Deck 3: Energy Balance and Temperature

Question 1

Albedo:

A)is high for ice, snow and thick clouds.
B)is high for water.
C)is high for sand and dirt.
D)is the same for all geographic features.
E)varies with latitude and not the various surfaces.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

This works primarily on shorter-wavelength radiation:

A)Rayleigh scattering.
B)Mie scattering.
C)nonselective scattering.
D)infrared absorption.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

A clear,dry atmosphere might transmit what percentage of the incoming solar radiation as direct beam radiation without scattering or absorption?

A)20%
B)50%
C)80%
D)100%

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Reflection:

A)occurs with only some substances.
B)is called diffuse reflection when done by a mirror.
C)occurs simultaneously with absorption.
D)is redirected light.

Question 5

The percentage of visible light reflected by an object or substance is called its:

A)albedo.
B)emission.
C)absorption.
D)secondary reflectance.

Question 6

The sky is black on the Moon because:

A)space reflects all wavelengths of radiation equally.
B)the Moon contains neither oceans nor vegetation.
C)the Moon does not have sufficient gravity to attract visible light.
D)the Moon has no atmosphere.

Question 7

The ________ attempts to tell us what it "feels like" in cold,windy conditions.

A)Wind Chill Index
B)Heat Index
C)Cooling Degree-Days
D)Growing Degree-Days

Question 8

The difference between "Rayleigh" scattering and "Mie" scattering is:

A)the wavelengths of the incoming radiation.
B)the size of the scattering particulates.
C)the length of time the Sun shines.
D)the angle of the incoming radiation.
E)only A and B

Question 9

The scattered energy that reaches the earth's surface is called:

A)direct radiation.
B)diffused radiation.
C)albedo.
D)ultraviolet light.

Question 10

The process by which solar energy interacts with the atmosphere is:

A)scattering.
B)absorption.
C)reflection.
D)all of the above

Question 11

Winter nights are longest in which city?

A)Houston, TX
B)Chicago, IL
C)Los Angeles, CA
D)Atlanta, GA

Question 12

Sunsets are red for all of the following reasons except:

A)red light has more energy than blue light.
B)Mie scattering.
C)Rayleigh scattering.
D)light has to travel through more atmosphere to reach the observer.

Question 13

Absorption:

A)is performed quite well by the atmosphere for visible wavelengths.
B)is done to differing degrees by different gases.
C)does not prevent most ultraviolet light from reaching Earth's surface.
D)is typically greater in desert areas than in humid areas.

Question 14

Mie scattering:

A)occurs often on hazy days.
B)works best when there are few aerosols in the air.
C)diminishes after volcanic eruptions.
D)counters the reddening effect responsible for red sunsets and sunrises.

Question 15

The area of the United States that has the highest level of Average Daily Solar radiation by month would be:

A)the Gulf Coast.
B)the Great Lakes.
C)the Southwest.
D)the Pacific Northwest.

Question 16

This index estimates when crops will mature and be ready for market.

A)Heat Index
B)Cooling Degree-Days
C)Heating Degree-Days
D)Growing Degree-Days

Question 17

Scattering by clouds is sometimes called:

A)Rayleigh.
B)Mie.
C)convection.
D)non-selective.

Question 18

Summer days are longest in which city?

A)Houston, TX
B)Chicago, IL
C)Los Angeles, CA
D)Atlanta, GA

Question 19

The sky is blue because:

A)blue light is reflected off the world's oceans into the atmosphere.
B)blue light is not easily absorbed by the atmosphere.
C)air molecules scatter blue light more readily than other colors of visible light.
D)blue light is not easily scattered by the atmosphere.

Question 20

This is used to anticipate energy needs.

A)Wind Chill Index
B)Heating/Cooling Degree-Days
C)Growing Degree-Days
D)Heat Index

Question 21

The Earth has a greater albedo than the Moon because of the presence of:

A)clouds.
B)oceans.
C)deserts.
D)mountains.

Question 22

A vertical profile of data taken from a radiosonde observation is a

A)Stuve diagram.
B)atmospheric window.
C)sounding.
D)Skew-T diagram.

