Climatology Questions and Answers

Which of the following correctly explains why water vapour condenses in the atmosphere?

The 'day model' of the atmosphere's energy budget includes incoming solar radiation, reflected shortwave radiation, absorbed shortwave radiation, outgoing longwave radiation, and net radiation. Which term describes the process where longwave radiation emitted by the Earth's surface is absorbed by the atmosphere and re-radiated back down, warming the lower atmosphere?

In the six-factor energy-budget model of the atmosphere, what term describes the shortwave radiation that is reflected back to space by clouds, the atmosphere and the Earth's surface, without being absorbed?

Continental interiors such as parts of Asia show strong negative temperature anomalies in January compared with the oceans. Which human activity is a way of raising local temperatures, as distinct from this large-scale continental cooling pattern?

Which statement correctly distinguishes the greenhouse effect from global warming?

Urban areas are typically warmer than the surrounding rural areas, an effect known as the urban heat island. Which of the following is NOT a reason for this warming?

The Northeast and Southeast Trade wind air masses converge near the equator, producing rising, moist, unstable air, cumulonimbus development, and heavy convectional rainfall. What is this convergence zone called (give its full name or its common abbreviation)?

What term describes the rate at which the temperature of the surrounding, still air actually falls with height at a given time and place, as measured by a radiosonde?

What term describes the rate at which an unsaturated parcel of rising air cools due to expansion alone, averaging about 10 degrees Celsius per 1000 m?

The troposphere is heated mainly from below rather than directly by incoming solar radiation. What is the main reason temperature falls with increasing altitude within it?

What single greenhouse gas has risen from about 280 ppm before industrialisation to over 420 ppm today, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels?

What term describes the temperature to which air must be cooled, at constant pressure and moisture content, for it to become saturated and for condensation to begin?

The Bergeron-Findeisen process explains rain formation in cold clouds where supercooled water droplets and ice crystals coexist. What is the key physical fact that drives ice crystals to grow at the expense of the surrounding droplets?