CHAPTER 4
THERMAL RESPONSE OF THE CLIMATE SYSTEM
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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 __________ proportional to the average kinetic energy of the individual atoms
or molecules composing a substance
*a. directly
b. inversely
3. If a hot marble is dropped into a large tub of cooler water, heat will be transferred
a. to the marble.
*b. to the water.
4. Water __________changes temperature when it gains or loses heat.
a. never
*b. sometimes
c. always
5. Which temperature scale is most commonly used in public reports of surface weather and
climate conditions in the United States?
a. Celsius
b. Kelvin
*c. Fahrenheit
6. The freezing point of pure water at sea level is __________°F or __________°C.
a. 0.....32
b. 212.....100
*c. 32.....0
7. On the absolute temperature scale, the freezing point of pure water at sea level is ______ K.
a. 0
b. 32
c. 100
*d. 273.15
e. 500.5
8. __________ is the temperature at which no electromagnetic radiation is emitted.
a. The freezing point
b. The boiling point
*c. Absolute zero
d. 30 °C
e. 200 °C
9. An increment of 1 Kelvin corresponds precisely to an increment of
*a. 1 Celsius degree.
b. 1 Fahrenheit degree.
c. 2 Fahrenheit degrees.
10. 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.
11. A calorie is defined as the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of
water
a. 1 Fahrenheit degree.
b. 5 Fahrenheit degrees.
*c. 1 Celsius degree.
d. 5 Celsius degrees.
e. 10 Kelvin.
12. 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.
13. Which instrument produces a continuous trace of temperature with time?
a. thermoscope
b. liquid-in-glass thermometer
*c. thermograph
d. barometer
e. hygrometer
14. If a station switched from a liquid-in-glass thermometer to an electronic thermometer, this
__________ affect the long-term climate record.
*a. could
b. could not
15. When heat flows from the warm tropics to cooler mid-latitudes, 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. Which one of the following heat transfer processes can take place in a vacuum?
a. conduction
b. convection
*c. radiation
d. All of the above are correct.
e. None of the above is correct.
17. The rate of radiational cooling is greater than the rate of radiational heating on a global and
annual average
*a. within the troposphere.
b. at the Earth’s surface.
18. On a global and annual average at the Earth’s surface, the rate of radiational heating is
__________ the rate of radiational cooling.
a. less than
b. equal to
*c. greater than
19. As a rule, which one of the following is the poorest conductor of heat?
*a. still air
b. liquid water
c. a metal
d. concrete
e. water vapor
20. Heat is transported from the Earth's surface into the troposphere via
a. conduction and convection.
b. evaporation and condensation of water.
c. radiation.
*d. All of the above are correct.
e. Only a and b are correct.
21. The design of insulation in a home is effective because still air is a
a. good conductor of heat.
*b. poor conductor of heat.
22. Heat is conducted within and between
a. solids.
b. liquids.
c. gases.
*d. All of the above are correct.
e. Only a and b are correct.
23. Which process is more important in transporting heat within the troposphere?
a. conduction
*b. convection
24. Within the Earth-atmosphere-ocean system, heat convection takes place in
a. solids only.
b. liquids only.
c. gases only.
d. solids, liquids, and gases.
*e. liquids and gases.
25. At the same pressure, cold air is __________ warm air.
*a. denser than
b. about as dense as
c. not as dense as
26. As air is heated, it becomes
*a. less dense and more buoyant.
b. less dense and less buoyant.
c. more dense and more buoyant.
d. more dense and less buoyant.
27. The combination of conduction and convection is known as
a. radiational heating.
b. latent heating.
*c. sensible heating.
28. Which heat transfer process in the climate system involves phase changes of water?
a. radiational heating.
*b. latent heating.
c. sensible heating.
29. During which process is latent heat released to the environment?
a. condensation
b. freezing
c. deposition
*d. All of the above are correct.
e. None of the above is correct.
30. 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. wood
e. dry air
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. San Francisco has a __________ climate and St. Louis has a __________ climate.
a. maritime…..maritime
*b. maritime…..continental
c. continental…..continental
d. continental…..maritime
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. __________ calories are required to heat liquid water from 0 °C to 100 °C.
a. 5
b. 10
c. 50
*d. 100
e. 1000
35. The latent heat of vaporization is __________ the latent heat of fusion.
a. much less than
b. equal to
*c. much greater than
36. Which heat transfer process(es) are involved in thunderstorm development?
a. sensible heating alone
b. latent heating alone
c. radiational heating alone
*d. a combination of sensible and latent heating
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. Over which type of surface does the Bowen ratio have a greater value?
*a. land
b. ocean
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. 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.
41. A(n) __________ is a large volume of air that is relatively uniform horizontally in
temperature and humidity.
*a. air mass
b. front
c. cloud
d. aspect
e. MOC
42. 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.
43. Changes in the meridional overturning circulation would most directly affect the continent of
a. Australia.
b. Asia.
*c. Europe.
d. Antarctica.
e. Africa.
44. A location’s raditional budget is determined by
a. latitude, along with time of day and day of the year.
b. cloud cover.
c. surface characteristics.
*d. All of the above are correct.
e. Only a and c are correct.
45. Air temperature is governed by
a. local radiation conditions.
b. air mass advection.
*c. Both of the above are correct.
d. None of the above is correct.
46. The warmest and coldest months of the year typically __________ coincide with the times of
maximum and minimum incoming solar radiation.
a. do
*b. do not
47. With clear skies and light winds (or calm air), the day’s minimum temperature typically
occurs
a. around midnight.
b. at 3 am.
*c. shortly after sunrise.
d. about 11 am.
e. shortly after sunset.
48. Aspect is especially important in the study of
a. macroclimates.
b. mesoclimates.
c. local climates.
*d. microclimates.
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.