Download Source`s of Earth Energy

GEO 2200 – 0087 SummerA 2011
TEST 1 Review Guide
1. Over which part of the earth does the maximum insolation at noon occur during the
Solstice of June 21?
2. At which type of wavelength does earth emit most of its energy back to the space?
3. What is the law relating the total energy emitted by an object to its surface temperature?
4. The zenith angle during Equinoxes at noon is equal to the degrees of latitude location of
any city. True__ False__?
5. What is the law relating the dominant wavelength of maximum energy emission of an
object to its surface temperature?
6. Put in order, from shortest to largest wavelength, the different regions of the
electromagnetic radiation spectrum (gamma rays, x rays, ultraviolet, visible light, near
infrared, infrared, microwave, radio/tv waves?
7. All places located a 0° latitude experience 12 hours of daylight during March 21, June 21,
September 21, and December 21. True__ False__?
8. How many hours of day light will be experienced at Banda Atjeh, Indonesia (latitude 5.5
°N) on March 21?
9. In earth’s atmosphere, temperatures within the Stratosphere layer increase with height.
True__ False__?
10. As elevation decreases, atmospheric pressure increases in a non-linear fashion. True__
False__?
11. What are the four principal systems that make up the earth’s environment?
12. Define: Circle of Illumination.
13. As larger the zenith angle, larger the amount of insolation received by a place on earth’s
surface. True__ False__?
14. How many hours of day light will be experienced at Murmansk Russia (69 °N) on
December 21?
15. The zenith angle results from the proximity to the sun. True__ False__?
16. What are the two annual moments during the year that our planet is placed the nearest
and the farthest from the sun? Give the month for each one.
17. What are the four types of transfer of energy? By what means is energy transferred at
each of them? (Hint: vertical motion; collision; across the vacuum of space; horizontal
motion) &know some examples given in the class.
18. Approximately what is the angle of tilt of the earth’s axis of rotation?
19. The earth’s axis does change its orientation during revolution movement. True__
False__?
20. Sun emits its huge energy at longer wavelength than earth’s wavelength energy. True__
False__?
21. What is Subsolar point?
22. When are the Solstices?
23. The circle of illumination on the earth does not divide the earth into two equal halves
from north to south poles during solstices. True__ False__?
24. What is INSOLATION?
25. On which date is the subsolar point located at the South Pole?
26. On what date(s) will the sun be directly overhead at noon in Kampala, Uganda (latitude
0° [zero degrees])?
27. Which gas law states that the volume occupied by a gas is directly proportional to its
temperature?
28. What instrument do you use to measure the atmospheric pressure?
29. Over which part of the earth does the maximum insolation at noon occur during the
Solstice of December 21?
30. Which object have more albedo: a white object (snow) or a black object (asphalt)?
31. Over which part of the earth do maximum temperatures occur at noon during Equinoxes?
32. A hotter object emits more energy than a cooler object. True__ False__?
33. Where are the subsolar points during solstices? Summer _________ Winter ___________
34. A hotter object emits its dominant energy in a longer wavelength than a cooler object.
True__ False__?
35. What will be the zenith angle at Crescent Beach, Florida (latitude 28.5 °N) at noon
December 21?
36. The range in quantities (difference) of incoming solar radiation between summer and
winter is larger around the Equator than it is at the polar circles. True__ False__?
37. What is albedo? Does it have units?
38. How many hours of daylight do all places located at 69° S latitude experience during the
December 21? What happens at the opposite side of the earth (69°N latitude) with regard
to hours of daylight during the same date?
39. Length of days are equal at all places on the earth during Equinoxes. True___ False___?
40. On what date(s) will the sun be directly overhead at noon in Fort Yukon, Alaska (66.5 °N
latitude)?
41. Which pair of zones in the atmosphere exhibit temperature gradients which are the
reverse of those which we would expect from consideration of the natural lapse rate?
42. How many hours of daylight do all places on the earth experience during the Equinoxes
(March 21 and September 21)?
43. During our summer Solstice (June 21), the hours of daylight at places above 66.5°N
latitude are 24 hours larger than hours of daylight during Dec 21. True__ False__?
44. What will be the zenith angle at noon in Bagdad, Iraq (latitude 33 °N) on March 21?
45. The largest difference in sun’s insolation across the globe occurs at the Poles (90°N/S).
True__ False__?
46. Solstice June 21 means it is summer time in the northern hemisphere and winter time in
southern hemisphere. True__ False__?
47. What are the two main gases taking part of the atmosphere and what are their proportions
in atmosphere composition?
48. Which gas law states that the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to the volume it
occupies?
49. What happens to the value of atmospheric pressure as elevation increases from the earth’s
surface?
50. During our winter Solstice (December 21), the hours of daylight at places above 66.5°S
latitude are 24 hours larger than hours of daylight during June 21. True__ False__?
51. What percentage of total insolation is absorbed by the atmosphere?
52. What is scattering?
53. What is normal lapse rate? What are its values per 1,000 meters/feet?
54. In which two layers are the major part of the total mass of the atmosphere?
55. Why do we see the sky in blue colors?
56. On what date(s) will the sun be directly overhead at noon in Alice Springs, Australia
(latitude 23.5 °S)?
57. Which is the hottest part of the atmosphere? Which is the coldest?
58. Which rays are absorbed by the Thermosphere?
59. Which part of the electromagnetic radiation of the sun is more scattered? Which one is
less scattered?
60. How many hours of daylight do all places located at 85°N latitude experience during
June 21? What happens at the opposite side of the earth (85°S latitude) with regard to
hours of daylight during the same date?
61. What is Physical Geography?
62. In which zone of the atmosphere is most of the world’s ozone to be found?
63. Scattering changes the wavelength of the insolation. True__ False__?
64. What percentage of total insolation is reached on the earth’s surface?
65. What is electromagnetic radiation?
66. Red light has longer wavelength than blue light. True__ False__?
67. What are the two important facts about sun-earth energy flow?
68. At what latitude is the maximum seasonal variation of insolation reached during the year?
69. Sun’s insolation seasonal variation reaches minimum values at the tropical region.
True__ False__?
70. What percentage of total insolation is reflected as planetary albedo?
71. When are the Equinoxes?
72. The circle of illumination divides the earth into two equal halves from north to south
poles during Equinoxes. True__ False?
73. Where is the subsolar point during Equinoxes? March ________ September _________
74. List in order, from earth’s surface to outer space, the 4 layers in earth’s atmosphere
75. What is the layer that contains most of the total mass of earth’s atmosphere?
76. What will be the zenith angle at noon in Buenos Aires, Argentina (34.5 °S latitude) on
December 21?
77. Which layer of the atmosphere is the most poorly understood (“Ignorosphere”)?
78. Solstice December 21 means it is winter time in the southern hemisphere and summer
time in the northern hemisphere. True__ False__?
79. Torricelli is name associated with calculation of Incoming Solar Radiation and Langley is
associated with atmospheric pressure. True__ False__?
80. How many hours of daylight will be experienced today at Mbandaka, Democratic
Republic of Congo (0° latitude)?