Exam 1 Flashcards
The seasonal variation in the amount of energy that reaches the Earth’s surface is primarily influenced by:
the length of the day and the solar angle
When it is summer in the northern hemisphere, it is winter in the southern hemisphere.
True
During the equinoxes, the northern and southern hemispheres recieve equal illumination from the Sun.
True
At mid-latitudes, the Sun rises due east and sets due west on the summer and winter solstices.
False
On the Tropic of Cancer, the Sun is directly overhead at noon on the summer solstice.
True
Which of the following locations experiences 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night everyday of the year?
The equator
Which of the following locations experiences 6 months of daylight and 6 months of night?
The North Pole
On the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the gretest amount of solar insolation occurs at the top of the atmosphere in the Arctic.
True
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).
False
The Earth is closest to the Sun in January (Northern Hemisphere winter).
True
Early morning heating of the air in contact with the ground is by conduction.
True
In general, air is a much better conductor of heat than the Earth’s surface.
False
The maximum daily temperature generally occurs:
when incoming solar energy equals outgoing surface energy
Daily air temperature variations are typically greater over land compared with over water.
True
When outgoing energy from the Earth’s surface excedes incoming solar energy, radiative cooling of the surface occurs.
True
As night progresses, the air in contact with the ground cools more rapidly than the air above.
True
Radiation inversions are generally most pronounced in the mid afternoon.
False
Which of the following contribute to a more pronounced night-time radiation inversion? (Check all that apply)
calm (windless) night
Clear skies
dry air
Thermal Belts develop when cold air flows down hill displacing warmer surface air to higher altitude.
True
Diurnal temperature ranges are generally smaller close to the surface and increase with altitude.
False
Diurnal temperature ranges are generally greater on clear days than on cloudy days.
True
High humidity tends to increase the diurnal temperature range.
False
The average monthly temperature is the average of the highest and lowest temperature of the month.
False
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)
The temperature change is greater than in the summer.
The temperature changes more over land than over the oceans.
The difference in the average temperature between the warmest and coldest months is greater for mid-continent than mid-ocean.
True
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.
False
Potential energy can be converted to kinetic energy, but kinetic energy cannot be converted to potential energy.
False
Chemical bond energy is an example of potential energy.
True
At the atomic or molecular level, temperature is repreresented by motion. The higher the temperature the faster atoms and molecules move.
True
he Kelvin temperature scale, sets the 0 K point at absolute zero, just like the Fahrenheit scale.
False
Moist air has a higher specific heat than dry air.
True
The higher the heat capacity of a substance the more energy is required to raise its temperature.
True
Latent heat is the energy involved with a phase (gas, liquid, solid) change.
True
The evaporation of liquid water requires an input of energy, while the condensation of water vapor releases energy.
True
Conduction of heat is the direct transfer of energy from one atom or molecule to another.
True
Convection is the transfer of heat by the mass movement of a fluid.
True
In atmspheric science, the vertical (rising or sinking) portion of a convection cell is called advection.
False
As a parcel of air expands, the energy of the air molecules is reduced. This causes the parcel of air to cool.
True
The range of wavelengths of visible light encompass the broadest portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
False
Radio waves have a higher frequency than visible light.
False
The blackbody (or thermal) radiation emitted by an object depends only on its temperature.
True
The higher the temperature of an object, the higher the peak frequency of its thermal radiation.
True
The total energy emitted by an object increases by the square of its temperature.
False
Molecules, such as methane, that are good absorbers at a particular wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, are also good emitters at the same wavelength
True
The atmosphere near the Earth’s surface is warmed directly by incoming solar radiation.
False
The Earth’s atmosphere scatters shorter wavelengths of light more effectively than longer wavelenths.
True
Dark objects have a lower albedo than bright objects.
True
On average, approximately half of the incoming solar radiation that hits the top of the Earth’s atmoshere makes it to the surface.
True
Approximately half of the incoming solar radiation that hits the top of the Earth’s atmosphere is absorbed directly by the atmosphere and clouds.
False
Compared with higher latitudes, the tropics have a surplus of energy.
True
In which phase of water are the molecules moving the fastest?
Water vapor
In the solid ice phase of water, the individual water molecules are bound to each other by strong covalent bonds
False
In the liquid phase of water the individual water molecules are loosely bonded to each other by hydrogen bonds.
True
Humidity is constant in the Earth’s atmosphere in space and time.
False
Specific Humidity is defined as:
the mass of water vapor/mass of air
The specific humidity of the Earth’s atmosphere is greatest near the equator and decreases steadily toward the poles.
True
The process of condensation, the phase change of a gas to a liquid, requires the input of energy.
False
According to Dalton’s law, the partial pressure of a gas:
is proportional to it’s mole fraction.
The saturation vapor pressure:
is a function of temperature.
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.
True
If water vapor content of the air remains constant, the relative humidity will increase as temperature is increased.
False
The higher the relative humitdity, the lower the dew point temperature.
True
A high dew point temperature indicates a high water vapor content.
True
All other things being equal, the lower the dew point temperature, the higher the expected minimum temperature.
False
Relatie humidity is lowest at the oles
False
Moist air is denser than dry air.
False
Dew forms on objects near the ground surface when they cool below the dew point temperature.
True
Dew formation is more likely on cloudy nights due to increased radiative cooling.
False
White frost forms when the temperature cools below the dew point and the dew point is below 0°C.
True
Condensation nuclei in the atmosphere provide the required surface for water condensation.
True
Generally speaking, there are a greter number of condensation nuclei over the ocean than over land.
False
The relative humidity needs to be 100% before water will condense onto condensation nuclei in the atmosphere.
False
Fog forms: (Choose all that apply)
the saturation (dew) point
when warmer moist air is added to cooler dry air
Radiation fog forms best on a clear night with a shallow moist layer of air near the ground.
True
A light breeze will prevent the formation of radiation fog, whereas a strong breeze will promote it.
False
Valley fog is produced by cold hillslope air draining down slope and ponding in the valley floor
True
Advection fog forms when cool moist air moves horizontally (advects) over a warm surface.
False
Air converges and rises over headlands forming fog as compared to lower elevation beaches.
True
Clouds are generally classified by their altitude range and shape.
True
Cirrus clouds generally form at mid-altitude - between 6 to 2 km (20,000 to 6500 ft).
False
Nibostratus clouds rarely produce rain
False
Stratocumulus clouds contain abundant water ice.
False
Cumulonimbus clouds often extend to the tropopause.
True
