Geog101 Exam1 – Flashcards
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tropical
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If you were standing at 20 degrees north latitude, you would be within which latitudinal geographic zone?
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meridian
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A line connecting all points along the same longitudinal angle is called a
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Meridians
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They cross parallels at right angles. All meridians are the same length. They are used to measure east-west angular distances.
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AM
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ante meridiem.
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PM
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post meridiem.
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Which of the following is true of the length (as measured in kilometers) of a degree of latitude?
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It is constant at all latitudes.
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If City A is located west of City B, the time at City A is ________ than that at City B because Earth rotates from ________ when
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earlier; west to east (i.e., counterclockwise)
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If you began a trip at 60 degrees west, 20 degrees north and traveled 120 degrees farther west and 50 degrees south, your new position would be
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the International Dateline at 30 degrees south latitude.
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If it is 10:00 AM in Miami, Florida (Eastern time zone), what time is it in Los Angeles, California located 3 time zones to the west in the Pacific Time zone?
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7:00 AM
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UTC refers to
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Coordinated Universal Time.
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The part of geography that embodies map making is known as
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cartography
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A great circle is
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a circle of circumference whose center coincides with the center of Earth.
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Earth's equator is an example of
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a great circle
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A map scale of 1:24,000 means that
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A) one inch on the map equals 24,000 inches on the ground. B) one centimeter on the map equals 24,000 centimeters on the ground. C) one foot on the map equals 24,000 feet on Earth.
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A scale given as "one centimeter to one kilometer" is an example of a
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written scale
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Which type of map scale would be appropriate to use if the map were to be enlarged by Xeroxing?
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graphic
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The larger the scale of a map, the ________ the area covered by the map and the ________ detail it provides.
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smaller; more
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Which of the following possesses all the properties of area, shape, direction, proximity, and distance, correctly?
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a world globe
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On the Mercator projection, areas at high latitudes appear ________.
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larger than areas of the same size located nearer to the equator
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An isoline denoting all points at the same elevation is called
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a contour line
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Our planet and our lives are powered by
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radiant energy from the Sun.
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Which of the following is true?
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The Sun produces energy through fusion processes.
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Earth and the Sun formed specifically from
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a nebula of dust and gases
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Light travels at a speed of approximately
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300,000 kilometers per hour (186,000 mph).
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The plane of Earth's orbit about the Sun is called
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the plane of the ecliptic???
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Which of the following is true of Earth's orbit about the Sun?
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It is elliptical.???
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The Sun produces which of the following?
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mainly visible light and infrared energy
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The solar wind consists principally of
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positively charged hydrogen nuclei and free electrons. ????????????
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On its way to Earth, the solar wind first encounters
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the magnetosphere.???
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Earth's magnetosphere is generated by
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dynamo-like motions in Earth's interior ???????????
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Radio waves have a ________ wavelength than visible light and are therefore ________ energetic.
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longer; less
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The two main portions?? of the solar spectrum??? that enter the atmosphere are
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visible and infrared energy.
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Which of the following sequences is arranged in order from shorter wavelength to longer wavelength?
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X-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared
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The dominant wavelength of energy emitted by the sun is
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shorter than that emitted by Earth.
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The thermopause ????refers to
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the top of Earth's atmosphere, some 480 km (300 mi.) above the surface.
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Intercepted???? solar radiation is called
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insolation
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1372 watts per square meter (2 calories per , per minute) refers to the
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solar constant, which is the average value of energy received at the thermopause???
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Which of the following is true relative to net radiation at the thermopause?
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positive values in lower latitudes and negative values toward the poles
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The uneven distribution of insolation by latitude is primarily a result of
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Earth's sphericity, which presents varied angles to parallel solar rays.
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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.)
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subsolar point?????
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On the northern hemisphere's summer solstice, the north polar region receives ________ daily insolation than areas nearer the equator because ________.
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more; the Sun does not set
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The amount of energy received above the South Pole during the southern hemisphere's summer solstice is ________ than that received above the North Pole during the northern hemisphere's summer solstice because ________.
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more; Earth is closer to the Sun during the southern hemisphere's summer solstice
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At all times during the year, the circle of illumination???
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divides Earth between equal halves of lightness and darkness.
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Which of the following results from radiation imbalances at different latitudes?
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A) hurricanes B) global winds C) ocean currents
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The Sun's altitude refers to
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the angular height of the Sun above the horizon.
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The sun's declination migrates through
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47 degrees.
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Which of the following is true regarding daylength?
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The people living at 40 degrees N or S latitude experience about six hours difference in daylength from winter to summer.
