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WorksheetsB5. The energy balance of the earth
Total questions: 86
Worksheet time: 43mins
What is the formula for the power going through the disc of radius R when radiation from the sun reaches the earth?
P = S pi R
P = S pi R^2
P = S R^2
P = pi R^2
What does the solar constant S represent in the context of solar radiation reaching the earth?
The power per unit area of the incident radiation
The radius of the earth
The total power of the sun
The distance between the sun and the earth
According to the provided information, why do the rays from the sun arrive essentially parallel to the earth?
Because the sun is very close to the earth
Because the sun is very far away from the earth
Because of the earth's atmosphere
Because of the earth's magnetic field
What must the radiation from the sun pass through to reach the earth?
A sphere of surface area 4 pi R^2
A disc of area pi R^2
A cylinder of volume pi R^2 h
A cube of side length R
What is the average intensity of the incident radiation received by the Earth's surface when considering both day and night?
\( \frac{S}{2} \)
\( \frac{S}{4} \)
\( \frac{S}{8} \)
\( S \)
What is the albedo of the Earth denoted by in the given text?
\( \beta \)
\( \gamma \)
\( \alpha \)
\( \delta \)
If the average albedo of the Earth is 0.30, what is the average intensity reaching the Earth's surface?
1400 W m\(^{-2}\)
490 W m\(^{-2}\)
245 W m\(^{-2}\)
700 W m\(^{-2}\)
What is the equilibrium temperature of the Earth?
The temperature at which the energy input to the Earth is greater than the energy output.
The temperature at which the energy input to the Earth is less than the energy output.
The temperature at which the energy input to the Earth is equal to the energy output.
The temperature at which the energy input to the Earth is zero.
What is the significance of the factor of 4 in the average intensity received by the Earth?
It accounts for the Earth's rotation.
It accounts for the Earth's revolution around the Sun.
It accounts for the difference in surface area between a disc and a sphere.
It accounts for the Earth's axial tilt.
What does Figure 8.4 illustrate in the context of energy transfers?
The process of photosynthesis.
Energy transfers in a model without an atmosphere.
The greenhouse effect.
The water cycle.
In the context of the energy balance equation, what does the term I_{av} represent?
The average outgoing solar radiation.
The average incoming solar radiation.
The average reflected solar radiation.
The average absorbed solar radiation.
What is the value of the average incoming solar radiation intensity I_{av} given in the worked example?
200 W m^{-2}
245 W m^{-2}
300 W m^{-2}
350 W m^{-2}
What is the albedo value provided by the atmosphere in the worked example?
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
In the worked example, what is the equation expressing the fact that the intensity received by the earth equals the intensity radiated by the earth into space?
I_{av} = \frac{S}{4}
I_{av} = (1 - \alpha) \frac{S}{4}
I_{av} = \alpha \frac{S}{4}
I_{av} = \frac{S}{2}
What is the average intensity reaching the Earth's surface according to the given model?
245 W m⁻²
256 W m⁻²
288 W m⁻²
300 W m⁻²
What is the formula used to calculate the intensity radiated by the Earth?
I_out = σT³
I_out = σT⁴
I_out = σT²
I_out = σT
What temperature is found by solving the equation for the intensity radiated by the Earth?
245 K
256 K
288 K
300 K
What is the temperature in Celsius corresponding to 256 K?
-17 °C
0 °C
17 °C
-32 °C
Why is the model described in the text considered too simplistic?
It does not account for the Earth's rotation.
It does not account for the Earth's atmosphere.
It does not account for the Earth's magnetic field.
It does not account for the Earth's core temperature.
What does the simple model used in Worked example 2.2 assume about the surface of the earth?
It behaves as a white body.
It behaves as a black body.
It behaves as a grey body.
It behaves as a transparent body.
What is the albedo value for deep ocean water?
0.80
0.40
0.14
0.06
Which of the following factors is NOT ignored in the simple model described?
Latent heat flows
Thermal energy flow in oceans
Energy transfer between the surface and the atmosphere
None of the above
What effect does increasing the albedo have on the temperature?
It results in higher temperatures.
It results in lower temperatures.
It has no effect on temperatures.
It results in fluctuating temperatures.
What is the albedo value for areas with high latitudes that include more snow and ice coverage?
0.80
0.40
0.14
0.06
What is the average temperature of the earth's surface as mentioned in the text?
273 K
288 K
300 K
310 K
According to the text, what type of wavelength is the peak wavelength at which the earth's surface radiates energy?
Ultraviolet
Visible light
Infrared
Microwave
What role do greenhouse gases play in the greenhouse effect?
They reflect all incoming solar radiation.
They absorb and re-radiate infrared radiation.
They block visible light from reaching the earth's surface.
They increase the albedo of the earth.
What would be the earth's temperature without the greenhouse effect?
273 K lower
32 K lower
50 K lower
10 K lower
What is the effect of increasing the albedo on the average temperature of the earth?
The temperature would increase.
The temperature would decrease.
The temperature would remain the same.
