Earth & Space Science – Final Exam
These chapters include Stars last phase, Earth temperatures, global warming & Space Science – Final Examination is based on these chapter
Which type of spectrum is associated with the radiation of most stars?
absorption spectrum – Correct
emission spectrum
continuous spectrum
In general, what is true about places at higher altitudes?
They have cooler temperatures than places at lower altitudes – Correct
They have the same temperatures as places at lower altitudes.
They have warmer temperatures than places at lower altitudes.
What factor distinguishes wet tropical climates from tropical wet and dry climates?
precipitation – Correct
temperature
mountain ranges
Stellar distances are usually expressed in what units?
miles
kilometers
light years – Correct
How long does it take the moon to go from full-moon phase to new-moon phase?
one week
two weeks
four weeks – Correct
Based on figure 17-1 (above), what is likely true of City B?
Its temperature is strongly influenced by prevailing ocean winds – Correct
It has hot summers and cold winters.
It is located on a leeward coast.
Which of the following is the most common type of galaxy?
elliptical
irregular
spiral – Correct
The oldest features of the moon are the
highlands – Correct
maria.
craters.
Most asteroids lie between the orbits of
Mercury and Venus.
Earth and Mars.
Mars and Jupiter – Correct
Which type of climate is associated with savannas?
wet tropical
tropical wet and dry – Correct
humid subtropical
What will be the final stage in the sun’s life cycle?
red giant – Correct
planetary nebula
black dwarf
All stars, regardless of size, eventually
explode.
become black holes.
run out of fuel and collapse – Correct
In figure 20-1 (above), which of the following is characteristic of the air mass labeled F?
hot and dry – Correct
hot and wet
cold and dry
The product of nuclear fusion is
hydrogen.
oxygen.
helium – Correct
In the Northern Hemisphere, winds associated with a high-pressure system blow
clockwise toward the center.
counterclockwise toward the center.
clockwise outward from the center – Correct
Which cloud type consists of globular cloud masses with a cauliflower structure?
cumulus – Correct
cirrus
stratus
Which of the following can change from one state of matter to another at the temperatures and pressures experienced at Earth’s surface?
nitrogen
oxygen
water – Correct
The eye of a hurricane has the
highest wind speed.
warmest temperature – Correct
most intense rainfall.
Based on figure 17-1 (above), what is likely true of City A?
It is located on a windward coast.
It has cool summers and mild winters.
It is located on a leeward coast – Correct
Which of the following statements is true?
All objects, at any temperature, emit radiant energy – Correct
Objects that are good absorbers of radiation are good reflectors as well.
Cooler objects radiate more total energy per unit area than do hotter objects.
A land breeze usually originates during the
evening and flows toward the land.
day and flows toward the land.
evening and flows toward the water – Correct
Fifty percent of the gases that make up the atmosphere are found below an altitude of
5.6 kilometers – Correct
10.4 kilometers.
16.2 kilometers.
In figure 19-1 (above), the lines on a weather map that connect points of equal
pressure are called
isobars – Correct
contour lines
isotherms.
Maritime air masses form
over land.
over water – Correct
only in winter.
Which planet’s axis of rotation lies nearly parallel with the plane of its orbit?
Mercury
Saturn
Uranus – Correct
One astronomical unit (AU) averages about
39 million kilometers.
150 million kilometers – Correct
210 million kilometers.
Centers of low pressure are called
anticyclones.
jet streams.
cyclones – Correct
A low cloud that blankets the sky and often generates precipitation is called a(n)
cirrostratus cloud.
altostratus cloud.
nimbostratus cloud – Correct
Which of the following supports the big bang theory?
pulsars
cosmic background radiation – Correct
galactic clusters
How would the climate of a coastal city differ from that of a city at the same latitude located farther inland?
The coastal city would have cooler summers – Correct
The coastal city would have colder winters.
The cities are at the same latitude so their climates would not differ.
What is true about relative humidity?
It indicates how near the air is to saturation – Correct
It indicates the actual quantity of water vapor in the air.
It is a general term used to describe the amount of water vapor in the air.
The wet adiabatic rate of cooling is less than the dry rate because
wet air is unsaturated.
dry air is less dense.
of the release of latent heat – Correct
Increased altitude generally causes lower
relative humidity.
temperatures – Correct
wind velocity.
What is the ultimate energy source for most wind?
Earth’s rotation
tides
solar radiation – Correct
A steep pressure gradient
produces strong winds – Correct
is only possible in the tropics.
produces light winds.
Which type of air mass originates in northern Canada?
maritime tropical (mT)
continental polar (cP) – Correct
maritime polar (mP)
In which type of front is the flow of air on both sides of the front almost parallel to the line of the front?
warm
stationary – Correct
cold
The boundary that separates different air masses is called
a front – Correct
a cyclone.
an anticyclone.
The apparent westward movement of a planet against the background of stars is called
retrograde motion – Correct
revolution.
rotation.
What is the first sign of an approaching warm front?
stratus clouds
cirrus clouds – Correct
nimbostratus clouds
A continental tropical (cT) air mass is
cold and dry.
hot and wet.
hot and dry – Correct
A wind that consistently blows more often from one direction than from any other is called a
local wind
prevailing wind – Correct
trade wind
The force exerted by the weight of the air above is called
air pressure – Correct
convergence.
the Coriolis effect.
The net inward movement of air causes the area occupied by an air mass to shrink, a process known as
horizontal divergence.
horizontal convergence – Correct
vertical divergence.
Which phenomenon is associated with surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific that are colder than average?
La Niña – Correct
global warming
About 90 percent of stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram are
supergiants.
main-sequence stars – Correct
white dwarfs.
Which planet has a dense carbon dioxide atmosphere and high surface temperature?
Venus – Correct
Mars
Mercury
What kind of shape is associated with a middle-latitude cyclone?
circle
wave – Correct
square
Which astronomer spent 20 years plotting the positions of the planets?
Newton
Galileo
Brahe – Correct
How old is the moon?
much older than Earth
about the same age as Earth – Correct
much younger than Earth
Widely spaced isobars indicate
high winds.
variable winds.
light winds – Correct
The sun’s surface is made up mostly of
helium.
ammonia.
hydrogen – Correct
Fast-moving currents of air that occur above the friction layer are called
wind trains.
jet streams – Correct
mesocyclones.
