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Earth's Atmosphere > Midterm Exam review > Flashcards

Midterm Exam review Flashcards

1
Q

If the average temperature of the sun increased, the wavelength of peak solar emission would

A

shift to a shorter wavelength

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2
Q

the amount of pressure change that occurs over a given horizontal distance is called the

A

pressure gradient

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3
Q

without the greenhouse effect, the average surface temperature would

A

decrease

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4
Q

clouds generally ____ infrared radiation and ______ visible radiation

A

absorb
reflect

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5
Q

suppose that the winds aloft (in N. Hemi) are geostrophic and blowing from the east. the low pressure is located to the

A

west

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6
Q

the winds aloft in the midlats of the S. Hemi generally blow

A

from west to east

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7
Q

which is NOT a greenhouse gas?

A

oxygen

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8
Q

the rate of the earth’s rotation affects the strength of the

A

coriolis force

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9
Q

at the surface low in the N. Hemi winds tends to blow _______ and around it in a ________ motion

A

inward
clockwise

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10
Q

In Tibet at an altitude of 18,000 ft the pressure is about 500 mb. This indicates that Tibet is above roughly

A

50% of air molecules in the atm

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11
Q

Earth’s atmospheric window is in the

A

infrared region

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12
Q

As object’s temperature triples, the radiative energy emitted increases by a factor of

A

81

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13
Q

The primary source of oxygen for the Earth’s atmosphere during the past half billion years or so appears to be

A

photosynthesis

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14
Q

geostrophic equilibrium is achieved by the balance of

A

coriolis force and pressure gradient force

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15
Q

In the N. Hemi, this day has the fewest hours of sunlight

A

Winter Solstice

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16
Q

the proper order from shortest to longest wavelength is

A

ultraviolet, visible, infrared

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17
Q

in the atmosphere, tiny solid or liquid suspended particles of various compositions are called

A

aerosols

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18
Q

the combined albedo of the earth and the atmosphere is approximately

A

30%

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19
Q

warming in the stratosphere is mainly caused by

A

absorption of ultraviolet radiation by ozone

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20
Q

which of the following produces the strongest coriolis force

A

fast winds, high latitude

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21
Q

the maximum in daytime surface temperature typically occurs _____ the Earth receives its most intense solar radiation

A

after

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22
Q

which of these is not one of the four most abundant gases in earth’s atmosphere

A

carbon dioxide

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23
Q

the hydrostatic balance is between

A

pressure gradient force and gravitational force in the vertical

24
Q

the most important reason why summers in the southern hemisphere are not warmer than summers in the northern is that

A

over 80 percent of the southern hemisphere is covered with water

25
Q

we can generally expect the air to be _____ above areas of surface low pressure and _____ above areas of surface high pressure

A

rising
sinking

26
Q

in terms of the three-cell model of the general circulation, areas of surface low pressure should be found at:

A

the equator and 60 degree latitude

27
Q

our seasons are caused by

A

the angle at which sunlight reaches earth

28
Q

a katabatic wind is a wind that blows

A

downslope

29
Q

a thermal circulation is a circulation caused by changes in

A

air temperature

30
Q

the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is a region where

A

northeast trades meet the southeast trades

31
Q

a cloudy day is _____ than a clear day and a cloudy night is ____ than a clear night

A

colder
warmer

32
Q

cyclonic flow means __________ in the northern and southern hemisphere

A

circulation around a low pressure center

33
Q

the greatest variation in daily temperature usually occurs

A

at the ground

34
Q

the blueness of the sky is mainly due to

A

the scattering of sunlight by air molecules

35
Q

earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees with respect to the plane of its orbit around the sun. if tilt increased to 40 degrees, we would expect in middle latitudes

A

hotter summers and colder winters

36
Q

the world’s greatest warm deserts are generally found near 30 degrees latitude because

A

of the sinking air of the subtropical highs

37
Q

In the northern hemisphere, ocean currents in the atlantic and the pacific move in a generally circular pattern. the direction of this motion is _______ in the atlantic and ______ in the pacific

A

clockwise
clockwise

38
Q

the top of the planetary (atmospheric) boundary layer is usually near

A

1000 m

39
Q

isobars are curves of constant

A

pressure

40
Q

Two objects, A and B, have the same mass but the specific heat of A is larger than B. If both objects absorb equal amounts of energy,

A

B will become warmer than A

41
Q

Greenhouse gases like CO2 __________ radiation

A

absorb infrared

42
Q

what time of day is a temperature inversion most likely to develop in the lower troposphere

A

3 PM

43
Q

wind speeds generally increase with height above earth’s surface because

A

friction with the earth’s surface slows the air near the ground

44
Q

A parcel of dry air cools at a rate of 10oC/km as it rises through the atmosphere. Another parcel of air that is saturated with water vapor cools and forms clouds as it rises. This parcel cools at a rate of 6oC/km. What explains this observation?

A

latent heat

45
Q

If the direction of Earth’s rotation suddenly switched from westerly to easterly, prevailing winds in the Northern hemisphere mid-latitudes would come from the:

A

Southeast

46
Q

Suppose the surface air pressures in Newport Beach and the offshore ocean are the same though the surface air temperature is colder off-shore than on-shore. What can you say about the air pressure aloft (about 500 meters)? Denote p_NB and p_OC as the air pressure 500m above Newport Beach and off-shore over the ocean.

A
47
Q

Currently, Earth’s cryosphere is melting globally. How will this change Earth’s albedo without considering any other feedbacks?

A

reduced albedo

48
Q

Suppose you sail westward across the Pacific at 40 degrees north. A low-pressure system comes directly from the west, with its center passing right above you. What prevailing wind directions will you most likely experience before and after the storm passes above you?

A
49
Q

Foucault’s Pendulum (picture below on the left) is a pendulum designed to observe the Coriolis effect. What do the trajectories of the pendulum look like in the southern hemisphere (bird’s eye view)?

A
50
Q

Which of the following is not essential to the land/sea-breeze circulation?

A

the molecular composition of air

51
Q

The Hadley circulation rises near the equator and flows poleward. What is the main reason that this poleward air motion does not reach all the way to the poles?

A

conservation of angular momentum

52
Q

Why is the surface wind speed in the southern hemisphere generally higher than that in the northern hemisphere?

A

because there is less land in the southern hemisphere

53
Q

The Coriolis force acts on all objects that have mass. Why cannot we physically feel the force ourselves when we are walking or driving?

A

coriolis force is weak and frictional force is strong

54
Q

Why are most of the mid-oceanic gyres centered near 30 degrees north and south?

A

because they are propelled by subtropical highs

55
Q

What processes best explain why the coastal ocean waters offshore of California are cooler than the offshore waters at the same latitudes in the Eastern US?

A

cool california current amplified by OFFshore ekman pumping

Earth's Atmosphere (1 decks)

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