Deck 3: Earths Modern Atmosphere

Question 1

According to the text,what are the three criteria used for classification of the atmosphere?

A)Structure,origin,temperature.
B)Structure,origin,evolution.
C)Composition,origin,evolution.
D)Composition,temperature,and function.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Based on temperature,how is the atmosphere divided?

A)Four regions: ranging from the troposphere to the thermosphere.
B)Two broad regions.
C)Two functional areas that absorb radiation from the Sun.
D)Nitrogen,oxygen,argon.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Approximately at what elevation is the top of Earth's atmosphere?

A)3200 km above the surface of Earth.
B)480 km above the surface of Earth.
C)2000 km above the surface of Earth.
D)1000 km above the surface of Earth.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

At sea level,approximately what is the pressure of the atmosphere?

A)1)0 g • cm-2.
B)2)6 g • cm-2.
C)8)2 g • cm-2.
D)6)7 g • cm-2.

Question 5

In the image above,what does the thermosphere closely correspond to?

A)The ionosphere only.
B)The heterosphere only.
C)The homosphere only.
D)Both the ionosphere and the heterosphere.

Question 6

Which of the following is true of Earth's atmosphere?

A)It is the sum of all physical weathering on Earth.
B)We consider the top of the atmosphere to be 320 000 km from Earth.
C)It protects us from deadly UV radiation,yet allows light to pass through.
D)Its temperatures range from -590°C degrees to 120°C.

Question 7

What is the outermost region of the atmosphere,based on composition?

A)Homosphere.
B)Heterosphere.
C)Troposphere.
D)Thermosphere.

Question 8

Half of the total mass of the atmosphere of Earth lies below what elevation?

A)14 000 metres.
B)11 000 metres.
C)8300 metres.
D)5500 metres.

Question 9

At what elevation is the solar constant measured?

A)The outer boundary of the exosphere (32 000 km).
B)The top of the atmosphere (480 km).
C)The top of the stratosphere (50 km).
D)The top of the troposphere (12 km).

Question 10

Which of the following is true of gases in the heterosphere?

A)The hydrogen,helium,oxygen and nitrogen are well mixed.
B)The hydrogen and helium occur at the top of the heterosphere,and the nitrogen and oxygen at the bottom.
C)The nitrogen and oxygen occur at the top of the heterosphere and the hydrogen and helium at the bottom.
D)Nitrogen occurs at the top,followed-in descending order-by helium,oxygen and hydrogen.

Question 11

Where is the thermopause located?

A)It lies between the mesosphere and the thermosphere.
B)It exists wherever -90°C is recorded.
C)It is located approximately 480 km above the surface of Earth.
D)It is positioned at the bottom of the homosphere.

Question 12

Which of the following is true of Earth's atmosphere?

A)It allows gamma rays and X-rays reach the surface.
B)The ozonosphere and ionosphere shield the surface from harmful radiation.
C)Variable gases are the dominant gases in the atmosphere.
D)It is denser at higher altitudes.

Question 13

Based on composition,how is the atmosphere divided?

A)One continuous region.
B)Two broad classifications: homosphere and heterosphere.
C)Two functional areas that absorb radiation from the Sun.
D)The troposphere and the stratosphere.

Question 14

What does air consist of?

A)A mixture of gases that behaves as if it were a single gas.
B)Gases that are not well mixed.
C)Oxygen only.
D)Mostly carbon dioxide and water vapour.

Question 15

Based on the image above,which of the following must be true?

A)Hydrogen has a higher atomic weight than oxygen.
B)The ozonosphere stretches from the surface of Earth to approximately 50 km.
C)All but 0.001 percent of the atmosphere is accounted for within the troposphere.
D)The ozonosphere corresponds with the stratosphere.

Question 16

Based on function,how is the atmosphere classified?

A)Into five regions beginning with the outermost thermosphere.
B)Into two functional areas that absorb radiation from the Sun.
C)Into one continuous region.
D)Into the troposphere and the stratosphere.

Question 17

Where do the highest temperatures in the atmosphere occur?

A)In the troposphere.
B)In the stratosphere.
C)In the mesosphere.
D)In the thermosphere.

Question 18

What is the region of the atmosphere that is so evenly mixed that it behaves as if it were a single gas?

A)Homosphere.
B)Heterosphere.
C)Exosphere.
D)Thermosphere.

Question 19

Which atmospheric zone supports the biosphere and is the region of principle weather activity?