When an active cold front overtakes a warm front,
the fronts cancel each other out.
a stationary front forms.
an occluded front forms – Correct
Which features on Mars point to the possibility of liquid water on the planet?
mountain ranges with faults
gullies and streamlike channels – Correct
volcanic cones with craters
Which of the following terms best describes air?
an element
a compound
a mixture – Correct
Thunderstorms form when warm, humid air rises in a(n)
unstable environment – Correct
stable environment.
clockwise spiral.
Which two properties characterize an air mass?
moisture and pressure
temperature and pressure
temperature and moisture – Correct
The rain shadow effect is associated with
oceans.
latitude.
mountains – Correct
The fact that light can exert pressure on matter suggests that it is made of particles called
protons.
photons – Correct
In the Northern Hemisphere, winds associated with a low-pressure system blow
clockwise toward the center.
counterclockwise toward the center – Correct
clockwise outward from the center.
At night clouds act as a blanket by
absorbing incoming radiation.
absorbing outgoing radiation – Correct
reflecting incoming radiation.
What is true about radiation?
It can travel through a vacuum – Correct
It travels in one direction from its source.
It needs a medium through which to travel.
In dry climates, rates of evaporation exceed
rates of condensation.
rates of precipitation – Correct
number of sunny days.
One of the planets known to have rings is
Venus.
Mars.
Uranus – Correct
Which of the following terms best describes air?
a. element
b. compound
c. mixture – Correct
d. none of the above
The form of oxygen that combines three oxygen atoms into each molecule is called _____.
ozone
What is the lowest layer of the atmosphere?
troposphere
Most important weather phenomena occur in the ______.
troposphere
Fifty percent of the gases that make up the atmosphere are found below _____.
5.6 kilometers
When does the summer solstice occur in the Northern Hemisphere?
June 21st or June 22nd
When does the autumnal equinox occur in the Southern Hemisphere?
March 21st or 22nd
On which date does the Antarctic Circle have 24 hours of daylight?
a. June 21/22
b. September 21/22
c. March 21/22
d. December 21/22 – Correct
Which of the following is true about equinoxes?
a. They occur in June and December,
b. The sun’s vertical rays are striking either 23.5°S or 23.5°N
c. Days and nights are equal in length everywhere – Correct
d.The length of daylight in the Arctic and Antarctic Circles is 24 hours
At which latitude would you expect the sun to be directly overhead at noon on April 21?
a. 0°
b. 8°S
c. 8°N – Correct
d. 23.5°N
All matters composed of atoms or molecules that have energy of motion, also known as ______.
kinetic energy
When air transfers energy to a cooler object, what happens to the air temperature?
It decreases
What causes heat, or the transfer of energy from one object to another?
differences in temperature
What process describes the transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity?
conduction
On average, how much of the sun’s energy that reaches Earth’s outer atmosphere is reflected back into space?
30%
Earth receives energy from the sun through what method of heat transfer?
radiation
The two most important heat-absorbing gases in the lower atmosphere are ___________.
water vapor and carbon dioxide
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
- a. All objects, at any temperature, emit radiant energy
- b. The hottest radiating bodies produce the shortest wavelengths of maximum radiation
- c. Hotter objects radiate more total energy per unit area than do colder objects
- d. Objects that are good absorders of radiation are good reflectors as well – Correct
Which of the following is associated with weak light rays that travel in different directions?
a. reflection
b. conduction
c. scattering – Correct
d. convection
Which of the following is NOT a temperature control?
a. geographical position
b. ocean currents
c. nitrogen – Correct
d. cloud cover
In general, what is true about places at higher altitudes?
a. They have cooler temperatures than places at lower altitudes – Correct
b. They have the same temperatures as places at lower altitudes
c. They have warmer temperatures than places at lower altitudes
d. They have less predictable temperatures than places at lower altitudes
Which of the following best describes the temperatures of a city located along a windward coast?
a. warmer summer temperatures than an inland location at the same latitude
b. cooler summer temperatures than an inland location at the same latitude – Correct
c. summer temperatures that are very similar to an inland location at the latitude
d. winter temperatures that are less mild than an inland location at the same latitude
Which of the following is true?
a. Land heats less rapidly than water
b. Land heats more rapidly than water
c. Land reaches higher temperatures than water
d. Both b and c – Correct
Why are annual temperature ranges in the Southern Hemisphere generally smaller than those in the Northern Hemisphere?
There is a greater percentage of water surface in the Southern Hemisphere
Which of the following best describes temperature variations?
a. Variations are greater over land than over water – Correct
b. Variations are greater over water than over land.
c. Variations are the same over water and land.
d. Variations over water cannot be determined.
Which of the following best describes the general air temperature on a cloudy night?
a. lower than on a clear night
b. higher than on a clear night – Correct
c. the same as on a clear night
d. less predictable than on a clear night
Many clouds have a high albedo and therefore tend to _____.
reflect sunlight
At night, clouds act as a blanket by ______.
absorbing outgoing radiation
The force exerted by the weight of the air above is called _____.
air pressure
In which direction is air pressure exerted?
a. upward
b. sideways
c. downward
d. all of the above – Correct
Standard sea level pressure in millibars is _____.
1013.2
What is the ultimate energy source for most wind?
solar radiation
What force generates winds?
pressure differences
Which of the following is NOT a force that influences wind?
a. Coriolis effect
b.pressure gradient
c. magnetic field – Correct
d. friction
A steep pressure gradient produces ______.
produces strong winds
Widely spaced isobars indicate ______.
light winds
Variations in air pressure from place to place are the principal cause of ____.
wind
High-altitude, high-velocity “rivers” of air are called ________.
jet streams
The Coriolis effect influences ______.
wind direction
In the Northern Hemisphere, winds associated with low-pressure system blow ______.
counterclockwise toward the center
In the Southern Hemisphere, winds associated with low-pressure system blow ______.
clockwise toward the center
In the Northern Hemisphere, winds associated with high-pressure system blow ______.
clockwise outward from the center
Centers of low pressure are called _____.
cyclones
Air subsides in the center of a(n) ______.
high-pressure system
High-pressure systems are usually associated with…
descending air, relatively dry conditions, clear weather
The general movement of low-pressure centers across the United States is from _____.
west to east
Which of the following does NOT describe the surface air movement of a Northern Hemisphere low?
a. inward
b. counterclockwise
c. net upward movement
d. divergent – Correct
What is NOT true about lows that move across the United States?
a. They can produce bad weather.
b. Their paths are very predictable – Correct
c. They move in roughly a west-to-east direction.
d. They may require up to a week to cross the country.
