Physical Geography I

Latitude

longitude

When would you use a large scale map?

map projection

When would you use a graphic scale map?

The larger the scale of a map, the __________ (more or less) the area covered by the map and the __________ (more or less) detail it provides. 

Which of the following describes the property of equal area on a map? 
equivalence
equidistance
proximity
conformality

Our planet and our lives are powered by

Which of the following is true?
The Sun is the largest star in the Milky Way Galaxy.
The Sun is also a planet.
The Sun produces energy through fusion processes.
The Milky Way is part of our Solar System.

The basic idea behind the planetesimal hypothesis is that 

Which of the following accurately describes Earth's distance from the Sun?
Earth is closer to the Sun in January (perihelion) and farther away in July (aphelion).
It takes light an average of 8 minutes and 20 seconds to travel from the Sun to Earth.
The Earth-Sun distance averages 150 million kilometers (93 million miles).
All of these are correct.

Which of the following is true of Earth's orbit about the Sun?
The orbit does not vary over millions of years.
It is elliptical.
It is perfectly circular.
It takes approximately the same time for Earth to orbit the Sun as it does for the rest of the planets in the solar system to orbit the Sun.

The Sun produces which of the following?
mainly ultraviolet and X-rays
only solar wind
mainly visible light and infrared energy only radiant energy that is beneficial to life

The solar wind consists principally of
planetesimals.
free neutrons.
neutral hydrogen and helium atoms.
positively charged hydrogen nuclei and free electrons.

Which of the following is not true of sunspots?
They are brighter than the rest of the Sun's surface
They can produce flares and prominences.
They can be several times larger than Earth.
Their origin and dynamics are not fully understood.

The __________ emits mainly __________ which is also called __________.
Earth – longwave radiation – ultraviolet
Sun – shortwave radiation – radio waves
Earth – shortwave radiation – infrared
Sun – longwave radiation – infrared
Earth – longwave radiation – infrared

The dominant wavelength emitted by Earth is
gamma radiation.
visible light.
X-ray radiation.
infrared.

On the northern hemisphere's summer solstice, the north polar region receives __________ daily insolation than areas nearer the equator because __________.
less; the Sun does not rise
more; the Sun does not set
more; the Sun is higher in the sky

The term "net radiation" refers to the total amount of energy received by Earth.
the total amount of energy radiated by Earth.
the difference in amount of incoming and outgoing radiation.
radiation emitted by satellite networks.

At all times during the year, the circle of illumination divides
Earth between northern and southern hemispheres.
divides Earth between equal halves of lightness and darkness.
separates winter from summer.
divides Earth into eastern and western halves.

Which of the following results from radiation imbalances at different latitudes?
hurricanes
ocean currents
global winds
all of the above
none of the above

Which of the following is true of the number of hours of daylight?
The number of hours of daylight includes the hours between dawn and twilight, not just the hours from sunrise to sunset.
The number of hours of daylight varies the least at higher latitudes.
The number of hours of daylight varies depending on the latitude of the observer.
The number of hours of daylight varies the most along the equator.

On which one of the following projections do great circle routes appear as straight lines?
any conic projection
Mercator projection
a gnomonic projection
Goode's homolosine projection

Which is not true of Earth's atmosphere?
The principle substance is air, a mixture of many gases that behaves like a single gas.
It is the sum of all the exhalations and inhalations of life on Earth.
Its temperatures range from -90°C (-130°F) degrees to 1200°C (2200°F).
It protects us from deadly UV radiation, yet lets light through.
We consider the top of the atmosphere to be 32,000 km (20,000 mi.) from Earth.

Life is possible on Earth primarily because
variable gases of all types exist in the atmosphere.
gamma rays and X-rays reach the surface.
ultraviolet radiation reaches the surface.
the ozonosphere and ionosphere shield the surface from harmful radiation.

Three criteria used for classification of the atmosphere explained in the text are
composition, temperature, and function.
structure, origin, temperature.
composition, origin, evolution.
structure, origin, evolution.

Based on composition, the atmosphere is divided into
two functional areas that absorb radiation from the Sun. one continuous region.
two broad classifications:homosphere and heterosphere. the troposphere and the stratosphere.

Based on temperature, the atmosphere is divided into nitrogen, oxygen, argon.
four regions: ranging from the troposphere to the thermosphere.
two broad regions.
two functional areas that absorb radiation from the Sun.

Half of Earth's atmosphere lies below an elevation of __________ meters.
11,000
8300
14,000
5500

The outermost region of the atmosphere, based on composition, is the
troposphere.
homosphere.
thermosphere.
heterosphere.

