Question 1

Why is a greenhouse an imperfect analogy for how the Earth's atmosphere behaves?

Accepted Answer

A)   A greenhouse allows longwave radiation to escape and mix with the surrounding air, unlike the Earth's atmosphere.
B)   The glass of a greenhouse is designed to allow transmission of both longwave and shortwave radiation, whereas certain atmospheric constituents only allow transmission of shortwave radiation.
C)   It is exceedingly rare for a greenhouse to contain carbon dioxide like the Earth's atmosphere contains.
D)   Passage of longwave radiation to space is delayed by certain atmospheric constituents, but not trapped like an actual greenhouse.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 2

Clouds, depending on cloud type, altitude, and thickness, can either heat or cool the Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Government support and subsidies for solar energy could make it more cost competitive with other energy sources.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

What are the factors that tend to raise the temperature of an urban area relative to its surrounding rural areas?

Accepted Answer

Thermal properties of urban surfaces; re...

Question 5

Why do the tropics have a positive net radiation while the poles have a negative value? How is the energy difference equalized?

Accepted Answer

The latitudinal imbalance in insolation ...

Question 6

An increase in the amount of high altitude, thin clouds would

Accepted Answer

A)   cool the planet in a process called cloud-albedo forcing.
B)   warm the planet in a process called cloud-greenhouse forcing.
C)   have no effect on the planet's temperature because insolation is constant.D) A) and B)
E) B) and C)

Question 7

NET R values are positive

Accepted Answer

A)   during the night when +LW is at a maximum.
B)   after dusk due to a lag effect of outgoing infrared radiation.
C)   during daylight hours, peaking just after noon with the peak of insolation.
D)   during the daylight hours, peaking just after sunrise.E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 8

Continued urbanization will likely worsen the heat-island effects in the coming years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Earth's average overall albedo is

Accepted Answer

A)   31 percent.
B)   51 percent.
C)   69 percent.
D)   unknown.E) A) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 10

Solar cookers could replace ________ as an affordable source of energy in rural villages in third world countries.

Accepted Answer

A)   natural gas
B)   nuclear power
C)   fusion power
D)   fire woodE) C) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 11

Energy that is reflected from Earth's surface plays a substantial role in heating the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Follow the flow of energy from the Sun, into Earth's atmosphere and to the surface, and back out into space.

Accepted Answer

Incoming solar radiation (insolation) ca...

Question 13

On a cloudy day, Earth's surface receives

Accepted Answer

A)   direct insolation.
B)   diffuse radiation.
C)   direct radiation.
D)   a reduced daylength.E) A) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 14

The principle that explains the differential scattering of shorter wavelength radiation and accounts for the Earth's blue sky is

Accepted Answer

A)   mie scattering.
B)   refraction.
C)   Rayleigh scattering.
D)   transmission.E) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 15

Which of the following is not true of solar energy?

Accepted Answer

A)   The United States receives as much energy in 35 minutes of insolation as we produce by burning fossil fuels in the United States in a year.
B)   It can provide both heat and electricity.
C)   Photovoltaic capacity has not increased in recent years.
D)   Experimental photovoltaic cells have broken the 40% efficiency barrier.E) B) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 16

Which of the following is not responsible for the urban heating effect?

Accepted Answer

A)   Heat generated by homes, vehicles, and factories.
B)   Increase in human-made materials that conduct more energy than natural surfaces.
C)   Increased albedo of urban environments relative to that of natural landscapes.
D)   The concentration of people, machines and heat generating devices adds more heat to the environment.
E)   Increased air pollution that absorbs and reradiates heat to surface.F) A) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 17

Latent heat transfer and convection are examples of nonradiative energy transfer from the Earth's surface.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

If the amount of low, thick stratus cloud cover increases, the Earth's climates would likely ________ due to increased ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   cool; absorption
B)   cool; reflectivity
C)   warm; absorption
D)   warm; reflectivityE) None of the above
F) All of the above

Question 19

The passage of shortwave and longwave energy through the atmosphere and water is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)   absorption
B)   transmission.
C)   refraction.
D)   insolation.E) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 20

While energy budgets vary latitudinal, they are fairly constant at specific locations throughout the year. For instance, the energy budget at 32° does not vary throughout the day or year.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 4: Atmosphere and Surface Energy Balances

Which of the following is not responsible for the urban heating effect?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

An increase in the amount of high altitude, thin clouds would

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

On a cloudy day, Earth's surface receives

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The principle that explains the differential scattering of shorter wavelength radiation and accounts for the Earth's blue sky is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is not true of solar energy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

NET R values are positive

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Energy that is reflected from Earth's surface plays a substantial role in heating the atmosphere.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What are the factors that tend to raise the temperature of an urban area relative to its surrounding rural areas?

Correct AnswerverifiedThermal properties of urban surfaces; re...View AnswerShow Answer

Clouds, depending on cloud type, altitude, and thickness, can either heat or cool the Earth.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Follow the flow of energy from the Sun, into Earth's atmosphere and to the surface, and back out into space.

Correct AnswerverifiedIncoming solar radiation (insolation) ca...View AnswerShow Answer

Why do the tropics have a positive net radiation while the poles have a negative value? How is the energy difference equalized?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe latitudinal imbalance in insolation ...View AnswerShow Answer

Government support and subsidies for solar energy could make it more cost competitive with other energy sources.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

While energy budgets vary latitudinal, they are fairly constant at specific locations throughout the year. For instance, the energy budget at 32° does not vary throughout the day or year.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Earth's average overall albedo is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Solar cookers could replace ________ as an affordable source of energy in rural villages in third world countries.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is a greenhouse an imperfect analogy for how the Earth's atmosphere behaves?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Latent heat transfer and convection are examples of nonradiative energy transfer from the Earth's surface.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The passage of shortwave and longwave energy through the atmosphere and water is an example of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Continued urbanization will likely worsen the heat-island effects in the coming years.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If the amount of low, thick stratus cloud cover increases, the Earth's climates would likely ________ due to increased ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Thermal properties of urban surfaces; re...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Incoming solar radiation (insolation) ca...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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The latitudinal imbalance in insolation ...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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If the amount of low, thick stratus cloud cover increases, the Earth's climates would likely due to increased .

Correct Answer
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