Which surface winds blow between the subtropical high and the equator?
a. trade winds – Correct
b. polar easterlies
c. sea breezes
d. westerlies
The deserts of the Sahara and Australia are associated with the ____.
a. equatorial low
b. subtropical high – Correct
c. subpolar low
d. polar high
Near the equator, rising air is associated with a pressure zone known as the ____.
equatorial low
If earth did not rotate, how would air at the equator move?
Air would rise and move toward the poles.
Valley and mountain breezes are examples of _____.
local winds
A sea breeze usually originates during the _____.
evening and flows toward the water
When is a sea breeze most intense?
during mid- to late afternoon
A wind that consistently blows more often from one direction than from any other is called a _______.
prevailing wind
Winds are labeled according to which of the following?
a. whether they originate on land or water
b. the direction from which they blow – Correct
c. the region in which they can be found
d. none of the above
Which phenomenon is associated with surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific that are colder than average?
a. La Nina – Correct
b. El Nino
c. global warming
d. local winds
Which of the following can be impacted by El Nino?
a. the fish industry
b. climate
c. the farming industry
d. all of the above – Correct
an immense body of air characterized by similar properties at any given altitude is known as a(n)
a. cyclone
b. air mass – Correct
c. anticyclone
d. front
which two properties characterize an air mass?
a. temperature and location
b. temperature and pressure
c. temperature and moisture – Correct
d. moisture and pressure
a cold, dry air mass that moves over warm, tropical waters will likely become
a. colder and drier
b. warmer and drier
c. colder and wetter
d. warmer and wetter – Correct
an air mass gets its characteristic properties from an area known as the
a. weather site
b. place of origin
c. classification region – Correct
d. source region
which type of air mass originates in northern canada?
a. mT
b. cP – Correct
c. mP
d. cT
maritime air masses from
a. over land
b. over water – Correct
c. only in winter
d. only in summer
which of the following is NOT an area where maritime tropical air masses that affect North America originate?
a. gulf of mexico
b. caribbean sea
c. hudson bay – Correct
d. atlantic ocean
an mT air mass is best described as
a. cold and dry
b. warm and dry
c. cold and wet
d. warm and wet – Correct
a cT air mass is
a. cold and dry
b. cold and wet
c. hot and dry – Correct
d. hot and wet
which air mass often originates as a different air mass in Siberia and is subsequently altered
a. mT
b. cP
c. mP – Correct
d. cT
in figure 20-1, which of the following is characteristic of the air mass labeled F?
a. hot and dry
b. hot and wet
c. hot in summer
d. both a and c – Correct
in figure 20-1, which air masses would be associated with cold, wet conditions?
a. a and e
b. b and d
c. a and d – Correct
d. g and f
which air masses have the greatest effect on weather conditions in much of the US?
a. cP and mT – Correct
b. mP and cP
c. mP and cT
d. mT and cT
which air masses may produce an occasional “nor” easter during winter?
a. mT
b. cP
c. mP – Correct
d. cT
which air mass is the source of much of the precipitation in the central and eastern US?
a. mT – Correct
b. cP
c. mP
d. cT
lake-effect snow is associated with which air mass?
a. mT
b. cP – Correct
c. mP
d. cT
the boundary that separates different air masses is called a(n)
a. front – Correct
b. cyclone
c. anticyclone
d. storm
on a weather map, which type of front is shown by a line with triangular points on one side?
a. warm
b. cold – correct
c. stationary
d. occluded
on a weather map, which type of front is shown by a line with semicircles extending from one side?
a. warm – Correct
b. cold
c. stationary
d. occluded
which type of front forms when the surface position of the front does not move?
a. warm
b. cold
c. stationary – Correct
d. occluded
in which type of front is the flow of air on both sides of the front almost parallel to the line of the front?
a. warm
b. stationary – Correct
c. cold
d. occluded
which of the following is considered to be a boundary between two different air masses?
a. warm front
b. cold front
c. both warm front and cold front – Correct
d. neither warm front nor cold front
when an active cold front overtakes a warm front
a. the fronts cancel each other out
b. cloud formation ceases
c. an occluded front forms – Correct
d. a stationary front forms
along which type front is the intensity of precipitation generally heavy, but short-lived?
a. warm front
b. cold front – Correct
c. stationary front
d. occluded front
along a front, which type of air is always forced upwards?
a. cooler, denser air
b. warmer, less dense – Correct
c. the driest air
d. the wettest air
what is the first sign of an approaching warm front?
a. stratus clouds
b. warm air mass – Correct
c. nimbostratus clouds
d. cumulus clouds
the weather behind a cold front is dominated by which of the following?
a. cold air mass – Correct
b. warm air mass
c. mixed air mass
d. none of the above
which stage happens first in the life cycle of the middle-latitude cyclone?
a. occlusion begins
b. a front forms – Correct
c. wave shape forms
d. air flows counterclockwise
how does surface air flow in a middle-latitude cyclone in the northern hemisphere?
a. divergent and clockwise
b. divergent and counterclockwise
c. convergent and clockwise
d. convergent and counterclockwise – Correct
which of the following best describes the pressure in a middle-latitude cyclone?
a. pressure decreases toward the center – correct
b. pressure remains the same everywhere
c. pressure increases toward the center
d. the pressure is not predictable
what type of front usually produces several hours of light-to-moderate precipitation over a large region?
a. warm front – Correct
b. cold front
c. both warm front and cold front
d. neither warm front nor cold front
why is the first stage of a thunderstorm?
