STUDENT NAME___________________________________________________

METO 200 - WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Total number of points is 100

MULTIPLE CHOICE (Each question is worth 2 points) Circle the correct answer

 1. Scientists believe that a growing amount of this gas in the atmosphere will probably bring about a warming of the lower atmosphere.

a) oxygen

b) nitrogen

c) carbon dioxide

d) argon

e) none of these

2. On the average, for every 1 km increase in altitude in the troposphere the air temperature:

a) drops about 6.5°C

b) rises about 6.5°C

c) remains unchanged for the first 500 m and then drops

d) rises by day and drops by night

e) none of these

 3. Water vapor represents what fraction of the air near the earth's surface?

a) 40 - 100%

b) 0 - 100%

c) about 10%

d) about 20%

e) less than 4%

4. A primary difference between the concepts of weather and climate is the

a) time period involved

b) type of weather elements measured

c) temperature scale used

d) measuring technique used

5.This atmospheric component absorbs damaging ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

a) helium

b) argon

c) nitrogen

d) neon

e) ozone

 6. The earth emits terrestrial radiation

a) only at night

b) all the time

c) only during winter

d) only over the continents

7. During the earth's orbit around the sun, the inclination (tilt) of the earth's axis

a) varies from 0 to 23.5°

b) remains constant at 23.5°

c) varies from 0 to 47°

d) remains constant at 90°

8. Which of the following correctly describes the equinoxes?

a) they occur in June and December

      b) the sun's vertical rays are striking either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn

c) days and nights are equal in length in all parts of the world

d) the length of daylight at the Arctic and Antarctic Circle is 24 hours

e) none of the above statements is correct regarding the equinoxes

9. The wavelengths emitted by the earth are:

a) longer than those emitted by the sun

b) shorter than those emitted by the sun

      c) about the same as those emitted by the sun except when the sun is experiencing sunspots

d) none of these

10. ______________ is a mechanism of heat transfer.

a) conduction

b) convection

c) radiation

d) all of these

e) none of these

11. Which of these factors influences the sensation of temperature that the human body feels?

a) air temperature

b) humidity

c) wind speed

d) all of these (a, b, and c)

e) only a and c

12. If the maximum temperature for a particular day is 26°C and the minimum temperature is 14øC, the daily mean would be:

a) 40°C

b) 20°C

c) 12°C

d) 13°C

e) the daily mean cannot be determined with the data

provided

13. Adiabatic processes are only important for air

a) which is rising or sinking

b) that is stagnant

c) masses which remain near the earth's surface

d) that is polluted

e) that is saturated

14. During the process of adiabatic cooling, the temperature decreases because the air has

a) lost heat to the colder air at higher altitudes

b) expanded to a larger volume

c) lost some of its water vapor

d) emitted infrared radiation

e) been compressed

15. The majority of the water outside of the oceans is in the form of

a) glacial ice

b) water vapor in the atmosphere

c) lakes

d) streams

e) groundwater

QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS ( NUMBER OF POINTS FOR EACH SHOWN AS (*))          WRITE YOUR ANSWERS BELOW THE QUESTIONS

1. (10) What causes the earth to have distinct seasons? Explain, using diagrams. How would the seasons at College Park change if the tilt of the earth to the earth sun plane, decreased from 23.5° to 0°.

2.(15) Define ‘humidity’. What is the difference between ‘relative humidity’ and ‘absolute humidity’. If the absolute humidity remains constant, show, in a diagram, how the relative humidity will change throughout the day. If a parcel of air at the ground is raised in altitude, explain how the relative humidity will change with altitude

3.(12) Although the intensity (energy per cm² ) of incoming solar radiation is greater at local noon, the warmest part of the day is most often mid-afternoon. Why? Use a diagram to explain your answer

4 (10) Explain the processes by which water changes from one state to another. Indicate whether heat is absorbed or liberated..

5.(10) Three cities are at the same latitude (about 45 degrees N) within the continental United States. One city is located along the Pacific Ocean, another in the center of the continent, and the third along the East coast. Compare the range of annual temperature of these cities.

6.(12) If one views the Earth as a system then we can divide the planet into four independent parts, which are called ‘spheres’. List and define these four spheres.