A)Thermosphere.
B)Mesosphere.
C)Stratosphere.
D)Troposphere.

Question 20

How are the gases in the heterosphere arranged and why?

A)They are well mixed because of thermal motions (i.e.,convection).
B)They are well mixed due to the influence of gravity which causes gases of different weight to diffuse randomly.
C)They are poorly mixed as a result of thermal motions (i.e.,convection).
D)They are poorly mixed due to the influence of gravity which causes gases of different weight to separate into layers.

Question 21

Which of the following best describes Oxygen (O2)?

A)It is a gas which principally originates from volcanic sources.
B)It is a by-product of photosynthesis.
C)It is one of the gases from Earth's earliest atmospheres.
D)It is now measured at 78.084% by volume in the homosphere.

Question 22

About half of Earth's crust consists of compounds containing which of the following?

A)Nitrogen.
B)Argon.
C)Carbon dioxide.
D)Oxygen.

Question 23

Which of the following is true of nitrogen?

A)The human body obtains the nitrogen it needs from the air.
B)There is very little nitrogen in the atmosphere.
C)The nitrogen the human body needs is derived from food-not the air.
D)Nitrogen is a variable gas.

Question 24

Which is true of the concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere?

A)It reached 400 ppm in 2013.
B)The rate of increase leveled out in 1976.
C)The level of CO2 was much higher in 1955 than today.
D)The level of CO2 is decreasing at 3.1% per year.

Question 25

Which of the following best explains the high temperature in the upper thermosphere?

A)It is produced by the absorption of UV radiation.
B)It is more a measure of sensible temperature than kinetic energy.
C)It is more a measure of kinetic energy than sensible temperature.
D)It produces a tremendous amount of heat transfer.

Question 26

Which stable (nonvariable)gas in the atmosphere is inert and unusable in life processes?

A)Oxygen.
B)Nitrogen.
C)Argon.
D)Carbon dioxide.

Question 27

Where is the altitude of the tropopause highest and why?

A)It is highest at the equator because of intense heating from the surface.
B)It is highest at the poles because of diffuse solar radiation.
C)It is highest over the mid-latitudes because of the curvature of Earth's surface.
D)It is highest over the tropics because of direct insolation.

Question 28

Which of the following best describes Nitrogen (N2)?

A)It is a key component of life,integrated into our bodies directly from the air.
B)It is cycled through the environment via the activity of bacteria.
C)It is a product of the radioactive decay of a form of potassium in the crust.
D)It is now measured at 20.946% by volume in the homosphere.

Question 29

Which is true of the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere?

A)CO2 is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere.
B)The level of CO2 has been decreasing at the rate of 3.1% per year since 2000.
C)The level of CO2 increased at the rate of 1.1% per year from 1990 to 1999.
D)The level of CO2 has been much higher during the past 800,000 years than it is now.

Question 30

Which of the following correctly lists the three stable (i.e.,nonvariable)gases in the atmosphere,in order of abundance from most to least?

A)Carbon dioxide,argon,oxygen.
B)Oxygen,carbon dioxide,argon.
C)Nitrogen,oxygen,argon.
D)Oxygen,argon,nitrogen.

Question 31

What do the changing percentages of various gases in the atmosphere indicate about mechanisms that control the composition of the atmosphere?

A)The changes indicate that the composition of gases is totally controlled by the amount and type of gases given off during volcanic eruptions.
B)The changes indicate that the composition of gases is totally controlled by the composition of comets and meteors that strike Earth.
C)The changes indicate that the composition of gases is to a significant extent controlled by biological processes occurring on Earth.
D)The changes indicate that the composition of gases is exclusively controlled by chemical reactions between sunlight and the gases in the atmosphere.

Question 32

How do temperatures change within the stratosphere?

A)They decrease with altitude according to the normal lapse rate.
B)They remain about the same from the tropopause to the stratopause.
C)They increase with altitude because of the absorption of ultraviolet radiation.
D)They decrease with altitude due to radiation losses.

Question 33

Which of the following is true of the ionosphere?

A)It primarily absorbs harmful infrared wavelengths.
B)All radio signals pass through this region virtually unaffected.
C)The region principally absorbs gamma rays,X-rays,and interacts with the solar wind.
D)It is being depleted through interactions with human-produced chlorofluorocarbons.

Question 34

Which of the following best explains why the ozonosphere is critical to life?

