Lock Haven University

Earth Science – Summer Session II

Study Guide for Hour Exam #2 (to be held on July 2, 2009)

 

The format of the test will be multiple-choice questions.  There will be 50 questions in the test.  You will use a scantron to bubble your choices with a #2 pencil.  Your answers will be scanned using a computer program.  A sample test containing several questions is provided as hyperlinks in the study guide.  To see a sample question that relate to a topic or term in the study guide, click on the hyperlink for that topic or term.  When you click on a hyperlink it will open the sample test with the relevant question shown on top of the page.  Check your notes and the textbook for correct answers (ask me, if not sure).  Keep in mind that these are just some examples of types of questions that you will see in the test.

 

Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature (Chapter 16)

      v     What is meteorology?  What is the difference between weather and climate?  What parameters are            used to describe weather or climate?

v     What are the most abundant and significant gases in the atmosphere?

v     Know the extent of different layers of the atmosphere (e.g. troposphere, stratosphere, etc.) and their characteristics in terms of composition and temperature variations.

v     What causes the seasons?  What is the difference between inclination and duration of solar radiation?

v     Know the difference between perihelion and aphelion.

v     Know the names of major latitudes (e.g. equator, tropic of cancer, arctic circle, etc.) and their positions with respect to sun’s noon angle during various seasons.  What is analemma?

v     Know when the summer solstice, winter solstice, vernal equinox and autumnal equinox occur in the northern and southern hemispheres.

v     What causes the length of day and night to vary during different seasons?  Why do we have 24-hour days and 24-hour night in parts of Alaska and other north European countries?

 

Moisture (Chapter17)

 

v     What are different states of water? Know the names of the processes (e.g. melting, freezing, etc.) and associated heat energy required to transform water from one state to another.

v     What is humidity?  How can you determine different types of humidity?  What device is used to determine relative humidity and dew point temperature?

v     What is dew point temperature?

v     What is the difference between dry and wet adiabatic processes?

v     Know the names and characteristics of different types of clouds and their association with fronts.  Know the types of precipitation.

v     Know the names of different types of fogs.  What is smog?  How do they form?  Why are they important?

 

Air Pressure and Winds (Chapter 18)

 

v     What is air pressure?  What device is used to determine air pressure?  What factors control air direction and speed?

v     What is the difference between a cyclone and anti-cyclone?  How are they different in southern hemisphere?

v     Know the global air pressure and circulation patterns.  What are westerlies, trade wind, and easterlies?  Why are they important?

v     What is jet stream?

v     What is the difference between sea breeze and land breeze? 

 

Air Masses, Fronts, Weather Patterns, and Severe Storms (Chapter 19)

 v     What is an air mass?  How many different types of air masses are there?  What are their characteristics in terms of temperature and humidity?

v     What is a front?  How do different types of fronts vary from each other?  Which front is associated with severe weather? 

v     What is a tropical hurricane (or typhoon or cyclone)?  What are major characteristics of a hurricane (or cyclone)?

v     Know the difference between a thunderstorm and tornado.  What causes them to form?  Where are the tornadoes most common in the US and why?

 

Human Impacts on Atmosphere (Chapter 20)

 

v     What is acid rain?  How does acid rain form?

v     What is greenhouse effect?  What are some greenhouse gases? What are some consequences of greenhouse effect?  What can be done in the future to reduce greenhouse effect?

v     What is ozone depletion?  What are the consequences of ozone depletion?  What are possible remedies against ozone depletion?

 

Note:  Some of these topics (greenhouse effect and ozone depletion) we have covered earlier and you are responsible for the content on those topics.