Physical Geography 11th Edition Petersen Test Bank 1

Chapter 04 - The Atmosphere, Temperature, and Earth’s Energy Budget
Physical Geography 11th Edition Petersen

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True / False
1. Water vapor, like carbon dioxide, plays a large role in the insulating properties of the atmosphere.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
REFERENCES: The Nature of Our Atmosphere
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.4.2 - Outline the major gases found in the atmosphere.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
2. Both the annual and the daily ranges of temperature are larger in continental locations than in coastal locations.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
REFERENCES: Air Temperature
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.4.7 - Describe the controls on horizontal distribution of Earth’s surface
temperatures.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
3. Colorful rainbows are caused by the process of scattering.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
REFERENCES: Energy Transfer Processes
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.4.4 - Explain how the solar energy that reaches Earth’s surface is transferred
to the atmosphere.
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4. The specific heat ofwater is greater than that of land.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.4.5 - Discuss the processes and the important roles that water plays in heat
transfer.
5. A place receives its greatest insolation a few hours after solar noon.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
to the atmosphere.
6. A portion of incoming solar radiation is reflected back to space by clouds.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
to the atmosphere.
7. The troposphere varies in thickness with latitude.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.4.1 - List several reasons why our planet’s atmosphere is essential to life on
Earth.
8. Greenhouse gases absorb incoming solar radiation.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False

9. The albedo of snow is generally low, while that of an evergreen forest is relatively high.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
to the atmosphere.
10. The ozone layer is found within the stratosphere.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
11. A substance can be cooled below absolute zero.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
temperatures.
12. Surface inversions tend to result from different processes than upper-level inversions.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
temperatures.
13. Ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere tend to rotate clockwise.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
temperatures.
14. High specific heat means that a substance requires more heat toraise its temperature.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
temperatures.
15. Earth heats the atmosphere from the bottom up, by absorbing sunlight and converting it to thermal energy and
radiating heat.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
REFERENCES: Earth's Energy Budget
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.4.8 - Explain the major inputs, outputs, and processes in Earth’s energy
budget and why it is in a state of energy equilibrium.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember Understand
Multiple Choice
16. The ____ is an internationally accepted definition for the beginning of space, at an altitude of 100 kilometers.
a. tropopause
b. stratopause
c. ozone layer
d. Kelvin scale
e. Karman line
ANSWER: e
Earth.
17. Which gas is the second most abundant in Earth’s atmosphere?

a. oxygen
b. carbon dioxide
c. nitrogen
d. argon
e. hydrogen
ANSWER: a
18. Air, after being heated by conduction or radiation, ____.

a. expands in volume and increases in density
b. expands in volume and decreases in density

c. decreases in volume and increases in density

d. decreases in volume and decreases in density
e. does not change in volume or density
ANSWER: b
transfer.
19. The maximum annual temperature tends to occur ____.

a. at the time of maximum receipt of solar radiation
b. at the time of maximum sunspot activity
c. a month or so before the receipt of maximum solar radiation
d. a month or so after the receipt of maximum solar radiation
e. six months or so after the receipt of maximum solar radiation
ANSWER: d
temperatures.
20. The most variable of the atmospheric gases is ____, which can range from 0.02% to 4% by volume.
a. oxygen
b. nitrogen
c. water vapor
d. carbon dioxide
e. argon
ANSWER: c
21. Which gas accounts for about 78% of the gas in the atmosphere?
a. water vapor
b. nitrogen
c. ozone
d. carbon dioxide
e. oxygen
ANSWER: b
22. Tiny solids or liquids suspended in the atmosphere— including dust and pollutants— are called ____.
a. lapses
b. aerosols
c. isotherms
d. tropopauses
e. ionospheres
ANSWER: b
23. As the temperature of a body increases, it will radiate energy at ____ wavelengths.
a. the same
b. longer
c. shorter
d. only ultraviolet
e. only infrared
ANSWER: c
to the atmosphere.
24. In what important way is the heating of the interior of a car sitting in the Sun different from the “greenhouse effect” in
Earth’s atmosphere?
a. Shortwave radiation from the Sunis blocked.
b. Shortwave radiation from the Sun is absorbed.
c. Longwave radiation is emitted.
d. Longwave radiation cannotescape.
e. Heated air is trapped.
ANSWER: e
Earth.
25. Compared to interior continental locations at the same latitude, coastal locations have, on average, ____.
a. a higher annual range of air temperature
b. lower winter air temperatures
c. a tendency for cooler summers and milder winters
d. lower relative humidity of the air
e. higher summer air temperatures
ANSWER: c
temperatures.
26. Compared to the surrounding countryside, cities are generally ____.

