Question 1

Why does a region with energy deficit tend to cool?

Accepted Answer

Because outgoing energy is greater than incoming energy In an energy deficit a region loses more energy than it receives. In exams link deficit with cooling.

Question 2

What is the main reason for energy surplus in low latitudes?

Accepted Answer

More direct angle of sun rays Low latitudes receive more solar energy per unit area. Link equatorial regions with energy surplus in exams.

Question 3

What is one main reason for energy deficit in high latitudes?

Accepted Answer

Oblique sun rays and higher reflection At high latitudes energy spreads over a larger area and snow can increase reflection. Link polar areas with energy deficit.

Question 4

How do the atmosphere and oceans help reduce energy surplus and deficit?

Accepted Answer

They transfer heat latitudinally Winds and ocean currents carry heat from warm regions to cold regions. Link them with global heat transport in exams.

Question 5

Why do local temperatures differ even though the global heat budget is balanced?

Accepted Answer

Because local energy input reflection and absorption differ Global balance is an average but local surface clouds and latitude affect temperature differently. Separate global average from local variation in exams.

Question 6

If surface albedo increases what change is possible in the local heat budget?

Accepted Answer

Absorbed solar energy may decrease High albedo returns more energy so the surface may warm less. Understand albedo as inversely related to absorption.

Question 7

Why do snow covered areas behave differently from forests in the heat budget?

Accepted Answer

Snow has higher albedo so reflection is greater Snow returns more solar energy because of its white surface. Link surface type with energy budget in exams.

Question 8

Which will absorb more solar energy dark soil or white snow and why?

Accepted Answer

Dark soil because its albedo is low A dark surface with low albedo absorbs more energy. Remember the relation between colour and albedo in exams.

Question 9

If cloud cover is high during the day which component of the heat budget may increase?

Accepted Answer

Reflection of solar energy During the day clouds can send more solar energy back toward space. Link cloud cover with reflection in exams.

Question 10

What is the general effect on surface energy loss when clouds increase at night?

Accepted Answer

Energy loss may decrease Clouds can absorb and radiate back longwave energy. Link cloudy nights with less cooling in exams.

Question 11

Why does the atmosphere absorb a large part of longwave energy emitted by Earths surface?

Accepted Answer

Because gases like water vapour and carbon dioxide absorb longwave energy Greenhouse gases are effective absorbers of terrestrial radiation. Link longwave absorption with greenhouse gases in exams.

Question 12

Why is terrestrial radiation called longwave in heat budget?

Accepted Answer

Because Earth is cooler than the Sun and emits lower energy longwaves A cooler body emits relatively longer wave energy. Remember Sun shortwave and Earth longwave in exams.

Question 13

What is the main reason solar radiation is called shortwave?

Accepted Answer

The Sun is a very hot source A hotter source mostly emits shortwave energy. Identify solar radiation as shortwave in exams.

Question 14

What is the basic difference between absorption and reflection in heat budget?

Accepted Answer

In absorption energy is taken in and in reflection energy returns Absorption keeps energy in surface or air while reflection sends it back. Keep the meanings clear for exams.

Question 15

If the reflectivity of a surface decreases what effect on its local temperature is possible?

Accepted Answer

Temperature may rise because absorption may increase Lower reflection can mean greater energy intake. Link decreased reflection with increased heating in exams.

Question 16

If greenhouse gases are very low what is more likely to happen to longwave terrestrial energy?

Accepted Answer

More energy may escape directly to space When greenhouse gases are fewer longwave absorption can decrease. Link greenhouse gases with heat trapping in exams.

Question 17

Which sources are included in the forty eight units of energy going from atmosphere back to space?

Accepted Answer

Solar energy absorbed by atmosphere and terrestrial energy absorbed from surface The atmosphere receives fourteen solar and thirty four terrestrial units and emits forty eight units. Add atmospheric sources in exams.

Question 18

What does the seventeen units of energy going directly from surface to space show in the heat budget?

Accepted Answer

Some terrestrial energy escapes through atmospheric window Some longwave energy can reach space without being absorbed by the atmosphere. Identify direct outgoing energy separately in exams.

Question 19

Why do clouds affect the heat budget differently during day and night?

Accepted Answer

By day they reflect shortwave and at night trap longwave Clouds affect incoming and outgoing energy differently at different times. Remember the dual role of clouds for exams.

Question 20

How can scattering of solar energy change the energy received at the surface?

Accepted Answer

It can reduce direct energy by spreading rays Scattering spreads solar rays in different directions. Link scattering with reduction of direct solar energy in exams.

Question 21

If dust and aerosols increase in an area which part of the heat budget will be affected?

Accepted Answer

Scattering and absorption of solar radiation Dust and aerosols can change the path and amount of incoming energy. Treat aerosols as radiation modifiers in exams.

Question 22

How does energy absorbed by the surface indirectly warm the atmosphere in the heat budget?

Accepted Answer

The surface emits longwave energy which the atmosphere absorbs Much atmospheric heating is linked with terrestrial radiation emitted from the surface. Remember atmospheric heating from below in exams.

Question 23

Which statement best explains heat budget on the basis of energy conservation?

Accepted Answer

Over long time energy gain and energy loss remain nearly equal Heat budget is a balanced account of incoming and outgoing energy. Link it with conservation and balance in exams.

Question 24

If incoming solar energy remains constant but reflection decreases what happens to absorbed energy?

Accepted Answer

Absorbed energy will increase Less reflection generally means more energy remains in the Earth system. Treat reflection and absorption as opposite linked processes.

Question 25

If incoming solar energy is same but surface becomes darker how will local heat budget change?

Accepted Answer

Absorption may increase and surface may warm more A darker surface has lower albedo and can take in more solar energy. Link surface colour with energy budget in exams.

The heat budget of the earth

Practice questions

01 Why does a region with energy deficit tend to cool?

02 What is the main reason for energy surplus in low latitudes?

03 What is one main reason for energy deficit in high latitudes?

04 How do the atmosphere and oceans help reduce energy surplus and deficit?

05 Why do local temperatures differ even though the global heat budget is balanced?

06 If surface albedo increases what change is possible in the local heat budget?

07 Why do snow covered areas behave differently from forests in the heat budget?

08 Which will absorb more solar energy dark soil or white snow and why?

09 If cloud cover is high during the day which component of the heat budget may increase?

10 What is the general effect on surface energy loss when clouds increase at night?

11 Why does the atmosphere absorb a large part of longwave energy emitted by Earths surface?

12 Why is terrestrial radiation called longwave in heat budget?

13 What is the main reason solar radiation is called shortwave?

14 What is the basic difference between absorption and reflection in heat budget?

15 If the reflectivity of a surface decreases what effect on its local temperature is possible?

16 If greenhouse gases are very low what is more likely to happen to longwave terrestrial energy?

17 Which sources are included in the forty eight units of energy going from atmosphere back to space?

18 What does the seventeen units of energy going directly from surface to space show in the heat budget?

19 Why do clouds affect the heat budget differently during day and night?

20 How can scattering of solar energy change the energy received at the surface?

21 If dust and aerosols increase in an area which part of the heat budget will be affected?

22 How does energy absorbed by the surface indirectly warm the atmosphere in the heat budget?

23 Which statement best explains heat budget on the basis of energy conservation?

24 If incoming solar energy remains constant but reflection decreases what happens to absorbed energy?

25 If incoming solar energy is same but surface becomes darker how will local heat budget change?

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