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Physical Geography > Exam 2 - Quizzes > Flashcards

Exam 2 - Quizzes Flashcards

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1
Q 
The condition of the atmosphere when it contains as much water as it can hold at a given temperature (state of total wetness) is known as...
A. Breaking point
B. Saturation
C. Atmospheric climax
D. Perspiration
E. Conditional humidity
A

B. Saturation

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2
Q

There is an inverse relationship between temperature and relative humidity such that relative humidity tends to…
A. Drop drastically at 4AM
B. Keep an even balance
C. Be lowest in the afternoon and highest just before dawn
D. Be lowest at dawn and highest in the afternoon
E. Be always high at midnight

A

C. Be lowest in the afternoon and highest just before dawn

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3
Q 
When atmospheric lifting results from the meeting of two air masses of different physical properties (moisture and temperature), the resulting form of precipitation is \_\_\_ rainfall.
A. Anticyclonic 
B. Relief
C. Convectional 
D. Convergent
E. Frontal
A

E. Frontal

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4
Q 
The most conspicuous feature of the worldwide annual precipitation pattern is that the \_\_\_ contain the wettest areas of earth.
A. Tropical latitudes
B. Poles
C. West coast of continents
D. Northern hemisphere
E. Continental (interior) locations
A

A. Tropical latitudes

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5
Q 
Which humidity measure shows how near, in terms of a percentage, an air mass is to saturation?
A. Absolute humidity
B. Specific humidity
C. Equivalent humidity
D. Mixing ratio humidity
E. Relative humidity
A

E. Relative humidity

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6
Q 
What property of water makes it "sticky"?
A. It's solid floats on its liquid
B. Covalent bonding
C. Hydrogen bonding
D. Capillarity
E. Evapotranspiration
A

C. Hydrogen bonding

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7
Q 
Condensation is not sufficient to explain large drop growth in warm clouds. What is the primary process responsible for this?
A. Bergeron process
B. Rain-snow melt
C. Ice melt
D. Sublimation
E. Collision and coalescence
A

E. Collision and coalescence

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8
Q 
Which of the following pH values is characteristic of acid rain?
A. 4.5
B. 5.0
C. 5.5
D. 6.0
E. 8.0
A

A. 4.5

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9
Q 
In order to grow hail in a cloud, he cloud must have...
A. Rotation
B. Warm temperatures
C. Strong down drafts
D. Strong updrafts
E. Weak updrafts
A

D. Strong updrafts

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10
Q 
The continuous interchange of our planet's water supply between Earth and the atmosphere is called what?
A. Saturation
B. Vaporization
C. The hydrologic cycle
D. Evapotranspiration
E. Precipitation
A

C. The hydrologic cycle

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11
Q 
A large body of air (500-1600 miles in diameter) with relatively uniform temperature and moisture, typically with homogenous source origin is called...
A. A continental breeze
B. An oceanic cyclone
C. An air mass
D. A monsoon
E. A tornado
A

C. An air mass

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12
Q 
Compared to a warm front, a cold front usually has a \_\_\_ gradient.
A. More gentle
B. Less pronounced
C. Slowly retreating
D. Much steeper
E. Somewhat equal
A

D. Much steeper

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13
Q

In a typical mid latitude cyclone…
A. The cold front advances faster than the warm front
B. Both the warm front and the cold front advance at the same speed
C. The warm front retreats faster than the advancing cold front
D. The warm front advances faster than the retreating cold front
E. Both fronts are juxtaposed

A

A. The cold front advances faster than the warm front

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14
Q 
Considered to be the most destructive of all atmospheric disturbances, \_\_\_ are tiny storms in diameter, usually with the most extreme pressure gradient known.
A. Hurricanes
B. Chinooks
C. Anticyclones
D. Frontal cyclones
E. Tornadoes
A

E. Tornadoes

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15
Q 
Unlike tornadoes, the eye of a hurricane is normally...
A. Stormy
B. Invisible
C. Dark
D. Calm
E. Violent
A

D. Calm

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16
Q 
The typical air mass in place of New Orleans, Louisiana, is...
A. mP
B. cP
C. cT
D. mT
E. cA
A

D. mT

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17
Q 
Thunderstorms typically dissipate because...
A. They run out of rain
B. The winds blow too fast
C. The updraft overpowers the downdraft
D. The downdraft chokes off the updraft
E. The sun rises
A

D. The downdraft chokes off the updraft

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18
Q 
Midlatitude anticyclones in the northern hemisphere...
A. Rotate counterclockwise
B. Are associated with rising motion
C. Precede a cold front passage
D. Exist behind cold fronts
E. Exist ahead of warm fronts
A

D. Exist behind cold fronts

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19
Q

Which group ranks tropical cyclones in order of decreasing wind speed?
A. Tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane
B. Hurricane, tropical depression, tropical storm
C. Hurricane, tropical wave, tropical depression
D. Tropical wave, tropical depression, hurricane
E. Hurricane, tropical storm, tropical depression

