The Earth's Energy Balance

Multiple Choice

Which type of radiation from the Sun primarily heats the Earth's surface?

• Long-wave infrared radiation

• Short-wave radiation

• Radio waves

• Gamma rays

Home

Open in new tab

Copy link

Multiple Choice

What is the greenhouse effect?

• A process where the Earth's surface is cooled by the atmosphere

• A process where the Earth's surface is warmed by trapping heat in the atmosphere

• A process where the Earth's surface is heated by volcanic activity

• A process where the Earth's surface is cooled by ocean currents

Multiple Choice

True or False. The greenhouse effect is a natural process.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Why is the greenhouse effect important for life on Earth?

• It makes the Earth too hot for life

• It keeps the Earth at a temperature suitable for life

• It causes the Earth to freeze

• It has no impact on Earth's temperature

Multiple Choice

The greenhouse effect is caused by ______________.

• More heat arriving at the Earth from the sun.

• The Earth releasing more heat at night.

• Gases in the air trapping heat released by the Earth.

Multiple Choice

How do human activities affect the greenhouse effect?

• They decrease the amount of greenhouse gases

• They have no impact on the greenhouse effect

• They increase the amount of greenhouse gases

• They remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere

Multiple Select

Which of the gases, listed below, are NOT greenhouse gasses?

• Water vapour

• Carbon monoxide

• Carbon dioxide

• Methane

• Nitrogen

Home

Open in new tab

Copy link

Open Ended

Describe how the angle of incoming solar radiation changes at the March equinox, June solstice, September equinox, and December solstice for a location at 33°S latitude.

Multiple Choice

What is the term for the incoming solar energy that reaches the Earth's surface and is unevenly distributed over the planet?

• Insolation

• Radiation

• Reflection

• Conduction

Open Ended

Hypothesize 4 reasons why the Equator is warmer than the poles.

Open Ended

Explain why more insolation reaches the surface in the tropics than in the polar regions.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are reasons why it is colder near the poles?

• The Sun’s rays travel through a thicker atmospheric layer

• The energy of the incoming radiation is spread over a larger area

• Shiny white ice and snow reflect more energy into space

• The Sun’s rays are more direct at the poles

Multiple Choice

What is the main reason why it is hotter between the tropics than in the polar regions?

• The angle of incoming solar rays is higher between the tropics, resulting in more energy gained than lost.

• The polar regions receive more direct sunlight than the tropics.

• The tropics are closer to the moon.

• The polar regions have more vegetation.

Open Ended

Explain how the tilt of the Earth's axis affects the amount of insolation received in each hemisphere throughout the year.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are causes of the seasons on Earth?

• Revolution of the Earth around the Sun

• Rotation of the Earth on its axis

• Tilt of the Earth's axis

• Shape of the Earth

Multiple Choice

During the June solstice, which hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun and what are the resulting conditions?

• Northern hemisphere; longer days and summer

• Northern hemisphere; shorter days and winter

• Southern hemisphere; longer days and summer

• Southern hemisphere; shorter days and winter

Open Ended

Describe what happens during the equinoxes and solstices in terms of day length and solar radiation in both hemispheres.

Multiple Choice

Which regions of the Earth have a positive heat balance and which have a negative heat balance?

• Tropics have a positive heat balance, polar regions have a negative heat balance.

• Tropics have a negative heat balance, polar regions have a positive heat balance.

• Both tropics and polar regions have a positive heat balance.

• Both tropics and polar regions have a negative heat balance.

Open Ended

Explain how the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing radiation from the Earth is maintained. Include the roles of wind and water in your answer.

Multiple Choice

Based on the map, which areas of the world experience the highest sea surface temperatures?

• Near the equator

• Near the poles

• In the mid-latitudes

• In the deserts

Open Ended

What causes wind?

Open Ended

Describe how uneven heating of the Earth's surface leads to wind formation.

Multiple Choice

Which process is responsible for the vertical movement of air in the atmosphere?

• Convection currents

• Wind

• Advection

• Radiation

Open Ended

Explain how convection contributes to the movement of air in the atmosphere, referring to both cool and warm air.

Multiple Select

Based on the diagrams and explanations, which of the following statements are correct about atmospheric circulation on a non-rotating Earth?

• A belt of low pressure forms at the equator.

• A belt of high pressure forms at the poles.

• Surface winds blow from the poles to the equator.

• Surface winds blow from the equator to the poles.

Open Ended

What is the Coriolis force and how does it affect the movement of air on Earth?

Open Ended

What do you think causes ocean currents?

Multiple Choice

How does the Earth's surface contribute to heating the atmosphere?

• By reflecting sunlight directly back into space

• By radiating lower energy, long-wave infrared energy back into the atmosphere

• By absorbing all incoming radiation without re-emitting it

• By cooling down rapidly at night

Open Ended

What is one question you still have about the Earth's energy balance or the unequal heating of the atmosphere?