Name Per Date Earth Science Climate & Insolation Test 1) Which graph best represents the general relationship between latitude and average surface temperature? 2) The diagram below shows the apparent path of the Sun as viewed by an observer at a certain Earth location on March 21. At which latitude is the observer located? the Equator (0 ) 23 N 66 N 90 N Page 1
3) The diagram below shows a classroom demonstration. Two identical flashlights were placed in the positions shown and they illuminated areas of varying size, A and B, on a classroom globe. Thermometers were then placed at the center of each illuminated area to measure the rate of temperature increase. Readings were taken over a period of 30 minutes. 5) The diagrams below represent Earth's tilt on its axis on four different dates. The shaded portion represents the nighttime side of Earth. Which diagram best represents the day on which the longest duration of insolation occurs in New York State? Students most likely observed that the temperature of area A increased at a slower rate than the temperature of area B because area A received rays that were less concentrated slower rate than the temperature of area B because area A received rays that were more slanted faster rate than the temperature of area B because area A received rays that were more perpendicular to the surface faster rate than the temperature of area B because area A received rays with less total energy 4) Which two factors determine the number of hours of daylight at a particular location? longitude and season longitude and the Earth's average diameter latitude and season latitude and the Earth's average diameter 6) Which diagram best represents visible light rays after striking a dark, rough surface? Page 2
7) Base your answer to the following question on the following map and passage. The map shows the extent of summer ice-melt zones on Greenland in 1992 and 2002. The summer melt zone is an area where summer heat turns snow and ice around the edges of the ice sheet into slush and ponds of meltwater. Three coastal locations are shown on the map. IMPORTANT NOTE: Please see page 4 for the rest of question 7 related to the above text and diagram. (To best help you, both this page and page 4 should be visible at the same time.) Page 3
Arctic Meltdown Scientists are concerned because average arctic temperatures are rising. The Greenland Ice Sheet, the dominant area of continental ice in the arctic region, broke all previous records for melting in 2002. In 2004, the total amount of ice resting on top of the continental crust in the arctic region was estimated to be about 3,100,000 cubic kilometers. If all this ice were to melt, the ocean levels would rise approximately 8.5 meters. A reduction in ice-covered areas exposes more land surfaces. This increases absorption of insolation and accelerates arctic warming. Scientists continue to collect data to define the role of greenhouse gases in the warming of the arctic region. A decrease in areas covered in snow and ice leads to an increase in the absorption of insolation because exposed land surfaces are rougher and darker rougher and lighter smoother and darker smoother and lighter 8) The diagram below represents energy being absorbed and reradiated by the Earth. 9) An increase in which gas would cause the most greenhouse warming of Earth s atmosphere? nitrogen oxygen carbon dioxide hydrogen 10) The diagram below shows the noontime shadow cast by a vertical post located in New Jersey. Which letter indicates a location south of the post? Which type of energy is represented by the radiation at B? insolation visible light ultraviolet rays infrared energy A B C D Page 4
11) The diagram below shows a greenhouse. 13) The graph below shows the air temperatures recorded at a city in the United States on two days in July: a clear day and an overcast day. What is the primary function of the clear glass of the greenhouse? The glass reduces the amount of insolation entering the greenhouse. The glass allows all wavelengths of radiation to enter and all wavelengths of radiation to escape. The glass allows short wavelengths of radiation to enter, but reduces the amount of longwavelength radiation that escapes. The glass allows long wavelengths of radiation to enter, but reduces the amount of shortwavelength radiation that escapes. 12) During the summer months, which change in location would most likely cause a decrease in the observed daytime air temperatures? from 45º N latitude to 20º N latitude from sea level to 5 km above sea level from sea level on the windward side of a mountain to sea level on the leeward side from the ocean coast to an inland location Which statement best explains the differences in temperatures between the clear day and the overcast day? Clear skies usually accompany a warm front. Clear skies occur most often during nighttime hours. Clouds increase the amount of heat energy escaping the Earth's atmosphere at night. Clouds prevent much of the Sun's heat energy from reaching the Earth's surface during the daytime hours. 14) Why are temperature variations usually not as great on Long Island as they are in central New York State? Central New York State has a higher elevation. Central New York State is more heavily wooded. Long Island has a more southerly latitude. Long Island is surrounded by a large body of water. Page 5
Base your answers to questions 15 and 16 on the diagram below, which represents four stations, A, B, C, and D, in a laboratory investigation in which equal volumes of sand at the same starting temperature were heated by identical light sources. The light sources were the same distance from each station, but at different angles to the surfaces. Two thermometers were used at each station, one just above the surface and the other just below the surface. The lights were turned on for 30 minutes and then removed for the next 30 minutes. Temperatures were recorded each minute for the 60 minutes. 15) Most of the energy from the light sources was transferred to the sand by the process of conduction convection radiation transpiration Page 6
16) Which graph best represents the temperatures that would be shown by thermometers 1 and 2 at station A? Page 7
Base your answers to questions 17 and 18 on the diagram below, which shows the tilt of Earth on its axis in relation to the Sun on one particular day. Points A through E are locations on Earth s surface. Point D is located in Virginia. The dashed line represents Earth s axis. 17) Which diagram best represents the angle of the Sun s rays received at location C at noon on this day? 18) On this day, which location has the greatest number of hours of daylight? E B C D Page 8
Base your answers to questions 19 and 20 on the graph below, which shows the amount of insolation during one year at four different latitudes on Earth s surface. 19) Why is less insolation received at the equator in June than in March or September? The daylight period is longest at the equator in June. Winds blow insolation away from the equator in June. The Sun s vertical rays are north of the equator in June. Thick clouds block the Sun s vertical rays at the equator in June. 20) This graph shows that insolation varies with latitude and time of day latitude and time of year longitude and time of day longitude and time of year Page 9