Choose the best answer.
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1 | |
A radio emits radiation in the ________ portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. |
| | A) | AM |
| | B) | FM |
| | C) | infrared |
| | D) | visible |
| | E) | gamma ray |
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2 | |
Why is latent heat (and its release) important in meteorology? |
| | A) | It supplies energy to developing thunderstorms and extratropical cyclones. |
| | B) | It is the major driving force behind hurricanes and typhoons. |
| | C) | It helps to determine the diurnal range of temperatures for a particular area. |
| | D) | It is a method of heat transport, moving energy from areas of excess to regions of deficit. |
| | E) | All of the above. |
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3 | |
Why do land surfaces experience greater warming than bodies of water, given the same input of energy? |
| | A) | Water has a higher specific heat than soil or vegetation. |
| | B) | Water is free to mix, transporting the energy through a greater depth. |
| | C) | Some of the energy goes into evaporating water from the surface into the air. |
| | D) | All of the above. |
| | E) | None of these explains the difference in temperature change. |
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4 | |
All other things being equal, a cloudy night will generally be warmer than a clear night because: |
| | A) | cloudy nights are often windy, allowing the lower atmosphere to mix well. |
| | B) | clouds are very effective absorbers of longwave radiation, preventing it from escaping to space. |
| | C) | clouds emit IR radiation back down to the earth's surface. |
| | D) | A and B are correct. |
| | E) | B and C are correct. |
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5 | |
When you touch a wooden desk and a granite table top in the same room, the granite feels cooler. Why? |
| | A) | The granite conducts heat more readily, transferring more heat away from you. |
| | B) | The granite is colder. |
| | C) | Granite has a higher specific heat than wood. |
| | D) | Former living matter (such as wood) contains latent heat. |
| | E) | There are more molecules in the granite, making the table more dense than the desk. |
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6 | |
What factor(s) account(s) for the occurrence of seasons? |
| | A) | Tilt of the Earth's axis. |
| | B) | Shape of the Earth's orbit around the sun. |
| | C) | Distance of the Earth to the sun. |
| | D) | A and B. |
| | E) | A, B, and C. |
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7 | |
What change(s) to the earth-atmosphere system would occur if its radiative forcing is somehow altered? |
| | A) | A change in the number and intensity of tropical and extratropical cyclones. |
| | B) | Changes in sea level and ocean currents. |
| | C) | Extended growing seasons for some regions of the world. |
| | D) | All of the above will happen. |
| | E) | All of the above could happen. |
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8 | |
If you drive with your arm hanging out of the car window, you may notice that only your left arm becomes tanned or burned. This is due mainly to the fact that: |
| | A) | the windshield allows visible light to pass through while absorbing UV radiation. |
| | B) | you only put sunscreen on your right arm. |
| | C) | your right arm is always in the shade. |
| | D) | the wind blowing on your left arm makes it more susceptible to absorption of UV radiation. |
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9 | |
The average surface temperature of Venus is a balmy 480°C. What is the wavelength of the radiation emitted in the greatest amount by the planet? |
| | A) | 3.84 µm. |
| | B) | 3.84 cal cm-2 min-1. |
| | C) | 6.02 µm. |
| | D) | 26.16 cal cm-2 min-1. |
| | E) | None of the above. |
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10 | |
Which of the following methods of heat transfer requires a fluid medium (air, water, etc.)? |
| | A) | Conduction. |
| | B) | Convection. |
| | C) | Radiation. |
| | D) | Latent heat flux. |
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11 | |
Which of the following will record the greatest temperature change by adding a certain amount of energy? |
| | A) | One gram of ocean water. |
| | B) | One gram of fresh water. |
| | C) | One gram of mud. |
| | D) | One gram of beach sand. |
| | E) | Unable to judge based on this information. |
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12 | |
The sun is found over the Tropic of Cancer on the _______ _______, marking the first day of winter for the southern hemisphere. |
| | A) | spring (vernal) equinox |
| | B) | summer solstice |
| | C) | autumnal equinox |
| | D) | winter solstice |
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13 | |
Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas? |
| | A) | CFCs. |
| | B) | Water vapor. |
| | C) | Argon. |
| | D) | Carbon dioxide. |
| | E) | All of these are greenhouse gases. |
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14 | |
Which of the following reflects the greatest amount of incoming solar radiation? |
| | A) | Bare soil. |
| | B) | Trees. |
| | C) | New fallen snow. |
| | D) | Sand. |
| | E) | All of these reflect equally. |
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15 | |
The concept of down jackets is directly related to heat transfer (or lack thereof) by: |
| | A) | Conduction. |
| | B) | Convection. |
| | C) | Radiation. |
| | D) | Advection. |
| | E) | Transpiration. |
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2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education