Climate Change Test 1

Coriolis effect

The Coriolis effect influences the direction of ocean currents as well as winds.

The Coriolis effect is affected by changes in air temperature.

key feature of the Stratosphere

The Earth's atmosphere is divided into various layers. Which of the following is the closest to the Earth's surface?

Most of the atmosphere is composed of which two gases?

Oxygen and Nitrogen

Freezing liquid water so that becomes ice involves

latent heat release

Condensation involves

latent heat release

Which processes involves the absorption of energy and has a cooling effect?

Evaporation, melting and sublimation

sublimation

solid directly to gas

deposition

gas directly to solid

Dew point temperature refers to the point at which air pressure equals vapor pressure.

Relative humidity increases as air approaches its water vapor capacity at a given temperature.

What is the temperature called at which air becomes saturated and water vapor begins to condense?

Dew point temperature

measures the actual amount of water vapor present in a given volume of air

absolute humidity

Absolute humidity is a measure of the total amount of water vapor present in the air regardless of temperature.

the ability of water molecules to stick to other surfaces

Adhesion

water's specific heat compared to soil and rock

Water in nature is almost always pure due to its role as a universal solvent.

False

Water is less dense in its solid form (ice) than in its liquid form.

True

The state of water that is the most important yet least obvious in the atmosphere is __

water vapor

Of the Earth's liquid water inventory, most of the freshwater is stored in the form of ________.

glacial ice

Transpiration is the process of water vapor being released from the surface of plants.

true

In which oceanic region would you expect to find the highest surface salinity?

areas dominated by subtropical highs

Which of the following factors increases ocean salinity?

high rates of evaporation

Ocean currents are driven by wind patterns, temperature gradients, and density gradients associated with variations in salinity.

true

Heavy tropical rainfall increases ocean salinity and decreases density.

false

Subtropical waters are typically more saline than equatorial waters because of

high evaporation and low precipitation

An increase in ocean water salinity also increases its density.

true

Thawing permafrost can contribute to climate change by releasing stored greenhouse gases.

true

Over two-thirds of the planet's freshwater resources are in the form of

ice

What happens to most lakes over geologic time?

They fill with sediment and disappear.

Wetlands help improve water quality by filtering surface runoff

True

Surface water makes up about 20 percent of Earth's total supply of freshwater.

False

Where are continental ice sheets found today?

Greenland and Antarctica

Mountain glaciers include valley and piedmont glaciers.

True

It may be surprising, but there are ________ underneath the ice sheets of Antarctica

freshwater lakes

The Pleistocene Epoch began about

2.5 million years ago

During the last Ice Age, sea level was ________.

much lower tan today’s sea level

What condition is necessary for a glacier to form

Glacier movement rates are constant and uniform

False

Warmer periods result in glacier retreat

True

Glaciers are stationary in the ablation zone

False

The equilibrium line divides the accumulation and ablation zones

True

What happens to bedrock in hilly areas due to glaciers

What is the main characteristic of glaciofluvial deposition

What is till composed of

What are the prevailing winds of the low latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere between 30°N and the equator

Northeast Trade Winds

The dry adiabatic lapse rate (DAR) is a greater rate of change than the saturated adiabatic lapse rate (SAR).

true

Specific humidity measures the mass of water vapor per mass of air, including both water vapor and dry air

True

What are the prevailing winds of the Mid-Latitudes (between 30° and 60°)?

Westerlies

What are the prevailing winds of the highest latitudes poleward of 60°

Polar Easterlies

The Hadley cell is characterized by

A seasonal reversal of wind direction, especially in South Asia, resulting from temperature differences between the continent and the surrounding oceans, is referred to as the:

Monsoons are best described as

Which of the following is the primary controlling mechanism of the Asian monsoon

Katabatic winds are

Which of the following statements best describes a typical daily cycle of sea and land breezes

Often referred to as "snow-eaters," Chinook winds are

Water freezes at which of the following temperature sets across different scales?

0°C, 32°F, 273.15K

Water boils at which of the following temperature sets across different scales?

100°C, 212°F, 373.15K

Almost all terrestrial radiation can be considered to be ________ and almost all solar radiation can be considered to be ________.

longwave, shortwave

Solar energy received by the Earth is known as

insolation

Which three changes of state result in the release of latent heat with the effect that sensible heat energy is released into the environment?

condensation, freezing, deposition

The sky appears blue at midday because of ____________.

scattering

process by which energy is taken in by a substance, causing it to retain the energy without reflecting it back

absorption

spreading out of light or energy in various directions as a result of interactions with particles or other obstacles

scattering

return of light, heat, sound, or energy from a surface, without being absorbed by it

reflection

measure of how much light or radiation is reflected by a surface, typically expressed as a percentage of the incoming energy reflected

albedo

How does the radiation balance in the high latitudes compare to that of the low latitudes

Low latitudes = surplus high latitude = deficit.

The Earth's "insolation budget" refers to

a balance between insolation and outgoing terrestrial radiation 

Although several factors are involved, the main factor controlling the distribution of annual average temperature for Earth as a whole is

latitude

Seasonal variation in the length of time between sunrise and sunset decreases as latitude increases.

False

Which of the following statements best describes the transmission of solar energy in water compared to land?

Solar energy is transmitted deeper into water, spreading heat throughout.

Which of the following best explains why land heats and cools faster than water?

Land has a lower specific heat than water.

Lines of longitude are referred to as "parallels."

The equator is smaller than all other great circles.

False

Which of the following is NOT defined by latitude?

a meridian

You are sitting in a chair directly over the South Pole on June 22nd.  The amount of darkness in a 24 hour period would be:

In December the Oklahoma City area is colder than in July because . . .

the sun's rays strike the earth at a lower angle in December

The axial tilt of Earth in its orbital plane around its star is approximately:

23.5 degrees

During which positions in its orbit is Earth farthest from the Sun?

Aphelion

During which positions in its orbit is Earth nearest to the Sun?

Perihelion

Which of the following best defines the term "diurnal period"?

the 24-hour cycle of daylight and darkness

Altitude has a direct influence on temperature patterns, with higher elevations generally experiencing cooler temperatures.

True

Which of the following is the most important factor controlling global temperature patterns?

Latitude

The main culprit for global warming appears to be _______

Carbon dioxide

Human-enhanced greenhouse gas concentrations are ________.

mostly the product of the last 250 years