Energy, Water, and Wind

How does most heat energy enter the atmosphere?

• direct solar radiation
• conduction with Earth's surface
• convection currents
• evaporation of water

Answer explanation

While radiation comes from the Sun, only a little of it is heat. It is changed to heat when it is absorbed by surfaces. This heat is then moved to the air by contact with the heated surfaces (conduction).

Why are polar regions cooler than tropical regions?

• The poles tend to have more cloud cover
• The poles are farther from the Sun
• The poles are surrounded by oceans
• The Sun is at a lower angle at the poles

Answer explanation

The Sun's angle in the sky changes with latitude. The lower the Sun is in the sky, the less intense the radiation (and the cooler the climate). The Sun tends to be lower in the sky at the Poles and higher in the sky at the Equator.

Which tends to maintain a more constant temperature?

• water
• land
• air
• pavement

Answer explanation

Land heats up and cools down FASTER than water.

Water takes much longer to change temperature than land surfaces.

Which is true of this picture?

• humid air is heavier than dry air
• cold air is lighter than warm air
• a sea breeze occurs at night
• a land breeze occurs at night

Answer explanation

Coastal breezes are the lower part of convection currents that form along coasts (beaches). At night, the breeze flows from the high pressure over the cool land to the low pressure over the warm water.

When we compare the water vapor in the air to the total possible, what have we found?

• relative humidity
• absolute humidity
• barometric pressure
• cloud cover

Answer explanation

Relative humidity measures how much of an air mass's available space is filled with water molecules. It is measured with a psychrometer.

What is the relative humidity % when condensation &/or precipitation occur?

• 0%
• 25%
• 50%
• 100%

Answer explanation

At 100% RH, the air is saturated (full) of water vapor. Water molecules begin to stick together (condensation) to make droplets. The droplets grow as condensation continues and fall as precipitation when they are heavy.

If the air cools but the amount of water vapor in the air is unchanged, what happens to the relative humidity?

• It decreases
• It stays the same
• It increases
• Nothing...temperature has no effect on RH

Answer explanation

Warm air has more space to hold water vapor. If the air cools, the amount of space decreases. The water vapor that is present then fills a greater % of the available space.

What kind of cloud is tall and puffy and usually brings storms?

• altocumulus

• cirrostratus
• cumulonimbus

• stratus

Which kind of air would produce the highest air pressure?

• cold, dry air at low altitude
• cool, humid air at low altitude
• warm, dry air at high altitude
• warm, humid air at low altitude

Which way does wind blow around an anticyclone?
 (N. Hemisphere)

• inward and clockwise
• inward and counterclockwise
• outward and clockwise
• outward and counterclockwise

Answer explanation

Anticyclones are high pressure areas where air is falling to the Earth's surface. The air turns outward from the "High" and curves to its right (Coriolis Effect). This creates an outward and clockwise circulation pattern.