Exam 1

Question 1

The seasonal variation in the amount of energy that reaches the Earth’s surface is primarily influenced by:

Answer 1

the length of the day and the solar angle

Question 2

When it is summer in the northern hemisphere, it is winter in the southern hemisphere.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

During the equinoxes, the northern and southern hemispheres recieve equal illumination from the Sun.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

At mid-latitudes, the Sun rises due east and sets due west on the summer and winter solstices.

Answer 4

False

Question 5

On the Tropic of Cancer, the Sun is directly overhead at noon on the summer solstice.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

Which of the following locations experiences 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night everyday of the year?

Answer 6

The equator

Question 7

Which of the following locations experiences 6 months of daylight and 6 months of night?

Answer 7

The North Pole

Question 8

On the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the gretest amount of solar insolation occurs at the top of the atmosphere in the Arctic.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

On the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the gretest amount of solar insolation occurs at the Earth’s surface on the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° North Latitude).

Answer 9

False

Question 10

The Earth is closest to the Sun in January (Northern Hemisphere winter).

Answer 10

True

Question 11

Early morning heating of the air in contact with the ground is by conduction.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

In general, air is a much better conductor of heat than the Earth’s surface.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

The maximum daily temperature generally occurs:

Answer 13

when incoming solar energy equals outgoing surface energy

Question 14

Daily air temperature variations are typically greater over land compared with over water.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

When outgoing energy from the Earth’s surface excedes incoming solar energy, radiative cooling of the surface occurs.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

As night progresses, the air in contact with the ground cools more rapidly than the air above.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

Radiation inversions are generally most pronounced in the mid afternoon.

Answer 17

False

Question 18

Which of the following contribute to a more pronounced night-time radiation inversion? (Check all that apply)

Answer 18

calm (windless) night
Clear skies

dry air

Question 19

Thermal Belts develop when cold air flows down hill displacing warmer surface air to higher altitude.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

Diurnal temperature ranges are generally smaller close to the surface and increase with altitude.

Answer 20

False

Question 21

Diurnal temperature ranges are generally greater on clear days than on cloudy days.

Answer 21

True

Question 22

High humidity tends to increase the diurnal temperature range.

Answer 22

False

Question 23

The average monthly temperature is the average of the highest and lowest temperature of the month.

Answer 23

False

Question 24

Which of the following statements is true concerning temperature changes as one moves from the equator to the pole in the winter? (Check all that apply)

Answer 24

The temperature change is greater than in the summer.

The temperature changes more over land than over the oceans.

Question 25

The difference in the average temperature between the warmest and coldest months is greater for mid-continent than mid-ocean.

Answer 25

True

Question 26

Locations on the western edge of a continent tend to have a greater annual temperature range than those on the eastern edge at the same latitude.

Answer 26

False

Question 27

Potential energy can be converted to kinetic energy, but kinetic energy cannot be converted to potential energy.

Answer 27

False

Question 28

Chemical bond energy is an example of potential energy.

Answer 28

True

Question 29

At the atomic or molecular level, temperature is repreresented by motion. The higher the temperature the faster atoms and molecules move.

Answer 29

True

Question 30

he Kelvin temperature scale, sets the 0 K point at absolute zero, just like the Fahrenheit scale.

Answer 30

False

Question 31

Moist air has a higher specific heat than dry air.

Answer 31

True

Question 32

The higher the heat capacity of a substance the more energy is required to raise its temperature.

Answer 32

True

Question 33

Latent heat is the energy involved with a phase (gas, liquid, solid) change.

Answer 33

True

Question 34

The evaporation of liquid water requires an input of energy, while the condensation of water vapor releases energy.

Answer 34

True

Question 35

Conduction of heat is the direct transfer of energy from one atom or molecule to another.

Answer 35

True

Question 36

Convection is the transfer of heat by the mass movement of a fluid.

Answer 36

True

Question 37

In atmspheric science, the vertical (rising or sinking) portion of a convection cell is called advection.

Answer 37

False

Question 38

As a parcel of air expands, the energy of the air molecules is reduced. This causes the parcel of air to cool.

Answer 38

True

Question 39

The range of wavelengths of visible light encompass the broadest portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Answer 39

False

Question 40

Radio waves have a higher frequency than visible light.

Answer 40

False

Question 41

The blackbody (or thermal) radiation emitted by an object depends only on its temperature.

Answer 41

True

Question 42

The higher the temperature of an object, the higher the peak frequency of its thermal radiation.

