Exam 1 study guide phys geo

Earth's average overall albedo is
A) 31 percent.
B) 51 percent.
C) 69 percent.
D) unknown.

A) 31 percent.

A scale of 1:900,000 is ________a scale of 1:24,000.
A) twice as much as
B) equal to
C) larger than
D) smaller than

D) smaller than

Why is stratospheric ozone loss a concern?
A) Stratospheric ozone is a component of photochemical smog.
B) Stratospheric ozone absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVB and UVC).
C) Stratospheric ozone contributes to the brilliant auroras.
D) Stratospher

B) Stratospheric ozone absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVB and UVC).

A satellite imaging system that beams electromagnetic energy at a surface and then records the energy that is
reflected is classified as a(n) ________ system.
A) photographic
B) holographic
C) passive
D) active

D) active

The auroras in the upper atmosphere are caused by
A) visible light interaction with the asthenosphere.
B) the interaction of the solar wind and upper layers of Earth's atmosphere.
C) AM radio broadcasts.
D) various weather phenomena.

B) the interaction of the solar wind and upper layers of Earth's atmosphere.

Light travels at a speed of approximately
A) 300,000 kilometers per second (186,333 miles per second).
B) 300,000 kilometers per hour (186,336 mph).
C) 1,000,000,000 kilometers per second (621,118,012 miles per second).
D) 80,500 kilometers per hour (50,0

A) 300,000 kilometers per second (186,333 miles per second).

Which of the following U.S. cities would experience the least continentality?
A) Oklahoma City, OK
B) Boise, ID
C) Seattle, Washington
D) Las Vegas, Nevada

C) Seattle, Washington

Standard time zones
A) are 15� wide because Earth rotates through that distance in one hour.
B) are spaced at 5� intervals of longitude in North America.
C) have yet to be generally established.
D) are only used in the developed countries.

A) are 15� wide because Earth rotates through that distance in one hour.

Which of the following is TRUE regarding Earth's axis?
A) Axial tilt is unrelated to the phenomenon of seasonal change.
B) The amount of axial tilt fluctuates during the year and forms the basis for seasonal changes.
C) The axis is tilted 23.5� from a per

C) The axis is tilted 23.5� from a perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic.

Acid deposition results from
A) carbonic acids dissolved from atmospheric carbon dioxide.
B) hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
C) hydrochloric acid, formed from the combination of hydrogen chloride and water.
D) nitric acid and sulfuric

D) nitric acid and sulfuric acid, formed from nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

When water evaporates, the energy that was used to evaporate the water
A) is stored as latent heat in the evaporated water.
B) is transferred to the air by advection when the water evaporates.
C) is stored as sensible heat in the evaporated water.
D) is c

A) is stored as latent heat in the evaporated water.

The term "net radiation" refers to
A) the total amount of energy received by Earth.
B) radiation emitted by satellite networks.
C) the total amount of energy radiated by Earth.
D) the difference in amount of incoming and outgoing radiation

D) the difference in amount of incoming and outgoing radiation

A vertical air current that is generated by temperature-induced density differences is an example of heat
transfer by
A) conduction.
B) transmission.
C) convection.
D) advection.
E) diffusion.

C) convection.

The temperature on a cloudy night is likely to be ________ the temperature on a clear night-all other factors
being equal.
A) the same as
B) warmer than
C) colder than

B) warmer than

Global average air temperatures worldwide
A) have appeared to stabilize after a century of increase.
B) are being influenced by human-induced changes in the greenhouse effect.
C) are at present demonstrating no apparent trend one way or another.
D) are ge

B) are being influenced by human-induced changes in the greenhouse effect.

In general, more moderate temperature patterns
A) indicate maritime influences.
B) are created by continentality.
C) occur in continental interiors.
D) are exemplified by Winnipeg and Wichita.

A) indicate maritime influences.

The two most abundant gases in the atmosphere are
A) nitrogen and oxygen.
B) nitrogen and water vapor.
C) oxygen and carbon dioxide. D) water vapor and carbon dioxide

A) nitrogen and oxygen.

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

C) greatest over low-latitude deserts with their cloudless skies.

The reflective quality of a surface is known as its
A) scattering.
B) albedo.
C) conduction.
D) absorption.

B) albedo.

