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memo(formerly PDF2Anki)
What major agricultural challenge did early 20th-century settlers in the Great Plains face? A) Excessive rainfall B) Drought cycles C) Flooding D) Pests and diseases E) Soil erosion
B) Drought cycles Explanation: Early 20th-century settlers in the Great Plains faced significant agricultural challenges due to returning drought cycles, which they had not anticipated after experiencing wet summers, leading to the Dust Bowl.
What influences long-term climate changes on Earth? A) Daily weather patterns B) Orbital changes and sunspot activity C) Human activities D) Local vegetation E) Ocean currents only
B) Orbital changes and sunspot activity Explanation: Long-term climate changes are influenced by orbital changes (such as tilt and orbit shape) and sunspot activity, which affect solar energy and climate patterns over tens of thousands of years.
1/51
p.8
Precipitation Patterns and Climate Variability

What major agricultural challenge did early 20th-century settlers in the Great Plains face?
A) Excessive rainfall
B) Drought cycles
C) Flooding
D) Pests and diseases
E) Soil erosion

B) Drought cycles
Explanation: Early 20th-century settlers in the Great Plains faced significant agricultural challenges due to returning drought cycles, which they had not anticipated after experiencing wet summers, leading to the Dust Bowl.

p.8
Global Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

What influences long-term climate changes on Earth?
A) Daily weather patterns
B) Orbital changes and sunspot activity
C) Human activities
D) Local vegetation
E) Ocean currents only

B) Orbital changes and sunspot activity
Explanation: Long-term climate changes are influenced by orbital changes (such as tilt and orbit shape) and sunspot activity, which affect solar energy and climate patterns over tens of thousands of years.

p.2
Solar Radiation and Surface Temperature

What is the average surface temperature of Earth when incoming and outgoing radiation balance?
A) 0°C
B) 25°C
C) 15°C
D) 30°C
E) 10°C

C) 15°C
Explanation: On average, when the incoming shortwave radiation intercepted by Earth balances with the outgoing longwave radiation, the average surface temperature remains approximately 15°C.

p.3
Seasonality and Earth's Tilt

What happens during the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?
A) Days are longest
B) Solar rays fall on the Tropic of Cancer
C) Solar rays fall on the Tropic of Capricorn
D) It is summer in the Northern Hemisphere
E) There is continuous daylight

C) Solar rays fall on the Tropic of Capricorn
Explanation: During the winter solstice, solar rays fall directly on the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S), leading to shorter days and colder temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere.

p.2
Seasonality and Earth's Tilt

What are the two distinct motions of Earth that contribute to seasonal changes?
A) Rotation and revolution
B) Translation and rotation
C) Revolution and precession
D) Rotation and tilt
E) Revolution and inclination

A) Rotation and revolution
Explanation: Earth experiences two distinct motions—rotation (spinning on its internal axis) and revolution (orbital motion around the Sun)—which together cause the changing seasons.

p.8
Seasonality and Earth's Tilt

What was the Little Ice Age?
A) A warming period from the mid-14th to mid-19th century
B) A cooling period from the mid-14th to mid-19th century
C) A drought cycle in the Great Plains
D) A period of increased sunspot activity
E) A time of global flooding

B) A cooling period from the mid-14th to mid-19th century
Explanation: The Little Ice Age refers to a significant cooling period that lasted from the mid-14th to mid-19th century, characterized by advancing glaciers and harsh winters in the Northern Hemisphere.

p.1
Solar Radiation and Surface Temperature

What does solar radiation refer to?
A) The heat emitted by the Earth
B) The electromagnetic energy from the Sun
C) The energy absorbed by the atmosphere
D) The energy reflected by the Earth
E) The energy produced by plants

B) The electromagnetic energy from the Sun
Explanation: Solar radiation is the electromagnetic energy that emanates from the Sun and travels through space until it reaches Earth's atmosphere.

p.7
Solar Radiation and Surface Temperature

What is the specific heat of water compared to land?
A) Water has a lower specific heat than land
B) Water has the same specific heat as land
C) Water has a higher specific heat than land
D) Water has a specific heat four times less than land
E) Water has a specific heat equal to air

C) Water has a higher specific heat than land
Explanation: Water has a much higher specific heat than land, requiring four times more energy to raise its temperature by 1°C, which influences climate by moderating temperature changes.

p.8
Ocean Currents and Their Influence on Climate

What is El Niño?
A) A cooling event in the Pacific Ocean
B) A global event caused by ocean-atmosphere interaction
C) A drought cycle in the Great Plains
D) A type of microclimate
E) A long-term climate change phenomenon

