Question 1

On the average, how much of the Sun's energy that is intercepted by Earth is reflected back to space?

Accepted Answer

A)  20% 
B)  30% 
C)  10% 
D)  40% 
A)  20% 
B)  30% 
C)  10% 
D)  40%

Question 2

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

Accepted Answer

A)  argon 
B)  hydrogen 
C)  oxygen 
D)  nitrogen 
A)  argon 
B)  hydrogen 
C)  oxygen 
D)  nitrogen

Question 3

Ozone is important to humans because it _____ .

Accepted Answer

A)  passes solar rays that would maintain our present climate range 
B)  absorbs ultraviolet radiation with is harmful to humans 
C)  is a pollutant that is harmful to humans 
D)  absorbs infrared radiation which is harmful to humans 
E)  reflects solar rays that would cause global warming 
A)  passes solar rays that would maintain our present climate range 
B)  absorbs ultraviolet radiation with is harmful to humans 
C)  is a pollutant that is harmful to humans 
D)  absorbs infrared radiation which is harmful to humans 
E)  reflects solar rays that would cause global warming

Question 4

Consider the below figure showing carbon dioxide level changes with time.   What is the reason for the rise in CO2 levels?

Accepted Answer

A)  water vapor creation 
B)  milankovitch cycles 
C)  fossil fuel burning 
D)  ozone hole burning 
A)  water vapor creation 
B)  milankovitch cycles 
C)  fossil fuel burning 
D)  ozone hole burning

Question 5

What causes ocean currents?

Accepted Answer

A)  temperature differences in the oceans 
B)  unequal heating of the earth driving winds 
C)  density differences in the oceans 
D)  winds 
E)  none of the above 
A)  temperature differences in the oceans 
B)  unequal heating of the earth driving winds 
C)  density differences in the oceans 
D)  winds 
E)  none of the above

Question 6

Which mechanism of heat transfer involves transfer of heat by mass movement or circulation within a substance?

Accepted Answer

A)  radiation 
B)  condensation 
C)  convection 
D)  conduction 
A)  radiation 
B)  condensation 
C)  convection 
D)  conduction

Question 7

The normal lapse rate in the troposphere is about _____  per kilometer.

Accepted Answer

A)  3.5°C 
B)  6.5°C 
C)  9.5°C 
D)  1.5°C 
A)  3.5°C 
B)  6.5°C 
C)  9.5°C 
D)  1.5°C

Question 8

The major absorber of terrestrial radiation is _____ .

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon Dioxide 
B)  ozone 
C)  water vapor 
D)  oxygen 
E)  none of the above 
A)  carbon Dioxide 
B)  ozone 
C)  water vapor 
D)  oxygen 
E)  none of the above

Question 9

The Southern hemisphere in June_____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  has the shortest hours of daylight of the year 
B)  experiences equal lengths of day and night 
C)  has the same amount of daylight as any other time of year 
D)  has longest hours of daylight of the year 
A)  has the shortest hours of daylight of the year 
B)  experiences equal lengths of day and night 
C)  has the same amount of daylight as any other time of year 
D)  has longest hours of daylight of the year

Question 10

Diffused light is caused by_____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  scattering of solar radiation by dust particles and gas molecules 
B)  solar radiation striking surface water at a low angle 
C)  solar radiation striking an irregular surface and being partially absorbed 
D)  scattering of solar radiation by water molecules 
E)  none of the above 
A)  scattering of solar radiation by dust particles and gas molecules 
B)  solar radiation striking surface water at a low angle 
C)  solar radiation striking an irregular surface and being partially absorbed 
D)  scattering of solar radiation by water molecules 
E)  none of the above

Question 11

Which of the following gases is an efficient absorber of the earth's emitted energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  argon 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  carbon dioxide 
D)  oxygen 
E)  none of the above 
A)  argon 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  carbon dioxide 
D)  oxygen 
E)  none of the above

Question 12

Why is ozone concentrated in a particular range of levels in the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  It reflects light back into space at that level, and the energy from that reaction fuels the formation of ozone. 
B)  It requires a catalyst, an isolated oxygen atom, and an oxygen molecule, all of which occur in sufficient quantities at that range of levels. 
C)  It requires a unique temperature and light level which occur at that range in the atmosphere. 
D)  It is formed from air pollution that reaches that level in sufficient quantities to form ozone. 
A)  It reflects light back into space at that level, and the energy from that reaction fuels the formation of ozone. 
B)  It requires a catalyst, an isolated oxygen atom, and an oxygen molecule, all of which occur in sufficient quantities at that range of levels. 
C)  It requires a unique temperature and light level which occur at that range in the atmosphere. 
D)  It is formed from air pollution that reaches that level in sufficient quantities to form ozone.

Question 13

Ozone is concentrated in the_____ .

