- The annual amount of incoming solar energy varies considerably from
tropical to polar latitudes with the polar regions radiating away more
thermal energy than they absorb from the sun in the course of a year. The
primary reason that the polar regions are not becoming progressively colder
each year is because (A) large areas of upwelling in the polar seas keep heat
circulating in the region (B) as ice melts, it releases its heat energy to the
surroundings
(C) the extensive cloud cover in the polar regions acts as a thermal blanket
keeping whatever heat there is from escaping (D) underground “hot
spots” in the polar seas keep the ocean temperatures in the area fairly
stable (E) global heat energy is constantly being circulated through both
ocean and air currents 37. Approximately five pounds of carbon is
released into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide for every
gallon of gasoline that is burned. Two cars are making a 500 mile trip.
Car A gets 15 miles to the gallon and car B gets 30 miles to the gallon.
Approximately how much more carbon (in the form of CO 2 ) will car A
produce than car B?
(A) 5 pounds
(B) 16.7 pounds
(C) 33.3 pounds
(D) 83 pounds
(E) 100 pounds
- Which factor does NOT significantly affect the amount of solar energy
reaching the surface of Earth?
(A) Earth’s rotation once every 24 hours
(B) Earth’s revolution around the sun once per year
(C) The tilt of Earth’s axis (23.5°)
(D) Atmospheric conditions
(E) The distance between Earth and the sun
- Other than the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, which of the following
factors has made the largest contribution to the global rise in sea level over
the past 100 years?
(A) Urbanization and its impact on estuaries
(B) Melting of sea ice