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

Question 1

Which one of the following statements is true about the equinoxes?

A) They occur in June and December.
B) The Sun's vertical rays are striking either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn.
C) Days and nights are equal in length everywhere.
D) The length of daylight at the Arctic and Antarctic Circles is 24 hours.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

At noon on February 21, the Sun is overhead ________.

A) at the equator
B) at some point between the Tropic of Capricorn and the equator, heading southward
C) at some point between the Tropic of Cancer and the equator, heading northward
D) at some point between the Tropic of Capricorn and the equator, heading northward

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The storage of heat in the lower layer of the atmosphere produced by certain heat absorbing gases is called the ________.

A) adiabatic effect
B) greenhouse effect
C) grey-body effect
D) photon effect

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Ozone is concentrated in the ________.

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

Question 5

The triatomic form of oxygen (O₃) is known as ________.

A) argon
B) ozone
C) chlorofluorocarbon
D) molecular oxygen

Question 6

The wavelengths of radiation emitted by Earth are ________.

A) longer than those emitted by the Sun
B) shorter than those emitted by the Sun
C) about the same as those emitted by the Sun
D) none of these

Question 7

Which one of the gases listed below is more important meteorologically (that is, is more important in weather processes) than the others?

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

Question 8

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

A) 3.5˚C
B) 6.5˚C
C) 1.5˚C
D) 9.5˚C

Question 9

Fifty percent of the gases making up the atmosphere are found below ________.

A) 10 miles (16.2 km)
B) 6 ½ miles (10.4 km)
C) 3 ½ miles (5.6 km)
D) 8 miles (12.8 km)

Question 10

The longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum are ________.

A) gamma
B) ultraviolet
C) radio
D) infrared

Question 11

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

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

Question 12

Ozone filters out most of the ________ radiation in sunlight.

A) infrared
B) gamma
C) ultraviolet
D) microwave

Question 13

Air may best be described as ________.

A) an element
B) a compound
C) a mixture
D) none of these

Question 14

On the AVERAGE, for every 1 km increase in altitude in the troposphere, the air temperature ________.

A) drops about 6.5˚C
B) rises about 6.5˚C
C) remains constant
D) rises only during the day

Question 15

With which of the following is dust in the atmosphere associated?

A) reflection of solar energy
B) optical phenomena such as a red sky at sunset
C) condensation and cloud formation
D) all of these

Question 16

The lowest layer of the atmosphere is the ________.

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

Question 17

Practically all clouds and storms occur in this layer of the atmosphere.

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

Question 18

Which one of the following latitudes best represents the location where the Sun is directly overhead at noon on April 21?

A) 0˚
B) 8˚S
C) 8˚N
D) 23.5˚N

Question 19

Which one of the following is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?

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

Question 20

The tropopause is the boundary between ________

A) the troposphere and stratosphere
B) tropical and polar air masses
C) the troposphere and mesosphere
D) two layers of high ozone concentration

Question 21

Two cities are located at the same latitude (40˚). City A is in the Southern Hemisphere and City B is in the Northern Hemisphere. Assume the two cities reflect the general characteristics of the hemispheres where they are located. Which city should have the warmest winter temperatures?

A) City A
B) City B
C) Both cities should have nearly identical winter temperatures.
D) More information is required to answer the question.

Question 22

The annual range of temperature may be described as the difference between ________.

A) maximum and minimum temperatures over a period of one year
B) maximum and minimum temperatures during the period of one month
C) the average temperatures of the warmest and coldest months
D) both A and C

Question 23

Earth receives energy from the Sun in this way.

A) conduction
B) convection
C) radiation
D) all of these

Question 24

If the maximum temperature for a particular day is 26˚C and the minimum temperature is 14˚C, the daily range would be ________.

A) 40˚C
B) 20˚C
C) 12˚C
D) 13˚C

Question 25

If the maximum temperature for a particular day is 26˚C and the minimum temperature is 14˚C, the daily mean would be ________.

A) 40˚C
B) 20˚C
C) 12˚C
D) 13˚C

Question 26

The summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on this date.

A) June 21
B) March 21
C) September 21
D) December 21

Question 27

The spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on ________.

A) June 21
B) March 21
C) September 21
D) December 21

Question 28

The North Pole has a higher noon Sun angle than New York City on this date.

A) June 21
B) March 21
C) September 21
D) none of these

Question 29

The 90˚ angle solar rays are striking the Tropic of Capricorn on ________.

A) June 21
B) March 21
C) September 21
D) December 21

Question 30

The transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity is

A) conduction
B) convection
C) radiation
D) all of these

Question 31

The fall equinox in the Southern Hemisphere occurs on this date.

A) June 21
B) March 21
C) September 21
D) December 21

Question 32

The 90˚ angle solar rays are striking the Tropic of Cancer on ________.