Question 23

Insolation reaching the surface of the earth:

A)is all absorbed by the earth.
B)represents about 50 percent of the amount that was at the top of the atmosphere.
C)is unaffected by Earth's albedo.
D)has not yet been affected by backscattering.

Question 24

Water vapor is the primary carrier of:

A)small pox.
B)latent heat.
C)conductive heat transfer.
D)radiative heat transfer.

Question 25

The laminar boundary layer is important to which of the following processes?

A)radiation
B)transmission
C)radiation
D)conduction

Question 26

The range of wavelengths where the atmospheric window is lies:

A)between 8 and 12 microns.
B)in the visible range.
C)between 2 and 6 microns.
D)less than 0.4 microns.

Question 27

If the temperature remains the same but the wind speed increases,the wind chill index will

A)decrease.
B)increase.
C)stay the same.

Question 28

Free convection is the mixing process related to:

A)buoyancy.
B)conduction.
C)subsidence.
D)drying.

Question 29

Sensible heat:

A)travels by convection through the laminar boundary layer.
B)is released or absorbed when a substance undergoes a phase change.
C)is dependent upon the specific heat of the substance involved.
D)does not involve changes in temperature.

Question 30

The planetary albedo of the earth is:

A)7%.
B)15%.
C)30%.
D)50%.

Question 31

On which of these dates would the earth have the most energy available?

A)perihelion
B)summer solstice
C)aphelion
D)vernal equinox

Question 32

The atmospheric window:

A)is caused by the absence of certain gasses.
B)is a local phenomenon similar to the ozone hole that opens over Antarctica in winter.
C)is located at a band of wavelengths between 2 and 6 micrometers.
D)allows certain wavelengths of longwave radiation to pass through the atmosphere.

Question 33

The radiation emitted by Earth:

A)is primarily absorbed by the atmosphere.
B)is in the form of radio waves.
C)has little effect on the earth's energy budget.
D)had its origin in radioactive elements in the earth's interior.

Question 34

Recent studies indicate that between the 1950s and 1990s solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface may have:

A)increased 10%.
B)decreased 10%.
C)stayed the same.
D)increased 25%.

Question 35

How much more solar radiation is available for the Earth on the perihelion than the aphelion?

A)no difference
B)1%
C)7%
D)15%

Question 36

Which of the following processes is involved with the heat of fusion?

A)evaporation
B)condensation
C)sublimation
D)none of the above

Question 37

Convection:

A)is less important to making up the atmosphere's radiative energy deficit than is conduction.
B)typically transfers heat downward during the day.
C)plays no significant role at night.
D)helps circulate heat throughout the atmosphere.

Question 38

City A averages 2000 heating/cooling degree-days for the year and City B averages 3000.In which city would you expect to pay higher utility bills?

A)City A
B)City B

Question 39

On average,the atmosphere absorbs roughly this percentage of the solar radiation that reaches the top of the atmosphere:

A)5 percent.
B)14 percent.
C)25 percent.
D)50 percent.

Question 40

The atmosphere is a(n):

A)selective absorber.
B)blackbody absorber.
C)inferior absorber of x-rays.
D)absorber of all radiation equally.

Question 41

A "greenhouse" works because:

A)of the difference in the solar constant.
B)short wave lengths of energy pass through the glass but longer ones can't.
C)the windows of the greenhouse only allow green light wavelengths to pass through.
D)all greenhouses face south and into the maximum angle of solar energy.

Question 42

The Northern Hemisphere has a steeper temperature gradient in its winter than the Southern Hemisphere does in its winter because:

A)the earth's axis is tilted 23.5 degrees to the north.
B)the Northern Hemisphere contains more land than does its southern counterpart.
C)solar radiation from the Sun can vary by as much as seven percent.
D)the earth's orbit is not circular.

Question 43

The region with the greatest difference between summer and winter average temperatures would be:

A)central Australia.
B)north Africa.
C)eastern Siberia.
D)northern North America.

Question 44

Ocean currents are generated by:

A)the rotation of the earth.
B)the gravitational attraction of the Moon.
C)the gravitational attraction of the continents.
D)the drag of wind blowing across the water's surface.

