Geosystems: An Introduction to Physical Geography, 8e (Christopherson) Chapter 5 Global Temperatures. Multiple Choice Questions

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1 Geosystems: An Introduction to Physical Geography, 8e (Christopherson) Chapter 5 Global Temperatures Multiple Choice Questions 1) Which of the following is true regarding global temperatures? A) While temperatures are increasing, the rate of change is decreasing. B) Short-term changes appear to be beyond human influence. C) Human society appears to be causing short-term changes in global temperatures and temperature patterns. D) The climate of Earth will remain completely stable over the long term. 2) Which of the following is true of the sheep on the St. Kilda archipeligo? A) The sheep are growing more quickly. B) There is less food for them in the summer. C) Over the last 2000 years sheep size has decreased. D) Due to warmer temperatures, the sheep give birth later. 3) Global temperatures are A) rising at a rate of 0.17 C (0.3 F ) per decade. B) higher than any time in the last 800,000 years. C) increasing at a decreasing rate. D) increasing by 3% per year. 4) Global average air temperatures worldwide A) have appeared to stabilize after a century of increase. B) are at present demonstrating no apparent trend one way or another. C) are being influenced by human-induced changes in the greenhouse effect. D) are generally lower than 20 years ago. 1

2 5) Air temperature is a measure of the presence of which of the following? A) heat capacity B) apparent temperature C) relative humidity D) sensible heat 6) Kinetic energy refers to A) the energy an object possesses by virtue of its elevation above a surface. B) the energy an object possesses because of its gravitational attraction to other objects. C) the energy an object possesses in accordance with the law E = mc2. D) the energy an object possesses by virtue of its motion. 7) As the kinetic energy of the air increases, A) its temperature decreases. B) its temperature increases. C) its temperature is unaffected. D) its temperature may either increase or decrease depending upon the circumstances. Answer: B 8) Official temperatures are measured using thermometers placed in shelters that are A) louvered and white. B) placed a few feet above the ground. C) placed in the shade. D) all of the above. E) none of the above. 2

3 9) Official temperature measurements are taken in shelters that A) are louvered, white, and at least 1.2 m (4 ft.) above the ground. B) are louvered, have an albedo of 31%, and are at least 1.2 m (4 ft.) above the ground. C) are louvered, white, and always at least 1.2m (4 ft.) above a grassy surface. D) are not louvered, have an albedo of 31%, and are at least 1.2 m (4 ft.) above the ground. E) are pressurized to sea level pressure, white, and at least 1.2 m (4 ft.) above the ground 10) The amount of heat energy present in any substance is expressed as its A) temperature. B) latent heat. C) sensible heat. D) surface motion. 11) The highest temperature recorded on Earth to date was in A) North America. B) Asia. C) Africa. D) Mexico. 12) The lowest temperature recorded on Earth to date was in A) Antarctica in July. B) Antarctica in January. C) Alaska in February. D) Russia in January. 3

4 13) The lowest natural temperature on Earth (-89.2 C, F) was recorded at A) Vostok, Antarctica in July. B) Verkhoyansk, Siberia, Soviet Union in January. C) at the North Pole in July. D) at a South Pole scientific base in December. 14) The highest natural temperature on Earth (+58 C, 136 F) was recorded at A) Death Valley, California. B) Al-Aziziyah, Libya. C) Elko, Nevada. D) Alice Springs, central Australia. Answer: B 15) -273 C ( F) is A) the same as 273 Kelvin. B) an average boiling temperature. C) 0 absolute temperature. D) not possible on any scale. 16) The Celsius and Fahrenheit scales only coincide at: A) -40. B) C) 0. D)

5 17) The Celsius scale A) is used exclusively in the United States. B) places freezing at 0 and was formerly called centigrade. C) was developed by the British physicist Lord Kelvin. D) was developed by Fahrenheit, who also developed the alcohol and mercury thermometers. E) places freezing at 32 and boiling at 212. Answer: B 18) The best thermometer to use where temperatures drop below -39 C (-38.2 F) is A) a barometric thermometer. B) a mercury thermometer. C) a bulb mounted in direct sunshine. D) an alcohol thermometer. 19) The principal controls and influences of temperature patterns include A) Earth's tilt, rotation, revolution, and sphericity. B) latitude, altitude, land-water heating differences, cloud cover, ocean currents, and surface conditions. C) land-water heating differences only. D) specific heat only. Answer: B 20) The single most important control on temperature is A) latitude. B) altitude. C) distribution of land and water. D) evaporation. 5

