CHAPTER 4
HEAT, TEMPERATURE, AND ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
______
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. Heat is
*a. the name given to the energy transferred between objects at different temperatures.
b. the equivalent of temperature.
c. a measure of the average kinetic molecular activity of a substance.
2. Temperature is defined as
a. the equivalent of heat.
*b. a measure of the average kinetic energy of the individual atoms or molecules composing a substance.
c. how hot or cold it is.
d. the total kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules composing a substance.
e. None of the above is correct.
3. Temperature is ______proportional to the addition of heat as long as there is no change in phase of a substance.
a. inversely
*b. directly
4. The ______temperature scale is most commonly used in weather reports and forecasts in the United States.
*a. Fahrenheit
b. Celsius
c. Kelvin
5. The freezing point of pure water at sea level is ______°F or ______°C.
a. 0.....32
b. 212.....100
*c. 32.....0
6. The boiling point of pure water at sea level is ______°F or ______°C.
a. 0.....32
b. 100.....212
*c. 212.....100
7. On the absolute temperature scale, the freezing point of pure water at sea level is ______K.
a. 0
*b. 273.15
c. 100
d. 32
e. 67.85
8. Absolute zero is the temperature at which
a. all molecular and sub-molecular activity ceases.
*b. no electromagnetic radiation is emitted.
c. ice begins to vaporize.
d. snow begins to melt.
e. liquid water begins to vaporize.
9. In localities where winter temperatures drop below −40 °C, the liquid in a liquid-in-glass thermometer must be
a. water.
*b. alcohol.
c. oxygen.
d. mercury.
e. nitrogen.
10. An increment of 1 Kelvin corresponds precisely to an increment of
a. 1 Fahrenheit degree.
b. 2 Fahrenheit degrees.
*c. 1 Celsius degree.
11. The following is a unit of heat energy:
a. Btu
b. calorie
c. joule
*d. All of these are correct.
e. None of these is correct.
12. This afternoon's high temperature was 67 °F and this morning's low temperature was 41 °F. The mean daily temperature was ______°F.
a. 108
b. 26
c. 50
*d. 54
e. 0
13. This afternoon's high temperature was 27 °F and the early morning low temperature was 7 °F. The total heating degree-days for today was
a. 17
b. 82
c. 0
d. 38
*e. 48
14. Which one of the following heat transfer processes can take place in a vacuum?
a. conduction
b. convection
c. latent heating
*d. radiation
e. None of these is correct.
15. In response to a temperature gradient, heat flows from where it is warmer to where it is colder. This behavior illustrates
a. the law of energy conservation.
b. Stefan-Boltzmann law.
c. Wien's displacement law.
*d. the second law of thermodynamics.
e. the law of reflection.
16. On a global and annual average within the troposphere, the rate of radiational cooling ______the rate of radiational heating.
*a. is greater than
b. is equal to
c. is less than
17. On a global and annual average at the Earth's surface, the rate of radiational heating ______the rate of radiational cooling.
*a. is greater than
b. is equal to
c. is less than
18. As a rule, which one of the following is the best conductor of heat?
a. air
b. water
*c. a metal
d. nitrogen
e. water vapor
19. When two objects are in direct physical contact, heat is always conducted from the ______object to the ______object.
a. colder...... warmer
b. wetter...... drier
*c. warmer...... colder
d. drier...... wetter
e. darker...... lighter
20. A process whereby heat is transported from the Earth's surface into the troposphere is
a. conduction.
b. convection.
c. evaporation and condensation of water.
d. radiation.
*e. All of the above are correct.
21. The heat conductivity of a fresh snow cover is ______the heat conductivity of an old snow cover.
a. greater than
*b. less than
c. about the same as
22. Still (or calm) air is a relatively ______conductor of heat.
a. good
*b. poor
23. Heat is conducted within and between
a. solids.
b. liquids.
c. gases.
*d. All of these are correct.
24. Heat is transferred from the Sun-warmed surface of the Earth to the cooler overlying troposphere via
a. conduction.
b. convection
c. latent heating.
d. phase changes of water.
*e. All of these are correct.
25. At night, the ground surface often is cooler than the air immediately over the ground. In that case, heat is conducted from the ______to the ______.
