EAS-131 TESU TECEP EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
What is the definition of meteorology? - Answers The study of the atmosphere and the associated
weather phenomena
What are the functions and applications of meteorology? - Answers 1) Weather observation and
forecasting
2) Computer modeling of the atmosphere
3) analyzing, monitoring, and predicting air pollution
4) Earth science education
5) Helping industries (agriculture, energy, aviation, insurance, etc.) manage the risks posed by weather
6) Assisting emergency managers and disaster planners
7) Studying Earth's climate and climate change
What is the composition of the atmosphere (Permanent Gases)? - Answers 1) Nitrogen (N2)- 78.08%
2) Oxygen (O2)- 20.95%
3) Argon (Ar)- .93%
4) Neon (Ne)- .0018%
Define radiation - Answers the emission and transmission of energy through particles or waves
Define electromagnetic spectrum - Answers the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which
electromagnetic radiation extends.
Define conduction - Answers The transfer kinetic of energy from particle to particle.
Give and example of conduction - Answers Cold spoon into hot soup
Define thermal conductivity - Answers The ability of an object to transfer heat
Why is the air closest to the surface warmer during the day? - Answers conduction from the earth's
surface to the air in contact with it
Why is the air closest to the surface cooler at night? - Answers earth's surface has a radiation deficit,
thus cooling and conduction then cools the air in contact with the surface
What is a nocturnal inversion? - Answers When low level air temperatures are cooler due to conduction,
while temperature of the air above increases with altitude
Define convection - Answers The transfer of heat via vertical movement of air
,What is free convection? - Answers Warm air rising freely
Define Planck's law - Answers Every object emits radiation at all times and at all wavelengths.
Define Wien's Law - Answers The hotter an object, the shorter the wavelength at maximum emission.
(The hotter the object the brighter)
According to Wein's law where does peak emission occur? - Answers At infrared wavelengths
Stephan-Boltzmann Law - Answers As temperature increases so does the amount of energy emitted
Kirchhoff's Law - Answers With constant temperature, an object that absorbs radiation efficiently at a
particular wavelength will also emit radiation efficiently at that wavelength.
When electromagnetic radiation strikes a surface what can happen to the radiation? - Answers 1)
Absorption
2) Scattering
3) Transmission
Define radiation transmission - Answers When radiation passes through an object virtually unaffected
What is an example of radiation transmission - Answers Visible light passing through a glass window
Describe radiation absorption - Answers Extinguishing of radiation, amount of radiation extinguished
depends on radiation wavelength and object composition
Describe radiation scattering - Answers Reflecting of radiation off an object
What is forward scattering? - Answers When radiation scatters in a forward direction
What is back-scattering? - Answers When radiation returns in the direction it came from
What is albedo? - Answers The portion of solar radiation that is scattered
Describe the greenhouse effect. - Answers the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth
that occurs when greenhouse gases in the air absorb and re-radiate infrared radiation
What are some greenhouse gases? - Answers 1) Water Vapor
2) Carbon Dioxide
3) Methane
4) Nitrous Oxide
How does Wein's law apply to the greenhouse effect? - Answers Peak emissions in the IR range emmitt
upwards and are absorbed by greenhouse gases
, How does Kirchoff's law apply to the greenhouse effect? - Answers greenhouse gases that absorb
radiation efficiently also emmitt that same radiation
Why is the greenhouse effect important? - Answers It keeps earth warm enough for humans to live
What is the biggest cause of global warming? - Answers The adding of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
amplifying the greenhouse effect
What is an Eddy? - Answers Turbulent swirls of air
What are the two types of eddys? - Answers 1) Turbulent
2) Convective
How is a turbulent eddy formed? - Answers Wind that blows over a rough surface or collides with an
object
How is a convective eddy formed? - Answers When less buoyant air rises and displaces cooler air,
thermals are a convective eddy
What is the approximate tilt of the earth's axis? - Answers 23.5 degrees
What causes the seasons? - Answers The tilt of the Earth's axis, and the angle the sunlight strikes the
surface.
