Atmosphere and Oceans Factors that Control Earth's Temperature: Energy from the sun and greenhouse gases by Julia Rosen, Ph.D., Anne E. Egger, Ph.D. Reading Quiz Teach with this 1. The sun emits energy across the electromagnetic spectrum, but the intensity of that energy is greatest at which wavelength? Ultraviolet (the shortest wavelengths) Visible wavelengths Near-infrared Medium-infrared (the longest wavelengths) 2. Why does Mercury have the highest insolation of all of the planets? Mercury is closest to the sun. Mercury is the smallest planet. Mercury has no atmosphere. Mercury has the lowest albedo. 3. All wavelengths of energy emitted by the sun make it through the atmosphere to Earth’s surface. true false 4. Which of the following surfaces would you expect to have the highest albedo? Blacktop or asphalt A lawn with green grass A snowy field A lake 5. Why are some atmospheric components like carbon dioxide called “greenhouse gases”? They absorb infrared energy and cause the atmosphere to warm. They were discovered in de Saussure’s hot box. They are created by plants in greenhouses. They are present only when liquid water is available. 6. Which of the following would be considered aerosols that might have a cooling effect in the atmosphere? Dust kicked up by plowing a dry field that falls back to the ground the same day. Carbon dioxide emitted in a volcanic eruption that stays in the atmosphere. Droplets of sulfuric acid emitted in a volcanic eruption that stay in the atmosphere for a year. Methane emitted by natural gas power plants. 7. The primary source of energy at Earth’s surface is: Nuclear energy from Earth’s core. Energy emitted from the sun. Infrared energy emitted by Earth. The motion of the sun. Score Quiz