a. colder
b. warmer
c. not different in temperature
d. colder in summer but warmer in winter
e. warmer in summer but colder in winter
ANSWER: b
temperatures.
27. Increases in ____ in the atmosphere due to human activities have resulted in what has been referred to as the enhanced
greenhouse effect.
a. aerosols
b. nitrogen
c. holes in the ozone layer
d. carbon dioxide
e. pressure
ANSWER: d
Earth.
28. If you hold the end of an iron rod over a fire, your hand will become warm because of heat being transferred by ____.
a. convection
b. advection
c. conduction
d. radiation
e. latent heat exchange
ANSWER: c
transfer.
29. The ____ is found just above the stratosphere.

a. mesosphere
b. tropopause
c. troposphere
d. ozonosphere
e. Karman line
ANSWER: a

Earth.
30. Which of these terms represents a layer of the atmosphere defined by function rather than temperature?
a. thermosphere
b. troposphere
c. ionosphere
d. stratosphere
e. mesosphere
ANSWER: c
Earth.
31. Terrestrial radiation is ____.

a. caused by the radioactive decay of elements in rocks
b. ultraviolet energy from the Sun that reaches Earth’s surface
c. the cause of the “holes” in the ozone layer
d. a stream of charged particles emitted by Earth, analogous to the solar wind
e. thermal infrared energy emitted from Earth’s surface
ANSWER: e
temperatures.
32. The heat transfer process that circulates boiling water in a pot is called ____.
a. convection
b. advection
c. conduction
d. radiation
e. latent heat exchange
ANSWER: a
transfer.
33. If Earth did not have an atmosphere, the difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures would be ____.
a. greater
b. smaller, but not zero
c. about the same
d. the opposite of what it is today

e. zero
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: The Atmosphere, Temperature, and Earth’s Energy Budget – Introduction
34. The form of energy that is stored in gaseous water during evaporation is called ____.
a. potential heat
b. kinetic heat
c. latent heat
d. chemical energy
e. advection heat
ANSWER: c
transfer.
35. Which of these atmospheric gases is a variable gas (accounting for a variable percentage of the atmosphere)?
a. oxygen
b. argon
c. ozone
d. nitrogen
e. neon
ANSWER: c
36. So long as Earth’s energy budget is in balance, the climate will ____.
a. warm slowly until it reaches a new equilibrium
b. keep warming
c. stay the same temperature
d. keep cooling
e. cool slowly until it reaches a new equilibrium
ANSWER: c
37. A temperature inversion is most likely to occur under which of these conditions?
a. on a mountain top in late evening
b. windy, but cloudy night

c. calm, cloudy, humid night
d. calm, clear, and cool winter night
e. sunny afternoon
ANSWER: d
temperatures.
38. Isotherms indicate ____.

a. areas of equal temperature
b. areas of equal pressure
c. areas of equal volume
d. areas of equal elevation
e. areas of equal water vapor
ANSWER: a
temperatures.
39. The percentage of solar radiation reflected from a surface is called ____.
a. gradient
b. refraction
c. albedo
d. absorption
e. inversion
ANSWER: c
temperatures.
40. Which of these descriptions is best categorized as a weather event?

a. San Diego tends to have milder winters than Dallas.
b. Average precipitation has increased slightly over the last 30 years.
c. The normal temperature for this time of year is around 60 °F.
d. On average, western Washington receives much more precipitation than eastern Washington.
e. Tulsa, Oklahoma experienced a record high temperature yesterday.
ANSWER: e
temperatures.
Completion
41. The conversion of a liquid into its vapor state is termed _______________.
ANSWER: evaporation
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.4.3 - Conceptualize the ways that solar energy interacts with Earth’s
atmosphere and surface.
42. The boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere is called the _______________.
ANSWER: tropopause
Earth.
43. The most abundant gas in Earth's lower atmosphere is _______________.

ANSWER: nitrogen
44. The horizontal transfer of energy is called _______________.

ANSWER: advection
to the atmosphere.
45. Electromagnetic energy is transferred from the Sun through space to Earth through the process of _______________.
ANSWER: radiation
46. An air layer is sometimes put between two panes of glass to help insulate a window because air cannot transfer much
heat energy by _______________.
ANSWER: conduction
47. Earth’s surface absorbs incoming shortwave radiation from the sun, and emits _______________ (two words).
ANSWER: longwave radiation