B) A global event caused by ocean-atmosphere interaction
Explanation: El Niño is a global climatic event resulting from the interaction between the ocean and atmosphere, characterized by warm water in the eastern Pacific, which leads to various weather changes worldwide.

p.4
Global Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

How does the Coriolis effect influence wind direction?
A) It causes winds to flow directly from the equator to the poles
B) It deflects air masses to the left in the Northern Hemisphere
C) It deflects air masses to the right in the Southern Hemisphere
D) It causes air masses to move faster at the poles
E) It deflects air masses to the right in the Northern Hemisphere

E) It deflects air masses to the right in the Northern Hemisphere
Explanation: The Coriolis effect causes air masses and moving objects in the Northern Hemisphere to be deflected to the right (clockwise motion) and to the left (counterclockwise motion) in the Southern Hemisphere.

p.1
Albedo and Its Effects on Climate

What is the global annual average albedo?
A) 0.10
B) 0.50
C) 0.30
D) 0.70
E) 0.90

C) 0.30
Explanation: The global annual average albedo is approximately 0.30, indicating that about 30 percent of incoming shortwave radiation is reflected back into space.

p.6
Temperature and Moisture Content of Air

What happens when vapor pressure exceeds saturation vapor pressure?
A) Evaporation occurs
B) Condensation occurs
C) The temperature increases
D) The air becomes dry
E) The pressure decreases

B) Condensation occurs
Explanation: When vapor pressure exceeds the saturation vapor pressure, condensation occurs, which reduces the vapor pressure and leads to the formation of liquid water.

p.6
Temperature and Moisture Content of Air

How does temperature affect saturation vapor pressure?
A) It decreases with increasing temperature
B) It remains constant regardless of temperature
C) It increases with increasing temperature
D) It is only affected by humidity
E) It is independent of air pressure

C) It increases with increasing temperature
Explanation: Saturation vapor pressure varies with temperature, increasing as air temperature rises, which means warmer air can hold more water vapor than cooler air.

p.5
Global Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

What happens to rising air from the equator as it moves toward the poles?
A) It heats up
B) It cools down
C) It remains the same temperature
D) It descends immediately
E) It creates a high-pressure zone

B) It cools down
Explanation: As rising air from the equator spreads north and south, it cools as it moves toward the poles, affecting weather patterns and climate.

p.5
Global Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

What is the polar front?
A) A boundary between warm and cold air masses
B) A high-pressure zone at the equator
C) A type of ocean current
D) A low-pressure zone at 30° latitude
E) A warm front in the tropics

A) A boundary between warm and cold air masses
Explanation: The polar front is the boundary where mild air from the westerlies encounters cold polar air, leading to significant weather phenomena.

p.7
Precipitation Patterns and Climate Variability

What is the primary reason for the peaks in rainfall as shown in the variation of mean annual precipitation with latitude?
A) Proximity to the equator
B) Rising air masses
C) Descending dry air masses
D) Ocean currents
E) Seasonal temperature variation

B) Rising air masses
Explanation: The peaks in rainfall correspond to rising air masses, which cool and condense to form precipitation, while troughs are associated with descending dry air masses that inhibit rainfall.

p.4
Global Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

What is the primary reason air rises at the equator?
A) It is cooler than surrounding areas
B) It is less dense than cooler air above
C) It is denser than cooler air above
D) It is influenced by ocean currents
E) It is affected by mountain ranges

B) It is less dense than cooler air above
Explanation: Air warmed at the surface in the equatorial region rises because it is less dense than the cooler air above it, establishing a zone of low pressure at the surface.

p.7
Ocean Currents and Their Influence on Climate

What effect do ocean currents have on coastal regions?
A) They increase precipitation in inland areas
B) They stabilize water temperatures
C) They cause extreme temperature variations
D) They decrease humidity levels
E) They have no effect on climate

B) They stabilize water temperatures
Explanation: Ocean currents help stabilize water temperatures, which in turn moderates air temperatures in coastal regions, leading to smaller temperature ranges compared to inland areas.

p.2
Seasonality and Earth's Tilt

What is the angle of Earth's axial tilt?
A) 45°
B) 30°
C) 23.5°
D) 15°
E) 10°

C) 23.5°
Explanation: Earth's axis of spin is tilted at an angle of 23.5°, which plays a crucial role in the changing seasons as Earth orbits the Sun.

p.3
Global Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

What is the average net radiation of the planet?
A) Positive
B) Negative
C) Zero
D) Varies by season
E) Increases with latitude