The heterosphere is the layer of the atmosphere in which the gases are __________ because of __________. poorly mixed; thermal motions (i.e., convection)
poorly mixed; the influence of gravity which causes gases of different weight to separate into layers
well mixed; thermal motions (i.e., convection)
well mixed; the influence of gravity which causes gases of different weight to diffuse randomly

Which of the following is true of gases in the heterosphere?
The hydrogen and helium occur at the top of the heterosphere, and the nitrogen and oxygen at the bottom. Nitrogen occurs at the top, followed–in descending order–by helium, oxygen and hydrogen.
The hydrogen, helium, oxygen and nitrogen are well mixed.
The nitrogen and oxygen occur at the top of the heterosphere and the hydrogen and helium at the bottom.

The region of the atmosphere that is so evenly mixed that it behaves as if it were a single gas is the
exosphere.
heterosphere.
homosphere.
thermosphere.

The thermopause is located
approximately 480 km (300 mi.)above Earth's surface
 between the mesosphere and the thermosphere.
wherever -90°C (-130°F) is recorded.
at the bottom of the homosphere.

The highest temperatures in the atmosphere occur in the __________ because __________.
thermosphere; carbon dioxide has accumulated to very high levels in this layer
stratosphere; methane is such an effective greenhouse gas
thermosphere; it is in direct contact with high energy solar radiation
mesosphere; high intensity solar radiation causes strong chemical reactions with ozone, and this heats the layer to very high temperatures.
troposphere; infrared radiation from the ground heats this layer more than any other layer

The thermosphere closely corresponds to the
exosphere.
the homosphere.
the ionosphere.
the heterosphere.
both the ionosphere and the heterosphere.

Which of the following lists the correct sequence of gases, from most to least, in terms of percentage within the homosphere?
nitrogen, argon, oxygen, xenon, carbon dioxide
oxygen, ozone, nitrogen, PAN, carbon dioxide
oxygen, nitrogen, neon, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, trace gases

The three stable (i.e., nonvariable) gases in the atmosphere, in order of abundance from most to least, are
oxygen, argon, nitrogen.
oxygen, carbon dioxide, argon.
nitrogen, oxygen, argon.
carbon dioxide, argon, oxygen.

The two most abundant gases in the atmosphere are nitrogen and water vapor.
oxygen and carbon dioxide.
nitrogen and oxygen.
water vapor and carbon dioxide.

Which is true of the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere? The level of CO2 increased at the rate of 1.1% per year from 1990 to 1999.
The level of CO2 is currently over 390 ppm.
The level of CO2 has been increasing at the rate of 3.1% per year since 2000.
The level of CO2 is higher than at any time in the past 800,000 years.
They are all true.

Which is true of the level of CO2 in our atmosphere?
The level of CO2 is decreasing at 3.1% per year.
It is currently over 390 ppm.
The level of CO2 was much higher in 1955 than today.
The rate of increase leveled out in 1976.

Which of the following is not true of carbon dioxide?
It is a natural product of life processes (i.e., respiration). The amount of carbon dioxide has increased as a result of human activities.
It occurs in large amounts in the atmosphere–as one would expect given the important role it plays in life processes and in regulating the temperature of the planet.
It is critically important in regulating the temperature of the planet.
All of the above are true.

Increased levels of ultraviolet light at Earth's surface
pose a threat of skin cancer to all races.
have been identified as causing damage to oceanic life forms.
are tied to the general reduction in stratospheric ozone. are related to an increasing rate of skin cancer.
All of these are correct.

The atmospheric portion of the biosphere occurs in the troposphere.
heterosphere.
lithosphere.
ozonosphere.

Which of the following is false?
Air pressure decreases with increasing altitude.
Air molecules exert air pressure through their motion, size, and number.
The atmosphere exerts a force of 1 kg/cm2; i.e., 14.7 pounds per square inch.
Air pressure decreases through the troposphere then increases in the stratosphere

Variable atmospheric components refer to
nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide.
only natural gases and materials.
both natural and anthropogenic gases and materials. natural sources of dust and aerosols, such as volcanic dust and forest fire smoke, but nothing anthropogenic (human-caused).

Our atmosphere acts like the membrane of a cell because it
blocks inputs very selectively.
protects the delicate inner workings (life on Earth). blocks all inputs to Earth.
protects the delicate inner workings ( life on Earth) and because it blocks all inputs to Earth.
protects the delicate inner workings ( life on Earth) and because it blocks inputs very selectively

Which of the following is true of nitrogen?
The human body obtains the nitrogen it needs from the air. There is very little nitrogen in the atmosphere.
The nitrogen the human body needs is derived from food–not the air.

Speed of light

Average distance from Earth to the Sun

average distace from Earth 2 moon