temperatures.
48. The process by which plants use carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to make carbohydrates is
called_______________
ANSWER: photosynthesis
Earth.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember Understand
49. The atmospheric conditionsat a given time and for a specific area are referred to as _______________.
ANSWER: weather
REFERENCES: Weather and Climate
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.4.6 - Outline the characteristics of the temperature-based layers of the
atmosphere.
50. The vertical transfer of heat through the movement of air is known as _______________.
ANSWER: convection
51. The measure of the average kinetic energy of individual molecules in a substance is called _______________.
ANSWER: temperature
atmosphere.
52. The average rate of temperature decrease in the troposphere with altitude is called the _______________. (three
words)
ANSWER: normal lapse rate, environmental lapse rate
Earth.
53. Monitoring, analyzing, and forecasting the weather are all part of the science of _______________.
ANSWER: meteorology
REFERENCES: Weather and Climate
atmosphere.
54. Land areas that are subjected to oceanic winds and that tend to have more moderate temperatures than those of inland
places at the same latitude are called _______________ locations.
ANSWER: maritime
atmosphere.
55. The process that diffuses light in many directions by atmospheric particles and that contributes to blue skies and red
sunsets is called _______________.
ANSWER: scattering
Essay
56. Give several reasons why our planet’s atmosphere is essential to life on Earth.
ANSWER: The atmosphere holds and transports oxygen, water, and carbon dioxide that are necessary
for plant and animal life. The greenhouse effect raises the planet’s average temperature above
the freezing point of water, and heat is distributed across the planet, which minimizes
extremes. The ozone layer shields life on Earth from much of the Sun’s damaging UV
radiation. The atmosphere also causes most meteors to burn up before reaching the surface.
57. Explain how the greenhouse effect warms Earth’s atmosphere.

ANSWER: Greenhouse gases are transparent to shortwave radiation, so the Sun’s radiation passes
through the atmosphere to be absorbed by Earth’s surface. Once warmed, the surface emits
longwave (infrared) radiation, which greenhouse gases can absorb. This energy is eventually
radiated to space, but the atmosphere warms in the meantime.
58. Explain the conditions that lead to the development of an urban heat island.
ANSWER: In cities, things like automobiles and air conditioning units add heat to the air. Building
materials are typically low albedo, and readily heat up in sunlight, adding a large amount of
heat to the air. The clearing of forests and water bodies to build cities also removes factors
that could mitigate warmth. In the surrounding undeveloped land, this extra heat is not
present, creating an isolated island of elevated temperature.

temperatures.
59. Explain how pollutants like chlorofluorocarbons and nitrogen oxides have damaged the ozone layer.
ANSWER: Ozone (O3) molecules absorb ultraviolet radiation, but split into oxygen gas (O2) and
molecular oxygen (O)during the process.These products recombine to once again form ozone
molecules. This cycle is disrupted by pollutants such as CFCs and nitrogen
oxides,CFCsbreak apart in the stratosphere and form chlorine atoms that react with ozone to
form ClO and O2that will not recombine to form ozone. Nitrogen oxides in the form of NOx
also destroy molecules of ozone in the stratosphere. Over the South Pole, conditions are right
for pollutants to greatly diminish ozone concentrationsthrough chemical reactions, thus
producing the Antarctic “ozone hole”.
60. Explain how heat is transferred by conduction, convection, radiation, and latent heat exchange in a pot of boiling
water on a stove.
ANSWER: The stove burner heats the metal of the pot by conduction. Boiling water convects within the
pot. The pot and the water (and the stove burner) all radiate heat. Some of the water turns to
steam, carrying heat energy away as latent heat from the rest of the water in the pot.
to the atmosphere.

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Chapter 04 - The Atmosphere, Temperature, and Earth’s Energy Budget

Physical Geography 11th Edition Petersen

Solution Manual: https://testbankpack.com/p/solution-manual-for-

3. Colorful rainbows are caused by the process of scattering.

Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 1

KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand

4. The specific heat ofwater is greater than that of land.

6. A portion of incoming solar radiation is reflected back to space by clouds.

7. The troposphere varies in thickness with latitude.

8. Greenhouse gases absorb incoming solar radiation.

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10. The ozone layer is found within the stratosphere.

11. A substance can be cooled below absolute zero.

13. Ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere tend to rotate clockwise.

17. Which gas is the second most abundant in Earth’s atmosphere?

18. Air, after being heated by conduction or radiation, ____.

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c. decreases in volume and increases in density

19. The maximum annual temperature tends to occur ____.

26. Compared to the surrounding countryside, cities are generally ____.

29. The ____ is found just above the stratosphere.

REFERENCES: The Nature of Our Atmosphere

31. Terrestrial radiation is ____.

d. the opposite of what it is today

b. windy, but cloudy night

38. Isotherms indicate ____.

40. Which of these descriptions is best categorized as a weather event?

43. The most abundant gas in Earth's lower atmosphere is _______________.

44. The horizontal transfer of energy is called _______________.

REFERENCES: Earth's Energy Budget

KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember

57. Explain how the greenhouse effect warms Earth’s atmosphere.

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