C) Zero
Explanation: The average net radiation of the planet is zero, meaning the incoming shortwave radiation is balanced by outgoing longwave radiation, preventing temperature extremes.

p.6
Precipitation Patterns and Climate Variability

Where is precipitation typically highest on Earth?
A) At the poles
B) In desert regions
C) At the equator
D) In mountainous areas
E) In urban areas

C) At the equator
Explanation: Precipitation is highest in the region of the equator, where warm air rises and cools, leading to increased condensation and rainfall, while it declines as one moves north and south.

p.5
Ocean Currents and Their Influence on Climate

How do ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere generally move?
A) Counterclockwise
B) Randomly
C) Clockwise
D) In a straight line
E) Only toward the equator

C) Clockwise
Explanation: Ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere move in a clockwise direction due to the Coriolis effect, which influences the movement of water.

p.1
Weather and Climate Definitions

What is the primary difference between weather and climate?
A) Weather is short-term, while climate is long-term
B) Weather is the same as climate
C) Climate only refers to temperature
D) Weather is only about precipitation
E) Climate is only about humidity

A) Weather is short-term, while climate is long-term
Explanation: Weather refers to the combination of atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place, while climate is the long-term average pattern of weather, which can be local, regional, or global.

p.7
Temperature and Moisture Content of Air

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where land areas far from large bodies of water experience greater seasonal temperature variation?
A) Maritime Influence
B) Continentality
C) Oceanic Effect
D) Coastal Climate
E) Temperature Oscillation

B) Continentality
Explanation: Continentality refers to the greater seasonal temperature variation experienced by land areas that are far from large bodies of water, leading to extreme temperature differences.

p.8
Microclimates and Their Ecological Impact

How do microclimates differ from broader regional climates?
A) They are always warmer
B) They are influenced by larger climate patterns
C) They define specific environmental conditions in a small area
D) They have no impact on organisms
E) They are only found in urban areas

C) They define specific environmental conditions in a small area
Explanation: Microclimates refer to the specific environmental conditions that organisms experience in a small area, which can differ significantly from the broader regional climate due to factors like sunlight, wind, and vegetation.

p.3
Seasonality and Earth's Tilt

How does seasonality change with latitude?
A) It decreases from the equator to the poles
B) It remains constant at all latitudes
C) It systematically increases from the equator to the poles
D) It is highest at the equator
E) It is only present at the poles

C) It systematically increases from the equator to the poles
Explanation: Seasonality, or variation over the year, increases as one moves from the equator towards the poles, affecting temperature and day length.

p.2
Seasonality and Earth's Tilt

What is the ecliptic plane?
A) The path of the Moon around Earth
B) The imaginary plane containing Earth's orbit around the Sun
C) The equatorial plane of Earth
D) The plane of the solar system
E) The boundary of the atmosphere

B) The imaginary plane containing Earth's orbit around the Sun
Explanation: The ecliptic plane is the imaginary plane that contains Earth's orbit around the Sun, representing the path that the Sun appears to take through the sky over the course of a year.

p.6
Temperature and Moisture Content of Air

What occurs when air cools to its dew point?
A) The air becomes warmer
B) Water vapor condenses
C) The vapor pressure decreases
D) Relative humidity decreases
E) Evaporation occurs

B) Water vapor condenses
Explanation: When air cools to the dew point, the actual vapor pressure equals the saturation vapor pressure, leading to condensation of moisture in the air, which can form dew or clouds.

p.2
Solar Radiation and Surface Temperature

What defines net radiation on Earth?
A) The difference between incoming and outgoing solar radiation
B) The total amount of solar radiation received
C) The average temperature of the Earth
D) The amount of precipitation received
E) The distance from the Sun

A) The difference between incoming and outgoing solar radiation
Explanation: Net radiation is defined as the difference between incoming shortwave (solar) radiation and outgoing longwave (terrestrial) radiation, which directly influences surface temperatures.

p.1
Solar Radiation and Surface Temperature

How does the temperature of an object affect the radiation it emits?
A) Cooler objects emit more radiation
B) Hotter objects emit less energetic photons
C) Hotter objects emit shorter wavelengths
D) Temperature has no effect on emitted radiation
E) Cooler objects emit shorter wavelengths

C) Hotter objects emit shorter wavelengths
Explanation: The hotter an object is, the more energetic the emitted photons and the shorter the wavelength of the radiation it emits.