Question 45

Greenhouse gases:

A)keep the earth at a comfortable temperature.
B)did not exist in significant concentrations until the coming of the Industrial Age.
C)are good absorbers of shortwave radiation.
D)cause the earth to have much wider swings in daily temperature ranges than if the gases were not present.

Question 46

Sweating cools people because:

A)it releases latent heat.
B)it changes the heat capacity of the body.
C)colder molecules in a passing wind adhere to the wet skin.
D)it involves a transfer of sensible heat.

Question 47

Looking at global temperature distributions,it is seen that:

A)temperatures over land are colder than those over water at the same latitude in winter.
B)temperatures increase poleward.
C)the latitudinal temperature gradient is weakest in the hemisphere experiencing winter.
D)it is difficult to explain the behavior of isotherms over the continents.

Question 48

Net radiation is:

A)radiation that is left over after a solar flare.
B)defined as the difference between absorbed and emitted radiation.
C)the solar energy that exceeds the solar constant.
D)the sole cause of global warming.

Question 49

A greenhouse:

A)is impermeable to shortwave radiation.
B)blocks the transfer of longwave radiation.
C)allows the loss of sensible heat.
D)allows the loss of latent heat.

Question 50

If the Sun increased its radiative output:

A)the earth would undergo an uncontrollable greenhouse effect.
B)the earth would eventually reach a higher equilibrium temperature.
C)the amount of longwave energy radiated from Earth's surface would decrease.
D)the earth would have a surplus of incoming radiation energy compared to outgoing radiation energy until the Sun finally burned itself out.

Question 51

Forced convection:

A)is a form of laminar flow.
B)results from vertical temperature differentials.
C)occurs when a fluid breaks into eddies.
D)is a major cause of upper-level aircraft turbulence.

Question 52

Regarding latitudinal variations in radiation gain and loss,it is true that:

A)during the Northern Hemisphere summer, the Southern Hemisphere gains more energy than it loses.
B)during the Southern Hemisphere winter, the area of net radiation gain lies north of the equator.
C)global winds are the only significant method for redistributing heat toward the poles.
D)the equator experiences a net radiation loss for six months out of the year.

Question 53

The earth-atmosphere thermal equilibrium temperature is maintained because:

A)energy radiated equals energy absorbed.
B)the polar ice caps are melting in order to maintain ocean temperatures.
C)global warming is driving the earth-atmosphere system closer to a pure blackbody.
D)of the movement of latent heat from north to south across the equator.
E)none of the above

Question 54

Latent heat:

A)has only small effects on the atmosphere.
B)is the same for all substances undergoing the same phase change.
C)is more important for the atmosphere when released through evaporation rather than through melting.
D)is the amount of heat needed to raise one kilogram of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Question 55

Which of the following is NOT a warm current?

A)North Equatorial current
B)South Equatorial current
C)Gulf Stream
D)Falkland current

Question 56

Latent heat:

A)is moved via advection from place to place on the earth.
B)serves as a way of moving energy from place to place without disturbing areas in between.
C)provides the fuel for literally all mid-latitude storms.
D)can be traced to the hydrological cycle.
E)all of the above

Question 57

Of the following,which is the best overall absorber of near-infrared radiation?

A)water vapor
B)carbon dioxide
C)the combination of oxygen and ozone
D)nitrogen

Question 58

Measuring Earth's equilibrium temperature without an atmosphere:

A)is easily done using Wien's law.
B)is best done assuming the earth is a flat disk.
C)is complicated by uncertainty over the value of the earth's albedo.
D)can be done only by assuming the earth does not approximate a black body.

Question 59

Near-infrared radiation represents what proportion of the total energy emitted by the sun?

A)1/10
B)1/4
C)1/2
D)3/4

Question 60

The warmest temperatures are typically found:

A)in equatorial regions.
B)in subequatorial regions.
C)in temperate latitudes.
D)near oceans.

Question 61

A thermistor:

A)responds less rapidly to temperature changes than does a thermometer.
B)works on the same principle as a bimetallic strip.
C)relies on the change of electrical resistance of a metal with temperature.
D)is rarely found in the instruments of modern-day meteorologists.