A)It affects temperatures.
B)It absorbs visible light wavelengths.
C)It absorbs most ultraviolet wavelengths.
D)It produces the auroras.

Question 35

Which of the following is true regarding the depletion of ozone in the ozonosphere?

A)The depletion is restricted to the arctic and antarctic regions.
B)It results from chemical reactions with chlorine derived from CFCs.
C)It results from the burning of fossil fuels.
D)The notion that ozone is being depleted as a result of human activity has little scientific evidence to support it.

Question 36

Which of the following is a by-product of photosynthesis?

A)Nitrogen.
B)Argon.
C)Oxygen.
D)Xenon.

Question 37

Which of the following lists the correct sequence of gases,from most to least,in terms of percentage within the homosphere?

A)Nitrogen,argon,oxygen,xenon,carbon dioxide.
B)Nitrogen,oxygen,argon,carbon dioxide,trace gases.
C)Oxygen,ozone,nitrogen,PAN,carbon dioxide.
D)Oxygen,nitrogen,neon,hydrocarbons,carbon dioxide.

Question 38

How does the ionosphere affect GPS?

A)GPS satellites orbit Earth in the ionosphere.
B)GPS ground stations lose contact with geosynchronous satellites orbiting near the poles.
C)GPS signals much pass through the ionosphere,whose gases weaken the signal.
D)Positively charged ions in the ionosphere speed up the GPS signal,causing signal error.

Question 39

What are the two most abundant gases in the atmosphere?

A)Water vapour and carbon dioxide.
B)Nitrogen and water vapour.
C)Nitrogen and oxygen.
D)Oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Question 40

Which of the gases listed below has accumulated in the atmosphere as a result of biological processes?

A)Argon.
B)Oxygen.
C)Nitrogen.
D)Water vapour.

Question 41

Noctilucent clouds are associated with which level of the atmosphere?

A)Stratosphere.
B)Thermosphere.
C)Troposphere.
D)Mesosphere.

Question 42

Why is the hole in the ozone greatest over Antarctica?

A)The ozone hole is a natural phenomenon related to high polar stratospheric clouds.
B)South American countries have not ratified the Montreal Protocol and continue to release ozone-destroying CFCs.
C)Chlorine freed from CFCs elsewhere migrate to the Antarctic region,where they are trapped by the polar vortex.
D)Ozone,a greenhouse gas which traps ultraviolet energy radiated from Earth's surface,has highest concentration in Antarctica.

Question 43

Why is stratospheric ozone loss a concern?

A)Stratospheric ozone is a major greenhouse gas; its loss will contribute to the cooling of the planet.
B)Stratospheric ozone absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVB and UVC).
C)Stratospheric ozone is a component of photochemical smog.
D)Stratospheric ozone contributes to the brilliant auroras.

Question 44

In which two atmospheric zones does temperature decrease with altitude?

A)Troposphere and mesosphere.
B)Troposphere and stratosphere.
C)Stratosphere and mesosphere.
D)Stratosphere and thermosphere.

Question 45

Directly above the midlatitudes,the tropopause (-57°C)occurs at approximately what elevation?

A)1 km.
B)13 km.
C)50 km.
D)Wherever 0°C is recorded as the temperature.

Question 46

Which of the following is true of chlorofluorocarbons?

A)The CFC molecules react with ultraviolet light to release carbon which then destroys ozone.
B)The CFC molecules react with ultraviolet light to release fluorine which then destroys ozone.
C)The CFC molecules react with ultraviolet light to release chlorine which then destroys ozone.
D)Most of the CFC-induced ozone destruction is occurring near the equator,rather than near the poles.

Question 47

Which of the following are affected by the loss of ozone?

A)Crop yields,phytoplankton populations,immune systems,and eye tissues.
B)Extreme winter storms,spring flooding,summer heat waves.
C)Weight loss,reproductive failure and colour blindness in fish populations.
D)Increased cloudiness,higher mid-latitude wind velocities,more pronounced Coriolis affect.

Question 48

In 1974,Dr.Rowland and Dr.Molina made what observation in relation to ozone (O3)?

A)The photochemical interactions of chlorofluorocarbons and O3.
B)Automobile exhaust and sunlight were producing photochemical smog.
C)Anthropogenic O3 releases were a major culprit in global warming.
D)Ground-level O3 irritates human eyes and respiratory systems.

Question 49

Which of the following is true regarding ozone depletion in Antarctica?