6 21) Relative to latitude and surface energy receipts, which of the following is true? A) Insolation intensity increases with distance from the subsolar point. B) Daylength decreases with increasing latitude in summer. C) Insolation intensity decreases with distance from the subsolar point. D) Seasonal effects increase toward the equator. 22) Based on information discussed earlier in the course, you know that seasonal variation in daylength with increasing distance from the equator because. A) decreases; Earth rotates more slowly near the poles B) decreases; Earth's axis is titled relative to the plane of the ecliptic C) increases; Earth rotates more slowly near the poles D) increases; Earth's axis is titled relative to the plane of the ecliptic E) remains constant throughout the year; Earth is a sphere 23) In general, as distance from the subsolar point increases, the average annual insolation and the average annual temperature. A) increases; increases B) increases; decreases C) decreases; increases D) decreases; decreases 24) Based on information discussed previously in the course, you know that average temperatures in the troposphere with increasing elevation because the atmosphere is heated. A) increase; from the top-down by insolation B) increase; from the top-down by energy emitted from the stratosphere C) decrease; from the bottom-up by reflected insolation D) decrease; from the bottom-up by terrestrial infrared energy 6

7 25) 6.4 C/1000 m (3.5 F/1000 ft.) refers to A) a latitudinal lapse rate. B) the normal lapse rate. C) an environmental lapse rate. D) a measure of air pressure. Answer: B 26) Air pressure at 5500 m (18,000 ft.) is (percent) of that at sea level. A) 0 B) 10 C) 30 D) 50 27) Which of the following is true regarding locations at high elevations? A) Higher elevations experience higher temperatures during the day because they are closer to the Sun. B) Higher elevations experience lower average temperatures during both day and night. C) The density of air increases with increasing elevation. D) Temperatures at night, and in the shadows, are greater at higher elevations. Answer: B 28) At night, temperatures at high elevations decrease than at lower elevations because. A) more quickly; the air is thinner and contains less heat energy B) more quickly; the air is thicker and radiates energy away more rapidly C) less quickly; the air is thinner and contains less heat energy D) less quickly; the air is thicker and radiates energy away more rapidly 7

8 29) Which of the following is true regarding La Paz or Concepción, Bolivia? A) La Paz is hot and humid and at lower elevation. B) Concepción is generally cool and dry. C) La Paz is located much closer to the equator than Concepción. D) The people of La Paz, despite their altitude of 4103 m (13,461 ft.), are able to grow wheat and barley. 30) If the temperature at the surface of Earth (at sea level) is 100 F, what is the temperature at 2000 feet if the normal lapse rate is 3.5 F/1000 feet? A) 93 F B) 96.5 F C) F D) 107 F 31) If the temperature at the surface of Earth (at sea level) is 40 C, what is the temperature at 2000 m if the normal lapse rate is 6.4 C/1000 m? A) 27.2 C B) 33.6 C C) 46.4 C D) 52.8 C 32) The land-water heating difference that specifically relates to opaqueness is A) altitude. B) specific heat. C) transparency. D) evaporation. 8

9 33) The temperature control that includes the heat capacity of a substance is A) movement. B) evaporation. C) cloud cover. D) specific heat. 34) Which of the following is true regarding clouds? A) They increase temperature minimums and temperature maximums. B) They cover about 15 percent of Earth's surface at any one time. C) They have a moderating influence on temperatures. D) They decrease nighttime temperatures and increase daytime temperatures. 35) The temperature on a cloudy night is likely to be the temperature on a clear night all other factors being equal. A) warmer than B) colder than C) the same as 36) The temperature on a cloudy night is likely to be than that on a clear night because. A) colder; the clouds reflect more energy B) colder; the clouds absorb heat energy and store it C) warmer; the clouds absorb heat energy and then reradiate some of it back to the ground D) warmer; the clouds absorb heat energy and store it 9