A

E. Hurricane, tropical storm, tropical depression

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20
Q 
Which characteristic distinguishes hurricanes from mid latitude cyclones in the northern hemisphere?
A. Vertical tilt with height
B. Tornadoes
C. Heavy rainfall
D. Cyclonic circulation
E. Windy conditions
A

A. Vertical tilt with height

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21
Q 
The Koppen climatic classification system is based MAINLY on the annual and monthly averages of two main elements. These are...
A. Vegetation and soil
B. Temperature and precipitation
C. Seasonality and humility
D. Pressure and winds
E. Cloudiness and visibility
A

B. Temperature and precipitation

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22
Q 
The global pressure belt associated with dry winters in the monsoon tropical climate is...
A. Equatorial low
B. The ITCZ
C. Polar high
D. Subpolar low
E. Subtropical high
A

E. Subtropical high

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23
Q 
Most subtropical deserts coincide with the subtropical high pressure belt which is responsible for \_\_\_, hence little uplift to cause rain.
A. Surface convergence of air
B. Anticyclonic subsidence of air
C. Geostrophic wind patterns
D. Parallel winds
E. Cyclonic flow of winds
A

B. Anticyclonic subsidence of air

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24
Q 
The dominant climatic control of tropical humid and polar climates is...
A. Ocean currents
B. Air pressure and winds
C. Latitudinal location
D. Continentality
E. Land-water distribution
A

C. Latitudinal location

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25
Q 
Polar climates are extraordinarily dry, yet classified as nonarid, because...
A. Evaporation is minuscule
B. Of the strong winds
C. Of the enduring cold
D. Of permafrost the whole year
E. Poles are by design wet
A

A. Evaporation is minuscule

26
Q 
The climate study method which analyzes tree rings is called...
A. Ice-core analysis
B. Tree analysis
C. Koppen analysis
D. Isotope analysis
E. Dendrochronology
A

E. Dendrochronology

27
Q

The clump graph is useful to help understand…
A. Global warming
B. Daily precipitation
C. Pressure changes
D. Annual temperature and precipitation trends
E. Paleoclimatology

A

D. Annual temperature and precipitation trends

28
Q 
The climate in a highlands region can best be described as...
A. Cold
B. Constant
C. Related to altitude
D. Dry
E. Windy
A

C. Related to altitude

29
Q

One major drawback to general circulation models (GCMs) is their…
A. Numerous assumptions
B. Ability to handle climate phenomena
C. Their ability to simulate long time periods
D. Their complexity
E. Their accuracy

A

A. Numerous assumptions

30
Q 
The Milankovitch parameter that relates to changes in earth's orbital shape is called... 
A. The axial shift 
B. Paleoclimatology
C. Axial precision
D. Orbital eccentricity
E. Axial tilt
A

D. Orbital eccentricity

31
Q 
Earth's water supply moved from one storage area to another - from ocean to air, and from air to ground through an endless process known as...
A. Hydrologic cycle
B. Atmospheric circulation
C. Carbon cycle
D. Adiabatic lapse rate 
E. Coalescence
A

A. Hydrologic cycle

32
Q

A cone of depression develops…
A. If water in an artesian system changes direction of flow
B. When the water table is drawn closer to earth’s surface
C. If water is withdrawn from a well faster than it can be replenished
D. When a boring person next to you keeps talking nonstop
E. When the aquifer-aquiclude systems collapse

A

C. If water is withdrawn from a well faster than it can be replenished

33
Q 
Most fresh water on earth is...
A. In glaciers and ice caps
B. In the atmosphere
C. Underground
D. In rivers and lakes
E. In people's houses for cooking
A

A. In glaciers and ice caps

34
Q 
Ocean water constitutes approximately \_\_\_ of earth's water.
A. 10
B. 50
C. 3
D. 20
E. 97
A

E. 97

35
Q

___ are by far the greatest cause of large scale movements of ocean water.
A. Waves
B. Human activities such as deep sea mining
C. Tides
D. Large rivers
E. Ocean currents

A

C. Tides

36
Q 
The primary distinguishing characteristic of marshes and swamps is...
A. The depth of the water
B. The age of the area
C. The density of the water
D. The plant life
E. Their location
A

D. The plant life

37
Q 
The area which separates the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation in underground water zones is known as the... 
A. Water depth
B. Freshwater lens 
C. Water table
D. Water log
E. Transition zone
A

C. Water table

38
Q 
In the ocean currents, water that is typically \_\_\_ than surrounding ocean water is brought up to the surface.
A. Cooler
B. Warmer
C. More dense
D. Higher salinity
E. Lower pressure
A