a. cumulus stage – Correct
b. cumulonimbus stage
c. mature stage
d. dissipating stage
the greatest number of thunderstorms occurs in the
a. middle latitudes
b. tropics – Correct
c. mountains
d. high latitudes
thunderstorms form when warm, humid air rises in a(n)
a. unstable environment – Correct
b. stable environment
c. clockwise spiral
d. counterclockwise spiral
the mature stage of a thunderstorm is associated with which of the following?
a. downdrafts
b. heavy precipitation
c. updrafts
d. both b and c – Correct
a rotating column of air is called a(n)
a. hurricane
b. anticyclone
c. vortex – Correct
d. cumulonimbus cloud
the center of a tornado is characterized by its
a. very high pressure
b. eye walk
c. low pressure – Correct
d. sinking air
which is the following would likely have the greatest range of pressure?
a. tornado – Correct
b. middle-latitude cyclone
c. hurricane
d. all the same pressure
tornadoes are most frequent from
a. january to march
b. april and june – Correct
c. october and december
d. july to august
hurricanes are classified according to intensity using the
a. richter scale
b. doppler scale
c. saffir-simpson scale – Correct
d. fujita scale
typhoon is another name for
a. wave cyclone
b. hurricane – Correct
c. tornado
d. thunderstorm
hurricanes form in tropical waters between the latitudes of
a. 0 and 5 degrees
b. 5 and 20 degrees – Correct
c. 20 and 30 degrees
d. 30 and 40 degrees
the eye of a hurricane has the
a. highest wind speeds
b. warmest temperatures – Correct
c. most intense rainfall
d. highest air pressure
what causes a hurricane to lose energy when he moves onto land?
a. friction
b. lack of warm, moist air
c. hearing from below by land
d. both a and b – Correct
what kind of shape is associated with a middle-latitude cyclone?
a. circle
b. wave – Correct
c. square
d. triangle
The force exerted by the weight of the air above is called ____.
- a. air pressure – Correct
- b. convergence
- c. the Coriolis effect
- d. divergence
In which direction is air pressure exerted?
- a. upward
- b. downward
- c. sideways
- d. all of the above – Correct
Which of these instruments is NOT used to measure air pressure?
a. mercury barometer c. anemometer – Correct
b. aneroid d. All are used to measure air pressure.
Standard sea level pressure in millibars is ____.
a. 750.1 c. 1000
b. 980.5 d. 1013.2 – Correct
Who invented the mercury barometer?
a. Galileo c. Newton
b. Torricelli – Correct d. Watt
What is the ultimate energy source for most wind?
a. Earth’s rotation c. solar radiation – Correct
b. Earth’s revolution d. tides
Which force generates winds?
a. the Coriolis effect c. pressure differences – Correct
b. gravity d. friction
Which of the following is NOT a force that influences wind?
a. Coriolis effect c. pressure gradient
b. magnetic field – Correct d. friction
In Figure 19-1, the lines on the weather map that connect points of equal pressure are ____.
a. isobars – Correct c. contour lines
b. isogrids d. isotherms
In Figure 19-1, closely spaced lines indicate ____.
a. high winds – Correct c. variable winds
b. light winds d. cyclonic winds
A steep pressure gradient ____.
a. would be depicted by widely spaced isobars
b. produces strong winds – Correct
c. is only possible in the tropics
d. produces light winds
Widely spaced isobars indicate ____.
a. high winds c. light winds – Correct
b. variable winds d. winds oriented north to south
Variations in air pressure from place to place are the principal cause of ____.
a. snow c. wind – Correct
b. rain d. clouds
Fast-moving currents of air that occur above the friction layer are called ____.
a. wind trains c. chinooks
b. mesocyclones d. jet streams – Correct
High-altitude, high-velocity “rivers” of air are called ____.
a. cyclones b. anticyclones c. jet streams – Correct d. tornadoes
The Coriolis effect influences ____.
a. wind speed c. both wind speed and wind direction
b. wind direction – Correct d. neither wind speed nor wind direction
The deflection of wind due to the Coriolis effect is strongest at ____.
a. the equator c. midnight
b. the midlatitudes d. the poles – Correct
In the Northern Hemisphere, winds associated with a low-pressure system blow ____.
a. counterclockwise toward the center – Correct
b. clockwise toward the center
c. clockwise outward from the center
d. counterclockwise outward from the center
In the Southern Hemisphere, winds associated with a low-pressure system blow ____.
a. clockwise toward the center – Correct
b. counterclockwise toward the center
c. clockwise outward from the center
d. counterclockwise outward from the center
In the Northern Hemisphere, winds associated with a high-pressure system blow ____.
a. counterclockwise toward the center
b. clockwise toward the center
c. clockwise outward from the center – Correct
d. counterclockwise outward from the center
Centers of low pressure are called ____.
a. anticyclones c. jet streams
b. air masses d. cyclones – Correct
Air subsides in the center of a(n) ____.
a. low-pressure system c. jet stream
b. high-pressure system – Correct d. area of surface convergence
Fair weather can usually be expected with the approach of which of the following?
a. cyclone c. low-pressure system
b. anticyclone – Correct d. none of the above
High-pressure systems are usually associated with which of the following?
a. descending air c. relatively dry conditions
b. clear weather d. all of the above – Correct
The general movement of low-pressure centers across the United States is from ____.
a. north to south c. west to east – Correct
b. south to north d. east to west
Which of the following does NOT describe the surface air movement of a Northern Hemisphere low?
a. inward c. net upward movement
b. counterclockwise d. divergent – Correct
What is NOT true about lows that move across the United States?
a. They can produce bad weather.
b. Their paths are very predictable. – Correct
c. They move in roughly a west-to-east direction.
d. They may require up to a week to cross the country.
