Water in the Atmosphere

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CHAPTER 3 Exploring with Google Earth

To complete these problems, first read the chapter. When you are finished, go to LaunchPad and open the Exploring with Google Earth file for this chapter. Click on the “Workbook Problems” folder to “fly” to each of the problems listed below and answer the questions. Be sure to keep your “Borders and Labels” layer activated. Refer to Appendix 4 if you need help using Google Earth.

PROBLEM 3.1 Activate the overlay in this folder. Florida is featured. The placemark points to a large cloud.

Question 3.7

1. What type of cloud is found at the placemark?

Cumulus

Cumulonimbus

Nimbostratus

Altocumulus

Question 3.8

2. There are also many smaller clouds forming over the Florida peninsula. What type of clouds are those?

Cumulus

Cumulonimbus

Nimbostratus

Altocumulus

Question 3.9

3. The land temperature is warming and creating warm air parcels. What type of lifting is creating these clouds?

Convective lifting

Convergent lifting

Frontal lifting

Orographic lifting

Question 3.10

4. Although the information is not specifically provided, at what time of day was this image most likely captured?

Early morning after sunrise

Early afternoon

Late afternoon

Late evening after sunset

PROBLEM 3.2 Deactivate all previous overlays and activate the overlay in this folder. This problem features the water vapor content of the atmosphere for the month of October 2012. Dark blue regions have the highest water vapor content. The dark blotches are areas of no data due to persistent cloud cover.

Question 3.11

1. With regard to latitude, what is the global pattern of water vapor content that you see in this overlay?

Water vapor decreases as latitude increases.

Water vapor increases as latitude increases.

There is no relationship between water vapor and latitude.

Question 3.12

2. With regard to elevation, what is the global pattern of water vapor content that you see in this overlay?

Water vapor decreases as elevation increases.

Water vapor increases as elevation increases.

There is no relationship between water vapor and elevation.

Question 3.13

3. Note that water vapor is high over central South America at the location of the placemark. What process contributes most of the water vapor at this location far away from the oceans?

Evaporation

Transpiration

Condensation

Precipitation

PROBLEM 3.3 Keep the water vapor overlay from the previous problem activated. This placemark shows another area with high atmospheric water vapor content.

Question 3.14

1. What process contributes most of the water vapor at this location?

Evaporation

Transpiration

Condensation

Precipitation

Question 3.15

2. What is the name of this country?

India

Bangladesh

Burma

Bhutan

Question 3.16

3. Just a few hundred miles to the north, the air becomes much drier. What physical feature causes this change?

The Himalayas

The Tibetan Plateau

The Indian Ocean

The Gobi Desert

Question 3.17

4. Why is the water vapor content so low just a few hundred miles to the north of the placemark?

The air is colder there.

The air is warmer there.

PROBLEM 3.4 Deactivate all previous overlays and activate the overlay in this folder. This placemark shows a pattern of linear clouds that crisscross the image.

Question 3.18

1. Which cloud group do these clouds belong to?

Stratus

Alto

Cirrus

Cumulus

Question 3.19

2. How were these clouds formed?

They were formed behind mountains.

They were formed by aircraft.

They were formed as the ground cooled.

They were formed along a front.

Question 3.20

3. What is the name of this specific cloud type?

Stratocumulus clouds

Jet contrails

Cumulonimbus clouds

Fog

Question 3.21

4. What are these clouds composed of?

Water vapor

Liquid cloud droplets

Ice crystals

A mixture of liquid and ice

Question 3.22

5. What is the approximate altitude of these clouds in feet?

About 6,000 feet or lower

About 10,000 feet

About 15,000 feet

About 20,000 feet or higher

PROBLEM 3.5 Deactivate all previous overlays and activate the overlay in this folder. The placemark points to Lake Baikal in central Russia. It is the deepest (1,642 m or 5,387 ft), oldest (25 million years), and largest lake by volume in the world (holding 20% of all liquid surface freshwater). Because of its northern location, great volume, and great depth, it is a cold lake. Notice that the lake is covered with clouds in this image.

Question 3.23

1. What type of clouds have formed over the lake?

Fog

Alto

Cirrus

Cumulus

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Question 3.24

2. Why do these clouds occur only over Lake Baikal?

The cold lake water has lowered the relative humidity.

The cold lake water has caused the air to become undersaturated.

The cold lake water has chilled the air to the dew point.

The lake is in a deep basin where evaporation exceeds precipitation.

PROBLEM 3.6 Deactivate all previous overlays and activate the overlay in this folder. This placemark is in the Yellow Sea between South Korea and China.

Question 3.25

1. What type of clouds do you see?

Fog

Alto

Cirrus

Cumulus

Question 3.26

2. What is another name for these clouds?

Nimbostratus clouds

Advection fog

Altostratus clouds

Radiation fog

Question 3.27

3. Why do the clouds abruptly terminate over the Korean Peninsula?

The land is colder than the ocean and net condensation occurs on land.

The land is warmer than the ocean and net evaporation occurs on land.

High coastal mountains block the clouds from flowing onto the land.

The water becomes cold near the coast.

PROBLEM 3.7 Deactivate all previous overlays and activate the overlay in this folder. This image shows the Rio Negro in Brazil near where it enters the Amazon River in the Amazon rainforest.

Question 3.28

1. What type of clouds are in this image?

Cumulus

Cumulonimbus

Stratus

Cirrus

Question 3.29

2. Where did most of the water vapor at this location originate?

From evaporation from the oceans

From plant transpiration

From the Andes

From the Amazon River