A) June 21
B) March 21
C) September 21
D) December 21

Question 33

On the average, how much of the Sun's energy that is intercepted by Earth is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds?

A) 20%
B) 30%
C) 40%
D) 50%

Question 34

The two most important heat absorbing gases in the lower atmosphere are ________.

A) oxygen and nitrogen
B) water vapor and carbon dioxide
C) argon and oxygen
D) ozone and chlorofluorocarbon

Question 35

New York City has its greatest length of daylight on ________.

A) June 21
B) March 21
C) September 21
D) December 21

Question 36

A very important control of the DAILY range of temperature is ________.

A) the amount of water vapor in the air
B) Earth's elliptical orbit
C) parallelism and inclination of Earth's axis
D) air pressure

Question 37

On this date the length of daylight gets progressively longer going south from the equator.

A) June 21
B) March 21
C) September 21
D) December 21

Question 38

Which is a mechanisms of heat transfer?

A) conduction
B) convection
C) radiation
D) all of these

Question 39

This process involves the movement of a mass or substance.

A) conduction
B) convection
C) radiation
D) all of these

Question 40

A place located along a windward coast will probably have ________.

A) warmer summer temperatures than an inland location at the same latitude
B) cooler summer temperatures than an inland location at the same latitude
C) summer temperatures that are very similar to an inland location at the same latitude
D) none of these

Question 41

Distance variations between Earth and the Sun are very important in understanding seasonal temperature variations.

Question 42

Tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere are collectively called aerosols.

Question 43

The atmosphere is heated chiefly by radiation emitted by Earth.

Question 44

Weather and climate are synonymous terms

Question 45

Visible wavelengths make up about one-half of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Question 46

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. ultraviolet B. visible light C. infrared D. convection

Question 47

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. Tropic of Cancer B. Equator C. Arctic Circle D. Tropic of Capricorn

Question 48

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. oxygen B. nitrogen C. hydrogen D. argon

Question 49

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. conduction B. scattering C. convection D. radiation

Question 50

Earth's atmosphere ends quite abruptly at an altitude of 40 kilometers.

Question 51

More solar energy is reflected back to space than is absorbed directly by the atmosphere.

Question 52

Snow-covered surfaces have a low albedo.

Question 53

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. rotation B. scattering C. reflection D. absorption

Question 54

By adding the daily maximum and minimum temperatures and then dividing by two, the daily range is calculated.

Question 55

If it were not for the inclination of Earth's axis, there would be no well-defined seasons.

Question 56

The annual temperature range at most latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere is much smaller than that in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason for this is that ________.

A) Earth is closest to the Sun during the Southern Hemisphere summer
B) rainfall and cloudiness are greater in the Southern Hemisphere
C) a greater proportion of the land surface is mountainous in the Southern Hemisphere
D) there is a greater percentage of water surface in the Southern Hemisphere

Question 57

Fairbanks, Alaska, has more hours of daylight in June than Miami, Florida.

Question 58

Two cities are located at the same latitude (40˚). City A is in the Southern Hemisphere and City B is in the Northern Hemisphere. Assume the two cities reflect the general characteristics of the hemispheres where they are located. Which city should have the largest annual temperature range?

A) City A
B) City B
C) Both cities should have nearly identical temperatures.
D) More information is required to answer the question.

Question 59

The higher the temperature of a radiating body, the longer the wavelengths of maximum radiation.

Question 60

The annual mean temperature is an average of the twelve monthly means.

Question 61

Ozone filters out most of the infrared radiation in sunlight.

Question 62

Isotherms are more irregular in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 63

The line separating the dark half of Earth from the lighted half is called the ________.

Question 64

The aggregate, or composite, of weather over a long period of time best describes the term ________.

Question 65

Practically all clouds and storms occur in this atmospheric layer.

Question 66

The seasonal shift of isotherms is greater over the continents than over the ocean.

Question 67

Ozone is concentrated in the mesosphere.

Question 68

The state of the atmosphere at any given time and place defines the term ________.

Question 69

The most abundant gas in the atmosphere is nitrogen.

Question 70

In the middle and high latitudes, annual temperature range increases with an increase in continentality.

Question 71

Above the stratosphere is a layer called the ________, where temperatures decrease with an increase in altitude.

Question 72

The most abundant gas in the atmosphere is ________.

Question 73

A molecule of ozone contains two atoms of oxygen and one atom of nitrogen.

Question 74

The form of oxygen that combines three atoms of oxygen into each molecule is called ________.

Question 75

Ozone is concentrated in which atmospheric layer?

Question 76

The normal lapse rate is 6.5˚C per kilometer.

Question 77

In the Southern Hemisphere, warm currents cause isotherms to be deflected toward the South Pole.

Question 78

The movement of Earth in its orbit around the Sun is referred to as ________.

Question 79

Air is a mixture.

Question 80

Annual temperature range decreases with an increase in latitude.