H2

Front 1

On a cloudless day, what happens to most of the visible light headed toward Earth?

Back 1

It reaches Earth's surface, where some is reflected and some is absorbed.

Front 2

On a day with half cloud cover, what happens to the visible light headed toward Earth?

Back 2

The clouds reflect some of it back to space, and some still reaches the surface.

Front 3

What happens to the energy that the ground absorbs in the form of visible sunlight?

Back 3

It is returned upward in the form of infrared light.

Front 4

The greenhouse effect raises Earth's surface temperature (from what it would be otherwise) because the infrared light radiated by Earth's surface _______.

Back 4

is temporarily absorbed by greenhouse gases and then reemitted in random directions.

Front 5

The coolest temperatures in the western half of the United States are associated with which of the following physical features?

Back 5

Mountains.

Front 6

In North America, which of the following vegetation types is most commonly associated with average January temperatures below -25 degrees Fahrenheit?

Back 6

Tundra.

Front 7

Which of the following regions has the largest annual temperature range?

Back 7

North Central Asia.

Front 8

Which of the following cities would have temperatures most influenced by a cool ocean current?

Back 8

Los Angeles.

Front 9

Which of the following climate types is dominantly found adjacent to warm ocean currents?

Back 9

Humid Subtropical

Front 10

In areas that receive less than 100 watts per square meter of insolation, what are the average July temperatures?

Back 10

less than 0 degrees Celsius.

Front 11

The Sun's radiant energy reaches the Earth across space in approximately ____________.

Back 11

8 minutes

Front 12

Most of the radiation incident upon the Earth falls within the ___________ part of the spectrum.

Back 12

Short wave

Front 13

Which wavelengths are most inefficiently transmitted through the atmosphere?

Back 13

Long

Front 14

The wavelengths of terrestrial radiation from Earth's surface are concentrated in ________.

Back 14

the thermal infrared spectrum.

Front 15

The higher latitudes receive much less intense insolation than tropical zones because of ____________.

Back 15

Sun's angle of incidence.

Front 16

Heat transferred laterally in the atmosphere by horizontal wind movements is a process called _____________.

Back 16

Advection

Front 17

____________ objects radiate in shorter wavelengths than __________ objects.

Back 17

Hot, cold.

Front 18

The albedo of the Earth system has been determined to be __________ percent.

Back 18

33

Front 19

In terms of running the Earth's atmospheric processes, the significant energy comes from the Sun and ___________________.

Back 19

no other source.

Front 20

The specific heat of water is greater than that of land. This means ___________________.

Back 20

water cools more slowly than does land.

Front 21

Adiabatic processes cause cooling by ___________.

Back 21

Decompression.

Front 22

Radiation from the Earth is mostly absorbed in the lower troposphere and ___________ back towards Earth.

Back 22

Reradiated

Front 23

For the most part the atmosphere is heated from the ___________.

Back 23

Earth's surface.

Front 24

The atmosphere is heated, for the most part, from ____________.

Back 24

below.

Front 25

Vertical motion in air causes cooling of the lifted air. This phenomenon is governed by the __________ effect.

Back 25

Adiabatic

Front 26

The radiation coming from the Sun is most plentiful at 0.5 micrometers. The most plentiful radiation coming from the Earth is at ___________ micrometer(s).

Back 26

10

Front 27

Only some shortwave radiation from the Sun reaches Earth's surface. What is the leading cause of this radiation loss?

Back 27

Reflection by clouds.

Front 28

How much of the Sun's incoming radiation is scattered or reflected back to space before any heating effect is felt on Earth?

Back 28

31%

Front 29

How much of the Sun's incoming radiation is absorbed by Earth's surface?

Back 29

45%

Front 30

How is energy transferred from Earth's surface to Earth's atmosphere?

Back 30

- through convection

- through conduction

- through latent heat in water vapor

- through the greenhouse effect

Front 31

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun decreased and was less than the longwave radiation lost to space?

Back 31

Atmospheric temperature would decrease.