p.2
Solar Radiation and Surface Temperature

What causes the distinct latitudinal gradient of decreasing net surface radiation from the equator toward the poles?
A) Variation in ocean currents
B) Variation in the amount of shortwave radiation reaching the surface
C) Variation in atmospheric pressure
D) Variation in land elevation
E) Variation in vegetation cover

B) Variation in the amount of shortwave radiation reaching the surface
Explanation: The distinct latitudinal gradient of decreasing net surface radiation is a direct function of the variation with latitude in the amount of shortwave radiation reaching the surface.

p.7
Temperature and Moisture Content of Air

How does elevation affect temperature in the lower atmosphere?
A) Temperature increases with altitude
B) Temperature remains constant with altitude
C) Temperature decreases with altitude
D) Temperature fluctuates randomly with altitude
E) Temperature is unaffected by altitude

C) Temperature decreases with altitude
Explanation: In the lower atmosphere, temperature decreases with altitude due to lower air density and pressure, which is a fundamental principle in atmospheric science.

p.3
Global Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

What drives the transport of heat from the tropics to the poles?
A) Ocean currents only
B) Wind patterns only
C) The gradient of net radiation
D) Solar radiation
E) Earth's rotation

C) The gradient of net radiation
Explanation: The difference in net radiation from the equator to the poles creates a gradient that drives the transport of heat through atmospheric and oceanic circulation.

p.5
Temperature and Moisture Content of Air

What is latent heat?
A) The heat required to raise the temperature of water
B) The energy released or absorbed during a change of state
C) The temperature of the air
D) The heat from the sun
E) The energy lost during evaporation

B) The energy released or absorbed during a change of state
Explanation: Latent heat refers to the amount of energy absorbed or released per gram during a phase change, such as evaporation or condensation.

p.2
Solar Radiation and Surface Temperature

What happens to surface temperature when incoming shortwave radiation exceeds outgoing longwave radiation?
A) Surface temperature decreases
B) Surface temperature remains constant
C) Surface temperature increases
D) Surface temperature fluctuates
E) Surface temperature becomes negative

C) Surface temperature increases
Explanation: When the amount of incoming shortwave radiation exceeds the amount of outgoing longwave radiation, the surface temperature increases.

p.3
Seasonality and Earth's Tilt

During the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, where do solar rays fall directly?
A) Equator
B) Tropic of Capricorn
C) Tropic of Cancer
D) Arctic Circle
E) Antarctic Circle

C) Tropic of Cancer
Explanation: On the summer solstice, solar rays directly hit the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N), marking the longest days in the Northern Hemisphere.

p.1
Greenhouse Effect and Greenhouse Gases

What is the greenhouse effect?
A) The process of cooling the Earth's surface
B) The absorption of longwave radiation by greenhouse gases
C) The reflection of solar radiation back into space
D) The increase of solar radiation reaching the Earth
E) The process of converting sunlight into energy

B) The absorption of longwave radiation by greenhouse gases
Explanation: The greenhouse effect occurs when greenhouse gases like water vapor and carbon dioxide absorb longwave radiation emitted by the Earth's surface, warming the near-surface temperatures.

p.4
Global Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

What is the effect of Earth's rotation on wind patterns?
A) It causes all winds to flow directly from the poles to the equator
B) It creates a uniform wind pattern across the globe
C) It causes deflection of moving objects and air masses
D) It has no effect on wind patterns
E) It increases wind speed at the equator only

C) It causes deflection of moving objects and air masses
Explanation: Earth's rotation causes the Coriolis effect, which deflects moving objects and air masses, influencing wind patterns across the globe.

p.6
Temperature and Moisture Content of Air

What is the saturation vapor pressure?
A) The pressure of dry air
B) The maximum pressure of water vapor before it condenses
C) The pressure of water vapor in a closed container
D) The pressure exerted by ice
E) The pressure at which evaporation stops

B) The maximum pressure of water vapor before it condenses
Explanation: Saturation vapor pressure is defined as the highest pressure of water vapor that can exist in the air before it starts turning back into liquid, indicating the capacity of air to hold moisture.

p.3
Solar Radiation and Surface Temperature

What occurs at the equator in terms of solar radiation?
A) It receives the least solar radiation
B) It receives the greatest input of shortwave radiation
C) It experiences the longest nights
D) It has no daylight
E) It has varying day lengths throughout the year

B) It receives the greatest input of shortwave radiation
Explanation: At the equator, solar radiation is at its peak, providing equal amounts of daylight and night, which is a key characteristic of this region.

p.1
Albedo and Its Effects on Climate

What is albedo?
A) The amount of energy absorbed by the Earth
B) The quantity of shortwave radiation reflected by a surface
C) The temperature of a surface
D) The amount of longwave radiation emitted
E) The total solar radiation received

