Geography Midterm

The insolation received at Earth's surface is:

A) usually low at the equator.
B) generally greater at high latitudes because of daylength.
c) greatest over low-latitude deserts with their cloudless skies.
D) inadequate to sustain life.
E) equal to that received at the top of the atmosphere.
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The insolation received at Earth's surface is:

A) usually low at the equator.
B) generally greater at high latitudes because of daylength.
c) greatest over low-latitude deserts with their cloudless skies.
D) inadequate to sustain life.
E) equal to that received at the top of the atmosphere.
C) greatest over low-latitude deserts with their cloudless skies
Directly above the midlatitudes, the tropopause (-57ºC) occurs at approximately:

A) 1 km.
B) 13 km.
C) 50 km.
D) wherever 0ºC is recorded as the surface temperature.
E) 480 km.
B) 13 km.
After a cold front passes, the temperature _________ (relative to the conditions that existed prior to the passage of the front).

A) decreases
B) Increases
C) does not change
A) Decreases
Which way do winds around a low-pressure system in the southern hemisphere blow?

A) Clockwise
B) Counter-Clockwise
C) Northeast
D) Northwest
E) Landward
A) Clockwise
If net radiation in the energy balance is positive (above zero), then:

A) incoming and outgoing radiation are balanced
B) there has been a net gain of energy
C) there has been a net loss of energy
D) there is more outgoing longwave radiation that shortwave radiation
B) there has been a net gain of energy
Along the electromagnetic spectrum, the proper order from shortest to longest wavelength is:

A) visible, infrared, ultraviolet
B) infrared, visible, ultraviolet
C) ultraviolet, infrared, visible
D) ultraviolet, visible, infrared
D) ultraviolet, visible, infrared
Component gases of the lower atmosphere include:

