quiz on week 1 notes shepard climate chnage

Question 1

Weather

Answer 1

Weather refers to the environmental conditions that occur at a particular
place at a particular time. The weather can include items such as
temperature, wind speed, cloud cover, precipitation and air pressure.

Weather affects our daily lives and a change in weather is felt
immediately. You may wake up in the morning with fog, then the sun will
shine in the afternoon. This sun may be interrupted by a thunderstorm.

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

is the average weather conditions that occur in a location over a
long period of time. This is usually calculated at a minimum length of 30
years. Climate can describe the average monthly temperature,
precipitation and average wind speed and direction.

Question 3

A scientist who studies climate is called ?

Answer 3

A scientist who studies climate is called a climatologists.

Question 4

There are 4 factors that affect climate in a region:

Answer 4

1. Latitude
2. Elevation
3. The air masses that flow over the area
4. The area’s nearness to large bodies of water

Question 5

Energy from the sun is called?

Answer 5

solar radiation. Solar radiation is

transmitted as electromagnetic (light) waves from the sun.

Question 6

When solar radiation reaches the Earth it is absorbed by ?

Answer 6

the
atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere (air, land, water).

This absorbed radiation becomes thermal energy.

Question 7

what is insolation

Answer 7

The
amount of solar radiation received by a region of Earth’s surface is
called Insolation.

when more solar radiation that strikes the equator than the
poles. As a result the equator is warmer than the poles.

Question 8

Earth’s Biosphere

Answer 8

The biosphere is a relatively thin layer of the

Earth that has conditions suitable for life.

Question 9

The Atmosphere

Answer 9

The atmosphere is a layer of gases that extend out from the Earth to
an altitude of 300km

Question 10

The troposphere

Answer 10

can support life and contains most of the water
vapour and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; it also contains most of
the dust in the atmosphere. This is the layer of the atmosphere where
weather occurs.

Question 11

The stratosphere

Answer 11

contains the ozone layer and the temperature

increases with elevation as ozone absorbs ultraviolet solar radiation.

Question 12

and thermosphere contain very little

Answer 12

gas and do not

contribute to our climate.

Question 13

The biosphere

Answer 13

maintains the conditions for life on Earth.

Question 14

what is a biome

Answer 14

A biome is a large geographical
region with a defined range of temperature and precipitation
(climate).

Question 15

The Greenhouse Effect

Answer 15

A greenhouse is able to heat up because solar radiation (visible
light) is able to pass through glass windows, however infrared
radiation (heat) is not able to pass through glass.

Question 16

The Earth is constantly absorbing solar energy from the sun.

Answer 16

The Earth is constantly absorbing solar energy from the sun.

Question 17

read and know

Answer 17

In order for the Earth to maintain a constant average temperature
the amount of infrared radiation that is emitted into space must
equal the amount of solar energy that is absorbed.
When this occurs the Earth’s energy budget is said to be balanced.
One important factor that affects the amount of energy absorbed by
the Earth is the albedo of different parts of the planet.
Albedo is the percentage of incoming solar radiation that is
reflected. Shiny surfaces such as ice and snow reflect much more
solar radiation than open water and soil.

Question 18

4 things about thermal energy

Answer 18

Thermal energy is constantly moving from one object to another.
Thermal energy naturally moves from warm objects to cool objects.
Thermal energy can be transferred from one object to another in
three different ways, radiation, conduction and convection.

Question 19

what is radiation

Answer 19

Radiation is the transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves.

Question 20

what is conduction

Answer 20

is the transfer of thermal energy through direct
contact. All matter is made up of atoms, as these atoms are
heated they move faster. When moving atoms collide with one
another they pass some of their energy on to the other atom.
Through these collisions heat is transferred from one place to
another by contact.
Examples: An ice cube placed on a warm surface will melt.

Question 21

what is convention

Answer 21

Convection is the transfer of thermal energy through the
movement of particles from one location to another. Convection
usually occurs in fluids such as gases or liquids.
Example: In a house a radiator heats the air
close to it due to contact, this warmer air is less
dense and as a result it rises. This rising warm
air is replaced by denser cool air. This results
in a convection current transferring heat around
the room.

Question 22

read part 2

Answer 22

Heat is constantly being transferred around the Earth from warm
places to cool places. This transfer of energy helps to maintain
moderate temperatures on the Earth.
Thermal energy is absorbed by conduction more at the equator
than the poles. As a result convection currents are set up in the
atmosphere due to rising warmer air. This motion produces
global winds.

Question 23

Climatographs show ?

Answer 23

Climatographs show the average temperature and precipitation over
a year for a given location.

Question 24

4 gasses in green houses

Answer 24

water vapour h20
carbon dioxide co2
nitrous oxide n20
methane ch4

Question 25

what is the earths average earth temp

Answer 25

The Earth’s average surface temperature is about 15oC.

Question 26

Albedo

Answer 26

Albedo is the percentage of incoming solar radiation that is
reflected. Shiny surfaces such as ice and snow reflect much more
solar radiation than open water and soil.

Question 27

anthropogenic greenhouse effect

Answer 27

the warming due to human made greenhouse gases

Question 28

What is a carbon source

Answer 28

Something that produces fire ie fire

Question 29

What is a carbon sink

Answer 29

Something that absorbs co2 ie tree

Question 30

Most significant greenhouse gas is

Answer 30

Carbon dioxide

Question 31

Photosynthesis

Answer 31

Is a carbon sink