B) The quantity of shortwave radiation reflected by a surface
Explanation: Albedo is defined as the proportion of shortwave radiation that is reflected by a surface, varying by surface type, such as ice and snow having a high albedo.

p.4
Global Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

What happens to air masses as they move poleward from the equator?
A) They become warmer and rise
B) They cool, become heavier, and sink
C) They maintain the same temperature
D) They lose density and expand
E) They gain moisture and rise

B) They cool, become heavier, and sink
Explanation: As air masses move poleward, they cool, become denser, and sink, contributing to the formation of high-pressure zones at the poles.

p.6
Temperature and Moisture Content of Air

What is vapor pressure?
A) The pressure exerted by dry air
B) The pressure exerted by water vapor independent of dry air pressure
C) The total atmospheric pressure
D) The pressure of liquid water
E) The pressure exerted by solid ice

B) The pressure exerted by water vapor independent of dry air pressure
Explanation: Vapor pressure is defined as the amount of pressure that water vapor exerts independently of the pressure of dry air, highlighting its role as an independent gas in the atmosphere.

p.5
Global Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?
A) A high-pressure zone near the poles
B) A low-pressure zone near the equator
C) A cold front in the Northern Hemisphere
D) A warm front in the Southern Hemisphere
E) A boundary between ocean currents

B) A low-pressure zone near the equator
Explanation: The ITCZ is formed when air heated in the equatorial zone rises, creating a low-pressure area near the surface, which is crucial for global atmospheric circulation.

p.5
Global Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

What is the Hadley Cell?
A) A type of ocean current
B) A high-pressure system at the poles
C) A circulation pattern of warm air rising and moving north and south
D) A cold front in the Southern Hemisphere
E) A low-pressure zone at 60° latitude

C) A circulation pattern of warm air rising and moving north and south
Explanation: The Hadley Cell describes the movement of warm air that rises at the equator and moves toward the poles, cooling and descending around 30° latitude.

p.4
Global Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?
A) A region of high pressure at the poles
B) A zone where trade winds converge
C) A cold front that moves toward the equator
D) A region of low pressure at the surface
E) A zone of descending air masses

B) A zone where trade winds converge
Explanation: The ITCZ is formed by the convergence of winds from the north and south in the equatorial region, creating a zone of low pressure.

p.7
Topography Influences Regional and Local Patterns of Climate

What is the rain shadow effect?
A) Increased rainfall on both sides of a mountain
B) Drier conditions on the windward side of a mountain
C) Moist conditions on the leeward side of a mountain
D) Dense vegetation on the leeward side of a mountain
E) Drier conditions on the leeward side of a mountain

E) Drier conditions on the leeward side of a mountain
Explanation: The rain shadow effect occurs when air masses rise over mountains, cool, and lose moisture on the windward side, resulting in drier conditions on the leeward side.

p.5
Global Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

What are the trade winds in the Northern Hemisphere called?
A) Southeast trades
B) Westerlies
C) Northeast trades
D) Polar easterlies
E) Subtropical highs

C) Northeast trades
Explanation: In the Northern Hemisphere, the trade winds are referred to as northeast trades, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they are called southeast trades.

p.6
Temperature and Moisture Content of Air

What is relative humidity?
A) The total amount of water vapor in the air
B) The percentage of water vapor currently in the air compared to its maximum capacity
C) The pressure exerted by dry air
D) The temperature at which dew forms
E) The amount of precipitation in a region

B) The percentage of water vapor currently in the air compared to its maximum capacity
Explanation: Relative humidity is a measure of how much water vapor the air currently holds compared to the maximum it could hold at a certain temperature, expressed as a percentage.

p.6
Precipitation Patterns and Climate Variability

Why is rainfall generally greater in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere?
A) More land area
B) Higher temperatures
C) Greater ocean coverage
D) More vegetation
E) Less evaporation

C) Greater ocean coverage
Explanation: The Southern Hemisphere has a greater proportion of ocean, which allows for more evaporation and consequently more rainfall compared to the Northern Hemisphere.

p.5
Temperature and Moisture Content of Air

What occurs when the evaporation rate equals the condensation rate?
A) The air becomes saturated
B) The air cools down
C) The air heats up
D) The air becomes dry
E) The air forms clouds

A) The air becomes saturated
Explanation: When the evaporation rate equals the condensation rate, the air is said to be saturated, indicating a balance between the two processes.

Study Smarter, Not Harder
Study Smarter, Not Harder