earthsci_finalexam2A_Summer2023
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Feb 20, 2024
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Florida SouthWestern College
Introduction to
Earth Science
Take Home Exam – thoroughly read the below directions
Due Date: Saturday Aug 5
th
, 1159ET
Read the questions as soon as possible, scan the book for answers noting where they are
Check your lab assignments and discussions for helpful comments
Each question is on a separate page; there are 5 total questions
Utilize our Pearson Tarbuck textbook (Chs 9.1-9.8,16, 17, 18, 20, and 15.1) ONLY
to determine these answers except where noted, failure to do so may mean that your answer is incorrect – the level of expertise and content appropriate for this exam is defined by what is in the textbook
Answer directly on the page (directly after “Answer: “ below the questions and save as a.docx or .pdf to the final assignment page
Each answer must be well written
in sentence form IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
This exam will be checked by TURNITIN
on Canvas to determine the degree of authenticity of your work.
There are no word limits
for any of these questions. You should know if you
have provided enough details to answer the question completely. If in doubt, add more detail to your explanations
Yes, format and good writing does count in your grade (5pts)
Contact me by email if you have any questions.
Florida SouthWestern College
Introduction to
Earth Science
1.
This question is about the air in the atmosphere.
i.
What are the two main gases
that make up the atmosphere;
ii.
From the textbook, describe the variable components in the atmosphere AND describe their impact on weather and climate.
Answer: The two main gases in the atmosphere are Nitrogen (N
2
) at 78.084% and
Oxygen (O
2
) at 20.946%.
Variable components in the atmosphere include Water Vapor which is water in gas form that has evaporated up into the atmosphere. It plays a noticeably significant role in weather and climate due to the fact it is responsible for all the clouds and precipitation on Earth. It is also a crucial element in controlling temperatures because of its ability to store heat as latent heat which it releases or stores as it changes back and forth between liquid, solid and gas. Aerosols are fine particles that have been lifted into the atmosphere by wind and rising air and include things like fine dust, fire ash, salt, microorganisms, and pollen. These aerosols can affect the weather in many ways. Solids floating in the atmosphere can clump together giving water vapor a place to condense and form clouds. Also dust in the air can also reflect and absorb solar radiation and reduce the Earth’s temperature. Ozone (O
3
) is another extremely important variable component. Ozone is created when an Oxygen (O
2
) molecule collides into a single Oxygen atom
in the presence of a single neutral atom which gets consumed. Ozone is not uniformly distributed throughout the atmosphere and there is little of it, but it is extremely important for all life on Earth. The Ozone absorbs much of the Ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun that would otherwise render our planet unable to sustain life.
Florida SouthWestern College
Introduction to
Earth Science
2.
Read the table and figure below. The figure shows a closed flask at a constant 15degrees C temperature with 10g of water vapor inside,
plus 5g of liquid water at the bottom. i.
Determine the relative humidity of the closed system below. You must show all your work to receive full credit.
ii.
If the temperature drops and now reads 5 degrees Celsius, what is the new relative humidity?
iii.
How much water vapor and liquid water at the bottom is now present?
Answer: The relative humidity of the closed system would be 10/10 or 100% humidity because at 15 degrees Celsius 1 kilogram of air becomes fully saturated with 10 grams of water vapor. If the temperature drops to 5 degrees Celsius the new relative humidity would remain at 100% or 10/10. At 5 degrees Celsius the closed system would now have 5 grams of water vapor and 5 grams of liquid water
at the bottom of the container due to condensation.
10g water vapor
T: 15deg C
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Florida SouthWestern College
Introduction to
Earth Science
3.
The following questions relate to the figure shown below of an air mass rising and forming clouds in the atmosphere before the air mass descends back to the ground. (see Chapter 17)
i.
Why does warm moist air mass rise?
ii.
As it rises, what cooling process does it undergo before cloud formation?
iii.
The blue dotted line where clouds start to form is called, what is the relative humidity?
iv.
Does the rising air mass cool faster or slower once cloud formation begins? Why or why not?
v.
Why does the cool, dry air mass begin to sink?
Answer: Warm moist air masses rise because they are less dense than the cooler air around them. As the air rises the atmosphere becomes thinner decreasing the pressure on the air molecules and allowing them to expand and cool down. This cooling is known as the Dry Adiabatic Rate until the air reaches the condensation level where cloud forming occurs then it becomes the Wet Adiabatic Rate. The blue
dotted line is the Condensation level or Dew point where the air becomes saturated enough at 100% humidity to form clouds. The rising air mass will cool at a slower rate once cloud formation begins because as water vapor turns into liquid water it releases latent heat slowing the cooling process. The cool dry air begins to
sink because it has become denser than the air around it.
Florida SouthWestern College
Introduction to
Earth Science
Florida SouthWestern College
Introduction to
Earth Science
4.
Below is a global map of air ciculation: convection cells and wind bands/belts (thick red arrows) on the surface of Earth i.
List the three main factors that affect wind; ii.
Identify the regions (A, B, C) as Low or High Pressure,
iii.
identify the major wind bands/belts (D, E) indicated by the red arrows;
iv.
name a major currents in the North Atlantic (circled area) that is driven by wind belt E? (See Chs 18 and 15.1)
Answer: The three main factors affecting wind are the Pressure Gradient Force which is a wind creating force caused by pressure differences in areas. Air in a higher-pressure area will always move towards a lower pressure area. The next factor is the Coriolis Effect which is the rotation of the Earth causing wind to curve. The Coriolis effect will cause wind to turn to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. The last factor is Friction with the Earth’s surface. As wind moves over the surface of the planet it is slowed or diverted in different directions by the changing topography of the planet. A represents the Equatorial low, B represents the Subtropical High, and C
represents
the Subpolar low. D represents the NE Trade winds, and E
represents the Westerlies wind belt. The Gulf stream which begins in the Caribbeans and moves NE along the east coast of the U.S. is driven by the Westerlies wind belt. A
B
C
D
E
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Florida SouthWestern College
Introduction to
Earth Science
5.
Below is a diagram of surface AIR temperatures on Earth. Warmer (red) colors indicate hotter temperatures, whereas, cooler (purple) colors indicate cold conditions.
i.
Determine which month of the year this diagram likely represents using evidence from the map to support your decision? ii.
Is the solar angle greater (is the sun more directly overhead) over the tropics south of the equator (thick black line) or north of the equator?
iii.
Why would temperatures over continents appear warmer or cooler than nearby ocean regions? (See Chapter 16)
Answer: The map is showing a winter month, most likely January, because the colder temperatures are extending so far south in the northern hemisphere and north in the southern hemisphere. The Sun is more directly over the Tropic of Capricorn south of the Equator. Waters specific heat is much higher than land, so it
takes quite a bit more energy to heat it up. It also has cooler water underneath which mixes and slows the process. Once water is heated up though it will require the same amount of energy to cool it back down so as a whole water regulates its temperature much better that land.