Question 1

In the past 40 years, 20 percent of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed.The forest is still being lost at a rate of 20,000 square miles per year.What changes in world climate are we likely to see as this deforestation continues?

Accepted Answer

Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest leads to a reduction in evapotranspiration, which is the process by which plants release water vapor into the atmosphere. This leads to a decrease in cloud formation, which in turn causes a decrease in precipitation. At the same time, a reduction in plant cover means more solar radiation is absorbed, leading to an increase in temperature. Therefore, as deforestation in the Amazon rainforest continues, we are likely to see a decrease in precipitation and an increase in temperature.

Question 2

Prevailing winds move air masses across the Pacific Ocean and part of Chile before the air masses reach the Chilean coastal mountain range.What prediction can be made about the climate on the two sides of these mountains?

Accepted Answer

The prevailing winds carry moist air over the ocean towards the mountains. As the air rises over the windward side of the mountains, it cools and condenses, causing frequent rainfall. Once the air descends on the leeward side, it warms and dries, leading to drier conditions. This is known as the rain shadow effect.

Question 3

Refer to the figure below.  Research shows that, compared to nonurban areas, urban heat islands raise nighttime temperatures more than they raise daytime temperatures.What factor shown in the figure might account for this difference?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the figure below.  Research...

Question 4

Suppose a forest is cut down and replaced with cornfields.How would evapotranspiration rates be likely to change in this situation, if at all?

Accepted Answer

Evapotranspiration is a combination of evaporation from soil and transpiration from plants. Trees have a greater surface area and more leaves than cornfields, which makes them more effective evapotranspirers. Cornfields have a much smaller surface area of evapotranspiration than the original forest, which would result in decreased evapotranspiration rates. Therefore, the correct answer is E.

Question 5

A large city suffers from a major heat-island effect, which is becoming more noticeable as climate change progresses.City planners are considering methods for decreasing the heat-island effect.Which of these methods would likely be most effective?

Accepted Answer

Increasing the number of parks and green roofs would provide more vegetation to absorb and release heat, which can reduce the heat-island effect. This method also provides additional benefits, such as improving air quality and providing space for recreation. The other options either do not address the issue or may even exacerbate it.

Question 6

A river begins high in the mountains and flows downstream until it finally discharges its water into an estuary.Compared to the river's characteristics at its origin, the river as it enters the estuary will be

Accepted Answer

As the river flows downstream, it picks up more water and sediments from its surroundings, causing it to become broader and shallower. The temperature of the water also increases as it flows through warmer areas. Therefore, the river as it enters the estuary will be broader and warmer compared to its characteristics at its origin.

Question 7

A large city is located in a valley.A warm, stable air mass settles over the valley, holding the air and its pollutants in place.After a few days, the city issues a smog alert.This situation is a result of a

Accepted Answer

This situation is a result of a temperature inversion, in which a warm, stable air mass settles over the valley, creating a "lid" that holds the pollutants in place and causes them to accumulate. This can occur when cool air near the ground is trapped by a layer of warmer air above it, preventing it from rising and dispersing pollutants.

Question 8

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs north and south along the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.Which factor is likely to vary most on the two sides of this ridge?

Accepted Answer

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a boundary between two tectonic plates and is characterized by volcanic activity and hydrothermal vents. As a result, the benthic (bottom) life on either side of the ridge is likely to differ significantly due to differences in substrate, temperature, and nutrient availability. Water pressure, temperature, and sunlight penetration are unlikely to vary significantly along the relatively narrow span of the ridge, while pelagic (floating or swimming) life is likely to be influenced more by ocean currents and other factors outside of the immediate vicinity of the ridge.

Question 9

The Amazon River basin is the world's largest river basin, discharging 20 percent of the water discharged by all rivers around the world.The Amazon's mouth is 150 miles (240 km) wide, and a broad area of forests surrounding the river are flooded every year.This suggests that the topography of the lower part of the Amazon basin is mostly

Accepted Answer

The fact that a broad area of forests surrounding the river are flooded every year suggests that the topography of the lower part of the Amazon basin is mostly flat or concave.

Question 10

Which ocean zone is characterized by relatively low salinity due to inputs of fresh water?