The temperature would fluctuate.
What is the greenhouse effect?
The cooling of the earth caused by ultraviolet radiation
The warming of the earth caused by infrared radiation
The warming of the earth caused by visible light
The cooling of the earth caused by infrared radiation
Which gases are primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect?
Oxygen, nitrogen, and argon
Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide
Helium, neon, and krypton
Hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
The natural warming of the earth due to the atmosphere
The additional warming due to increased quantities of greenhouse gases from human activities
The cooling effect caused by the depletion of the ozone layer
The natural cooling of the earth due to volcanic eruptions
Which of the following is a natural source of CO₂?
Burning fossil fuels in power plants
Irrigation
Forest fires
Flooded rice fields
Which of the following is an anthropogenic source of CH₄?
Wetlands
Oceans
Evaporation of water from oceans
Flooded rice fields
What is a natural source of H₂O as a greenhouse gas?
Burning forests
Irrigation
Evaporation of water from oceans, rivers, and lakes
Farm animals
Which of the following is an anthropogenic source of CO₂?
Volcanic eruptions
Burning fossil fuels in power plants, cars, airplanes
Wetlands
Evaporation of water from oceans
Which of the following is a natural source of greenhouse gases?
Processing of coal
Lakes and rivers
Burning fossil fuels
Manufacture of cement
What is one of the human-made sources of N₂O as a greenhouse gas?
Termites
Oceans
Deforestation
Grasslands
What is the energy difference between molecular energy levels equivalent to?
The energy of a visible photon
The energy of an ultraviolet photon
The energy of an infrared photon
The energy of a microwave photon
What happens to gas molecules that have absorbed infrared photons?
They remain in the same energy state
They are excited to higher energy levels
They emit visible light
They break apart
What do molecules prefer to be in?
High-energy states
Low-energy states
Excited states
Ionized states
What do greenhouse gases do with infrared (IR) photons?
Absorb and re-radiate them in all directions
Absorb and store them
Reflect them back to space
Convert them into visible light
What concept is used to explain photon absorption by greenhouse gases?
Resonance
Reflection
Refraction
Diffraction
What determines the frequency of oscillation of a pendulum?
The length of the string
The mass of the pendulum
The amplitude of the swing
The force applied
What happens to the amplitude of the oscillations of a pendulum when the frequency of the external force applied is equal to the natural frequency of the pendulum?
The amplitude decreases.
The amplitude remains the same.
The amplitude becomes zero.
The amplitude increases.
In the context of greenhouse gases, what is the natural frequency?
The frequency of the earth's rotation.
The frequency of the photons the greenhouse gases can absorb.
The frequency of the sun's radiation.
The frequency of the ocean waves.
What is the consequence of more water evaporating from the oceans due to the warming of the earth?
The temperature of the earth will increase further.
The temperature of the earth will remain the same.
The temperature of the earth will tend to reduce.
The temperature of the earth will fluctuate.
What is an example of negative feedback in the context of the earth's temperature?
Increase in temperature leading to more evaporation and further increase in temperature.
Increase in temperature leading to more evaporation and reduction in temperature.
Decrease in temperature leading to less evaporation and further decrease in temperature.
Decrease in temperature leading to more evaporation and increase in temperature.
Why is complex and time-consuming modelling required to reach reliable predictions about climate change?
Because climate change is a simple phenomenon.
Because we need accurate and reliable data as input to the models.
Because models for climate behavior are straightforward.
Because politicians do not accept the reality of climate change.
What makes predictions about climate change less reliable than we would like?
The simplicity of the models.
The large number of parameters involved.
The lack of computing power.
The absence of feedback effects.
How can advances in computing power help in predicting climate change?
By making models more complex.
By reducing the need for accurate data.
By improving the ability to predict climate change more accurately.
By eliminating the need for feedback effects.
What is one consequence of the complexity of climate models?
They are always accurate.
They are less reliable than we would like.
They do not require detailed calculations.
They are simple to understand.
A surface absorbs 120 W m⁻² of radiation and reflects 30 W m⁻². What is the albedo of the surface?
A) 0.20
B) 0.25
C) 0.30
D) 0.35
The following data are available for a climate model of a planet in equilibrium: Incident intensity on planet: 340 W m⁻² Incident intensity on surface: 160 W m⁻² Intensity reflected from cloud: 75 W m⁻² Intensity reflected from surface: 30 W m⁻² What is the total intensity reflected from the planet?
A) 105 W m⁻²
B) 75 W m⁻²
C) 30 W m⁻²
D) 340 W m⁻²
What is the albedo of the cloud?
0.22
0.44
0.66
0.88
What is the albedo of the surface?
0.12
0.24
0.36
0.48
What is the albedo of the planet?
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
What is the intensity absorbed by the cloud?
75 W m^-2
160 W m^-2
30 W m^-2
340 W m^-2
What is the total radiated intensity into space?
75 W m^-2
340 W m^-2
30 W m^-2
160 W m^-2
What is the intensity radiated by the surface (S)?