A) Carbon dioxide and oxygen
B) nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide
C) Nitrogen, oxygen, argon
D) all of the above
D) all of the above
List the thermal layers of the atmosphere in order from bottom to top.
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
Distinguish clearly between the meaning of the terms convection and conduction
Convection is vertical air motion. Conduction is heat transfer requiring object to object contact.
In one statement, define a cold front
A cold air mass advances towards a warm air mass.
List three cloud types associated with an occluded front.Cumulonimbus, altostratus, stratus, cirrostratus, cirrus, nimbostratusWhat was the magnitude of the earthquake that hit Victoria recently (Dec 29 2015)? A) 3.8 B) 4.8 C) 5.8 D) 6.8B) 4.8In the last 20 years, atmospheric CO2 increased by ... A) 1% B) 11% C) 110% D) none of the aboveB) 11%The high-pressure system centered over northeast Alaska marks the center of a __________ air mass while the high pressure system centered over the Gulf of Alaska marks the center of a ________ air mass. A) cA, mP B) mP, mP C) mP, cP D) cP, cAA) cA, mPIn Summer, the Earth is closest to sun while in winter the Earth is farthest away from the sun. A) True B) FalseB) FalseThe auroras in the upper atmosphere are caused by: A) the interaction of electromagnetic energy with atmospheric gases B) AM radio broadcasts C) various weather phenomena D) the interaction of the solar wind and atmospheric gasesD) the interaction of the solar wind and atmospheric gasesChanges in daylength and the Sun's altitude above the horizon over the course of the year A) produce Earth's rotation. B) are phenomena that occur only at the equator. C) are responsible for the seasons D) are controlled by the longwave energy output at the polesC) are responsible for the seasonsThe sun's declination refers to A) the latitude at which direct overhead insolation is received. B) the angular height of the Sun above the horizon. C) how far the Sun is from Earth. D) It's altitude, in thousands of feet, above the horizonA) the latitude at which direct overhead insolation is received.Air consists of A) Gases that are not well mixed B) a mixture of gases that behaves as if it were a single gas C) oxygen only D) oxygen and ozone E) carbon dioxide and oxygenB) a mixture of gases that behaves as if it were a single gasWhat gas would affect weather the most? A) CO2 B) N2 C) O2 D) H2OD) H20The highest temperatures in the atmosphere occur in the ____ because ________. A) troposphere; infrared radiation from the ground heats this layer more than any other layer B) stratosphere; methane is such an effective greenhouse gas C) thermosphere; carbon dioxide has accumulated to very high levels in this layer D) thermosphere; it is in intense contact with high energy solar radiationD) thermosphere; it is in intense contact with high energy solar radiationWhat is the layer that affects weather the most? A) Thermosphere B) Mesosphere C) troposphere D) StratosphereC) troposphereWhy should I use ski goggles? A) it's the fashion B) snow has a high albedo and it reflects UV C) snow has a low albedo but it reflects UVB) snow has a high albedo and it reflects UVIf the surface of Earth were to suddenly turn white, the temperature of the planet would ________ because ________ insolation would be absorbed. A) Decrease; less B) Decrease; more C) increase; less D) increase; more E) remain the same; equalA) Decrease; lessthe sky (lower tropopause) appears blue in colour because of A) reflection B) scattering C) absorption of blue wavelengths of visible light D) diffuse radiation. E) cloud-albedo forcingB) scatteringwhen a surface assimilates radiation, the process is called A) absorption B) transmission C) diffuse radiation D) reflection E) conductionA) absorptionIn the earth-atmosphere system, non-radiative energy is represented by: A) Shortwave radiation B) Longwave Radiation C) both shortwave and longwave radiations D) Sensible heat and latent heatD) Sensible heat and latent heatAverage air temperatures worldwide A) have appeared to stabilize after a century of increase. B) are at present demonstrating no apparent trend one way or another. C) are being influenced by human-induced changes in the greenhouse effect D) are generally lower than 20 years ago. E) have been falling since reaching a peak in 2009C) are being influenced by human-induced changes in the greenhouse effectThe dominant surface winds from the subtropics to high latitudes are the: A) westerlies B) trade winds C) polar easterlies D) geostrophic winds Pacific highA) westerliesThe intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is associated with A) midlatitudes B) the equatorial low-pressure trough C) subtropical high-pressure developmentB) the equatorial low-pressure troughIf you were between 40º and 50º north latitude, and you wanted to stand with the average winds blowing in your face you would stand facing A) north B) south C) east D) west.D) westthe capacity of the air to hold water vapour is basically a function of A) the temperature of the air B) freezing temperature C) latent heat D) altitudeA) the temperature of the airIn late October, you woke up to find a think layer of _______ covering your windshield A) dew B) frost C) frozen dew D) fogC) Frozen dewIn a mass of air in which no water is being added or removed, a temperature increase will A) increase relative humidity B) decrease relative humidity C) have no effect on the relative humidityB) decrease relative humidityA cloud is estimated to be 4km above surface and it loves puffy A) this is a cirrocumulus B) this is an altocumulus C) this is a cirrostratus D) this is an altostratusB) this is an altocumulusA thunderstorm is associated with ________ clouds. A) cirrostratus B) stratocumulus C) cumulonimbus D) altostratus E) cirrocumulusC) cumulonimbusIn the case of absolute instability: A) cumuliform clouds will form B) stratiform clouds will form C) no clouds will formA) cumuliform clouds will formWhen a cold air mass moves into a warm air mass, it will get colder and we will have severe weather. What type of front is this? A) Warm front B) Cold front C) occluded frontB) Cold frontMid-latitude cyclones form when A) upwelling air in a thunderstorm sucks in warm wet air that begins to rotate counterclockwise. B) air masses blowing past each other in opposite directions are deflected by Coriolis and begin to rotate. C) Hot air in the ocean rises and begins to spin due to Coriolis, building strength as it moves over the sea surfaceB) air masses blowing past each other in opposite directions are deflected by Coriolis and begin to rotate.