Chapter 3. Multiple Choice Questions

Transcription

1 Chapter 3 Multiple Choice Questions 1. In the case of electromagnetic energy, an object that is hot: a. radiates much more energy than a cool object b. radiates much less energy than a cool object c. radiates the same amount of energy as a cool object d. absorbs a huge amount of energy 2. The highest energy, shortest wavelength form of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun is. a. shortwave infrared b. visible light c. thermal infrared d. ultraviolet 3. Electromagnetic radiation emitted by the Sun travels through space: a. at the speed of sound b. following a curved path c. at the speed of light d. is all absorbed by blackbodies 4. As the Earth is a much cooler body than the sun, the Earth emits. a. ultraviolet radiation b. shortwave infrared radiation c. longwave radiation d. visible light radiation 5. Which of the following is not a factor in the global radiation balance? a. the Sun b. the land and ocean surfaces c. atmospheric scattering d. sensible heat exchanges 6. The solar constant: a. is highly variable b. has a value of about 1370 W/m 2 c. is measured at the Earth s surface d. is not affected by Earth s atmosphere 21

2 7. The amount of insolation falling on the surface of the Earth is dependent upon: a. the angle the Sun s rays make with the Earth s surface b. the longitude of a location c. the amount of glacial coverage in a particular area d. the amount of ocean surface in a particular region 8. As solar radiation passes through Earth s atmosphere: a. some of it is scattered b. most of it is absorbed by hydrogen molecules c. most of it is reflected back to space d. it is not affected in any way by the atmosphere 9. What region of the Earth receives the greatest amount of insolation? a. the poles b. the equatorial region c. the midlatitudes d. the subtropics 10. What area of the world receives maximum insolation twice throughout the year? a. the poles b. the equatorial region c. the midlatitudes d. the subtropics 11. What region has the largest annual variation in insolation? a. the arctic b. the equator c. the midlatitudes d. the tropics 12. At what time of the year is the insolation the greatest at 40ºN of latitude? a. December solstice b. Autumnal equinox c. Vernal Equinox d. June solstice 13. At the North Pole on June 21, the angle of the Sun above the horizon is. a. 0º b. 23 1/2 º c. 66 1/2 º d. 90º 22

3 14. What effect does the tilting of the Earth s axis has on the distribution of insolation? a. the poles receive insolation b. there are no seasons c. the Sun traces the same path in the sky every day of the year everywhere d. the equator is much warmer than it would be without the tilt 15. Of the following gases, which varies highly in concentration in the atmosphere? a. nitrogen b. water vapor c. argon d. oxygen 16. Which gas is the major greenhouse gas in our atmosphere? a. nitrogen b. argon c. carbon dioxide d. oxygen 17. What is the chemical formula of ozone? a. O 2 b. O 2- c. O 3 d. CO Of the following gases, which causes the most dramatic destruction of ozone? a. nitrogen b. carbon dioxide c. chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) d. argon 19. What natural process can lead to the destruction of ozone in the ozone layer? a. earthquakes b. volcanic activity c. oxidation d. salt spray from the oceans 20. The transfer of sensible heat that occurs when two objects of unlike temperature are in contact is called. a. convection b. radiation c. latent transfer d. conduction 23

4 21. Latent heat is: a. similar to sensible heat in that it can be measured with a thermometer b. transferred through the mechanism of conduction c. found only in the various states of water d. stored heat and as such cannot be directly measured with a thermometer 22. What process is responsible for the turning aside of light rays in the atmosphere? a. scattering b. absorption c. albedo d. diffusion 23. The percentage of shortwave radiant energy scattered upward by a surface is termed its. a. outflow b. radiation c. albedo d. reflection 24. Which of the following surfaces has the lowest albedo? a. black pavement b. snow c. a wavy water surface in late afternoon d. the Earth as a whole 25. The ground can only radiate longwave radiation, but the atmosphere radiates longwave radiation. a. upward, downward b. upward, in all directions c. downward, upward d. upward, at right angles to the upward flow 26. Water vapor and emit longwave radiation that has been radiated from the ground earlier, back to the surface, in a process named. a. oxygen, radiation b. carbon dioxide, reflection c. carbon dioxide, counterradiation d. nitrogen, diffusion 27. Without the greenhouse effect, our planet: a. would be much warmer b. would be much colder c. would have a much lower surface albedo d. would not be any different than it is right now 24

5 28. is the difference between all incoming radiation and all outgoing radiation. a. Net radiation b. Counterradiation c. The greenhouse effect d. Albedo 29. Poleward heat transfer involves the flow of heat by and from the lower latitudes to the polar regions. a. radiation, latent heat b. oceanic currents, atmospheric currents c. carbon dioxide, oceanic currents d. oceanic currents, radiation 30. The equatorial region experiences a(n) throughout the year. a. energy deficit b. energy budget c. radiation deficit d. energy surplus True/False Questions 31. True/False Volcanic eruptions and the injection of dust into the stratosphere are currently the major threats to the ozone layer. 32. True/False There is an inverse relationship between the wavelength of the radiation an object emits and its temperature. 33. True/False Visible light is a form of shortwave radiation. 34. True/False The watt (W) is a rate of intensity. 35. True/False The ocean, land, and atmosphere all emit longwave radiation. 36. True/False The acronym insolation means incoming celestial radiation. 37. True/False The day of highest insolation for northern hemisphere midlatitude regions is the summer solstice. 25

6 38. True/False As latitude increases away from the equator, insolation values drop. 39. True/False The world latitude zone that has the most extreme range of insolation is the midlatitude zone. 40. True/False The ozone layer is a uniform layer that exists at the highest levels of the troposphere. Short Answer Essay Questions 41. What are the major differences between shortwave and longwave radiation? 42. How do carbon dioxide and water vapor act to scatter longwave radiation and produce counterradiation? 43. Define the term radiation balance. Describe the various pathways that result in this balance. 44. What is the greenhouse effect? Of what value is it to life on Earth? 45. Explain the concept of poleward heat transfer. What are the two major mechanisms involved, and what effect do they have on the Earth s environments and life? 26