10 37) Evaporation A) tends to increase temperatures over land. B) tends to lower temperatures more over water bodies than over land. C) tends to increase the temperature over water. D) affects land more than ocean surfaces. E) affects the temperature of land surfaces and water bodies the same amount. Answer: B 38) Ocean temperature rarely rises above 31 C (88 F) because of feedback caused by. A) positive; evaporation B) positive; ocean currents C) negative; evaporation D) negative; ocean currents 39) Transparency A) is greater in land than water. B) refers to the fact that land is opaque and water is transparent. C) produces a heat loading at the surface of water bodies. D) produces a photic layer that normally is 2000 m (6600 ft.) deep. Answer: B 40) The temperature difference between the surface and a point 10 feet below the surface is for land than for water because. A) greater; water is transparent B) greater; land is opaque C) less; water is transparent D) less; water does not experience temperature-induced circulation Answer: B 10

11 41) The rate at which temperature decreases below the surface of water is than that at which it decreases below the surface of land because. A) greater; water is transparent B) greater; land is opaque C) less; water is transparent D) less; water does not experience temperature-induced circulation 42) The land surface cools off more rapidly at night than water does because A) the energy is stored in a shallow layer near the surface of the land, and so it can be radiated away faster. B) the amount of energy stored in the land is less than that stored in the water column. C) all of the above are true. D) None of the above land does not cool off more rapidly than water at night. 43) Which of the following is true regarding the specific heat of land and water? A) Water can hold more heat energy than a comparable volume of rock. B) The temperature of water will rise faster than that of land when exposed to the same amount of insolation. C) Land surfaces have a higher specific heat than water surfaces. D) Land and water have very similar specific heat values. 44) Land has a specific heat than water and therefore heats more. A) higher; slowly B) higher; quickly C) lower; slowly D) lower; quickly 11

12 45) The mean (average) temperature of a given location on Earth is controlled primarily by its whereas its temperature range is controlled primarily by its. A) latitude; elevation B) elevation; location with respect to large water bodies C) evaporation; latitude D) latitude; location with respect to large water bodies 46) As a result of the characteristics of water, cities located near a coast should experience a temperature range that is those of cities located in the interior at the same latitude. A) the same as B) smaller than C) larger than Answer: B 47) Both City A and City B are located at the same latitude and the same amount of cloud cover. City A has a mean annual temperature of 27 C and a temperature range of 22 C. City B has a mean annual temperature of 26 C and a temperature range of 14 C. Which city is located in the interior of the continent? A) City A B) City B C) It is impossible to say. 48) During summer, cities located near the coast are than those in the interior at the same latitude, while in the winter they are. A) warmer; warmer B) warmer; cooler C) cooler; warmer D) cooler; cooler 12

13 49) In general, more moderate temperature patterns A) are created by continentality. B) are exemplified by Winnipeg and Wichita. C) indicate maritime influences. D) occur in continental interiors. 50) The Gulf Stream A) moves southward and moderates temperatures in eastern South America. B) moves equatorward, warming the California coast. C) moves northward in the western Atlantic, moderating temperatures in Iceland. D) creates a warming effect on Japan and the Aleutians. 51) Which of the following results from convection currents? A) Heat energy is more evenly distributed in soil and rock than in water. B) Heat energy tends to concentrate in one spot. C) Warmer and cooler water mix, thereby spreading heat over a greater volume. D) none of the above currents have no affect on either land or water body temperatures 52) If the Gulf Stream shifted away from Iceland and England, winter temperatures in these locations would A) become cooler, thereby decreasing the average winter temperature. B) become warmer, thereby increasing the average winter temperature. C) remain the same. D) It is impossible to say what would happen to the winter temperatures. 13

14 53) The cool ocean currents that flow along the west coasts of continents promote A) heavy rainfall. B) fog. C) thunderstorm development. D) all of the above. Answer: B 54) The Western Pacific Warm Pool A) averages 20 to 22 C (68 to 72 F). B) is located around the Hawaiian Islands. C) has temperatures above 30 C (86 F). D) is not the region of the highest average ocean temperatures in the world. 55) Relative to marine versus continental effects on temperature, Vancouver is to Wichita as A) San Francisco is to Los Angeles. B) Wichita is to Verkhoyansk. C) Winnipeg is to Verkhoyansk. D) San Francisco is to Winnipeg. E) Vancouver is to Los Angeles. 56) Which of the following would experience the least continentality? A) central Nevada B) north central Asia C) a tropical island D) 200 kilometers inland from the Gulf of Mexico 14

