Question 1

Dallas, Texas, is in the continental interior. San Diego, California, is on the ocean. Which of the following is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)   San Diego's wintertime temperatures should be lower than Dallas'.
B)   Dallas' summertime temperatures should be lower than San Diego's.
C)   There should not be much temperature difference if their latitudes are similar.
D)   There should not be much temperature difference if their longitudes are similar.
E)   Dallas should have a larger yearly range of temperature than San Diego. E

Question 2

Where on Earth does one expect the greatest latitudinal displacement of isotherms between January and July?

Accepted Answer

A)   over the middle latitude oceans
B)   over the equatorial oceans
C)   over the middle latitude continents
D)   over the equatorial continents
E)   over the high latitude oceans C

Question 3

The higher latitudes receive much less intense insolation than tropical zones because of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   albedo
B)   Sun's angle of incidence
C)   greenhouse effect
D)   ocean's specific heat
E)   water's transmissivity B

Question 4

Which location is associated with persistent upwelling of cold water to the ocean surface?

Accepted Answer

A)   the middle of the Atlantic Ocean
B)   the middle of the Pacific Ocean
C)   middle latitude eastern coasts of continents
D)   subtropical coasts of continents
E)   polar coasts

Question 5

Approximately 95% of terrestrial radiation is radiated in shortwaves from the surface directly to space.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Adiabatic warming takes place by compression in descending air.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The hottest parts of the Earth's surface are found in the equatorial zone.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The only major country still using the Fahrenheit scale for temperature determination is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   the U.S.A.
B)   Canada
C)   Germany
D)   Brazil
E)   Iraq

Question 9

Albedo is the same phenomenon as advection.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Explain the difference between a radiational and an advective inversion.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the difference between a radiational and...

Question 11

The MAIN source of atmosphere heating is from the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   absorption of ultraviolet energy from the Sun
B)   conduction of energy from the Earth
C)   convection of energy from the Earth
D)   reradiation of energy from the Earth
E)   absorption of insolation

Question 12

The solar energy reaching Earth travels a distance of ________ million kilometers.

Accepted Answer

A)   1
B)   8
C)   30
D)   150
E)   567

Question 13

The steady, incoming solar radiation received at the top of the atmosphere is named the ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The steady, incoming solar radiation received at...

Question 14

From the climatic records it is clear that ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   a runaway greenhouse effect threatens to kill life on Earth
B)   the scientific notion of global warming seems to be in error
C)   Earth's temperatures have actually decreased substantially in the last 100 years
D)   humans created the greenhouse effect
E)   there has been warming in the last 100 years

Question 15

Which of the following would NOT be a reason why land heats faster than water?

Accepted Answer

A)   the presence of subtropical highs (STHs) 
B)   lower specific heat
C)   no mobility
D)   less transmissivity
E)   less evaporation

Question 16

The normal vertical temperature gradient (average lapse rate) is CLOSEST to how many degrees Celsius per 1,000 meters?

Accepted Answer

A)   1.5
B)   3.5
C)   6.5
D)   16.5
E)   32.5

Question 17

A body that emits the maximum amount of radiation possible, at every wavelength for its temperature is a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   black body
B)   isotherm
C)   Celsius
D)   albedo
E)   Kelvin

Question 18

Which two of the following terms describe processes which are physically quite similar?

Accepted Answer

A)   absorption and transmission
B)   scattering and reflection
C)   transmission and convection
D)   absorption and adiabatic heating
E)   radiation and conduction

Question 19

The Kelvin scale is based on ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   electromagnetic energy
B)   absolute zero
C)   the freezing of water
D)   latent heat
E)   albedo

Question 20

In terms of other substances in the Earth system, air is considered ________ conductor of energy.

Accepted Answer

A)   an excellent
B)   a better than average
C)   an average
D)   a poorer than average
E)   a very poor

Exam 4: Insolation and Temperature

Dallas, Texas, is in the continental interior. San Diego, California, is on the ocean. Which of the following is TRUE?

Where on Earth does one expect the greatest latitudinal displacement of isotherms between January and July?

The higher latitudes receive much less intense insolation than tropical zones because of ________.

Which location is associated with persistent upwelling of cold water to the ocean surface?

Approximately 95% of terrestrial radiation is radiated in shortwaves from the surface directly to space.

Adiabatic warming takes place by compression in descending air.

The hottest parts of the Earth's surface are found in the equatorial zone.

The only major country still using the Fahrenheit scale for temperature determination is ________.

Albedo is the same phenomenon as advection.

Explain the difference between a radiational and an advective inversion.

The MAIN source of atmosphere heating is from the ________.

The solar energy reaching Earth travels a distance of ________ million kilometers.

The steady, incoming solar radiation received at the top of the atmosphere is named the ________.

From the climatic records it is clear that ________.

Which of the following would NOT be a reason why land heats faster than water?

The normal vertical temperature gradient (average lapse rate) is CLOSEST to how many degrees Celsius per 1,000 meters?

A body that emits the maximum amount of radiation possible, at every wavelength for its temperature is a(n) ________.

Which two of the following terms describe processes which are physically quite similar?

The Kelvin scale is based on ________.

In terms of other substances in the Earth system, air is considered ________ conductor of energy.