Exam 1

Question 1

zero-dimensional climate model

Answer 1

A Zero-Dimensional Climate Model is a simple climate model that balances outgoing longwave
radiation with incoming shortwave radiation. Assumes a uniform Earth surface, neglecting
latitudinal and longitudinal heterogeneity, and simplifies the vertical structure of the atmosphere.

Question 2

latent heat flux

Answer 2

Transfer of energy which results in a phase change

Question 3

albedo

Answer 3

reflected radiation/incoming or incident radiation

Question 4

greenhouse effect

Answer 4

The greenhouse effect refers to the heating of the Earth caused by greenhouse gases, which
absorb and re-radiate longwave radiation.

Question 5

variable atmospheric gas

Answer 5

Gases present in amounts that vary greatly in abundance vertically, horizontally, and/or
seasonally. Water vapor and carbon dioxide are important variable gases.

Question 6

most abundant element in atmost

Answer 6

nitrogen

Question 7

smooth data?

Answer 7

reduce noise

Question 8

where does temp decrease with height?

Answer 8

in troposphere

Question 9

beam spreading is ___ at noon

Answer 9

minimum

Question 10

Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would be…

Answer 10

inhospitable

Question 11

free convection

Answer 11

convection driven by the buoyancy of warm air

Question 12

forced convection

Answer 12

driven by an external force, like air pushed by mountains or blown by a fan

Question 13

If the air is unsaturated, the wet bulb temperature of a sling psychrometer will be _____ than
the dry bulb temperature

Answer 13

lower

Question 14

The largest energy transfer in the solar spectrum occurs in the:

Answer 14

visible

Question 15

This is the only atmospheric variable that always decreases with distance above the ground

Answer 15

pressure

Question 16

Ultimately, the buoyancy of a rising air parcel is dependent upon its:

Answer 16

rate of cooling relative to the surrounding air

Question 17

All of the following are variable gases except:
A) Oxygen
B) Methane
C) Carbon dioxide
D) Water vapor

Answer 17

A oxygen

Question 18

Vivid sunsets are caused by

Answer 18

rayleigh and mie scattering

Question 19

Winnipeg, Canada, is located near latitude 50 °N and Austin, Texas, is located near 30 °N, but on
average Winnipeg receives slightly more surface solar radiation during the June solstice.
Describe two possible reasons for this apparent paradox in three sentences or less.

Answer 19

The period of daylight at Winnipeg is over two hours longer, which compensates for the lower
midday solar angle. In addition, the actual radiation received at the surface is a function of the
amount and distribution of absorbers and reflectors in the atmosphere, including water vapor,
clouds, and aerosols.

Question 20

Annually averaged, the tropics ____ energy and the poles ____ energy

Answer 20

gain, lose

Question 21

net radiation equation

Answer 21

surface shortwave radiation absorbed - net longwave radiation outgoing

Question 22

Net radiation gets _____ from the _____ to the _____

Answer 22

distributed tropics to poles

Question 23

evaporation carries energy in the form of…

Answer 23

latent heat

Question 24

sensible heat

Answer 24

warming and advection of air

Question 25

how to describe balancing energy budget

Answer 25

Annually averaged, the tropics gain energy and the poles lose energy. This figure describes the
distribution of net radiation (surface shortwave radiation absorbed - net longwave radiation
outgoing) from the tropics to the poles. Without this distribution, the tropics and poles would be
constantly warming and cooling, respectively.

Question 26

weather

Answer 26

atmospheric phenomena on timescales of hours to months

Question 27

climate

Answer 27

atmospheric phenomena on the time scales of months to millenia, long term average of weather

Question 28

composition of atmosphere

Answer 28

mixture of gases, suspended particles, and liquid/solid water

Question 29

permanent gases

Answer 29

prominent, constant, and evenly distributed across atmosphere. nitrogen, oxygen, argon, etc.

Question 30

variable gases

Answer 30

scarce but influential, not constant or evenly distributed in atmos. water vapor, carbon dioxide

Question 31

water vapor

Answer 31

most abundant variable gas, lowest atmos, drives weather

Question 32

carbon dioxide

Answer 32

trace gas increasing, important to energy balance

Question 33

ozone

Answer 33

pollutant near surface but essential absorber of UV radiation in stratosphere (O3)

Question 34

aerosols

Answer 34

any solid of liquid particle other than water that exists in the atmos

Question 35

air density _____ with increasing altitude

Answer 35

decreases

Question 36

pressure _____ with increasing altitude

Answer 36

decreases

Question 37

vertical structure of atmos, bottom to top

Answer 37

tropo, strato, meso, thermo

Question 38

electromag radiation

Answer 38

energy emited from Sun and transferred to Earth

Question 39

Stefan-Boltzmann meaning

Answer 39

I = sigma t^4
double the temp, more than double the radiation
hotter objects radiate more energy

Question 40

What heat spectrum part can we feel?

Answer 40

thermal infrared radiation

Question 41

In a wave, higher energy is associated with:

Answer 41

shorter wavelength, higher amplitude

Question 42

intensity of radiation optimized at:

Answer 42

90 degree angle of incidence

Question 43

rayleigh scattering

Answer 43

atmos gases

Question 44

mie scattering

Answer 44

particles in atmos bigger than wavelengths

Question 45

nonselective scattering

Answer 45

particles much larger than incident radiation, all lengths scattered

Question 46

500 mb

Answer 46

half of atmos below or above, constant pressure surface in troposphere