Front 32

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of outgoing longwave radiation decreased so that it was less than incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun?

Back 32

Atmospheric temperature would increase.

Front 33

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun was the same as the longwave radiation lost to space?

Back 33

Atmospheric temperature would remain the same.

Front 34

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of shortwave radiation reflected at Earth's surface increased significantly?

Back 34

Atmospheric temperature would decrease.

Front 35

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of shortwave radiation reflected by clouds decreased significantly?

Back 35

Atmospheric temperature would increase.

Front 36

Major surface currents are set in motion by ____________.

Back 36

winds.

Front 37

The normal vertical temperature gradient (average lapse rate) is closest to how many degrees Celsius per 1,000 meters?

Back 37

6.5

Front 38

In an inversion, which is true?

Back 38

The temperature increases with altitude.

Front 39

In the Northern Hemisphere, a yearly net surplus of energy is experienced for all latitudes south of which latitude?

Back 39

28 degrees north

Front 40

The basic direction of flow of the Equilatorial counter current is __________.

Back 40

to the east.

Front 41

Given land/water heating contrasts, where would one expect to find the coldest winter temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere?

Back 41

in Siberia (70 degrees north)

Front 42

Solar energy is also known as _____________.

Back 42

insolation.

Front 43

What is the cause of the average lapse rate?

Back 43

The greenhouse effect

Front 44

T /F :

Over the long run, all energy the Earth receives from the Sun is returned to space.

Back 44

True

Front 45

Flowing air responding to the difference between higher and lower pressure is responding to the ______________.

Back 45

pressure gradient.

Front 46

The pressure of a gas is proptortional to its temperature and ________________.

Back 46

density.

Front 47

When air is heated it expands and _____________.

Back 47

lowers its pressure.

Front 48

At sea level, the atmosphere exerts a force closest to _________ kilogram(s) per square centimeter.

Back 48

1

Front 49

The basic unit of pressure mapped on weather maps is ____________.

Back 49

millibars.

Front 50

Which set of forces acts on upper air winds?

Back 50

The pressure gradient force and the Coriolis effect.

Front 51

Which statement correctly describes differences between the forces acting on winds near the surface and those aloft?

Back 51

Higher wind speeds aloft increase the Coriolis effect.

Front 52

Which of the following is the force that initially causes the wind to blow?

Back 52

Pressure gradient

Front 53

Geostrophic wind always flows ____________.

Back 53

parallel to the isobars.

Front 54

What is a cyclone?

Back 54

A center of low atmospheric pressure.

Front 55

Which way does air converge on a cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?

Back 55

In a counterclockwise direction.

Front 56

Which way does air converge on a cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere?

Back 56

in a clockwise direction.

Front 57

How does air move near the top of a cyclone?

Back 57

In the same direction as air in the upper atmosphere.

Front 58

Why are cyclones generally associated with clouds and rain?

Back 58

Air in cyclones undergoes cooling as it rises.

Front 59

What is an anticyclone?

Back 59

A center of high atmospheric pressure.

Front 60

Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?

Back 60

Down, and in a clockwise direction.

Front 61

Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Southern Hemisphere?

Back 61

Down, and in a counterclockwise direction.

Front 62

Why are anticyclones not generally associated with clouds and rain?

Back 62

Air in anticyclones undergoes warming as the air descends.

Front 63

What are the surface conditions associated with an anticyclone?

Back 63

The air is sinking and the pressure is high.

Front 64

A counterclockwise atmospheric circulation in the Northern Hemisphere is known as a(n) _____________.

Back 64

cyclone.

Front 65

Sinking air that diverges when it reaches Earth's surface is closely associated with ______________.

Back 65

anticyclones

Front 66

In a surface anticyclone in the Southern Hemisphere, winds spiral __________________.

Back 66

counterclockwise and outward.

Front 67

In a surface cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere, winds spiral ______________.

Back 67

clockwise and inward

Front 68

In the Northern Hemisphere, air converging in a counter-clockwise direction, is termed a(n) ____________.