Kinetic energy is defined as
A) energy gained or lost when a substance changes states.
B) energy flow between molecules.
C) stored energy.
D) the energy of motion.

D) the energy of motion.

Which of the following best describes Geographic Information Systems?
A) Deriving accurate measurements from photographs.
B) Computer-based tool for management and analysis of geographic information.
C) A constellation of satellites for accurately determi

B) Computer-based tool for management and analysis of geographic information.

Which of the following is an example of a closed system?
A) A river drainage basin
B) An automobile
C) A forest
D) Earth (in terms of matter)

D) Earth (in terms of matter)

The amount of detail on large scale maps is generally ________ than on than on small scale maps.
A) less
B) greater
C) It is impossible to compare the relative detail of the same features on maps of different scales.

B) greater

An angular distance measured north or south of the equator is termed
A) longitude.
B) latitude.
C) zenith.
D) Greenwich distance.

B) latitude.

Three criteria used for classification of the atmosphere are
A) composition, temperature, and function.
B) composition, origin, evolution.
C) structure, origin, evolution.
D) structure, origin, temperature.

A) composition, temperature, and function.

Geography" literally means
A) place memorization.
B) the study of rocks.
C) to write (about) Earth.
D) map making

C) to write (about) Earth.

Which of the following is NOT a strategy used planners and architects to mitigate against the effects of the
urban heat island?
A) Planting of urban forests (parks and open spaces).
B) Using lighter-colored materials on roofs and other surfaces.
C) Using

C) Using dark covered asphalt.

The capacity to change the motion of, or to do work on, matter is the definition of
A) thermodynamics.
B) energy.
C) acceleration.
D) plasma.
E) system.

B) energy.

The equinox
A) occurs four times during the year.
B) is when the subsolar point is at one of the tropics.
C) is the longest day of the year at any given place.
D) has 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night for all locations.

D) has 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night for all locations.

Incoming solar radiation is called
A) solar constant.
B) insolation.
C) solar wind.
D) thermosphere.

B) insolation

The principal controls and influences of temperature patterns include
A) latitude, altitude, land-water heating differences, cloud cover, ocean currents, and surface conditions.
B) the distance of Earth from the sun and sunspot activity.
C) the seasons an

A) latitude, altitude, land-water heating differences, cloud cover, ocean currents, and surface conditions.

The Sun produces which of the following?
A) Mainly ultraviolet and X-rays B) Only radiant energy that is beneficial to life
C) Mainly visible light and infrared energy
D) Only solar wind

C) Mainly visible light and infrared energy

Why are temperature inversions noteworthy in relation to air pollution?
A) Mesospheric conditions are replicated in the troposphere.
B) Air pollution is completely inhibited from forming.
C) Vertical mixing of pollutants is halted, trapping the pollutants

C) Vertical mixing of pollutants is halted, trapping the pollutants under the inversion layer.

Based on temperature, the atmosphere is divided into
A) nitrogen, oxygen, argon.
B) four regions: ranging from the troposphere to the thermosphere.
C) two broad regions.
D) two functional areas that absorb radiation from the Sun.

B) four regions: ranging from the troposphere to the thermosphere.

Differential transmissivity of shortwave insolation and longwave terrestrial radiation by various atmospheric
gases is better known as the
A) greenhouse effect.
B) global dimming.
C) global warming.
D) cloud-albedo forcing

A) greenhouse effect.

The dominant wavelength of energy emitted by the Sun is
A) longer than that emitted by Earth.
B) shorter than that emitted by Earth.
C) the same length as that emitted by Earth.

B) shorter than that emitted by Earth.

Earth's main energy inputs are
A) longwave radiation and ultraviolet light.
B) ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared radiation.
C) gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet radiation.
D) near infrared and far infrared (i.e., longwave radiation).

B) ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared radiation.

When does Earth's perihelion position, the point of orbit when it is closest to the Sun, occur?
A) During the Northern Hemisphere's spring.
B) During the Northern Hemisphere's winter.
C) During the Northern Hemisphere's summer.
D) During the Northern Hemi

B) During the Northern Hemisphere's winter.

Molecule-to-molecule transfer of heat energy is
A) convection.
B) latent heat.
C) conduction.
D) advection.

C) conduction.