The net inward movement of air causes the area occupied by an air mass to shrink, a process known as ____.
a. horizontal divergence c. vertical divergence
b. horizontal convergence – Correct d. vertical convergence
Seasonal changes in wind direction associated with large landmasses and adjacent water bodies are called
____.
a. polar fronts c. monsoons – Correct
b. jet streams d. trade winds
Which surface winds blow between the subtropical high and the equator?
a. trade winds – Correct c. sea breezes
b. polar easterlies d. westerlies
The deserts of the Sahara and Australia are associated with the ____.
a. equatorial low c. subpolar low
b. subtropical high – Correct d. polar high
The only truly continuous pressure belt on Earth is the ____.
a. Northern Hemisphere subtropical high c. Southern Hemisphere subpolar low – Correct
b. equatorial low d. Northern Hemisphere subpolar low
In the winter, large landmasses such as Asia develop a seasonal ____.
a. high-pressure system – Correct c. low-pressure system
b. system of trade winds d. cyclonic circulation
Near the equator, rising air is associated with a pressure zone known as the ____.
a. equatorial high c. tropical low
b. equatorial low – Correct d. tropical high
If Earth did not rotate, how would air at the equator move?
a. Air would sink and move toward the poles.
b. Air would rise and move toward the poles. – Correct
c. There would be no air movement.
d. none of the above
Valley and mountain breezes are examples of ____.
a. global winds c. local winds – Correct
b. trade winds d. jet streams
A sea breeze usually originates during the ____.
a. evening and flows toward the land c. evening and flows toward the water
b. day and flows toward the land – Correct d. day and flows toward the water
A land breeze usually originates during the ____.
a. evening and flows toward the land c. evening and flows toward the water – Correct
b. day and flows toward the land d. day and flows toward the water
When is a sea breeze most intense?
a. during mid- to late afternoon – Correct c. in the late morning
b. in the late evening d. at sunrise
A wind that consistently blows more often from one direction than from any other is called a ____.
a. local wind c. trade wind
b. prevailing wind – Correct d. jet stream
Which instrument is used to measure wind speed?
a. anemometer – Correct c. thermometer
b. barometer d. all of the above
Winds are labeled according to which of the following?
a. whether they originate on land or water
b. the direction from which they blow – Correct
c. the region in which they can be found
d. none of the above
Which phenomenon is associated with surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific that are colder than
average?
a. La Niña – Correct c. global warming
b. El Niño d. local winds
Which of the following is a warm countercurrent that periodically flows southward along the coasts of
Ecuador and Peru?
a. mountain breeze c. El Niño
b. La Niña d. none of the above – Correct
Which of the following can be impacted by El Niño?
a. the fish industry c. the farming industry
b. climate d. all of the above – Correct
Air pressure pushing down on an object exactly ____________________ the air pressure pushing up on the
object.
balances
In a mercury barometer, when air pressure increases, the mercury in the tube _____________
rises
Air flows from areas of ____________________ pressure to areas of ____________________ pressure
higher, lower
The Coriolis effect deflects all free-moving objects to the right of their path of motion in the
____________________ Hemisphere.
northern
The deflection of wind caused by the Coriolis effect is always directed at ____________________ angles to
the direction of airflow.
right
In the Northern Hemisphere, winds blow inward and ____________________ around a low.
counterclockwise
In anticyclones, the values of the isobars ____________________ from the outside toward the center.
increase
Friction causes a net flow of air ____________________ around a cyclone
inward
The subtropical high and the ____________________ high are areas of dry, sinking air that produce
prevailing winds.
polar
In India, rainy monsoons occur during the season of _________
summer
In coastal areas during the summer, land heats up more during ____________________ than does the
adjacent body of water.
the day
After sunset in mountainous areas, ____________________ air moves downslope into the valley.
cool
On a degree scale for a wind vane, ____________________ degrees indicates east.
90
The opposite of El Niño is ______________
la nina
What is air pressure?
the pressure exerted by the weight of air above
What happens to the height of the mercury column in a barometer when air pressure decreases?
the height of the column decreases
What three factors work together to control wind?
pressure differences, the Coriolis effect, and friction
How does wind speed affect the Coriolis effect?
The stronger the wind, the greater the deflection of the Coriolis effect.
What are anticyclones?
centers of high pressure
What are cyclones?
centers of low pressure
How does friction affect the net flow of air around a cyclone and an anticyclone?
Friction causes a net flow of air inward around a cyclone and outward around an anticyclone
What four pressure zones dominate the model of global air circulation?
subtropical high, polar high, equatorial low, and subpolar low
Why is the only continuous pressure belt located in the Southern Hemisphere?
There are no landmasses to interrupt that particular pressure belt.
What causes local winds?
topographic effects or variations in surface composition in the immediate area
Which winds move weather across the United States?
prevailing westerlies
Which ocean does El Niño affect?
the Pacific Ocean
An immense body of air characterized by similar properties at any given altitude is known as a(n) ____.
a. cyclone c. anticyclone
b. air mass – Correct d. front
Which two properties characterize an air mass?
a. temperature and location c. temperature and moisture – Correct
b. temperature and pressure d. moisture and pressure
A cold, dry air mass that moves over warm, tropical waters will likely become ____.
a. colder and drier c. colder and wetter
b. warmer and drier d. warmer and wetter – Correct
An air mass gets its characteristic properties from an area known as the ____.
a. weather site c. classification region
b. place of origin d. source region – Correct
Which type of air mass originates in northern Canada?
a. mT c. mP
b. cP – Correct d. cT
Maritime air masses form ____.
a. over land c. only in winter
b. over water – Correct d. only in summer
Which of the following is NOT an area where maritime tropical air masses that affect North America
originate?
a. Gulf of Mexico c. Hudson Bay – Correct
b. Caribbean Sea d. Atlantic Ocean
An mT air mass is best described as ____.
a. cold and dry c. cold and wet
b. warm and dry d. warm and wet – Correct
A cT air mass is ____.
a. cold and dry c. hot and dry – Correct
b. cold and wet d. hot and wet
Which air mass often originates as a different air mass in Siberia and is subsequently altered?
a. mT c. mP – Correct
b. cP d. cT
Which air masses have the greatest effect on weather conditions in much of the United States?
a. cP and mT – Correct c. mP and cT
b. mP and cP d. mT and cT
Which air mass may produce an occasional “nor’easter” during winter?
a. mT c. mP – Correct
b. cP d. cT
Which air mass is the source of much of the precipitation in the central and eastern United States?
a. mT – Correct c. mP
b. cP d. cT
Lake-effect snow is associated with which air mass?
a. mT c. mP
b. cP – Correct d. cT
The boundary that separates different air masses is called a(n) ____.
a. front – Correct c. anticyclone
b. cyclone d. storm
On a weather map, which type of front is shown by a line with triangular points on one side?
