MSCI 112 EXAM 3 QUESTIONS VERIFIED ANSWERS
Solar forcing - Answers - Cyclical variation in the total input of solar energy
causes changes in surface environment
Climate - Answers - Average conditions at a point on Earth's surface and their variation
during cycles of solar forcing.
Climate Zones - Answers - - Tropical Zones
- Polar Zones
- Temperate Zones
- Boreal Zones
- Arid Zones
Tropical Zones - Answers - Average temperature at the coldest month is greater than
18C
Polar Zones - Answers - Average temperature of the warmest month is less than 10C
Temperate and Boreal Zones - Answers - Differentiated by whether the coldest monthly
average is greater than or less than freezing (0C)
Arid Zones - Answers - Dry with low precipitation thresholds.
Albedo - Answers - Fraction of the solar energy reflected by a surface.
greenhouse gases - Answers - Gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane,
and ozone that absorb energy (from Sun & radiated off of Earth's surface) and reradiate
it as infrared energy in all directions (including downward to surface.
Greenhouse effect - Answers - Trapping of heat, increases the temperature at the
surface relative to the temperature higher in the atmosphere.
Positive Feedback - Answers - Change in one component is ENHANCED by the
changes it induces in other components.
Tend to amplify changes in a system.
Negative Feedback - Answers - Change in one component is REDUCED by the
changes it induces in other components.
Wavelength - Answers - Distance between wave crests
Solar forcing - Answers - Cyclical variation in the total input of solar energy
causes changes in surface environment
Climate - Answers - Average conditions at a point on Earth's surface and their variation
during cycles of solar forcing.
Climate Zones - Answers - - Tropical Zones
- Polar Zones
- Temperate Zones
- Boreal Zones
- Arid Zones
Tropical Zones - Answers - Average temperature at the coldest month is greater than
18C
Polar Zones - Answers - Average temperature of the warmest month is less than 10C
Temperate and Boreal Zones - Answers - Differentiated by whether the coldest monthly
average is greater than or less than freezing (0C)
Arid Zones - Answers - Dry with low precipitation thresholds.
Albedo - Answers - Fraction of the solar energy reflected by a surface.
greenhouse gases - Answers - Gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane,
and ozone that absorb energy (from Sun & radiated off of Earth's surface) and reradiate
it as infrared energy in all directions (including downward to surface.
Greenhouse effect - Answers - Trapping of heat, increases the temperature at the
surface relative to the temperature higher in the atmosphere.
Positive Feedback - Answers - Change in one component is ENHANCED by the
changes it induces in other components.
Tend to amplify changes in a system.
Negative Feedback - Answers - Change in one component is REDUCED by the
changes it induces in other components.
Wavelength - Answers - Distance between wave crests
