exam #1- Physical geography

The sky (lower tropopause) appears blue in color because of:
a. diffuse radiation
b. absorption of blue wavelengths of visible light
c. transmission
d. reflection
e. scattering

e

If the temperature at the surface of the earth (at sea level) is 100 degrees farenheit, what is the temperature at 2000 feet if the normal lapset rate is 3.5 degrees farenheit/ 1000 feet?
a. 96.5 degrees farenheit
b. 86 degrees
c. 93 degrees
d. 107 degree

c

when water evaporates from a surface, which of the following occurs?
a. the surface is warmed
b. turbulent heat fluxes.
c. energy is released to the surface
d. heat is transferred back and forth between the air and surface.
e. energy is stored within the

e

6.4 degrees celcius/1000m (3.5 F/1000ft) refers to
a. air pressure at sea level
b. changes in sensible heat with altitude
c. an environmental lapse rate
d. the normal lapse rate
e. a latitudinal lapse rate.

d

Differential transmissivity of shortwave insolation and longwave terrestrial radiation by various atmospheric gases is better known as the
a. global warming
b.greenhouse effect
c. global dimming
d. latent energy
e. cloud-albedo forcing

b

The effect of wind and temperature on the human skin is called the
a.sensible heat measurement
b. specific heat metric
c.wind-chill factor
d. heat index
e. apparent temperature index

c

During the summer,cities located near the coast are typically ________ than those in the interior at the same latitude, while in the winter they are ________.
a. warmer,warmer
b.warmer,cooler
c.cooler,warmer
d.cooler,cooler
e.cooler,much cooler

c

_______________ is a prolonged period (3 or more days) of abnormally high temperatures, usually in association with humid weather.
a. radiative forcing
b. a temperature anomaly
c.apparent temperature
d.sensible heat
e. a heat wave.

e

the most important control on annual average temperature and temperature range is
a. sea-surface temperatures
b. latitude
c. distribution of land and water
d. altitude
e. ocean currents

b

Temperatures within the stratosphere
a. increase with altitude because of the absorption of ultraviolet radiation
b. increase with altitude due to the closer proximity to the sun
c.decrease with altitude due to radiation losses
d. remain about the same fr

a

Which of the following characteristics Earth's revolution?
a. Earth orbits the sun every 245.25 days
b. it determines the timing of seasons and length of the year
c. it is responsible for creating the circle of illumination, and hence, day/night relations

b

Why is the hole in the ozone greatest over Antarctica?
a. because of combination of thin, icy clouds and Antarctic wind patterns which trap chlorine freed from CFCS.
b. south american countries have not ratified the Montreal protocol and continue to relea

a

The three stable gases in the atmosphere, in order of abundance from most to least are:
a. oxygen, argon, nitrogen
b. nitrogen, oxygen, argon
c. oxygen, carbon dioxide, argon
d. carbon dioxide, ozone, nirogen
e. carbon dioxide, argon, oxygen

b

a magnetic disturbance on the Sun's surface is called

a sunspot

which of the following is true of the subsolar point?
a. it never occurs beyond a few degrees of the equator
b.the highest latitude at which it occurs is 60 degrees north/s
c. it only occurs at lower latitudes, between the tropics

c

Which of the following is true of the June Solstice?
a. the arctic circle is completely within the lit side of the circle of illumination
b. the subsolar point is at the equator
c. the antarctic circle is completely within the lit side of the circle of il

c

Which of the following is true for the March Equinox?
a. the subsolar point is at the international date line
b. the subsolar point is at the equator
c. the subsolar point is at the Tropic of Cancer

b

Which of the following is true?
a. the sun emits longwave radiation, whereas Earth emits shortwave radiation
b. The sun emits shortwave radiation, whereas Earth emits longwave radiation

b

Remote sensing is:
a. an earthbound technique not used in modern satelites
b. a subjective determination of temperature
c the monitoring of a distant object without physical contact

a

the transformation of a spherical global to a 2D surface is a :
a. globe
b. map projection
c.scale

b

Which map projection has no distortion?
a. Mercator projection
b. robinson projection
c. albers equal-area projection
d.all map projections distort

d

Which of the following best describes Geographic information systems?
a. computer-based tool for management and analysis of geographic information
b. deriving- accurate measurements from photographs

a

If it is 10:00am in Miami, Florida, what time is it in Los Angeles, California, located 3 time zones to the west in the Pacific Time zone?
a. 2pm
b. 7am
c. 9am
d. 8 am

b

The basis of defining the length of a day is:
a. arbitrary, based on a decision of an international committee that met in Washington DC to 1884
b Earth rotates on its axis in 24 hours, i.e., it rotates 15 degrees of longitude per hour

b

a _________ is any set of ordered, interrelated components and their attributes.
a. tipping point
b. equilibrium
c. system

c

The oblateness of Earth occurs at the:

poles

Which of the following is the general order of steps in the scientific method?
a. questions and variables-hypothesis-observation-testing-results
b. hypthesis-questions and variables-testing-observation-results
c.observation-questions and variables-hypothe

c

____________ is the simple, organized steps leading toward concrete, objective conclusions about the natural world

scientific method