Deck 4: Atmosphere and Surface Energy Balances

Question 1

Refraction results in changes to which of the following aspects of energy?

A)Colour and reflection.
B)Conduction and convection.
C)Speed and direction.
D)Albedo and absorption.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

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

A)Mie scattering.
B)Refraction.
C)Rayleigh scattering.
D)Transmission.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

What is the molecule-to-molecule transfer of heat?

A)Conduction.
B)Convection.
C)Advection.
D)Latent heat.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

What is exemplified by the passage of shortwave and longwave energy through the atmosphere and water?

A)Absorption.
B)Transmission.
C)Refraction.
D)Insolation.

Question 5

How is kinetic energy defined?

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

Question 6

What is the science that specifically studies the climate at or near the surface of Earth?

A)Astronomy.
B)Meteorology.
C)Micrometeorology.
D)Microclimatology.

Question 7

What type of heat transfer is exemplified by a vertical air current that is generated by temperature-induced density differences?

A)Advection.
B)Convection.
C)Conduction.
D)Transmission.

Question 8

With reference to the figure above,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 9

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 vapour and carbon dioxide.

Question 10

What are the main energy inputs to Earth?

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 11

What is the name for scattering caused by atmospheric particles larger than the wavelengths of light?

A)Mie scattering.
B)Refraction.
C)Rayleigh scattering.
D)Transmission.

Question 12

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 13

What is the name of an image that appears near the horizon when layers of air are at different temperatures and densities and what is it an example of?

A)Reflection; albedo.
B)Rayleigh scatter; albedo.
C)Reflection; refraction.
D)Mirage; refraction.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes what happens 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)Absorption happens.

Question 15

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 16

For Earth's energy budget,what are the names for energy income and energy expenditures?

A)Transmission; reflection.
B)Reflection; albedo.
C)Insolation; radiation to space.
D)Refraction; scatter.

Question 17

What are the main energy outputs from Earth?

A)Gamma rays,X-rays,and ultraviolet radiation.
B)Ultraviolet radiation and visible radiation.
C)Visible and infrared radiation.
D)Thermal infrared radiation.

Question 18

A stove that circulates heated air to uniformly cook food is an example of what type of heat transfer?

A)Conduction.
B)Convection.
C)Kinetic.
D)Latent.

Question 19

To what does the term conduction refer?

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 20

How can the insolation received at the surface of Earth best be described?

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

Question 21

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 22

What would be the result of an increase in the amount of high altitude,thin clouds?

A)A cooling of the planet through a process called cloud-albedo forcing.
B)A warming of the planet through a process called cloud-greenhouse forcing.
C)There would be no effect on the temperature of the atmosphere because insolation is constant.
D)A cooling of the planet through a process called Reyleigh scattering.

Question 23

Which of the following is related to Earth's albedo?

A)Transmission.
B)Reflection.
C)Convection.
D)Refraction.

Question 24

How did the Mount Pinatubo eruption in June 1991 affect the atmosphere?

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

Question 25

What is the average overall albedo of Earth?

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

Question 26

What is the reflective quality of a surface known as?

A)Conduction.
B)Absorption.
C)Albedo.
D)Scattering.

Question 27

Which of the following has the highest albedo?

A)Forests.
B)Asphalt.
C)Dry,light sandy soils.
D)Fresh snow.

Question 28

If the surface of Earth were to suddenly turn white,what would happen to the temperature of the planet and why?

A)Temperature would decrease because less insolation would be absorbed.
B)Temperature would decrease because more insolation would be absorbed.
C)Temperature would increase because less insolation would be absorbed.
D)Temperature would increase because more insolation would be absorbed.

Question 29

What is the assimilation of radiation by molecules of matter?

A)Refraction.
B)Absorption.
C)Reflection.
D)Transmission.

Question 30

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 31

What happens if a surface absorbs insolation?

A)Its temperature increases.
B)Its temperature decreases.
C)Its temperature is unaffected.
D)Refraction occurs.

Question 32

What process allows us to see the Sun above the horizon before it has actually risen?

A)Transmission.
B)Scattering.
C)Refraction.
D)Reflection.

Question 33

What process causes the sky (lower tropopause)to appear blue in colour?

A)Reflection.
B)Scattering.
C)Absorption of blue wavelengths of visible light.
D)Diffuse radiation.

Question 34

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 35

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 36

On a cloudy day,what is received at the surface of Earth?

A)Direct insolation.
B)Diffuse radiation.
C)Direct radiation.
D)A reduced daylength.

Question 37

What is the general term describing the pollution related decline in insolation to the surface of Earth?

A)Greenhouse effect.
B)Earthshine.
C)Global dimming.
D)Atmospheric albedo.

Question 38

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

A)A greenhouse allows longwave radiation to escape and mix with the surrounding air,unlike 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 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 39

Which of the following has the lowest albedo?

