GEOG 1300E - Midterm Review Exam Questions
With Verified Answers
Examine figure M1Q1 to determine which of the following statements is correct
Figure M1Q1: Time scaled in Earth's history and associated temperature variations -
ANSWER Historical changes in global temperature are small relative to those that have
previously occurred during Earth's long history
A scientific experiment employing a climate model will generally run - ANSWER A
control simulation and another simulation with some change incorporated (sensitivity
simulation)
(T/F) Feedback mechanisms act within a system to amplify or suppress changes
initiated by external forcing - ANSWER True
An example of initial forcing in Figure M1Q2 could be the annual cycle of solar heating
in New England. Where would you expect to see a fast response to this heating?
Figure M1Q2: Variations in response time to cyclic forcing - ANSWER air temperature in
Hartford, CT
Which of the following proxy record might be used to reconstruct climate 50M years ago
- ANSWER Ocean sediment cores
As described in Figure M1Q3 above, an example of an abrupt change in forcing Earth's
climate would be:
Figure M1Q3: time scales of forcing and response - ANSWER a volcanic eruption
(T/F) In scientific terms a theory is an educated guess with little evidence to back it up -
ANSWER False
Numerical climate models are based on - ANSWER All of the above (physics and
chemistry, conservation equations, & scientific programming)
Earth's atmosphere acts as a - ANSWER blanket, retaining heat near the surface
In Figure M1Q4, A and B (yellow radiation arrows pointing from the sun) represent
Figure M1Q4: Earth's radiation budget - ANSWER the portions of visible radiation
reflected to space and absorbed by clouds
, In Figure M1Q4, C and D (red arrow radiation pointing from the Earth into the
atmosphere) represent - ANSWER fractions of terrestrial long wave radiation
The response time of the oceans to climate forcing is - ANSWER slower than the
atmosphere
An equinox occurs ______ in Earth's annual orbit around the sun and is characterized
by _____ - ANSWER Twice, 12-hour days everywhere on Earth
Water vapor is a greenhouse gas, and actsFa ne - ANSWER to amplify the warming
caused by carbon dioxide
the main components of Earth's energy balance are - ANSWER incoming shortwave
and outgoing longwave radiation
Synonyms for sunlight include - ANSWER all of the above
there is an observed (empirical) relationship between temperature and atmospheric
water vapor: as temperature increases water prefers to be in its _____ phase, thus
_____ saturation vapor pressure - ANSWER vapor, increasing
energy is stored (latent heat) in transformations from - ANSWER A and B only
Earth spins on its axis of rotation every _____ and completes one orbit around the sun
every ____ - ANSWER 24 hours, 365.25 days
(T/F) Earth's obliquity is the cause of the seasons - ANSWER True
Synonyms for Earth's heat loss to space include - ANSWER All of the above (longwave
radiation, terrestrial radiation, IR radiation)
Earth's albedo refers to - ANSWER sunlight that is reflected to space
Earth's albedo is high in regions - ANSWER Both A and C (where there are many
clouds & where surfaces are bright)
Earth's seasons are caused by - ANSWER the tilt of the Earth's axis with respect to the
plane of the ecliptic
an examination of annual average net radiation by latitude indicates that there is ____
energy near the equator and ____ energy near the poles - ANSWER excess, deficit
sea ice plays an important role in determining air temperatures in high latitudes because
- ANSWER both A and B
With Verified Answers
Examine figure M1Q1 to determine which of the following statements is correct
Figure M1Q1: Time scaled in Earth's history and associated temperature variations -
ANSWER Historical changes in global temperature are small relative to those that have
previously occurred during Earth's long history
A scientific experiment employing a climate model will generally run - ANSWER A
control simulation and another simulation with some change incorporated (sensitivity
simulation)
(T/F) Feedback mechanisms act within a system to amplify or suppress changes
initiated by external forcing - ANSWER True
An example of initial forcing in Figure M1Q2 could be the annual cycle of solar heating
in New England. Where would you expect to see a fast response to this heating?
Figure M1Q2: Variations in response time to cyclic forcing - ANSWER air temperature in
Hartford, CT
Which of the following proxy record might be used to reconstruct climate 50M years ago
- ANSWER Ocean sediment cores
As described in Figure M1Q3 above, an example of an abrupt change in forcing Earth's
climate would be:
Figure M1Q3: time scales of forcing and response - ANSWER a volcanic eruption
(T/F) In scientific terms a theory is an educated guess with little evidence to back it up -
ANSWER False
Numerical climate models are based on - ANSWER All of the above (physics and
chemistry, conservation equations, & scientific programming)
Earth's atmosphere acts as a - ANSWER blanket, retaining heat near the surface
In Figure M1Q4, A and B (yellow radiation arrows pointing from the sun) represent
Figure M1Q4: Earth's radiation budget - ANSWER the portions of visible radiation
reflected to space and absorbed by clouds
, In Figure M1Q4, C and D (red arrow radiation pointing from the Earth into the
atmosphere) represent - ANSWER fractions of terrestrial long wave radiation
The response time of the oceans to climate forcing is - ANSWER slower than the
atmosphere
An equinox occurs ______ in Earth's annual orbit around the sun and is characterized
by _____ - ANSWER Twice, 12-hour days everywhere on Earth
Water vapor is a greenhouse gas, and actsFa ne - ANSWER to amplify the warming
caused by carbon dioxide
the main components of Earth's energy balance are - ANSWER incoming shortwave
and outgoing longwave radiation
Synonyms for sunlight include - ANSWER all of the above
there is an observed (empirical) relationship between temperature and atmospheric
water vapor: as temperature increases water prefers to be in its _____ phase, thus
_____ saturation vapor pressure - ANSWER vapor, increasing
energy is stored (latent heat) in transformations from - ANSWER A and B only
Earth spins on its axis of rotation every _____ and completes one orbit around the sun
every ____ - ANSWER 24 hours, 365.25 days
(T/F) Earth's obliquity is the cause of the seasons - ANSWER True
Synonyms for Earth's heat loss to space include - ANSWER All of the above (longwave
radiation, terrestrial radiation, IR radiation)
Earth's albedo refers to - ANSWER sunlight that is reflected to space
Earth's albedo is high in regions - ANSWER Both A and C (where there are many
clouds & where surfaces are bright)
Earth's seasons are caused by - ANSWER the tilt of the Earth's axis with respect to the
plane of the ecliptic
an examination of annual average net radiation by latitude indicates that there is ____
energy near the equator and ____ energy near the poles - ANSWER excess, deficit
sea ice plays an important role in determining air temperatures in high latitudes because
- ANSWER both A and B
