Chapter 4: Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures Quiz

The passage of shortwave and longwave energy through the atmosphere and water is an example of

• absorption.

• transmission.

• refraction.

• insolation.

Incoming radiation that reaches Earth's surface after scattering is

• direct insolation.

• diffuse radiation.

• direct radiation.

• indirect insolation.

The reflective quality of a surface is known as its

• conduction.

• absorption.

• albedo.

• scattering.

Which of the following has the highest albedo?

• forests

• asphalt

• dry, light sandy soils

• fresh snow

The assimilation of radiation by molecules of matter is

• refraction.

• absorption.

• reflection.

• transmission.

Heat that can be sensed due to the kinetic energy of molecular motion is

• sensible heat.

• latent heat.

• radiation.

• conduction.

Conduction refers to

• strong vertical movement of air in the atmosphere.

• strong horizontal movement of air in the atmosphere.

• the molecule-to-molecule transfer of heat energy.

• the behavior of something.

Why is a greenhouse an imperfect analogy for how the Earth's atmosphere behaves?

• A greenhouse allows longwave radiation to escape and mix with the surrounding air, unlike the Earth's atmosphere.

• The glass of a greenhouse is designed to allow transmission of both longwave and shortwave radiation, whereas certain atmospheric constituents only allow transmission of shortwave radiation.

• It is exceedingly rare for a greenhouse to contain carbon dioxide like the Earth's atmosphere contains.

• Passage of longwave radiation to space is delayed by certain atmospheric constituents, but not trapped like an actual greenhouse.

Longwave radiation absorbed by certain atmospheric constituents and re-radiated back to Earth's surface is known as

• conduction.

• advection.

• latent heat.

• counterradiation.

If the amount of low, thick stratus cloud cover increases, the Earth's climates would likely ________ due to increased ________.

• cool; absorption

• cool; reflectivity

• warm; absorption

• warm; reflectivity