what would you notice in terms of the change of the geographical direction of sunset?

A)It is more westerly.
B)It is more southwesterly.
C)It is more southerly.
D)It is more southeasterly.

Question 78

Which of the following methods can be used to protect an orchard from damaging low temperatures during a radiation inversion?

A)house heaters
B)covering the trees with tarps
C)draining the orchard
D)wind machines

Question 79

Which of the following terms refers to an index for fuel consumption?

A)growing degree-days
B)consumer price index
C)mean annual temperature
D)heating degree-days

Question 80

In meteorology, which of the following defines "insolation"?

A)a well-constructed, energy-efficient home
B)the solar constant
C)incoming solar radiation
D)an increase in solar output