Accepted Answer

A)  mesosphere 
B)  ionosphere 
C)  troposphere 
D)  stratosphere 
A)  mesosphere 
B)  ionosphere 
C)  troposphere 
D)  stratosphere

Question 14

You are given a six- month assignment by your employer to work at a remote location in Australia. In order to pack as lightly as possible, you try to research the climate of the small town in Australia, but there is little data since no major cities are located within 300 miles. What are some geographic or other considerations that might help you "predict" what general weather patterns exist at the location?

Accepted Answer

The latitude is very important

Question 15

In 1960 military pilot Joseph Kittinger jumped from a high altitude balloon in a fully pressurized jump suit about 100,000 feet, in the stratosphere, all the way to the ground. When in the stratosphere he felt like he was floating, even though he was free- falling in space. When he reached the troposphere he could feel the wind resistance and it no longer felt like he was floating. Why was this likely the case?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is colder in the stratosphere so the coldness numbed his ability to feel wind resistance there. 
B)  The feeling was probably not real. Your senses are dulled when you reach greater heights. 
C)  There is less air in the stratosphere so there was less wind resistance on his body. 
D)  At higher altitudes, his brain was not receiving the oxygen it needed to process a feeling of wind resistance. 
A)  It is colder in the stratosphere so the coldness numbed his ability to feel wind resistance there. 
B)  The feeling was probably not real. Your senses are dulled when you reach greater heights. 
C)  There is less air in the stratosphere so there was less wind resistance on his body. 
D)  At higher altitudes, his brain was not receiving the oxygen it needed to process a feeling of wind resistance.

Question 16

You are from the continental United States and are conversing with a classmate who comes from Norway. Your remark to your classmate how strange it must be to have almost 24 hours of sunlight on some summer days. You remark that this must seem really unusual to have such long hours but they do not agree. Why not?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because Norway is so close to the Arctic Circle, it is not really affected by daylight length changes. 
B)  There is not really any normal to an individual from the far north. Daylight hours are in constant flux from very long in June to very short in December. 
C)  There is nearly twenty- four hours of sunlight in most of the continental United States as well. 
D)  Your statement is incorrect. There is very little light in the summer in Norway. 
A)  Because Norway is so close to the Arctic Circle, it is not really affected by daylight length changes. 
B)  There is not really any normal to an individual from the far north. Daylight hours are in constant flux from very long in June to very short in December. 
C)  There is nearly twenty- four hours of sunlight in most of the continental United States as well. 
D)  Your statement is incorrect. There is very little light in the summer in Norway.

Question 17

Which of the following is the poorest absorber of solar radiation?

Accepted Answer

A)  ozone 
B)  water vapor 
C)  oxygen 
D)  nitrogen 
A)  ozone 
B)  water vapor 
C)  oxygen 
D)  nitrogen

Question 18

The major risk to humans from the depletion of ozone is the increase in_____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  chlorine in the atmosphere, which is poisonous to most humans 
B)  CO2 from plant production 
C)  deaths due to lung cancer 
D)  cataracts and damage to the immune systems 
E)  deaths due to skin cancer 
A)  chlorine in the atmosphere, which is poisonous to most humans 
B)  CO2 from plant production 
C)  deaths due to lung cancer 
D)  cataracts and damage to the immune systems 
E)  deaths due to skin cancer

Question 19

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

Accepted Answer

A)  radiation 
B)  conduction 
C)  scattering 
D)  convection 
A)  radiation 
B)  conduction 
C)  scattering 
D)  convection

Question 20

Which one of the following are the three most abundant gases in the dry atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen 
B)  argon, carbon dioxide, nitrogen 
C)  nitrogen, oxygen, argon 
D)  oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide 
A)  carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen 
B)  argon, carbon dioxide, nitrogen 
C)  nitrogen, oxygen, argon 
D)  oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide

Exam 16: The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature

On the average, how much of the Sun's energy that is intercepted by Earth is reflected back to space?

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

Ozone is important to humans because it _____ .

Consider the below figure showing carbon dioxide level changes with time. What is the reason for the rise in CO2 levels?

What causes ocean currents?

Which mechanism of heat transfer involves transfer of heat by mass movement or circulation within a substance?

The normal lapse rate in the troposphere is about _____ per kilometer.

The major absorber of terrestrial radiation is _____ .

The Southern hemisphere in June_____ .

Diffused light is caused by_____ .

Which of the following gases is an efficient absorber of the earth's emitted energy?

Why is ozone concentrated in a particular range of levels in the atmosphere?

Ozone is concentrated in the_____ .

Which of the following is the poorest absorber of solar radiation?

The major risk to humans from the depletion of ozone is the increase in_____ .

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

Which one of the following are the three most abundant gases in the dry atmosphere?

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Weathering, Soil, and Mass Movement

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, Deserts, and Wind

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Dynamic Ocean

Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Wind

Weather Patterns and Severe Storms

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Touring Our Solar System

Light, Telescopes, and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters

Consider the below figure showing carbon dioxide level changes with time. What is the reason for the rise in CO₂levels?