A)Fresh snow.
B)The Moon.
C)Light roof.
D)Forests.

Question 40

When a surface assimilates radiation,what is the process called?

A)Absorption.
B)Transmission.
C)Diffuse radiation.
D)Refraction.

Question 41

Which of the following is a reason for the energy surplus between the tropics?

A)There is a low level of insolation at the ground surface.
B)There is indirect solar radiation in this zone.
C)Daylength is variable at this location throughout the year.
D)This location experiences little seasonal variation in energy.

Question 42

To what does net radiation (NET R)refer?

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 43

What is the source for longwave radiation (+ LW↓)arriving at Earth's surface?

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

Question 44

What does the figure above illustrate regarding the relationship between insolation and air temperature through the course of day?

A)Air temperature reaches a maximum at noon when insolation also reaches a maximum.
B)Air temperature reaches a maximum in the 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 45

Which of the following best describes the analogy of a greenhouse to the Earth-atmosphere energy system?

A)It is completely unrelated to our Earth-atmosphere system,and should never have been used to describe global warming.
B)It is exactly how the Earth-atmosphere system operates.
C)It is 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 46

What would happen to the climate of Earth if the amount of low,thick stratus cloud cover increased and why?

A)The climate would cool due to increased absorption.
B)The climate would cool due to increased reflectivity.
C)The climate would warm due to increased absorption.
D)The climate would warm due to increased reflectivity.

Question 47

Which of the following is a reason for the energy deficit in the polar regions?

A)There is little seasonal variability in energy receipt.
B)There is a high sun angle.
C)This zone has a low albedo due to snow and ice.
D)This location has up to six months without insolation.

Question 48

In the surface energy budget,what does the term - SW↑ represent?

A)Heat.
B)Incoming energy.
C)Surface albedo.
D)NET R.

Question 49

When are NET R values 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 50

Which of the following best describes 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 51

When water evaporates,what happens to the energy that was used to evaporate the water?

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

Question 52

Where do 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 53

On 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)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 54

What did a study of jet contrails undertaken after the grounding of commercial flights after the September 11,2001 terrorist attacks find?

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

Question 55

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 56

By what process does sensible heat transfer (H)occur between the air and the surface?

A)Turbulent eddies,convection,and conduction.
B)Evaporation of water.
C)Reflection of insolation.
D)Ground heating.

Question 57

What is defined as the differential transmissivity of shortwave insolation and longwave terrestrial radiation by various atmospheric gases?

A)Global dimming.
B)Greenhouse effect.
C)Cloud-albedo forcing.
D)Global warming.

Question 58

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

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

Question 59

In the figure above,what relationship exists between the insolation curve and the air temperature curve on a graph of daily surface energy?

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

Question 60

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 61

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

Question 62

What could solar cookers replace as an affordable source of energy in rural villages in developing countries?

A)Natural gas.
B)Nuclear power.
C)Fusion power.
D)Fire wood.

Question 63

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 64

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 65

What is defined as 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 66

Refraction is responsible for rainbows and mirages.

Question 67

On land,where do 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 68

Which of the following best describes a factor responsible for the urban heating effect?

A)Heat dissipated by homes,vehicles,and factories.
B)Increased natural materials that conduct more energy than artificial 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.

Question 69

Which of the following is most closely associated with urban environments?

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

Question 70

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

Question 71

Which of the following best describes heat or moisture in an urban area?

A)Urbanized surfaces tend to be porous.
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 ocean surface during and after a rainstorm.

Question 72

Over the oceans,where do 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 73

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 74

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

Question 75

Which of the following is a strategy used by planners and architects to mitigate against the effects of the urban heat island?

A)Planting of urban forests (parks and open spaces).
B)Using asphalt as a surface cover.
C)Removing rooftop gardens ("green" roofs).
D)Using darker-coloured materials on roofs and other surfaces.

Question 76

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 77

With reference to the figure above,which of the following best describes the occurrence of the time of maximum daily temperature?

A)It occurs at the same time that maximum insolation occurs,because that is when maximum energy is available for heating the air.
B)It occurs 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)It occurs 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)It occurs 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.

Question 78

Which of the following best describes the promise of solar energy?

A)Earth receives 100 000 terawatts of solar energy per hour.
B)The energy produced by fossil fuels will never be completely matched by solar energy.
C)The technology for solar energy is not yet available for widespread use.
D)Periods of cloudiness and night are times of highest production by solar technology.

Question 79

Which of the following best describes solar energy?

A)Rooftop photovoltaic electrical generation is now cheaper than power line construction to rural sites.
B)It can provide electricity,but cannot provide heat.
C)Photovoltaic capacity has not increased in recent years.
D)Experimental photovoltaic cells have reached maximum efficiency of 23 percent.

Question 80

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