a. warm c. stationary
b. cold – Correct d. occluded
On a weather map, which type of front is shown by a line with semicircles extending from one side?
a. warm – Correct c. stationary
b. cold d. occluded
What type of front forms when the surface position of the front does not move?
a. warm c. stationary – Correct
b. cold d. occluded
In which type of front is the flow of air on both sides of the front almost parallel to the line of the front?
a. warm c. cold
b. stationary – Correct d. occluded
Which of the following is considered to be a boundary between two different air masses?
a. warm front c. both warm front and cold front – Correct
b. cold front d. neither warm front nor cold front
When an active cold front overtakes a warm front, ____.
a. the fronts cancel each other out c. an occluded front forms – Correct
b. cloud formation ceases d. a stationary front forms
Along which type of front is the intensity of precipitation generally heavy, but short-lived?
a. warm front c. stationary front
b. cold front – Correct d. occluded front
Along a front, which type of air is always forced upwards?
a. cooler, denser air c. the driest air
b. warmer, less dense air – Correct d. the wettest air
What is the first sign of an approaching warm front?
a. stratus clouds c. nimbostratus clouds
b. cirrus clouds – Correct d. cumulus clouds
The weather behind a cold front is dominated by which of the following?
a. cold air mass – Correct c. mixed air mass
b. warm air mass d. none of the above
What kind of shape is associated with a middle-latitude cyclone?
a. circle c. square
b. wave – Correct d. triangle
b. A front forms
Which stage happens first in the life cycle of a middle-latitude cyclone?
a. Occlusion begins. c. Wave shape forms.
b. A front forms. – Correct d. Air flows counterclockwise.
How does surface air flow in a middle-latitude cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?
a. divergent and clockwise c. convergent and clockwise
b. divergent and counterclockwise d. convergent and counterclockwise – Correct
Which of the following best describes the pressure in a middle-latitude cyclone?
a. Pressure decreases toward the center. – Correct
b. Pressure remains the same everywhere.
c. Pressure increases toward the center.
d. The pressure is not predictable.
What type of front usually produces several hours of light-to-moderate precipitation over a large region?
a. warm front – Correct c. both warm front and cold front
b. cold front d. neither warm front nor cold front
What is the first stage of a thunderstorm?
a. cumulus stage – Correct c. mature stage
b. cumulonimbus stage d. dissipating stage
The greatest number of thunderstorms occur in the ____.
a. middle latitudes c. mountains b. tropics – Correct d. high latitudes
Thunderstorms form when warm, humid air rises in a(n) ____.
a. unstable environment – Correct c. clockwise spiral
b. stable environment d. counterclockwise spiral
The mature stage of a thunderstorm is associated with which of the following?
a. downdrafts c. updrafts
b. heavy precipitation d. both b and c – Correct
A rotating column of air is called a(n) ____.
a. hurricane c. vortex – Correct
b. anticyclone d. cumulonimbus cloud
The center of a tornado is characterized by its ____.
a. very high pressure c. low pressure – Correct
b. eye wall d. sinking air
Which of the following would likely have the greatest range of pressure?
a. tornado – Correct c. hurricane
b. middle-latitude cyclone d. All have the same pressure.
Tornadoes are most frequent from ____.
a. January to March c. October to December
b. April to June – Correct d. July to August
Hurricanes are classified according to intensity using the ____.
- a. Richter scale
- b. Doppler scale
- c. Saffir-Simpson scale – Correct
- d. Fujita scale
Typhoon is another name for ____.
- a. wave cyclone
- b. hurricane – Correct
- c. tornado
- d. thunderstorm
Hurricanes form in tropical waters between the latitudes of ____.
- a. 0 and 5 degrees
- b. 5 and 20 degrees – Correct
- c. 20 and 30 degrees
- d. 30 and 40 degrees
What causes a hurricane to lose energy when it moves onto land?
- a. friction
- b. lack of warm, moist air
- c. heating from below by land
- d. both a and b – Correct
The eye of a hurricane has the ____
- a. highest wind speeds
- b. warmest temperatures – Correct
- c. most intense rainfall
- d. highest air pressure
46. Weather patterns such as summer heat waves and winter cold spells are caused by large bodies of air called
____________________.
air masses
The terms ____________________ and ____________________ describe the moisture characteristics of air
masses.
continental, maritime
The terms ____________________ and ____________________ describe the temperature characteristics of
air masses
polar, tropical
A(n) ____________________ air mass is uniformly cold and dry in winter and cool and dry in summer.
continental polar
In the Great Lakes region during winter, ____________________ air masses can cause lake-effect snow.
continental polar
When two air masses meet, they form a(n) ____________________, which is a boundary that separates two
air masses.
front
If an observer sees cirrus clouds, followed later by cirrostratus, and then altostratus, he or she is witnessing
the approach of a(n) ____________________ front.
warm
During the life cycle of a middle-latitude cyclone, the process of ____________________ occurs when a cold
front overtakes a warm front and the warm air is forced upward.
occlusion
Middle-latitude cyclones are large centers of ____________________ pressure that generally travel from
west to east and cause stormy weather.
low
At any given time, there are an estimated ____________________ thunderstorms in progress on Earth.
2000
A(n) ____________________ is a vertical cylinder of rotating air that develops in the updraft of a thunderstorm
mesocyclone
________ are the most powerful storms on Earth.
hurricanes
When would you expect the characteristics of an air mass to change?
when the air mass moves over a new surface
Which two criteria are used to classify air masses?
source region and overall temperature
Describe an mP air mass.
wet and cold
Which air masses have the least influence on the weather of North America?
continental tropical
How are stationary fronts shown on a weather map?
stationary front are shown by blue triangles on one side of the front and red semi circles on the other side
What two factors account for the violent weather often associated with cold fronts?
the rate of movement of the front and steepness of its slope
What usually fuels a middle-latitude cyclone?
the development of a front
What kind of weather conditions are associated with “nor’easters”?
snow and cold temperatures
Why does the western edge of the United States have so few thunderstorms?
maritime tropical air seldom penetrates this region
What scale is used to measure tornado intensity?
fujita tornado intensity scale
When is a tornado warning issued?
when a tornado is sighted
What is a hurricane?
a whirling tropical cyclone that produces winds of at least 119 kilometers per hour
Where are the heaviest rains and fastest winds of a hurricane found?
eye wall
What is a storm surge?
a dome of water about 65 to 80 kilometers wide that sweeps across the coast where a hurricane’s eye moves
onto land
What are some forms of electromagnetic radiation?
gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared radiation, microwaves, and radio waves
What does a prism do?
seperates visible light into several colors
Which type of spectrum can be produced by a solid, liquid, or gas?
continuous spectrum
What information does a star’s spectrum offer about the star?
chemical composition
Which type of spectrum is associated with the radiation of most stars?
absorption spectrum
What is the change in wavelength that occurs when an object moves toward or away from a source?
