The Atmosphere - Chapter 1: Earth Sun Relationships

Question 1

True of false: the earth intercepts only a minute percentage of the energy given off by the sun (less than one-two billionth)

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The most important control of our weather and climate

Answer 2

Energy from the sun

Question 3

____ represents more than 99.9% of the energy that heats the earth

Answer 3

Solar radiation

Question 4

This unequal ____ drives the ocean’s currents and creates the winds

Answer 4

Heating

Question 5

What are the two principal motions of the earth

Answer 5

Rotation and Revolution

Question 6

the spinning of the earth about its axis (once every 24 hours)

Answer 6

rotation

Question 7

the line separating the dark half of the earth from the lighted half is called _____

Answer 7

the circle of illumination

Question 8

the movement of the earth in its orbit around the sun

Answer 8

Revolution

Question 9

The earth rotates in an ____ shape

Answer 9

elliptical

Question 10

What is the approximate distance between the earth and the sun

Answer 10

93 million miles

Question 11

About January 3 when the planet is closer than at any other time to the sun

Answer 11

perihelion

Question 12

about July 4 when the earth is farther from the sun than at any time

Answer 12

aphelion

Question 13

angle above the horizon

Answer 13

altitude

Question 14

at mid-summer the sun is seen __________ the horizon

Answer 14

high above

Question 15

in the cooler months, the sun appears ____ in the sky

Answer 15

lower

Question 16

when the sun is directly overhead, the solar rays are most _____

Answer 16

concentrated

Question 17

Name for the 23.5 depree tilt from the perpindicular axis of the earth

Answer 17

inclination of the axis

Question 18

The line of latitude above the equator

Answer 18

Tropic of Cancer

Question 19

June 21 or 22 (longest day of the year)

Answer 19

summer solstice

Question 20

line of latitude below the equator

Answer 20

Tropic of Capricorn

Question 21

December 21 or 22 (longest day of the year)

Answer 21

winter solstice

Question 22

September 22 or 23 when the vertical rays of sun strike equator

Answer 22

Autumn equinox

Question 23

March 21 or 22 when the vertical rays of the sun hit the equator

Answer 23

spring equinox

Question 24

another name for spring equinox

Answer 24

vernal equinox

Question 25

During an equinox, the length of daylight is 12 hours where on earth?

Answer 25

everywhere

Question 26

Why is there 12 hours of day everywhere during an equinox?

Answer 26

The circle of illumination passes directly through the poles, dividing the latitudes in half

Question 27

What day is the summer solstice for the Northern Hemisphere?

Answer 27

June 21 or 22

Question 28

During summer solstice, where are the vertical rays of the sun striking?

Answer 28

Tropic of Cancer

Question 29

Why is a midlatitude location warmest in the summer?

Answer 29

Days are longest and sun’s altitude is highest

Question 30

All places at the same latitude have the same ____ and ____

Answer 30

sun angles

lengths of daylight