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Which of the following characterizes Earth's revolution?
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It determines the timing of seasons and length of the year.
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Earth's rotation is described as
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west to east.
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Which of the following is true regarding Earth's axis?
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The axis is tilted 23.5 degrees from a perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic.
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While standing at the Tropic of Cancer, Emma's shadow points north at noon (sun time). Based on this,
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t must not be the summer solstice.
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On June 21, the Sun never sets at Finn's location. Based on this, it can be concluded that Finn lives
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North of the Arctic Circle.
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Which of the following statements is true?
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March 21 = equal day and nights everywhere on Earth
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The Tropic of Cancer refers to A) that parallel that occurs at 23.5 degrees south latitude.
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the parallel that is the farthest northern location for the subsolar point during the year.
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The equinox????
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has twelve hours of day and 12 hours of night for all locations.
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The longest days of the year in the Southern Hemisphere are experienced during the Northern Hemisphere's
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winter solstice.
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Which of the following relationships is incorrect?
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September equinox — subsolar point at 23.5 degrees S latitude
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Air consists of
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a mixture of gases that behaves as if it were a single gas.
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Life is possible on Earth primarily because
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the ozonosphere and ionosphere shield the surface from harmful radiation.
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Three criteria?? used for classification of the atmosphere are
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composition, temperature, and function.
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Based on composition, the atmosphere is divided into
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two broad classifications: homosphere and heterosphere.
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Based on temperature, the atmosphere is divided into
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four regions: ranging from the troposphere to the thermosphere.
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The heterosphere???? is the layer of the atmosphere in which the gases are ________ because of ________.
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poorly mixed; the influence of gravity which causes gases of different weight to separate into layers
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The solar constant???? is measured at
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the outer boundary of the thermosphere
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Which of the following is true of the ionosphere????
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The region principally absorbs gamma rays, X-rays, and interacts with the solar wind.
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Which of the following lists the correct sequence of gases, from most to least, in terms of percentage within the homosphere?
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nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, trace gases
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Which of the following is true regarding the depletion ??of ozone in the ozonosphere?
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It results from chemical reactions with chlorine that is derived from CFCs.
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The ozonosphere is critical to life because it
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absorbs most ultraviolet wavelengths
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The two most abundant gases in the atmosphere are
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nitrogen and oxygen
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Temperatures within the stratosphere
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increase with altitude because of the absorption of ultraviolet radiation.
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Which of the following are regarding carbon dioxide?
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A) It is critically important in regulating the temperature of the planet. B) It is a natural product of life processes (i.e., respiration). D) The amount of carbon dioxide has increased as a result of human activities.
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Temperatures increase with increasing altitude in what two atmospheric layers?
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stratosphere and thermosphere
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Which of the following are affected by the loss of ozone?
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all of these
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Weather is confined??? to the troposphere??? because
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the temperature of the stratosphere prevents tropospheric air from rising into it
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Temperature inversions?? occur
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when surface temperatures are higher than overlying layers of air.
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The reaction of automobile exhaust and ultraviolet light
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produces photochemical smog
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Natural rainfall is often slightly acidic. The natural acidity primarily results from the interaction of water with
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carbon dioxide
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where has acid rain
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A) the dying of forests B) damage to aquatic ecosystems (rivers and lakes) C) changes in soil chemistry D) forest and soil damage only E) all of these
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The lower the pH of a liquid
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the more acidic it is
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The passage of shortwave and longwave energy through the atmosphere or water is an example of
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transmission
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Earth's main energy inputs are
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ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared radiation.
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The insolation received at Earth's surface is
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greatest over low-latitude deserts with their cloudless skies.
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Which two gases are primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect because of their ability to absorb infrared energy?
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water vapor and carbon dioxide
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When light passes from one medium to another
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refraction occurs—a process that is important to the formation of rainbows.
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Mirages???? (such as the appearance of "water" on a dry, hot road) are caused by
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A) differences in the air temperature of layers near the surface. B) differences in the air density of layers near the surface. C) refraction. E) temperature and density differences only
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Because of the process known as ________ the Sun appears above the horizon ________ it has actually risen.
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reflection; before
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The reflective quality of a surface is known as its
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albedo
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Which of the following has the highest albedo?
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fresh snow
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If the surface of Earth were to suddenly turn white, the temperature of the planet would ________ because ________ insolation would be absorbed.
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decrease; less
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Earth's average overall albedo is A) 31 percent.
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31 percent.
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Which of the following is true of the albedo of water?
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It changes, depending upon the Sun angle.
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Energy that is reflected from the atmosphere
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does not act to heat the atmosphere.