100 W m^-2
23 W m^-2
116 W m^-2
58 W m^-2
What is the incoming solar intensity absorbed by the cloud and atmosphere system (CAS)?
100 W m^-2
23 W m^-2
7.0 W m^-2
58 W m^-2
What is the intensity reflected by the surface (S)?
100 W m^-2
23 W m^-2
7.0 W m^-2
58 W m^-2
What is the intensity radiated by the cloud and atmosphere system (CAS) into space?
100 W m^-2
23 W m^-2
7.0 W m^-2
58 W m^-2
What is the intensity of convection currents and latent heat into CAS from the surface (S)?
100 W m^-2
23 W m^-2
29 W m^-2
58 W m^-2
What is the present equilibrium temperature of the earth?
273 K
288 K
300 K
310 K
According to the Stefan-Boltzmann law, what will happen to the earth's equilibrium temperature if greenhouse gas concentrations increase?
It will decrease
It will remain the same
It will increase
It will fluctuate
The distance d between the sun and the earth is increasing very slowly. How is the power radiated by the sun that is received on earth proportional to d?
1/d
1/d^2
d
d^2
If the distance between the sun and the earth increases by 1.0%, what is the expected drop in the earth's average temperature? (Assume the average temperature of the earth is 288 K)
2.88 K
1.44 K
0.72 K
0.29 K
At what rate is the distance between the sun and the earth increasing per year?
1.0 cm/year
1.5 cm/year
2.0 cm/year
2.5 cm/year
Assume that the planet Venus has a circular orbit around the sun with an orbit radius of 1.08 × 10^11 m. What is the albedo of Venus?
0.50
0.60
0.75
0.85
What is the solar constant at the position of Venus?
2.6 kW m⁻²
1.4 kW m⁻²
3.8 kW m⁻²
5.2 kW m⁻²
What is the equilibrium temperature of Venus?
300 K
500 K
735 K
1000 K
What can be concluded about the atmosphere of Venus if its surface temperature varies from 710 K to 760 K?
It has a thick atmosphere.
It has a thin atmosphere.
It has no atmosphere.
It has a variable atmosphere.
What can be concluded about the atmosphere of Mercury if it has a lower average surface temperature and a huge variation between day and night temperature compared to Venus?
It has a thick atmosphere.
It has a thin atmosphere.
It has no atmosphere.
It has a variable atmosphere.
What is the formula for the intensity of radiation at distance ( d ) from a body radiating energy at a rate ( P )?
( I = \frac{P}{4\pi d^2} )
( I = \frac{P}{2\pi d^2} )
( I = \frac{P}{4\pi d} )
( I = \frac{P}{2\pi d} )
What is one assumption made in deriving the formula for the intensity of radiation at distance ( d ) from a body radiating energy at a rate ( P )?
The body is a perfect black body.
The body is a perfect white body.
The body is a perfect grey body.
The body is a perfect red body.
What is the term "albedo" defined as?
The fraction of solar energy reflected by a surface.
The fraction of solar energy absorbed by a surface.
The fraction of solar energy transmitted by a surface.
The fraction of solar energy emitted by a surface.
Which of the following is NOT a factor that the albedo of Earth depends on?
Surface composition
Surface color
Surface temperature
Surface texture
What is meant by the greenhouse effect?
The trapping of heat in the Earth's atmosphere by greenhouse gases.
The reflection of heat from the Earth's surface.
The absorption of heat by the Earth's oceans.
The emission of heat from the Earth's core.
State the main greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere, and for each give one natural and one human-made source.
Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor
Oxygen, nitrogen, argon
Helium, neon, krypton
Hydrogen, lithium, beryllium
Outline the main ways in which the surface of the earth transfers thermal energy to the atmosphere and to space.
Conduction, convection, radiation
Reflection, refraction, diffraction
Absorption, transmission, scattering
Evaporation, condensation, precipitation
Compare the albedo of a subtropical, warm, dry land with that of a tropical ocean.
Subtropical land has a higher albedo than a tropical ocean.
Subtropical land has a lower albedo than a tropical ocean.
Both have the same albedo.
Albedo is not applicable to these regions.
Suggest mechanisms through which the subtropical land and the tropical ocean transfer thermal energy to the atmosphere.
Conduction and convection
Radiation and evaporation
Convection and radiation
Conduction and radiation
If the sea level were to increase, sea water would cover dry land. Suggest one change in the regional climate that might come about as a result.
Increase in temperature
Decrease in temperature
Increase in humidity
Decrease in humidity
Evaporation is a method of thermal energy loss. Explain whether you would expect this method to be more significant for a tropical ocean or an arctic ocean.
Tropical ocean
Arctic ocean
Both equally
Neither
It is estimated that a change of albedo by 0.01 will result in a 1 °C temperature change. A large area of the earth consists of 60% water and 40% land. Calculate the expected change in temperature if melting ice causes a change in the proportion of the area covered by water from 60% to 70%. Take the albedo of dry land to be 0.30 and that of water to be 0.10.
(a)