15 57) Which of the following experiences the greatest continentality? A) central Kansas B) north central Asia C) a tropical island D) 200 kilometers inland from the Gulf of Mexico Answer: B 58) Which one of the following cities experiences temperatures of 32.2 C (90 F) or higher at least 65 days each year? A) Trondheim, Norway B) San Francisco, California C) Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada D) Wichita, Kansas 59) Which of the following is incorrectly matched? A) Winnipeg continentality B) Vancouver marine C) Trondheim continentality D) Verkhoyansk continentality E) Wichita continentality 60) The greatest annual temperature ranges are characteristic of places like A) Los Angeles and Vancouver. B) Los Angeles and London. C) Verkhoyansk and Oymyakon. D) Santa Fe and Kansas City. 15

16 61) An isoline that connects all points of highest mean temperature on a world map is called A) an isobar. B) the highest mean temperature isoline. C) the thermal equator. D) min/max line. E) the temperature range line. 62) An isoline that connects all points of the same temperature on a map is called A) an isobar. B) the mean temperature isoline. C) the thermal equator. D) min/max line. E) an isotherm. Answer: E 63) Which of the following is true of the thermal equator during the month of July? A) It trends equatorward over continents and poleward over the oceans. B) It trends poleward over continents and equatorward over the oceans. C) It assumes an orientation that closely parallels that of the equator. D) Its orientation is apparently random and has yet to be adequately explained. Answer: B 64) The highest maximum temperatures recorded on Earth occur in interior deserts during July because A) insolation is greater than at other latitudes. B) the skies are cloudless. C) little evaporation occurs to supply moisture to the atmosphere. D) all of the above are true. 16

17 65) Which of the following is true? A) Northern Hemisphere temperatures are more strongly dominated by continentality than are Southern Hemisphere temperatures. B) Southern Hemisphere temperatures are more strongly dominated by continentality than are Northern Hemisphere temperatures. C) The Northern and Southern hemispheres are dominated equally by maritime influences. D) The Northern and Southern hemispheres are dominated equally by continentality. 66) The annual temperature range map in your text shows that the A) lowest ranges occur over continental interiors in the Northern Hemisphere. B) greatest ranges occur in the subtropics over the oceans. C) greatest ranges occur over the continental masses in the Southern Hemisphere. D) greatest ranges occur in east central Siberia in Russia. 67) Our individual perception of temperature is termed A) apparent temperature, or sensible temperature. B) air temperature. C) the heat index. D) sensible heat. 68) Which of the following is false regarding our perception and response to temperature? A) Low winds with higher temperatures and humidity produce the most discomfort. B) Lower humidity and strong winds enhance cooling rates. C) Lower temperatures produce a decrease in sweating. D) Increased appetite occurs with higher temperatures. 17

18 69) The effect of wind and temperature on the human skin is called the A) heat index. B) sensible heat measurement. C) wind chill factor. D) apparent temperature index. 70) Which of the following is an effect of high temperature exposure? A) increased appetite B) shivering C) reduced blood flow to the skin, so that the skin becomes pale in color D) decreased urine volume 71) As reported by the National Weather Service, the heat index A) relates temperature and relative humidity. B) combines air pressure and temperature in a comfort index. C) gives you an indication of the effect of wind on the skin. D) is generally reported during critical winter months. 72) The wind-chill index A) takes into account infrared solar radiation. B) assumes people are wearing a basic layer of clothing. C) uses the same variables as the heat index does. D) does not consider whether or not a person is engaged in physical activity. 18

19 True/False Questions 1) Air temperature is an indication of the average kinetic energy of individual molecules within the atmosphere. 2) The flow of temperature into an object raises its heat. 3) Temperature is a measure of kinetic energy. 4) Water has more than one freezing point. 5) Official temperature measurements are made in white, sealed boxes with an albedo of 31%. 6) Monthly mean temperatures are made by taking the average of the highest and lowest temperatures of the month. 19

20 7) Ice has only one melting point, but water has many freezing points. 8) There is as yet no scientific consensus concerning the idea that Earth is warming as a result of human activities. 9) Temperatures are usually quite uniform and unchanging with altitude. 10) Snow line elevation increases with increasing latitude. 11) The subsolar point migrates annually between 47 N and 47 S latitude. 12) The average annual temperature of a location is controlled primarily by latitude. 13) The normal lapse rate of temperature change is 6.4 C /1000 m (3.5 /1000 ft). 20

