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Chapter 3
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In the case of electromagnetic energy, an object that is hot:
a. radiates much more energy than a cool object
b. radiates much less energy than a cool object
c. radiates the same amount of energy as a cool object
d. absorbs a huge amount of energy
2. The highest energy, shortest wavelength form of electromagnetic radiation emitted by
the sun is _____________.
a. shortwave infrared
b. visible light
c. thermal infrared
d. ultraviolet
3. Electromagnetic radiation emitted by the Sun travels through space:
a. at the speed of sound
b. following a curved path
c. at the speed of light
d. is all absorbed by blackbodies
4. As the Earth is a much cooler body than the sun, the Earth emits _____________.
a. ultraviolet radiation
b. shortwave infrared radiation
c. longwave radiation
d. visible light radiation
5. Which of the following is not a factor in the global radiation balance?
a. the Sun
b. the land and ocean surfaces
c. atmospheric scattering
d. sensible heat exchanges
6. The solar constant:
a. is highly variable
b. has a value of about 1370 W/m2
c. is measured at the Earth’s surface
d. is not affected by Earth’s atmosphere
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7. The amount of insolation falling on the surface of the Earth is dependent upon:
a. the angle the Sun’s rays make with the Earth’s surface
b. the longitude of a location
c. the amount of glacial coverage in a particular area
d. the amount of ocean surface in a particular region
8. As solar radiation passes through Earth’s atmosphere:
a. some of it is scattered
b. most of it is absorbed by hydrogen molecules
c. most of it is reflected back to space
d. it is not affected in any way by the atmosphere
9. What region of the Earth receives the greatest amount of insolation?
a. the poles
b. the equatorial region
c. the midlatitudes
d. the subtropics
10. What area of the world receives maximum insolation twice throughout the year?
a. the poles
b. the equatorial region
c. the midlatitudes
d. the subtropics
11. What region has the largest annual variation in insolation?
a. the arctic
b. the equator
c. the midlatitudes
d. the tropics
12. At what time of the year is the insolation the greatest at 40ºN of latitude?
a. December solstice
b. Autumnal equinox
c. Vernal Equinox
d. June solstice
13. At the North Pole on June 21, the angle of the Sun above the horizon is _____________.
a. 0º
b. 231/2º
c. 661/2º
d. 90º
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14. What effect does the tilting of the Earth’s axis has on the distribution of insolation?
a. the poles receive insolation
b. there are no seasons
c. the Sun traces the same path in the sky every day of the year everywhere
d. the equator is much warmer than it would be without the tilt
15. Of the following gases, which varies highly in concentration in the atmosphere?
a. nitrogen
b. water vapor
c. argon
d. oxygen
16. Which gas is the major greenhouse gas in our atmosphere?
a. nitrogen
b. argon
c. carbon dioxide
d. oxygen
17. What is the chemical formula of ozone?
a. O2
b. O2c. O3
d. CO2
18. Of the following gases, which causes the most dramatic destruction of ozone?
a. nitrogen
b. carbon dioxide
c. chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
d. argon
19. What natural process can lead to the destruction of ozone in the ozone layer?
a. earthquakes
b. volcanic activity
c. oxidation
d. salt spray from the oceans
20. The transfer of sensible heat that occurs when two objects of unlike temperature are
in contact is called _____________.
a. convection
b. radiation
c. latent transfer
d. conduction
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21. Latent heat is:
a. similar to sensible heat in that it can be measured with a thermometer
b. transferred through the mechanism of conduction
c. found only in the various states of water
d. stored heat and as such cannot be directly measured with a thermometer
22. What process is responsible for the turning aside of light rays in the atmosphere?
a. scattering
b. absorption
c. albedo
d. diffusion
23. The percentage of shortwave radiant energy scattered upward by a surface is termed
its _____________.
a. outflow
b. radiation
c. albedo
d. reflection
24. Which of the following surfaces has the lowest albedo?
a. black pavement
b. snow
c. a wavy water surface in late afternoon
d. the Earth as a whole
25. The ground can only radiate longwave radiation _____________, but the atmosphere
radiates longwave radiation _____________.
a. upward, downward
b. upward, in all directions
c. downward, upward
d. upward, at right angles to the upward flow
26. Water vapor and _____________ emit longwave radiation that has been radiated
from the ground earlier, back to the surface, in a process named _____________.
a. oxygen, radiation
b. carbon dioxide, reflection
c. carbon dioxide, counterradiation
d. nitrogen, diffusion
27. Without the greenhouse effect, our planet:
a. would be much warmer
b. would be much colder
c. would have a much lower surface albedo
d. would not be any different than it is right now
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28. _____________ is the difference between all incoming radiation and all outgoing
radiation.
a. Net radiation
b. Counterradiation
c. The greenhouse effect
d. Albedo
29. Poleward heat transfer involves the flow of heat by _____________ and
_____________ from the lower latitudes to the polar regions.
a. radiation, latent heat
b. oceanic currents, atmospheric currents
c. carbon dioxide, oceanic currents
d. oceanic currents, radiation
30. The equatorial region experiences a(n) _______________ throughout the year.
a. energy deficit
b. energy budget
c. radiation deficit
d. energy surplus
True/False Questions
31. True/False Volcanic eruptions and the injection of dust into the stratosphere are
currently the major threats to the ozone layer.
32. True/False There is an inverse relationship between the wavelength of the radiation
an object emits and its temperature.
33. True/False Visible light is a form of shortwave radiation.
34. True/False The watt (W) is a rate of intensity.
35. True/False The ocean, land, and atmosphere all emit longwave radiation.
36. True/False The acronym “insolation” means incoming celestial radiation.
37. True/False The day of highest insolation for northern hemisphere midlatitude
regions is the summer solstice.
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38. True/False As latitude increases away from the equator, insolation values drop.
39. True/False The world latitude zone that has the most extreme range of insolation is
the midlatitude zone.
40. True/False The ozone layer is a uniform layer that exists at the highest levels of the
troposphere.
Short Answer Essay Questions
41. What are the major differences between shortwave and longwave radiation?
42. How do carbon dioxide and water vapor act to scatter longwave radiation and
produce counterradiation?
43. Define the term “radiation balance”. Describe the various pathways that result in this
balance.
44. What is the greenhouse effect? Of what value is it to life on Earth?
45. Explain the concept of poleward heat transfer. What are the two major mechanisms
involved, and what effect do they have on the Earth’s environments and life?
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