WX 201 Final Exam Question Bank with
correct Answers
The most abundant gases in Earth's atmosphere by volume are
nitrogen and oxygen
Which of the following is considered a variable gas in Earth's atmosphere?
water vapor
The only substance near Earth's surface that is found naturally in the current atmosphere as a solid,
liquid, and a gas is
water
Which weather element ALWAYS decreases as we climb upward in the atmosphere?
pressure
Earth's atmosphere is divided into named layers based on the vertical profile of
air temperature
Almost all Earth's weather occurs in the
troposphere
The gas that absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet radiation in the stratosphere is
ozone
In a temperature inversion, air temperature
increases with increasing height
The word "weather" is defined as
the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place
Wind direction is
the direction from which the wind is blowing
Which measurement indicates the average speed of air molecules?
temperature
The amount of heat energy required to bring about a small change in temperature is called the
heat capacity
A vertical exchange of heat is called
convection
The heat energy released when water vapor changes to a liquid is called
, latent heat of condensation
What determines the type (wavelength) and amount of radiation that an object emits?
temperature
What type of energy has a wavelength shorter than that of violet light?
ultraviolet light
Earth emits radiation with greatest intensity at
infrared wavelengths
The combined albedo of Earth and the atmosphere is approximately ____ percent.
30
Without the atmosphere greenhouse effect, the average surface temperature would be
lower than at present
If the amount of energy lost by the Earth to space each year were not approximately equal to that
received,
the atmosphere's average temperature would change
Although the polar regions radiate away more heat energy than they receive by insolation in the
course of a year, they are prevented from becoming progressively colder each year by the
circulation of heat by the atmosphere and oceans
Our seasons are caused by
the angle at which sunlight reaches Earth
On the summer solstice, the highest position of the noonday Sun is located
in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere
At any given time, ____ of Earth is illuminated by the Sun.
one-half
In the Northern Hemisphere, which day has the fewest hours of daylight?
winter solstice
The lag in daily temperature refers to the time lag between the
time of maximum solar radiation and the time of maximum temperature
The daily minimum temperature is usually observed
around sunrise
correct Answers
The most abundant gases in Earth's atmosphere by volume are
nitrogen and oxygen
Which of the following is considered a variable gas in Earth's atmosphere?
water vapor
The only substance near Earth's surface that is found naturally in the current atmosphere as a solid,
liquid, and a gas is
water
Which weather element ALWAYS decreases as we climb upward in the atmosphere?
pressure
Earth's atmosphere is divided into named layers based on the vertical profile of
air temperature
Almost all Earth's weather occurs in the
troposphere
The gas that absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet radiation in the stratosphere is
ozone
In a temperature inversion, air temperature
increases with increasing height
The word "weather" is defined as
the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place
Wind direction is
the direction from which the wind is blowing
Which measurement indicates the average speed of air molecules?
temperature
The amount of heat energy required to bring about a small change in temperature is called the
heat capacity
A vertical exchange of heat is called
convection
The heat energy released when water vapor changes to a liquid is called
, latent heat of condensation
What determines the type (wavelength) and amount of radiation that an object emits?
temperature
What type of energy has a wavelength shorter than that of violet light?
ultraviolet light
Earth emits radiation with greatest intensity at
infrared wavelengths
The combined albedo of Earth and the atmosphere is approximately ____ percent.
30
Without the atmosphere greenhouse effect, the average surface temperature would be
lower than at present
If the amount of energy lost by the Earth to space each year were not approximately equal to that
received,
the atmosphere's average temperature would change
Although the polar regions radiate away more heat energy than they receive by insolation in the
course of a year, they are prevented from becoming progressively colder each year by the
circulation of heat by the atmosphere and oceans
Our seasons are caused by
the angle at which sunlight reaches Earth
On the summer solstice, the highest position of the noonday Sun is located
in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere
At any given time, ____ of Earth is illuminated by the Sun.
one-half
In the Northern Hemisphere, which day has the fewest hours of daylight?
winter solstice
The lag in daily temperature refers to the time lag between the
time of maximum solar radiation and the time of maximum temperature
The daily minimum temperature is usually observed
around sunrise
