Question 1

Distance variations between Earth and the Sun are very important in understanding seasonal temperature variations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Distance variations between Earth and the Sun...

Question 2

Tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere are collectively called aerosols.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Aerosols can include things like smoke, dust, pollen, and pollution.

Question 3

The atmosphere is heated chiefly by radiation emitted by Earth.

Accepted Answer

The atmosphere is primarily heated by terrestrial radiation, which is the infrared radiation emitted by Earth's surface after it absorbs solar energy.

Question 4

Weather and climate are synonymous terms

Accepted Answer

Weather describes the short-term atmospheric conditions (e.g. temperature, precipitation, wind) in a particular area at a specific time, whereas climate is the long-term pattern of weather in a region over a period of years.

Question 5

Visible wavelengths make up about one-half of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Accepted Answer

The visible spectrum is only a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes a wide range of wavelengths from radio waves to gamma rays.

Question 6

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A) ultraviolet 
B) visible light 
C) infrared 
D) convection

Accepted Answer

A, B, and C are all forms of electromagnetic radiation, while D refers to the transfer of heat through the movement of a fluid such as air or water.

Question 7

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A) Tropic of Cancer 
B) Equator 
C) Arctic Circle 
D) Tropic of Capricorn

Accepted Answer

The answer of Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases...

Question 8

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A) oxygen 
B) nitrogen 
C) hydrogen 
D) argon

Accepted Answer

The answer of Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases...

Question 9

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A) conduction 
B) scattering 
C) convection 
D) radiation

Accepted Answer

All of the given options describe different methods of heat transfer. However, scattering does not involve heat transfer. Scattering is the redirection of light or other electromagnetic radiation in many directions due to interactions with small particles, molecules, or surfaces.

Question 10

Earth's atmosphere ends quite abruptly at an altitude of 40 kilometers.

Accepted Answer

Earth's atmosphere extends much further than 40 kilometers, reaching up to about 10,000 kilometers in altitude (the exosphere). However, the atmosphere becomes increasingly thinner and the air pressure decreases rapidly with increasing altitude. The boundary between the atmosphere and space is commonly defined as the Kármán line, which is approximately 100 kilometers above sea level.

Question 11

More solar energy is reflected back to space than is absorbed directly by the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Approximately 30% of solar energy is reflected back to space by clouds, snow, ice and other reflective surfaces, while the remaining 70% is absorbed directly by the Earth's surface and atmosphere.

Question 12

Snow-covered surfaces have a low albedo.

Accepted Answer

Snow-covered surfaces have a high albedo due to the reflection of sunlight.

Question 13

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A) rotation 
B) scattering 
C) reflection 
D) absorption

Accepted Answer

Rotation is a mechanical movement, while the others are processes related to the behavior of light.

Question 14

By adding the daily maximum and minimum temperatures and then dividing by two, the daily range is calculated.

Accepted Answer

The daily range is calculated by subtracting the daily minimum temperature from the daily maximum temperature, not by averaging them.

Question 15

If it were not for the inclination of Earth's axis, there would be no well-defined seasons.

Accepted Answer

The inclination of Earth's axis is responsible for the angle at which sunlight hits different parts of the Earth throughout the year, causing variations in temperature and the seasons.

Question 16

The annual temperature range at most latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere is much smaller than that in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason for this is that ________.
A) Earth is closest to the Sun during the Southern Hemisphere summer
B) rainfall and cloudiness are greater in the Southern Hemisphere
C) a greater proportion of the land surface is mountainous in the Southern Hemisphere
D) there is a greater percentage of water surface in the Southern Hemisphere

Accepted Answer

The ocean has a moderating effect on temperatures, meaning that water heats up and cools down more slowly than land. Since there is a greater percentage of water surface in the Southern Hemisphere, temperatures tend to be more stable throughout the year.

Question 17

Fairbanks, Alaska, has more hours of daylight in June than Miami, Florida.

Accepted Answer

This is because Fairbanks is located further north and experiences the phenomenon of midnight sun, where the sun never fully sets during the summer solstice. In contrast, Miami is located closer to the equator and experiences more consistent day length throughout the year.

Question 18

Two cities are located at the same latitude (40˚). City A is in the Southern Hemisphere and City B is in the Northern Hemisphere. Assume the two cities reflect the general characteristics of the hemispheres where they are located. Which city should have the largest annual temperature range?
A) City A
B) City B
C) Both cities should have nearly identical temperatures.
D) More information is required to answer the question.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Two cities are located at the same...

Question 19

The higher the temperature of a radiating body, the longer the wavelengths of maximum radiation.

Accepted Answer

The higher the temperature of a radiating body, the shorter the wavelengths of maximum radiation according to Wien's law.

Question 20

The annual mean temperature is an average of the twelve monthly means.

Accepted Answer

The annual mean temperature is calculated by adding up the twelve monthly means and dividing by twelve. Therefore, it is an average of the twelve monthly means.

Quiz 16: The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature

Distance variations between Earth and the Sun are very important in understanding seasonal temperature variations.

Tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere are collectively called aerosols.

The atmosphere is heated chiefly by radiation emitted by Earth.

Weather and climate are synonymous terms

Visible wavelengths make up about one-half of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

Earth's atmosphere ends quite abruptly at an altitude of 40 kilometers.

More solar energy is reflected back to space than is absorbed directly by the atmosphere.

Snow-covered surfaces have a low albedo.

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

By adding the daily maximum and minimum temperatures and then dividing by two, the daily range is calculated.

If it were not for the inclination of Earth's axis, there would be no well-defined seasons.

The annual temperature range at most latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere is much smaller than that in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason for this is that ________.

Fairbanks, Alaska, has more hours of daylight in June than Miami, Florida.

Two cities are located at the same latitude (40˚) . City A is in the Southern Hemisphere and City B is in the Northern Hemisphere. Assume the two cities reflect the general characteristics of the hemispheres where they are located. Which city should have the largest annual temperature range?

The higher the temperature of a radiating body, the longer the wavelengths of maximum radiation.

The annual mean temperature is an average of the twelve monthly means.