Atmospheric Energy Balance
Learn how incoming solar energy and outgoing radiation interact to balance Earth's atmospheric temperature.
Questions
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MultiChoice
What incoming energy enters Earth's atmospheric system?
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MultiChoice
What term describes the fraction of light reflected by a surface like ice or clouds?
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MultiChoice
Do bright white ice sheets have high albedo or low albedo?
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MultiChoice
Do dark ocean waters have high albedo or low albedo?
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MultiChoice
Roughly what percentage of incoming solar energy is reflected back into space by clouds and surface?
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MultiChoice
Roughly what percentage of incoming solar energy is absorbed by Earth's land, water, and atmosphere?
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MultiChoice
Earth radiates absorbed solar energy back out into space primarily as what form of light?
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MultiChoice
What happens if Earth absorbs more energy than it radiates back out into space?
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MultiChoice
What process transfers heat from warm Earth ground directly into the air molecules touching it?
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MultiChoice
The movement of warm air rising and cool air sinking in the troposphere is called what?
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MultiChoice
Which surface type has the highest albedo?
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MultiChoice
Which surface absorbs the most solar energy due to low albedo?