Answer 42

True

Question 43

The total energy emitted by an object increases by the square of its temperature.

Answer 43

False

Question 44

Molecules, such as methane, that are good absorbers at a particular wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, are also good emitters at the same wavelength

Answer 44

True

Question 45

The atmosphere near the Earth's surface is warmed directly by incoming solar radiation.

Answer 45

False

Question 46

The Earth's atmosphere scatters shorter wavelengths of light more effectively than longer wavelenths.

Answer 46

True

Question 47

Dark objects have a lower albedo than bright objects.

Answer 47

True

Question 48

On average, approximately half of the incoming solar radiation that hits the top of the Earth's atmoshere makes it to the surface.

Answer 48

True

Question 49

Approximately half of the incoming solar radiation that hits the top of the Earth's atmosphere is absorbed directly by the atmosphere and clouds.

Answer 49

False

Question 50

Compared with higher latitudes, the tropics have a surplus of energy.

Answer 50

True

Question 51

In which phase of water are the molecules moving the fastest?

Answer 51

Water vapor

Question 52

In the solid ice phase of water, the individual water molecules are bound to each other by strong covalent bonds

Answer 52

False

Question 53

In the liquid phase of water the individual water molecules are loosely bonded to each other by hydrogen bonds.

Answer 53

True

Question 54

Humidity is constant in the Earth's atmosphere in space and time.

Answer 54

False

Question 55

Specific Humidity is defined as:

Answer 55

the mass of water vapor/mass of air

Question 56

The specific humidity of the Earth's atmosphere is greatest near the equator and decreases steadily toward the poles.

Answer 56

True

Question 57

The process of condensation, the phase change of a gas to a liquid, requires the input of energy.

Answer 57

False

Question 58

According to Dalton's law, the partial pressure of a gas:

Answer 58

is proportional to it's mole fraction.

Question 59

The saturation vapor pressure:

Answer 59

is a function of temperature.

Question 60

Relative humidity is the ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air to the to the amount of water vapor required for saturation.

Answer 60

True

Question 61

If water vapor content of the air remains constant, the relative humidity will increase as temperature is increased.

Answer 61

False

Question 62

The higher the relative humitdity, the lower the dew point temperature.

Answer 62

True

Question 63

A high dew point temperature indicates a high water vapor content.

Answer 63

True

Question 64

All other things being equal, the lower the dew point temperature, the higher the expected minimum temperature.

Answer 64

False

Question 65

Relatie humidity is lowest at the oles

Answer 65

False

Question 66

Moist air is denser than dry air.

Answer 66

False

Question 67

Dew forms on objects near the ground surface when they cool below the dew point temperature.

Answer 67

True

Question 68

Dew formation is more likely on cloudy nights due to increased radiative cooling.

Answer 68

False

Question 69

White frost forms when the temperature cools below the dew point and the dew point is below 0°C.

Answer 69

True

Question 70

Condensation nuclei in the atmosphere provide the required surface for water condensation.

Answer 70

True

Question 71

Generally speaking, there are a greter number of condensation nuclei over the ocean than over land.

Answer 71

False

Question 72

The relative humidity needs to be 100% before water will condense onto condensation nuclei in the atmosphere.

Answer 72

False

Question 73

Fog forms: (Choose all that apply)

Answer 73

the saturation (dew) point when warmer moist air is added to cooler dry air

Question 74

Radiation fog forms best on a clear night with a shallow moist layer of air near the ground.

Answer 74

True

Question 75

A light breeze will prevent the formation of radiation fog, whereas a strong breeze will promote it.

Answer 75

False

Question 76

Valley fog is produced by cold hillslope air draining down slope and ponding in the valley floor

Answer 76

True

Question 77

Advection fog forms when cool moist air moves horizontally (advects) over a warm surface.

Answer 77

False

Question 78

Air converges and rises over headlands forming fog as compared to lower elevation beaches.

Answer 78

True

Question 79

Clouds are generally classified by their altitude range and shape.

Answer 79

True

Question 80

Cirrus clouds generally form at mid-altitude - between 6 to 2 km (20,000 to 6500 ft).

Answer 80

False

Question 81

Nibostratus clouds rarely produce rain

Answer 81

False

Question 82

Stratocumulus clouds contain abundant water ice.

Answer 82

False

Question 83

Cumulonimbus clouds often extend to the tropopause.

Answer 83

True