When does winter begin? - Answers Winter solstice
What is the winter solstice? - Answers sun rays shine at right angles on the tropic of capricorn
When does spring begin? - Answers Spring Equinox
What is the the spring equinox? - Answers midday sun rays strike directly the equator after winter
When does summer begin? - Answers Summer Solstice
What is the summer solstice? - Answers midday sun rays shine directly on the tropic of cancer
When does autumn begin? - Answers autumnal equinox
What is the autumnal equinox? - Answers midday sun rays directly strike the equator after summer
How are seasons viewed different between meteorologists and astronomers? - Answers Meteorologists-
Normal temperatures
Astronomers- Sun angles
What are the "big three" controllers of temperature? - Answers 1) Latitude
2) Proximity to water
What is the definition of meteorology? - Answers The study of the atmosphere and the associated
weather phenomena
What are the functions and applications of meteorology? - Answers 1) Weather observation and
forecasting
2) Computer modeling of the atmosphere
3) analyzing, monitoring, and predicting air pollution
4) Earth science education
5) Helping industries (agriculture, energy, aviation, insurance, etc.) manage the risks posed by weather
6) Assisting emergency managers and disaster planners
7) Studying Earth's climate and climate change
What is the composition of the atmosphere (Permanent Gases)? - Answers 1) Nitrogen (N2)- 78.08%
2) Oxygen (O2)- 20.95%
3) Argon (Ar)- .93%
4) Neon (Ne)- .0018%
Define radiation - Answers the emission and transmission of energy through particles or waves
Define electromagnetic spectrum - Answers the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which
electromagnetic radiation extends.
Define conduction - Answers The transfer kinetic of energy from particle to particle.
Give and example of conduction - Answers Cold spoon into hot soup
Define thermal conductivity - Answers The ability of an object to transfer heat
Why is the air closest to the surface warmer during the day? - Answers conduction from the earth's
surface to the air in contact with it
Why is the air closest to the surface cooler at night? - Answers earth's surface has a radiation deficit,
thus cooling and conduction then cools the air in contact with the surface
What is a nocturnal inversion? - Answers When low level air temperatures are cooler due to conduction,
while temperature of the air above increases with altitude
Define convection - Answers The transfer of heat via vertical movement of air
,What is free convection? - Answers Warm air rising freely
Define Planck's law - Answers Every object emits radiation at all times and at all wavelengths.
Define Wien's Law - Answers The hotter an object, the shorter the wavelength at maximum emission.
(The hotter the object the brighter)
According to Wein's law where does peak emission occur? - Answers At infrared wavelengths
Stephan-Boltzmann Law - Answers As temperature increases so does the amount of energy emitted
Kirchhoff's Law - Answers With constant temperature, an object that absorbs radiation efficiently at a
particular wavelength will also emit radiation efficiently at that wavelength.
When electromagnetic radiation strikes a surface what can happen to the radiation? - Answers 1)
Absorption
2) Scattering
3) Transmission
Define radiation transmission - Answers When radiation passes through an object virtually unaffected
What is an example of radiation transmission - Answers Visible light passing through a glass window
Describe radiation absorption - Answers Extinguishing of radiation, amount of radiation extinguished
depends on radiation wavelength and object composition
Describe radiation scattering - Answers Reflecting of radiation off an object
What is forward scattering? - Answers When radiation scatters in a forward direction
What is back-scattering? - Answers When radiation returns in the direction it came from
What is albedo? - Answers The portion of solar radiation that is scattered
Describe the greenhouse effect. - Answers the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth
that occurs when greenhouse gases in the air absorb and re-radiate infrared radiation
What are some greenhouse gases? - Answers 1) Water Vapor
2) Carbon Dioxide
3) Methane
4) Nitrous Oxide
How does Wein's law apply to the greenhouse effect? - Answers Peak emissions in the IR range emmitt
upwards and are absorbed by greenhouse gases
, How does Kirchoff's law apply to the greenhouse effect? - Answers greenhouse gases that absorb
radiation efficiently also emmitt that same radiation
Why is the greenhouse effect important? - Answers It keeps earth warm enough for humans to live
What is the biggest cause of global warming? - Answers The adding of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
amplifying the greenhouse effect
What is an Eddy? - Answers Turbulent swirls of air
What are the two types of eddys? - Answers 1) Turbulent
2) Convective
How is a turbulent eddy formed? - Answers Wind that blows over a rough surface or collides with an
object
How is a convective eddy formed? - Answers When less buoyant air rises and displaces cooler air,
thermals are a convective eddy
What is the approximate tilt of the earth's axis? - Answers 23.5 degrees
What causes the seasons? - Answers The tilt of the Earth's axis, and the angle the sunlight strikes the
surface.
When does winter begin? - Answers Winter solstice
What is the winter solstice? - Answers sun rays shine at right angles on the tropic of capricorn
When does spring begin? - Answers Spring Equinox
What is the the spring equinox? - Answers midday sun rays strike directly the equator after winter
When does summer begin? - Answers Summer Solstice
What is the summer solstice? - Answers midday sun rays shine directly on the tropic of cancer
When does autumn begin? - Answers autumnal equinox
What is the autumnal equinox? - Answers midday sun rays directly strike the equator after summer
How are seasons viewed different between meteorologists and astronomers? - Answers Meteorologists-
Normal temperatures
Astronomers- Sun angles
What are the "big three" controllers of temperature? - Answers 1) Latitude
2) Proximity to water