Accepted Answer

The estuary is a partially enclosed body of water where fresh water from rivers and streams mix with saltwater from the ocean. This mixing of fresh and saltwater can result in lower salinity levels in some areas of the estuary.

Question 11

How would Earth's wind patterns likely differ if there were no Coriolis effect?

Accepted Answer

The Coriolis effect causes wind patterns to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. Without this effect, winds would move in straight lines from high to low pressure, resulting in a simple north-south flow from the equator instead of separate circulations at different latitudes.

Question 12

Coastal upwelling often occurs at sites of the most productive marine fisheries.However, production in these fisheries may vary greatly from year to year, depending on the strength and location of the upwelling.Which factor would be most likely to affect year-to-year upwelling, and therefore fishery production?

Accepted Answer

Year-to-year upwelling and fishery production are primarily affected by wind strength and direction. Wind direction determines the direction of surface currents, which can influence the upwelling of nutrient-rich deep waters to the surface. Wind strength is also important, as stronger winds can cause stronger upwelling events. Coastal and underwater topography can influence the location and strength of upwelling, but typically do not vary greatly from year to year. The presence of phytoplankton blooms may indicate productive waters, but they are not the primary drivers of upwelling or fishery production. The species of fish in the ecosystem may be affected by changes in upwelling and production, but they are not the primary factors driving these changes.

Question 13

A region of the ocean is characterized by ecosystems such as coral reefs and seagrass beds, which remain submerged and contain organisms that attach to the bottom and undergo photosynthesis.This region would be found in the zone called the

Accepted Answer

The photic zone is the upper layer of the ocean where sunlight penetrates, allowing photosynthesis to occur, supporting ecosystems like coral reefs and seagrass beds.

Question 14

Compared to a rainforest, an underwater kelp forest or seagrass bed would be least likely to provide which function in its ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Underwater kelp forests or seagrass beds are unlikely to change the local climate through evapotranspiration. This is because the majority of evapotranspiration occurs through land plants, which are not present in underwater ecosystems. The other options (A, B, C, and E) are all important functions provided by underwater kelp forests and seagrass beds.

Question 15

Refer to the figure, showing ocean surface currents in the Pacific Ocean.  Based on what you know about prevailing winds, which statement correctly defines the winds causing currents 1 and 2?

Accepted Answer

Currents 1 and 2 are located in the tropical region of the Pacific Ocean, which are affected by trade winds. Trade winds blow eastwards, which causes surface water to move westward, creating a circular motion known as a gyre. Therefore, currents 1 and 2 are primarily caused by trade winds.

Question 16

Refer to the figure below, showing the tilt of Earth's axis as it revolves around the sun, causing changes in the seasons.  Based on the diagram, which statement is true?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the figure below, showing the...

Question 17

A large city shows a heat-island effect.At what spatial scale would this be expected to cause temperature changes in the surrounding climate?

Accepted Answer

The heat-island effect primarily causes temperature changes locally, including the city itself and its immediate surrounding areas, rather than on a larger regional, landscape, or global scale.

Question 18

Ocean currents influence all of the following conditions except

Accepted Answer

Ocean currents do not influence the forming of trade winds from west to east. Trade winds are driven by the difference in solar heating between the equator and the poles, which leads to the formation of Hadley cells in the atmosphere. Ocean currents can, however, influence climate and weather patterns in various regions through the transfer of heat and moisture.

Question 19

Earth is tilted 23.5° on its axis with respect to the sun.As Earth revolves around the sun, this tilt results in

Accepted Answer

Earth's tilt results in different angles of incidence of sunlight on different parts of the globe at different times of the year, which causes seasons. The tilt causes more extreme seasonal variations near the poles and less extreme variations near the equator. Therefore, option A is the best choice.

Question 20

Seattle, Washington, on the west side of the Cascade Range, has a very wet climate.The Columbia River Basin, on the east side of the range, is very dry.This difference in climate results from

Accepted Answer

This difference in climate is due to a rain shadow effect where moist air rising up the mountains on the west side is forced to release its moisture as rain or snow, leaving the air descending down the east side of the mountains very dry.

Quiz 53: The Physical Environment and Biogeography of Life