21 14) Air pressure decreases by 50 percent at an elevation of 5500 m (18,000 ft). 15) Average air temperatures at higher elevations are generally higher, with smaller differences between areas of direct sunlight and shadow. 16) Snow lines generally occur at lower elevations with increasing latitude. 17) Clouds moderate temperatures producing lower daily maximums and higher nightly minimums. 18) If you went for a walk on a hot beach, you could cool your feet off substantially by digging them into the sand. 19) Because water has a higher specific heat than land, it cools more quickly. 20) You would expect a tropical island to have a high degree of continentality. 21

22 21) Maritime influences tend to decrease both daily and monthly temperature ranges. 22) Ocean currents along midlatitude west coasts, even near deserts, are cool. 23) In winter, isotherms over the interior of Northern Hemisphere continents trend equatorward. 24) The all-time highest and lowest temperatures were both recorded on the Eurasian landmass. 25) Verkhoyansk has a temperature range of 105 C (189 F ). 26) The highest temperatures on Earth are associated with the intense heating in subtropical deserts. 27) The Southern Hemisphere is dominated by maritime influences, whereas the Northern Hemisphere is dominated by continentality. 22

23 28) Normal body temperature has been recently determined to be 36.8 C (98.2 F). 29) Levels of carbon dioxide and methane are higher now than any time in the last 800,000 years. 30) The last 15 years feature the warmest years in the climate record. 31) The heat index combines temperature with air pressure. 32) Wind-chill index assumes a person is appropriately dressed for the weather. 33) The thermal equator refers to the unchanging warm temperatures at the equator. 23

24 Short Answer Questions 1) As compared to land surfaces, water bodies tend to have evaporation rates, specific heat capacity, transparency, and flowing movements or currents. These characteristics together produce more temperatures over the ocean as compared to more temperature patterns over the continents. These conditions over the oceans are termed whereas over land conditions are described with the term. Answer: higher; higher; greater; greater; moderate; extreme; marine; continentality Essay Questions 1) Define the term "temperature." Discuss how latitude, altitude, cloud cover, and land-water heating differences can global temperature patterns. Bloom's Taxonomy: 5/6 Synthesis/Evaluation 2) First distinguish between temperature and heat. Then describe the important characteristics of the three main temperature scales. Bloom's Taxonomy: 5/6 Synthesis/Evaluation 3) Why is the higher specific heat of water as compared to rock or soil an important factor in determining temperature characteristics and changes? Bloom's Taxonomy: 5/6 Synthesis/Evaluation 4) How do ocean currents affect both water and air temperatures? Use the Gulf Stream as an example. Bloom's Taxonomy: 5/6 Synthesis/Evaluation 5) Compare, contrast, and explain maritime and continental conditions. Bloom's Taxonomy: 5/6 Synthesis/Evaluation 24

25 6) Compare and contrast Northern and Southern temperature ranges. Also, compare tropical and midlatitude temperature ranges. Bloom's Taxonomy: 5/6 Synthesis/Evaluation 7) Why do continental locations usually have greater extremes of temperature than do maritime locations at the same latitude? Bloom's Taxonomy: 5/6 Synthesis/Evaluation 8) Where should you move to if you wanted to live an a region with the greatest annual range of temperatures? If you changed your mind and wanted to live in the region with the lowest annual temperature range where should you go? What are the qualities that create each of these situations? Bloom's Taxonomy: 5/6 Synthesis/Evaluation 9) What are some of the significant changes in Polar temperatures? How much have temperatures risen? What are some of the effects that have been measured? Bloom's Taxonomy: 5/6 Synthesis/Evaluation 10) Compare and contrast the wind-chill factor and the heat index. Bloom's Taxonomy: 5/6 Synthesis/Evaluation 11) What are the various factors that can affect the apparent (sensible) temperature? Bloom's Taxonomy: 5/6 Synthesis/Evaluation 12) How does wind affect the wind-chill factor and the heat index? Bloom's Taxonomy: 5/6 Synthesis/Evaluation 25

26 13) Would residents of Miami or San Francisco be more likely to pay attention to the heat index? Why? Bloom's Taxonomy: 5/6 Synthesis/Evaluation 26