B. Warmer

39
Q 
If a geologic event causes a deep lake to be cut off from its surrounding water sources, over time it will...
A. Fill from underground water
B. Create lake-effect snow
C. Become lower salinity
D. Become higher salinity
E. Evaporate
A

D. Become higher salinity

40
Q 
Landscape that is permanently frozen is called...
A. Ice floes 
B. Permafrost
C. Icebergs
D. Ice shelves
E. Snow cliffs
A

B. Permafrost

41
Q 
The unending flows of energy, water, and nutrients through the biosphere are channeled by direct passage from one organism to another in pathways known as...
A. Carbon cycle
B. Nitrogen cycle
C. Hydrogen cycle
D. Food chains
E. Denitrification
A

D. Food chains

42
Q 
In the food chain, carnivores are classified as...
A. Primary producers
B. Secondary consumers
C. Primary consumers
D. Secondary producers
E. Spontaneous consumers
A

B. Secondary consumers

43
Q 
The process by which one type of vegetation is naturally replaced by another is known as...
A. Extinction 
B. Plant evolution
C. Plant succession
D. Offshoots
E. Plant transmigration
A

C. Plant succession

44
Q 
The contemporary distribution pattern of many organisms is often the result of...
A. Cold winters
B. Lack of water
C. Natural disasters
D. Human movement
E. Natural migration or dispersal
A

E. Natural migration or dispersal

45
Q

The term biota refers to…
A. The total complex of plant and animal life
B. The complete set of plant communities in the oceans
C. Large scale migration of birds from the south
D. Plants in the Sea of Japan suitable for fish food
E. Complex ecosystems at the poles

A

A. The total complex of plant and animal life

46
Q 
The process of converting not nitrites back to nitrogen gas is called...
A. The nitrogen cycle
B. Nitrate formation
C. Denitrification
D. The solar cycle
E. Nitrate fixation
A

C. Denitrification

47
Q

Fossil fuels are impacting the carbon cycle by…
A. Decreasing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere
B. Increasing the amount of carbon in the earth
C. Removing carbon dioxide
D. Adding carbon dioxide
E. Killing plant life

A

D. Adding carbon dioxide

48
Q 
The term net primary production refers to... 
A. Yearly net photosynthesis
B. Plant respiration
C. The number of secondary consumers
D. Daily net photosynthesis
E. Fossil fuel release
A

A. Yearly net photosynthesis

49
Q 
Which organism is an example of a producer?
A. Human
B. Lion
C. Snail
D. Gila monster
E. Oak tree
A

E. Oak tree

50
Q 
Which climate factor affects the shape of flora growth?
A. Temperature
B. Light
C. Moisture
D. Ground cover
E. Age
A

B. Light

51
Q 
\_\_\_ is the association of plants and animals along with the surrounding nonliving environment and all the interactions in which the organisms take place.
A. Food chain
B. Biome
C. Zoo
D. Ecosystem
E. Jungle
A

D. Ecosystem

52
Q 
The major biomes of the world have no sharp boundaries but transitional zones known as...
A. Selva
B. Exosuccession
C. Ecos
D. Ecopause
E. Ecotones
A

E. Ecotones

53
Q 
Xerophytes are important plants of the \_\_\_ region.
A. Equatorial rain forest
B. Desert
C. Polar
D. Mid latitude forests
E. Steppes only
A

B. Desert

54
Q 
Global patterns of animal geography have been called zoogeographic regions. Most of North America falls into which zoogeographic region?
A. Palearctic
B. Ethiopian
C. Nearctic
D. Neotropical
E. Australian
A

C. Nearctic

55
Q 
Animals are not as reflective of their environmental surroundings as are plants, mainly because of their...
A. Reproductive system
B. Eating habits
C. Appearance
D. Mobility
E. Cell structure
A

D. Mobility

56
Q 
Animals which live in higher latitudes undergo behavioral adaptations to adapt to seasonal climate changes. An example of this behavior is called...
A. Motility
B. Tundra
C. Hibernation
D. Evolution
E. Shedding
A

C. Hibernation

57
Q 
The tropical biome that has the fewest trees is called the...
A. Tropical rainforest
B. Tropical tundra
C. Tropical scrubland
D. Tropical deciduous forest
E. Tropical Savanna
A

E. Tropical Savanna

58
Q 
The primary difference between hydrophyte and hygrophyte flora is...
A. Whether it is submerged
B. The root systems
C. The spatial density of flora
D. Their latitude
E. Their color
A

A. Whether it is submerged

59
Q 
The region which joined the Nearctic and palearctic zoo graphical regions is called...
A. Pangea
B. The Arctic biome
C. The Panama Canal
D. The Bering strait
E. The Arctic Ocean
A

D. The Bering strait

60
Q 
The primary cause for the unique flora and fauna that exist on Australia is its...
A. Latitude
B. Isolation
C. Altitude
D. Temperature
E. Average atmospheric pressure
A

B. Isolation

Physical Geography (7 decks)

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