Doppler effect
Using the Doppler effect, astronomers can determine a star’s…
movement toward or away from Earth
What advantage do space telescopes have over telescopes used on Earth?
They are not affected by Earth’s atmosphere
They layer of the sun that radiates most of the light that reaches Earth is the…
photosphere
The outermost layer of the sun is called the…
corona
Which part of the sun lies directly above the visible “surface” of the sun?
chromosphere
The thin red rim seen around the sun during a total solar eclipse is called the…
chromosphere
The sun’s surface is made up mostly of…
hydrogen
Streams of electrons and protons that shoot out from the sun’s corona make up the solar…
wind
What are the most explosive events that occur on the sun?
solar flares
Sunspots appear dark because they are…
relatively cool
What effect do solar flares have on Earth?
auroras
The product of nuclear fusion is…
helium
The source of the sun’s energy is…
nuclear fusion
The sun can continue to exist in its present stable state for about another…
5.5 billion years
What type of radiation has a wavelength slightly longer than that of visible light?
infrared rays
What happens to the intensity of solar energy as latitude increases?
It decreases
Which region is located between 23.5° north and south of the equator?
Tropical zone
In polar areas, solar radiation strikes earths at a
Small angle
The rainshadow effect is associated with
Mountains
The Leeward side of the mountain is often
Dry
Increased altitude generally causes lower
Temperatures
How would the climate of a coastal city differ from that of the city at the same latitude located farther inland?
The coastal city would have cooler summers
The temperature of the body of water influences
The temperature of the air above it
Global winds move warm air toward the
Poles
Heat and moisture are distributed around earth by
Global winds
Low-pressure zones at the equator in sub polar regions cause
Cloud formation
What do plants release into the air during transpiration
Water vapor
Which of the following is NOT true of the relationship between vegetation and climate
Vegetation influences ocean currents
Which of the following is NOT a principal group in the Koppen system
West coast climate
Which climate type is associated with savannas
Tropical wet and dry
What factor distinguishes wet tropical climates from tropical wet and dry climates
Precipitation
Where are dry summer tropical climates found in the United States
California
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Marine West Coast climates
Strong winter rainfall maximum
Another name for a semi arid climate is
Steppe
And dry climates, rates of evaporation exceed
Rates of precipitation
What happens to air when it sinks
It compresses and warms
Which type of climate is characteristic of Antarctica
Polar
Which climate experiences seasonal periods of perpetual night
Polar
In general, how do highland climates compare to nearby areas at lower elevations
They’re cooler and wetter
Which of the following may cause long-term changes in climate
Changes in the shape of earths orbit
How does volcanic ash in earths atmosphere affect solar radiation
It increases the amount of solar radiation that is reflected into space
What phenomenon naturally warms earths lower atmosphere and surface
The greenhouse effect
Which of the following is NOT true of greenhouse gases
They are produced solely by human activities
What is the relationship between fossil fuels in the greenhouse effect
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
Which greenhouse gas is the most powerful absorber of radiation emitted by earth
Water vapor
During the 20th century, earths average surface temperature
Increased
Which of the following is an example of the human impact on climate changes
Global warming
Shoreline erosion and coastal flooding or two consequences of
A global rise in sea level
Which statement best explains why global warming may lead to an increase in the number and intensity of hurricanes
Ocean temperatures will increase
Which of the following is NOT a possible consequence of global warming
Reduction in secondary pollutants
Stellar distance are usually expressed in what units ?
Light years
What is the measurement of a star’s brightness called?
Magnitude
Which magnitude would be associated with the brightest star?
( -5)
What does the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram show the relationship between?
Temperature and absolute magnitude
List all of three types of nebula?
Emission Nebula, Reflection Nebula, Dark Nebula
About 90% of stars on the H-R diagram are what type of stars?
Main sequence stars
Which main sequence stars are the most massive?
Blue stars
Which main sequence stars are the least massive?
Red stars
What is another name for the interstellar matter that will eventually form a start?
Nebula
When is a star said to be born?
When nuclear fusion starts
Which force is most responsible for the formation of a star?
Gravity
In the Milky Way what is the most abundant gas in emission nebula ?
Hydrogen
Massive stars terminate in a brilliant explosion called?
Supernova
Which stars are composed of matter in which electrons have combined with protons?
Neutron stars
What happens to all stars regardless of their size?
Run out off fuel and collapse
What is the sun’s absolute magnitude?
5.0
Which main sequence stars are the brightest?
Blue main sequence star
In the course of extremely hot red giant nuclear reaction converts helium to what element?
Hydrogen
Before being engulfed matter that is pull into a black hole should become very hot an inmate what before electromagnetic radiation?
X-rays
When a main sequence stars have exhausted the fuel in its core what does it become?
Red giant
The Sun is what type of star?
Main sequence star
What will be the final stage in the sun’s life cycle?
A black dwarf (hypothetically)
What is it that light cannot escape the intense gravitational pull of?
Black hole
What is our galaxy called / named?
Milky Way
Where is our Sun located in the Milky Way?
Within one of the spiral arms
About 60% of all known galaxies are classified as what type?
Spiral galaxies
List the different types of galaxies
Irregular, spiral, elliptical
According to Hubble’s law galaxies are there retreating at a speed that is proportional to there?
Distance
What indicates that the universe is expanding?
Red shift of distant galaxies
Based on observation red shift in the spectral lines of distant galaxies astronomers concluded that the universe is doing what?