The part of geography that embodies map making is known as
A) theodesy.
B) cartography.
C) calligraphy.
D) geodesy

B) cartography.

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the depletion of ozone in the ozonosphere?
A) It results from the burning of fossil fuels.
B) The notion that ozone is being depleted as a result of human activity has little scientific evidence to
support it.
C) I

C) It results from chemical reactions with chlorine derived from CFCs.

The transformation of a spherical global to a 2D surface is a
A) map projection.
B) globe.
C) diagram.
D) cone.

A) map projection.

As reported by the National Weather Service, the heat index
A) is generally reported during critical winter months.
B) combines air pressure and temperature in a comfort index.
C) gives you an indication of the effect of wind on the skin.
D) relates tempe

D) relates temperature and relative humidity

Remote sensing is
A) a subjective determination of temperature.
B) based on the principle that surfaces must be physically handled and directly measured for study.
C) the monitoring of a distant object without physical contact.
D) an earthbound technique

C) the monitoring of a distant object without physical contact.

The dominant wavelength emitted by Earth is
A) visible light.
B) gamma radiation.
C) thermal infrared.
D) X-ray radiation.

C) thermal infrared.

The principle that explains the scattering of shortwave radiation and accounts for Earth's blue sky is
A) Mie scattering.
B) Rayleigh scattering.
C) transmission.
D) refraction.

B) Rayleigh scattering.

If a clock on a ship indicates that it is 2:00 P.M. in its home port, while another clock on the ship indicates that
it is 12:00 noon at the ship's present location, what is the difference in longitude between the ship's position
and its home port?
A) The

C) The ship is 30� west of its home port.

Our planet and our lives are powered by
A) shorter wavelengths of gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet.
B) utilities and oil companies.
C) energy derived from inside Earth.
D) radiant energy from the Sun.

D) radiant energy from the Sun.

As arctic temperatures rise, summer sea ice and glacial melt accelerates; lighter color surfaces are thereby
replaced with darker-colored surfaces leading to more absorption and surface heating. This is an example of
a(n) ________ feedback.
A) reverse
B)

D) positive

A line connecting all points along the same longitudinal angle is called a
A) great circle.
B) parallel.
C) prime latitudinal angle.
D) meridian.

D) meridian.

What is the name of the location on the surface of Earth that receives insolation when the Sun is directly
overhead? (When this occurs, the Sun's rays are perpendicular to this surface.)
A) North Polar point
B) Subsolar point
C) Zenith
D) Solar point

B) Subsolar point

The diameter of Earth is largest when measured around the
A) equator.
B) poles.
C) prime meridian.
D) subtropics.

A) equator.

Temperature is
A) a form of energy.
B) heat, as perceived by humans and other living things.
C) a function of insolation and windspeed.
D) measure of the average kinetic energy of individual molecules in matter.

D) measure of the average kinetic energy of individual molecules in matter.

A scale given as "one centimeter to one kilometer" is an example of a
A) representative fraction.
B) relative scale.
C) written scale.
D) graphic scale.

C) written scale.

6.4�C/1000 m (3.5�F/1000 ft.) refers to
A) the normal lapse rate.
B) a latitudinal lapse rate.
C) an environmental lapse rate.
D) a measure of air pressure.

A) the normal lapse rate.

The tropopause altitude is highest ________ because of the ________.
A) at the poles; diffuse solar radiation
B) at the equator; intense heating from the surface
C) during the winter; Sun's direct rays hitting the Tropic of Capricorn
D) during the summer;

B) at the equator; intense heating from the surface

Where does the greatest distortion in a Mercator projection occur?
A) Towards the poles
B) The equator
C) In the middle latitudes
D) There is no distortion in a Mercator projection.

A) Towards the poles

The distance between corresponding points on any two successive waves is known as the
A) electromagnetic spectrum.
B) wavelength.
C) frequency.
D) Kelvin.

B) wavelength.

In which two atmospheric zones does temperature decrease with altitude?
A) Troposphere and mesosphere
B) Troposphere and stratosphere
C) Stratosphere and mesosphere
D) Stratosphere and thermosphere
E) None of the abovetemperature decreases with increasing

A) Troposphere and mesosphere

The passage of either shortwave and longwave energy through the atmosphere and water is an example of
A) refraction.
B) absorption
C) transmission.
D) insolation.

C) transmission.