Climate Change Quizzes

Front 1

The Quantum States of Matter can be summarized as:

Back 1

molecules' rotation, vibration, and linear displacements

Front 2

The freezing point of water by temperature scale is:

Back 2

32 deg F, 0 deg C, 273 K

Front 3

Radiation balance can be determined by what three terms?

Back 3

incident solar radiation, reflected solar radiation, and outgoing longwave radiation

Front 4

t/f: In terms of the ability to absorb radiative energy, water vapor is a more effective greenhouse gas than CO2 to keep the atmosphere warm.

Back 4

TRUE

Front 5

Which of the following objects has the highest albedo?

Back 5

frozen lake

(corn field, highway, reservoir)

Front 6

Which description about the relationship between energy and wavelength of an object is true?

Back 6

higher energy is emitted from shorter wavelengths

Front 7

Which of the following best describes the Hydrostatic Law of the atmosphere?

Back 7

pressure at any point reflects the weight of the atmosphere column directly above

Front 8

t/f: Clouds are strong reflectors of solar radiation, and can increase radiation towards the surface by scattering. Clouds also absorb and emit ultraviolet radiation, which causes the loss of radiant energy from the surface.

Back 8

FALSE

Front 9

Match the correct descriptions for the different types of heat transfer:

Back 9

sensible heat: transport of velocity or kinetic energy from the molecules in the warmer state to the colder state

conduction: heat flow due to direct transport of kinetic energy from molecule to molecule

convection: rapid spatial movements of masses of the
fluid due to turbulence carrying heat

Front 10

Based on the Stefan-Boltzmann law, if we observe a star that has a surface temperature twice that of
the Sun, than the amount of energy released per unit area per unit time by this hot start is how many
times greater than that released by the Sun?

Back 10

16

Front 11

You have plotted the vertical structure of the atmospheric over Salt Lake City.
According to your plotting, which of the following description is true?

Back 11

Pressure decreases with height, temperature decreases with height.

Front 12

If winter albedo over Colorado has decreased over the past decade, what could have happened?

Back 12

snowpack is shrinking and/or thinning

Front 13

The fact that we see blue sky in a sunny day and a red sun at sunrise and sunset is due to what phenomenon (and the correct process)?

Back 13

Scattering - meaning radiation interacting with air molecules and aresoles causing radiation to be
redirected in all directions

Front 14

t/f: There is 23% of the net radiation creating sensible heat flux from the surface to the atmosphere, and 77% of the net radiation used for evaporation. This proportion reflects the Earth's land-water distribution of roughly 30% vs. 70%.

Back 14

TRUE

Front 15

t/f: Basalt (a type of volcanic rock) has an albedo of about 0.11. The lunar mare (large, dark, basaltic
plains) are composed primarily of basalts. This is why the mare surfaces looks dark from human eyes.

Back 15

TRUE

Front 16

Which description of the Blackbody is true?

Back 16

An object that emits and absorbs electromagnetic radiation with 100% efficiency at all
wavelengths

Front 17

What part of the atmosphere did the weather balloon launched from Salt Lake City
eventually reached?

Back 17

middle stratosphere

Front 18

The rate at which solar flux decreases with increasing distance follows an "inverse-square law,
mathematically expressed as S=S0
(r
0
/r)
2
, where S is the solar flux at some distance r from the
source, and S0
is the flux at some reference distance r
0
Thus, if the Earth was twice farther away .
from the sun than it is today, the intensity of the radiation would decrease by a factor of

Back 18

1/4

Front 19

t/f: An object with temperature 0 K emits weak radiation

Back 19

FALSE

Front 20

What forces balance into the geostrophic wind?

Back 20

Pressure Gradient force and Coriolis Force

Front 21

t/f: There is absolutely no Coriolis Effect right on the equator.

Back 21

TRUE

Front 22

What is ITCZ?

Back 22

The convergence belt of air mass that forms upward motion, clouds and rains near the equator.

Front 23

Spell out "ITCZ"

Back 23

Intertropical Convergence Zone

Front 24

If the tropical air becomes warmer (hence thicker), yet the polar air has become twice warmer, then the mid-lattitude jet streams should:

Back 24

slow down because pressure gradient is decreased

Front 25

t/f: If the Hadley Cell intensifies, the equatorial rainbelt will be enhanced and the subtropical areas will become drier due to stronger sinking air.

Back 25

TRUE

Front 26

The jetstreams occur at mid lattitudes in close association with what features?

Back 26

strong pressure gradient and hence strong pressure gradient force

Front 27

The Coriolis Effect cannot really alter the water rotation in a toilet moved across the equator because:

Back 27

the movement is too small and moves too quickly