*a. atmosphere...... ground
b. ground...... atmosphere
26. Within the Earth-atmosphere system heat convection takes place in
a. solids only.
b. liquids only.
c. gases only.
d. solids, liquids, and gases.
*e. liquids and gases.
27. At the same pressure, cold air is ______warm air.
*a. more dense than
b. about as dense as
c. not as dense as
28. In response to the same input of heat, which one of the following substances exhibits the smallest rise in temperature?
a. sand
b. ice
*c. water
d. brick
e. aluminum
29. Ten calories of heat are added to two grams of liquid water. The temperature of the water
a. rises by 10 Celsius degrees.
*b. rises by 5 Celsius degrees.
c. rises by 20 Celsius degrees.
d. drops by 10 Celsius degrees.
e. does not change.
30. The wind-chill equivalent temperature is ______the actual (or ambient) air temperature when the wind speed is nearly calm.
*a. equal to
b. higher then
c. lower then
31. At the same latitude, the seasonal (summer to winter) temperature contrast in maritime climates is ______the seasonal temperature contrast in continental climates.
a. greater than
*b. less than
c. the same as
32. Kansas City has a ______climate.
a. maritime
*b. continental
33. On a global scale, the most important mechanism whereby the excess heat at the Earth's surface is transported to the troposphere is
a. sensible heating.
*b. latent heating.
c. convection.
d. conduction.
e. None of these is correct.
34. Sensible heating includes transfer of heat via
*a. conduction and convection.
b. electromagnetic radiation.
c. evaporation and condensation of water.
d. phase changes of water.
e. None of the above is correct.
35. Latent heat is ______the environment when water freezes.
a. absorbed from
*b. released to
36. An example of latent heating:
a. conduction and convection
b. radiational cooling
*c. vaporization of ocean water followed by cloud formation
d. All of the above are correct.
e. None of the above is correct.
37. The Bowen ratio is the ratio of the amount of heat that is used for ______to the amount of heat that is used for ______.
*a. sensible heating...... latent heating
b. vaporizing water...... raising air temperature
c. conduction...... convection
d. radiation...... vaporizing water
e. latent heating...... melting snow
38. The Bowen ratio has a greater value over a ______surface than over a ______surface.
*a. dry...... moist
b. moist...... dry
39. At middle and high latitudes over the course of a year, the rate of radiational cooling is ______the rate of radiational heating.
*a. greater than
b. equal to
c. less than
40. At the equator over the course of a year, the rate of cooling due to emission of infrared radiation to space is ______the rate of warming due to absorption of solar radiation.
a. greater than
b. equal to
*c. less than
41. Along the Tropic of Cancer over the course of a year, the rate of warming due to absorption of solar radiation is ______the rate of cooling due to emission of infrared radiation to space.
*a. greater than
b. equal to
c. less than
42. Excess heat in tropical latitudes is transported to middle and high latitudes primarily by
a. ocean currents.
*b. exchange of air masses.
c. storms.
d. radiation.
e. convection.
43. A(n) ______is a large volume of air that is relatively uniform horizontally in temperature and humidity.
*a. air mass
b. front
c. cloud
44. Ultimately, the atmosphere circulates because of
a. sensible heating.
b. conduction and convection.
*c. unequal rates of radiational heating and cooling.
d. latent heating.
e. nuclear fission.
45. Air temperature is governed by
a. local radiation conditions.
b. air mass advection.
*c. Both of the above are correct.
46. The ocean contributes to poleward heat transport via
a. wind-driven surface currents
b. the meridional overturning circulation
*c. Both of the above are correct.
d. None of the above is correct.
47. All other factors being equal, a snow cover tends to ______the day's maximum air temperature and ______the day's minimum air temperature.
a. raise...... lower
*b. lower...... lower
c. have no effect on...... lower
d. lower...... raise
e. raise...... raise
48. The air temperature rises throughout the night. This unusual event is explained by
a. nocturnal radiational cooling.
b. moonshine.
*c. strong warm air advection.
d. strong winds from the north.
e. the absence of solar radiation.
49. Air mass advection occurs when winds blow ______regional isotherms.
a. parallel to
*b. across
50. An urban heat island is best developed on nights when conditions are
*a. calm and clear.
b. windy and cloudy.
c. overcast and raining.