GEO 2200 – 0087 Summer A 2011
Midterm Review Guide
***Don’t forget to go over Test 1 reviews as well. ***
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Which object have more albedo: a white object (snow) or a black object (asphalt)?
What is albedo? Does it have units?
What percentage of total insolation is absorbed by the atmosphere?
What is scattering?
Why do we see the sky in blue colors?
Which part of the electromagnetic radiation of the sun is more scattered? Which one is
less scattered?
7. Scattering changes the wavelength of the insolation. True__ False__?
8. What percentage of total insolation is reached on the earth’s surface?
9. Red light has longer wavelength than blue light. True__ False__?
10. Sensible heat is a measure of energy transferred to raising the temperature of the air.
True__ False__?
11. Ground Heat Flux is the energy going to the heating earth’s surface (oceans and
continents). True__ False__?
12. What is Latent Heat Flux?
13. Does Latent Heat change the temperature of a substance?
14. What are the values ascribed for Latent Heat Flux of Fusion and of Vaporization of the
water?
15. After 1 gram of ice cube changed of temperature from -20°C to 120°C, how many
calories were used as latent heat? How many calories were used as ground heat?
16. Water uses much more energy for rising its temperature than ice for changing state.
True__ False__?
17. Greenhouse effect is a modern phenomenon originated only by human activities. True__
False__?
18. For the past 100 years or more, the amount of carbon dioxide has been: increased ___
decreased ______
19. Since 1990s, the amount of CFCs has been: increased ___ decreased ______
20. Which greenhouse gas filters ultraviolet rays?
21. What are the consequences of the greenhouse effects?
22. After considering the counterradiation into the longwave radiation balance, how many
units of energy are absorbed IN TOTAL by earth’s surface? (Include the 49 units from
shortwave sun’s radiation).
23. On average how many units of total energy absorbed at earth’s surface is returned to the
atmosphere by latent heat flux? And how many by sensible heat flux?
24. On average how many units of total energy absorbed at earth’s surface escapes directly to
space as outgoing long wave radiation?
25. After considering the longwave radiation trapped by greenhouse gases, how many units
of energy are absorbed IN TOTAL by earth’s atmosphere? (Include the 20 units from
shortwave sun’s radiation).
26. The 69 units that entered into earth’s system from sun’s insolation leave to the space by:
12 units as direct longwave radiation from earth’s surface and 57 units directly from the
atmosphere. True__ False__?
27. The imbalance of energy across the earth is produced because values of Insolation are
larger than Outgoing Longwave Radiation at Surplus Energy Region. True__ False__?
28. At the Deficit Energy Region: Outgoing Longwave Radiation is larger than Insolation.
True__ False__?
29. At approximately which latitude (regardless of the hemisphere), would you expect to find
the maximum transfer of energy from the equator to the poles?
30. Why are there strong storms at tropical regions not frequently developed (or get stronger)
at latitudes higher than 40°?
31. The zone of the world in which polar and sub-tropical air masses meet is termed the
Planetary Front. True__ False__?
32. Name the three cells (and latitude boundaries) that explain “more accurately” air
circulation over the globe?
33. The general pattern of global surface winds direction is from High Pressure to Low
Pressure regions. True__ False__?
34. Name and give latitude location of Low Pressure and High Pressure Belts.
35. Which of the following places is located in a low atmospheric region? North Atlantic
Ocean (50°N), Canary Islands (30°N), Port Nolloth, South Africa (30°S), or Coast of
Florida (30°N).
36. Which of the following places is located in a high atmospheric region? South Atlantic
Ocean (30°S), Quito, Ecuador (0°), North Pole (90°N), St. Paul Island, Atlantic Ocean
(0°), Rio de Janeiro (23.5°S).
37. The angular velocity of the earth is 15° per hour and it is constant. True__ False__?
38. Earth’s linear velocity is constant across the globe. True__ False__?
39. Between the equator and the poles, where does the maximum and minimum linear
velocity occur?
40. In which direction does the Coriolis Effect deflect the INTENDED PATH of global
winds on the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere?
41. At what latitudes is the Coriolis Effect the strongest? At what latitudes is it at the
minimum?
42. There is no Coriolis effect on movements west to east/east to west along the Equator (0°).
True__ False__?
43. Name the prevailing winds and their direction at Hadley cells (North and South
Hemisphere).
44. Name the prevailing winds and their direction at Ferrel cells (North and South
Hemisphere).
45. Name the prevailing winds and their direction at Polar cells (North and South
Hemisphere).
46. From which direction will global winds be blowing at Bomako, Niger (10°N latitude)?
47. From which direction will global winds be blowing at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (23.5°S
latitude)?
48. If you were looking toward the West with high pressure to the South of you and low
pressure to the North, and the wind is blowing in your face, where would you likely be
standing (approx. latitude)?
49. If you were looking toward the West with high pressure to the North of you and low
pressure to the South, and the wind is blowing in your face, where would you likely be
standing (approx. latitude)?
50. If you were looking toward the East with high pressure to the North of you and low
pressure to the South, and the wind was blowing in your face, where would you likely be
standing (approx. latitude)?
51. An anticyclone has descending and diverging air. True__ False__?
52. A cyclone has converging and ascending air. True__ False__?
53. What is the direction of rotation of cyclones and anticyclones at each hemisphere
(counterclockwise or clockwise)?
54. If a tropical cyclone was approaching to Florida (latitude 29 degrees north) in which
direction, if any, would the winds be rotating around the storm?
55. If a tropical cyclone was approaching Beira, Mozambique (latitude 20 degrees south), in
which direction, if any, would the winds be rotating around the storm?
56. One of the reasons why there is a difference in thermal properties between ocean and
continents is surface roughness. True__ False__?
57. Which are the 4 principal thermal differences between continents and oceans?
58. Continents heat and cool faster than oceans. True__ False__?
59. What is the direction of Land and Sea Breezes? Why does this direction change between
day and night?
60. In the Surplus-Excess energy region of the globe, continents are generally warmer than
oceans and low pressure conditions become intensified over continents. True__ False__?
What occurs to the High pressure over oceans at 30° latitude?
61. In the Deficit energy region of the globe, continents are generally cooler than oceans and
high pressure conditions become intensified over continents. What occurs to the Low
pressure over oceans at Planetary Front?
62. Which of the following locations has high atmospheric pressure strengthened (“much
higher pressure”): South Atlantic Ocean (30°S) or the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil (30°S)?
63. Subtropical Anticyclone cells control most global air circulation. True__ False__?
64. At Subtropical latitudes (30° N/S) what winds produce dry conditions at west coasts of
continents and what winds produce wet conditions at east coasts of continents?
65. What is the importance of ocean currents in a global and local scale?
66. What is the direction of the north and south Equatorial currents? Trade winds produce
this direction. True__ False__?
67. What is the general direction of warm and cool currents between the equator and the
poles?
68. In the general pattern of ocean currents circulation, which side of the sub-tropical high
cells have warm current and which side cool current?
69. Over what latitude approximately does the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
occur?
70. Over the Northern Hemisphere: What is the principal effect on the high subtropical center
during June 21 when ITCZ migrates northward over the continents?
71. Over the Northern Hemisphere: What is the principal effect on the polar high pressure
center during December 21?
72. Hurricane season occurs during our summer because of the strengthening of high
pressure over the Pacific Ocean. True__ False___?
73. Over what oceans do high pressure centers occur during December 21 in the southern
hemisphere?
74. Why a new high pressure center is developed over Australia in the southern hemisphere
during June 21?