Back 68

cyclone.

Front 69

Where are the belts of low atmospheric pressure?

Back 69

At the equator, 60 degrees north and south

Front 70

"Zonal" air flow in the middle latitudes means a(n) _________ flow of air.

Back 70

west-east

Front 71

The ____________ is/are found in the Equatorial zone.

Back 71

intertropical convergence zone

Front 72

Which statement describes the weather in a monsoon area in the Northern Hemisphere?

Back 72

December had cold, dry, northerly winds; June, in contrast, had warm, moist, southerly winds.

Front 73

Cold winds pouring downhill because of gravity are called _____________.

Back 73

katabatic winds

Front 74

The "snow-eater" wind of the Rocky Mountains is called the ___________.

Back 74

chinook

Front 75

Which situation is often associated with El Nino events?

Back 75

The subtropical jet stream directs winter storms into the Southwestern United States and blizzards into in the Midwest.

Front 76

The __________ is the boundary between near-surface and cold, deep ocean waters.

Back 76

thermocline

Front 77

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

Back 77

water vapor

Front 78

Latent heat released during dew formation is _______ the latent heat required for water to freeze from its liquid state.

Back 78

more than

Front 79

the latent heat released during rainfall is ____________ the latent heat released during snowfall.

Back 79

less than

Front 80

Latent heat absorbed during evaporation of lake water is _______________ the latent heat released during fog formation.

Back 80

same as

Front 81

Latent heat is ____________ during glacial melt.

Back 81

absorbed

Front 82

Latent heat is _____________ during frost formation.

Back 82

released

Front 83

What must break in order for water to change from solid to liquid to gas?

Back 83

Hydrogen bonds between water molecules.

Front 84

How much heat energy is needed to melt 1 gram of ice?

Back 84

80 calories of heat energy

Front 85

What physically breaks hydrogen bonds between water molecules as ice melts?

Back 85

Movement of water molecules

Front 86

What do we call the energy used to melt ice once the ice becomes water?

Back 86

Latent heat of water

Front 87

How much heat energy is needed to turn 1 gram of water at 100 degrees Celsius into water vapor?

Back 87

540 calories of heat energy

Front 88

How can water vapor become ice?

Back 88

Water vapor can become liquid water through the release of heat energy, and then become ice through the release of more heat energy. Water vapor can also become ice directly through the release of heat energy.

Front 89

What happens to sensible heat energy in water when the water evaporates?

Back 89

It becomes latent energy in air when water molecules containing the heat break free from an evaporating surface to become a gas.

Front 90

Water that stays in liquid form at temperatures below freezing is ______________.

Back 90

supercooled

Front 91

Evaporation _________________.

Back 91

is a cooling process

Front 92

Which of the following promotes evaporation?

Back 92

warm water

Front 93

Which of the following is a measure of water vapor in the atmosphere? (4)

Back 93

- absolute humidity

- specific humidity

- relative humidity

- dew point

Front 94

T / F :

Water vapor is visible to the human eye.

Back 94

False

Front 95

Relative Humidity

{(Actual water vapor in air) / (capacity)} x 100

Back 95

Relative humidity may change due to a:

a) a change in temperature

- cold air has a low water vapor capacity

- warm air has a higher vapor capacity

b) a change in the amount of water vapor in the air

Front 96

Which of the following relationships is correct?

Back 96

Relative humidity increases: a decrease in temperature without a change in the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere.

Front 97

List possible characteristics of high relative humidity.

Back 97

- Dew deposits on your vehicle early in the morning.

- Sweating profusely and your shirt remains soaked with sweat.

- Jet airplane condensation trails form behind the engines of a jet and linger in the sky for hours.

- Bathroom mirror gets foggy after taking a shower.

Front 98

List possible characteristics of low relative humidity.

Back 98

- Feeling comfortable outside along a lake shore, even though it is a hot summer day.

- A food storage container which has fresh food with no mold.

- Wet clothes hanging on a line or rack dry quickly.