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Air pollution acts to ________ the albedo of cities and therefore ________ the urban heat island effect.
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increases; diminishes??
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The sky is blue because
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the atmosphere scatters blue light more than any other visible wavelength.
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The Mount Pinatubo eruption in June 1991 affected the atmosphere in the following way
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A) the atmospheric albedo increased. B) an increase occurred in the amount of energy absorbed in the atmosphere. C) a worldwide decrease in surface temperatures occurred in the two years after the eruption.
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Conduction refers to
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the molecule-to-molecule transfer of heat energy that diffuses through the material.
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A vertical air current that is generated by temperature-induced density differences is an example of heat transfer by
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convection
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Which of the following is false relative to the Earth-atmosphere radiation system?
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Only convection transfers heat energy to the atmosphere from the surface.
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On the average, which of the following is true regarding the distribution of shortwave and longwave energy at Earth's surface by latitude?
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The distribution shows an imbalance of net radiation from equator to poles.
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feedback
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-----is "information" that goes back into the system in the form of input
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atmosphere
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The ____________ is made up of the envelope of vapors that surround the Earth...
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Geoid
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The Earth is not exactly round; instead its shape is referred to as a __________.
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latitude/equator, longitude/prime meridian
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________ describes an angular distance north or south of the _______, whereas ________ describes an angular distance east or west of the __________.
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meridian, parallel
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Another name for line of longitude is _______, whereas another name for line of latitude is ________.
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Conformal Map
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- shows correct shape
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Equal Area Map
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- shows correct area
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Rhumb Line
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- line shows correct direction
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Great Circle
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- the largest circle that can be drawn on a globe. This circle divides the globe into two halves and is the shortest distance between any two points.
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perihelion, ahelion
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perihelion, ahelion
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insolation
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__________ is short for incoming solar radiation
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solstice, equinoxes
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solstice, equinoxes
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axile parallelism
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axile parallelism
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subsolar, declination
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The ____________ is the point directly below the sun at any given point, whereas the __________ is the latitude at which this point occurs...
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Amplitude??
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...the height of the wave...
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Crest
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...top of the wave...
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Trough
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...bottom of the wave
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Spectrum
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...all wavelengths from long to short...
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wave
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Energy travels through space as a ________
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amplitude
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The height of a wave is referred to as the _______.
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frequency
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__________ is the number of waves that pass by a certain point in a given time.
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decrease
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As wavelength increases, energy ________.
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conduction, convection
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Matter to matter transfer of energy is called _________, where as energy carried by moving matter is called _________.
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visible spectrum
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visible spectrum
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Temperature:
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Average energy of molecules or atoms in a material
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Heat:
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Total energy of molecules or atoms in a material
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nitrogen
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The most abundant gas in the atmosphere is _______.
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air pressure
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______ refers to the "weight" of the atmosphere.
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decrease
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• As altitude increases, air pressure ________.
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troposphere, thermosphere
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troposphere, thermosphere
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temperature inversions
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The stratopause and mesopause are examples of _______________________.
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Energy
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is the capacity to do "work"...raising temp, causing movement, etc...
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Transmitted??
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...passes thru w/ no alteration...
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Scattered??
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...changes direction w/o altering wavelength...
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Refracted??
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...changes direction and wavelength as it changes medium
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Absorption??
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...assimilation of radiation by molecules of matter... • It's converted to a different form (more later)...
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Albedo
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...is a measure of reflectivity... •The higher the albedo, the greater the reflectivity -------describes how much of the Sun's energy is reflected by a surface...
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Why is the sky blue?
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- The shorter the wavelength, the greater the scatter...
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absorbed
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Some energy is ________ and converted into heat or chemical energy...
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transmitted
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_______ energy passes through and is not altered in terms of path or wavelength...
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short, long
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The sun emits __________ radiation whereas the Earth emits mainly ________ radiation.
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The Bowen ratio
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is sensible heat divided by latent heat...
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laten heat
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_________ is the energy required to change phase of water
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calorie
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A _________ is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius...
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Net radiation
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____ is the sum of energy gained and lost at a given location...
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Sensible heat
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__________ is energy expressed as molecular motion...
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Evaporation:
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Latent heat of evaporation (LE) uses/stores energy. 84% of global evaporation is over oceans
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Transparency:
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transmission (penetration) of radiant energy occurs in water (photic layer), essentially zero over land.
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Specific Heat:
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to raise the temperature by 1°C, water requires more energy than soil (about 4 times).
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Movement:
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as a fluid, water is susceptible to convection and currents
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Ocean Currents:
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movement of heat in ocean currents explains many geographic anomalies