Question 62

The highest temperature ever recorded at the Earth's surface was in

A)Death Valley, CA.
B)the Amazon Rainforest.
C)Libya.
D)the Australian Desert.

Question 63

Explain why air temperature measurements must be taken in the shade.

Question 64

Atmospheric greenhouse gases

A)absorb shortwave radiation and also impede the transfer of latent and sensible heat
B)absorb shortwave radiation but do not impede the transfer of latent and sensible heat
C)absorb longwave radiation but do not impede the transfer of latent and sensible heat
D)absorb longwave radiation and also impede the transfer of latent and sensible heat

Question 65

Which of the following locations is warmest in summer?

A)Seattle, Washington
B)Los Angeles, California
C)Anchorage, Alaska
D)Charleston, South Carolina

Question 66

The reason that the daily maximum temperature is after the maximum solar heating is because:

A)the Sun has more energy when shining from the west.
B)the atmosphere is "thinner" in the afternoon.
C)there is a thermal "lag" in the heating of the atmosphere.
D)None of the above. There is no relationship between the maximum amount of sunshine and the time of maximum daily temperature.

Question 67

If the earth did not have greenhouse gases,its temperature would be ________ than it is now.

Question 68

The daily mean temperature:

A)is the average of 24 temperatures taken an hour apart.
B)is the difference between the day's high and low temperature.
C)is the average of the maximum and minimum temperature for a given day.
D)varies little from month to month.

Question 69

What is latent heat and why is it such an important factor in the transfer of energy from the surface to the atmosphere?

Question 70

Temperature is typically determined __________ by

A)directly; measuring the heat content of air molecules
B)directly; measuring of the speed of air molecules
C)indirectly; measuring the effect that temperature has on other materials
D)indirectly; measuring the evaporation of fluid inside a thermometer

Question 71

Temperatures at any point on the face of the earth are influenced by:

A)latitude.
B)altitude.
C)proximity to water.
D)all of the above

Question 72

The lowest temperature ever recorded at the Earth's surface was in

A)The Yukon Territory of Canada.
B)Inner Mongolia.
C)Mt. Washington.
D)Antarctica.

Question 73

The range of daily temperatures is __________ during cloudy conditions because

A)reduced; clouds reduce both the incoming shortwave radiation and the outgoing longwave radiation
B)reduced; clouds reduce the incoming shortwave radiation and increase the outgoing longwave radiation
C)enlarged; clouds reduce both the incoming shortwave radiation and the outgoing longwave radiation
D)enlarged; clouds reduce the incoming shortwave radiation and increase the outgoing longwave radiation

Question 74

A package of weather instruments carried aloft by a balloon is called a

A)radiosonde.
B)thermistor.
C)bimetallic strip.
D)thermograph.

Question 75

In the Northern Hemisphere,south-facing slopes:

A)are more likely to have more vegetation.
B)receive more solar radiation than do north-facing slopes.
C)will typically look the same as north-facing slopes, except near the equator.
D)are most lush in subtropical regions.

Question 76

This is the most important mode of energy transfer between the earth's surface and the atmosphere: ________.

Question 77

Compared to land,water bodies:

A)are more greatly influenced by continentality.
B)have a lower specific heat.
C)warm more quickly.
D)cool more slowly.

Question 78

Why are cloudy nights typically warmer than clear nights?

Question 79

Meaningful measurements of temperature must always be made in the shade because

A)a thermometer exposed to direct sunlight will be warmed by the absorption of insolation and assume a temperature greater than that of the air
B)a thermometer exposed to direct sunlight will be warmed by convection and assume a temperature greater than that of the air
C)a thermometer exposed to direct sunlight will be warmed by the absorption of latent heat and assume a temperature greater than that of the air
D)a thermometer exposed to direct sunlight will cool by radiation and assume a temperature less than that of the air

Question 80

The warmest period of the day:

A)typically occurs at noon.
B)occurs when incoming radiative energy is exactly balanced by outgoing radiative energy.
C)occurs during the time of maximum insolation.
D)occurs when the surface energy budget is running a surplus.