Front 99

If the air temperature is 0 degrees celsius, the water vapor capacity is 10.6 g/kg, and the water vapor in the air is 4.24 g/kg, what is the relative humidity?

Back 99

40 percent

Front 100

Air containing all of the water vapor it can hold is _______________.

Back 100

saturated

Front 101

Usually, the highest relative humidity is __________.

Back 101

at dawn

Front 102

The capacity of air to hold water ________________.

Back 102

increases as temperature increases.

Front 103

Relative humidity is "relative" to ____________.

Back 103

saturation

Front 104

Maximum absolute humidity is governed by ___________.

Back 104

temperature

Front 105

If the _________ of air changes, the value of the absolute humidity changes even though there is no change in the actual amount of water vapor present.

Back 105

volume

Front 106

In order for atmospheric condensation to take place, ____________________.

Back 106

plenty of "surfaces" need to be present in the atmosphere.

Front 107

What causes the development of most clouds and precipitation in the atmosphere?

Back 107

Rising air

Front 108

Under what conditions would a parcel of air rise relative to other air in the atmosphere?

Back 108

A parcel of air will rise if it has a lower density than the surrounding air.

Front 109

Which factor is most important for determining the density of a parcel of air?

Back 109

temperature

Front 110

What will happen if a parcel of air is colder than surrounding air?

Back 110

A colder parcel of air will sink in the atmosphere if forced.

Front 111

What will happen to a parcel of air as it rises?

Back 111

A rising parcel of air will expand and cool.

Front 112

What would have a higher temperature, an unsaturated parcel of air at Earth's surface or a saturated parcel of air 4000 feet above Earth's surface?

Back 112

An unsaturated parcel of air at Earth's surface would be warmer because the drop in temperature due to elevation is greater than any temperature difference due to saturation.

Front 113

In general, when will clouds begin to form out of a parcel of air?

Back 113

when a rising parcel of air has reached a temperature blow its dew point

Front 114

Which process can add heat to a rising body of air?

Back 114

Condensation

Front 115

Adiabatic _____________ occurs when a parcel of air rises with vertical movement:

- When air rises, it expands because less pressure is exerted on it.

- As air rises and expands, the air molecules spread out through a bigger volume of space; the "work" done by the molecules reduces the average kinetic energy, and hence the temperature.

Back 115

cooling

Front 116

Adiabatic _____________ occurs when an air parcel descends:

- As air descends, it is compressed due to increased pressure.

- Kinetic energy increases as a result of less "work" done on the air molecules by compression; this leads to an increase in temperature.

Back 116

warming

Front 117

The average lapse rate in the troposphere ______________.

Back 117

is quite variable by time and region.

Front 118

Rising air, warmed by the release of latent heat, cools at a rate called ____________.

Back 118

the saturated adiabatic lapse rate

Front 119

Air that resists vertical movement is said to be _______________.

Back 119

stable

Front 120

Buoyant air will rise until it ______________.

Back 120

reaches the temperature of the surrounding air

Front 121

A piece of unsaturated air is forced to rise. The lapse rate in the surrounding air is much less than the rate in change of temperature in the rising air. The rising air is said to be __________.

Back 121

unstable

Front 122

When or where is air most likely unstable?

Back 122

During the afternoon.

Front 123

Which of the following is most closely associated with stable air?

Back 123

descent of air

Front 124

T / F

With instability, rising air will be buoyant without an uplifting force.

Back 124

True.

Front 125

In the "Ice Crystal Formation" process, precipitation occurs because ice crystals ___________.

Back 125

grow at the expense of raindrops

Front 126

When air is forced to rise over a mountain, what is the type of lifting?

Back 126

Orographic

Front 127

Which is not among the main types of atmospheric lifting and precipitation?

Back 127

Advective

Front 128

A precipitation type extremely characteristic of the lower latitudes is ___________.

Back 128

convergent lifting

Front 129

T / F :

Convective uplift often accompanies and enhances frontal and orographic lifting.

Back 129

True