Expanding
What do the greater red shift in spectral of galaxies indicate?
Faster speeds
According to the Big Bang Theory when did the universe begin?
13.7 billion years ago
What evidence supports the Big Bang Theory?
Cosmic background radiation
Stars of which color have the highest surface tempeture?
Blue Stars
Stars of which color have the coolest surface temperature
Red Stars
What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
CO2 – nitrogen
Which of the following terms best describes air
mixture
The form of oxygen that combines three oxygen atoms into each molecule is called
ozone
What is the lowest layer of the atmosphere?
troposphere
Most important weather phenomena occur in the
troposphere
Fifty percent of the gases that make up the atmosphere are found below
5.6 kilometers
The tropopause is ____.
the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere
When do the sun’s rays strike latitude 23.5S at an angle of 90 degrees?
December 21
When does the summer solstice occur in the Northern Hemisphere?
June 21
When does the autumnal equinox occur in the Southern Hemisphere?
March 21
On which date does the Antarctic Circle have 24 hours of daylight?
December 21
Which of the following is true about equinoxes?
Days and nights are equal in length everywhere.
All matter is composed of atoms or molecules that have energy of motion, also known as ____
kinetic energy
When air transfers energy to a cooler object, what happens to the air temperature?
It decreases.
When energy is transferred to air, what happens to the particles of air?
They move faster.
What causes heat, or the transfer of energy from one object to another?
differences in temperature
Which electromagnetic waves have the longest wavelengths?
radio
What process describes the transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity?
conduction
Which process involves mass movement within a substance?
convection
Electromagnetic waves travel through space at a speed of ____.
300,000 kilometers per second
A metal spoon becomes hot after being left in a pan of boiling water. This is an example of ____.
conduction
The heating of the lower layer of the atmosphere from radiation absorbed by certain heat-absorbing gases is
called ____.
the greenhouse effect
On average, how much of the sun’s energy that reaches Earth’s outer atmosphere is reflected back into space?
30 percent
Earth receives energy from the sun through what method of heat transfer?
radiation
On average, how much of the sun’s energy is absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere and clouds, without reaching
Earth’s surface?
20 percent
Which of the following best describes the primary wavelengths of radiation emitted by Earth’s surface?
longer than those emitted by the sun
Which of the following is associated with weak light rays that travel in different directions?
scattering
Which of the following is true?
a. Land heats more rapidly than water
b. Land reaches higher temperatures than water.
c. both a and b – Correct
Based on Figure 17-1, what is likely true of City A?
It is located on a leeward coast.
Based on Figure 17-1, what is likely true of City B?
a. Its temperature is strongly influenced by prevailing ocean winds.
b. It has cool summers and mild winters.
both a and b – Correct
Which of the following best describes temperature variations?
Variations are greater over land than over water.
Isotherms are lines that connect points of equal ____.
temperature
Which of the following best describes the general air temperature on a cloudy night?
higher than on a clear night
Many clouds have a high albedo and therefore tend to ____.
reflect sunlight
At night, clouds act as a blanket by ____.
absorbing outgoing radiation
The oldest features on the moon are the
lunar highlands
The youngest features on the moon are the
rayed craters
The maria lowlands are most likely
Large lava filled impact basins
The impact hypothesis proposes that the moon formed as a result of a collision between
Earth and a Mars-sized planetessimal, ejecting mantle material that accredit
The moon’s rotational rate is what percentage of its orbital rate around the Earth?
100% – they are the same
A sidereal month is
27.3 days
A syndonic month is
29.5 days
Mercury’s craters probably formed as a result of
Asteroid and meteorite impacts
The core of the moon is
Small, with little iron
The core of Mercury is
Very large and composed of iron
Evidence for the nature of Mercury’s core comes from
The planet’s unusually high overall density
Earth-based radar observations of Mercury were used to determine the planet’s
Rotation rate
Radar bright patched were observed at the north and south poles of Mercury, suggesting the presence of
H20 ice
Mercury’s sidereal rotation rate is
2/3 of its orbital rate
Similarities between the moon and Mercury include
The ancient, highly cratered surfaces
Place the layers in order, from the Earth’s center (1) to the Surface (5)
Correct Order
(1) solid core
(2) liquid core
(3) lower mantle
(4) asthesnosphere
(5) lithosphere
Oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere
All of the above
Earth’s magnetic field is generated by a dynamo effect in
The molten outer core
The age of Earth is approximately
4.57 billion years old
The oldest continental crust on Earth is approximately
3.9 billion years old
The oldest oceanic crust on Earth is approximately
180 million years old
All earthquakes originate in the Earth’s
Lithosphere
Heat transfer from a planet’s interior is most difficult
In areas of thick lithosphere
Mountain ranges, such as the Alps and the Himalayas, are formed at
Convergent boundaries
New oceanic crust on Earth formed at
Divergent boundaries (mid ocean ridges)
The albedo (reflectivity) of Earth in the visible spectrum is about
30%
The albedo (reflectivity) of Venus in the visible spectrum is about
70%
The orbital period of Venus about the Sun is approximately
229 days prograde
The sidereal rotation period of Venus about its axis is approximately
243 Earth days retrograde
Venus has few, if any, impact craters smaller than 3 km across. This is most likely due to
The thick atmosphere causing the smaller meteors to burn up before impact
Venus’ surface is hot due to
Infrared radiation from the surface can’t escape
Venus’ lowland plains are believed to be relatively young (500-600 million years old). Evidence for this is
Crater density is only about 15% of that found on lunar maria
Though they are similar in size, mass, and distance from the sun, Venus is much drier than Earth because
Water was broken up by ultraviolet light in the stratosphere
Mars has a distinctively reddish surface primarily because of
The presence of iron oxide
An extremely weak magnetic field has been measured on Mars. The relative weakness of the field can be explained by
the fact that Mars’ interior has mostly cooled
Evidence of liquid water on the surface in Mars’ past includes
Meandering drainage valleys and elongated flow features
Mars’ polar caps are composed of
Water ice
The atmosphere of Mars is dominated by
Carbon dioxide
Mars’ atmospheric density is approximately
1% of Earth’s atmosphere
The sidereal rotation period of Mars about its axis is
24.7 hours (prograde)