What is radiation and what role does it play in the transfer of energy in the atmosphere?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: Radiation is the most important process of heat transfer, which is a type of energy exchange in the environment. As energy from the Sun passes through the atmosphere, some wavelengths are absorbed, warming the atmosphere, while others pass through or are reflected, either to be absorbed elsewhere or to travel back into space. Clouds play a major role in reflecting energy back to space and in this way atmospheric moisture and weather processes can significantly affect the energy budget.
Different materials absorb heat at different levels. When this stored heat is released, an object cools. The ability of an object to store heat depends on what it is made of. These are referred to as greenhouse gases.
About half of the solar radiation that reaches Earth is absorbed by the surface and the rest is either absorbed in the atmosphere or reflected back to space. The gases in the atmosphere allow much of the incoming shortwave energy to pass through, but a few gases—called greenhouse gases—absorb outgoing longwave radiation. All of the energy absorbed from the Sun—whether it reached the surface or was absorbed or reflected in the atmosphere—is eventually re-radiated back to space.
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Which of the following statements best embodies the qualities of a scientific theory?
A) Squirrels in central Illinois prefer to build their nests in oak trees instead of hickory trees. B) Dangerous wildfires in California could be avoided by better fire prevention strategies. C) Prairies that have large herds of bison show greater plant diversity than prairies without bison. D) All gases, liquids, and solids consist of atoms.
The term demographic transition refers to ________
A) the slowing down in the growth of a population as it approaches the carrying capacity B) the decline in death rates followed by a decline in birth rates that occurred because sanitation levels in areas improved C) the decline in death rates followed by decline in birth rates when a country develops a strong economy D) the slowing down in the growth of a population as it approaches its biocapacity E) a requirement for a population to reach a specific size before it becomes stable
Stability is measured using a sling psychrometer
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
Conglomerate differs from breccia in that:
a. the particles in conglomerate are mainly quartz b. the particles in conglomerate are mainly calcite c. the particles in conglomerate are rounded d. the particles in conglomerate are angular