A)Increasing levels of ultraviolet radiation have not actually been measured at this time.
B)The atmosphere above Antarctica has experienced a complete loss of protective ozone.
C)Maximum ozone depletion occurs during the Antarctic spring,following the development of polar stratospheric clouds in winter.
D)There has actually been a decrease in ultraviolet levels measured at the surface-which is contrary to what is predicted by ozone depletion models.

Question 50

Which of the following is correct regarding lapse rates in the troposphere?

A)The term "normal (average)lapse rate" refers to the actual lapse rate in effect at any particular time.
B)The environmental lapse rate refers to the actual lapse rate at any particular time and may differ substantially from the normal lapse rate.
C)The normal lapse rate is always the same as the dry adiabatic rate (DAR).
D)Temperatures generally increase with altitude in the troposphere.

Question 51

Which of the following is true of the mesosphere?

A)It contains clouds that are visible at night.
B)Temperatures are uniform through the zone.
C)It is the warmest layer of the atmosphere.
D)It has the greatest vertical extent of all atmospheric layers.

Question 52

Why is a layer of the atmosphere called the homosphere?

A)That layer is the habitable sphere for humans (Homo sapiens).
B)That term is used because scientists have been unable to determine its composition and assume it is homogeneous.
C)That layer is composed of a blend of gases that is nearly uniform throughout.
D)That layer contains only one gas,nitrogen.

Question 53

The atmospheric portion of the biosphere corresponds to which of the following spheres?

A)Heterosphere.
B)Troposphere.
C)Ozonosphere.
D)Lithosphere.

Question 54

Which of the following is true of carbon dioxide?

A)It is unimportant in regulating the temperature of the planet.
B)Today,it far exceeds its natural range of 180 to 300 pp.
C)It occurs in large amounts in the atmosphere relative to other gases,such as nitrogen and oxygen.
D)Overall,atmospheric CO2 has decreased by 16% from 1992 to 2012.

Question 55

Which of the following is true about the troposphere?

A)The altitude of the upper limits of the troposphere (the tropopause)varies with cloud cover.
B)Approximately 20% of the total mass of the atmosphere is within the troposphere.
C)Temperatures increase with altitude in the troposphere because the higher in altitude,the closer to the sun.
D)The bulk of all water vapour occurs in the troposphere.

Question 56

Which of the following is true of chlorofluorocarbons?

A)They have been used to power internal combustion engines.
B)They are used in refrigeration systems,to make foam products and as propellants in spray cans.
C)They are used to reduce friction in the braking system of automobiles.
D)They are used to regulate the thermal conductivity of the tiles on the outside of the International Space Station.

Question 57

Which of the following best describes the Montreal Protocol?

A)It established a framework to address acid precipitation.
B)It aims to reduce and eliminate all ozone depleting substances.
C)It only addresses CFCs.
D)It created the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Question 58

Why is normal precipitation always slightly acidic?

A)Precipitation dissolved carbon dioxide to form carbonic acid.
B)Nitrogen fixing bacteria form nitric acids which evaporate into the atmosphere.
C)Sulfur dioxide from volcanic explosions combines with water to form sulfuric acid.
D)Chlorine,in the presence of sunlight and hydrogen,is converted to hydrochloric acid.

Question 59

Which of the following is true of UV exposure?

A)UVA radiation is not filtered by the ozone layer and amounts for about 25% of all UV radiation reaching the surface of Earth.
B)Only exposure to UVA is a concern,not exposure to UVB and UVC.
C)UV radiation is potentially harmful and individuals should take appropriate precautions depending on the UV index.
D)UV radiation varies temporally according to the season,local weather conditions,and overhead ozone depletion.

Question 60

In which two atmospheric zones does temperature increase with altitude?

A)Troposphere and mesosphere.
B)Troposphere and stratosphere.
C)Stratosphere and mesosphere.
D)Stratosphere and thermosphere.

Question 61

Which of the following resulted in the development of photochemical smog?

A)Coal burning stoves.
B)The industrial revolution.
C)Smelting of ores.
D)Automobiles.

Question 62

Which of the following best describes carbon monoxide (CO)?

A)Anthropogenic CO is principally produced by petroleum exploration.
B)Natural CO is produced by decaying organic debris,forest fires,or organic matter decomposition.
C)Few effects of CO on humans have been identified.
D)It is a pale blue gas that smells of rotten eggs.

Question 63

How does the elevation of the tropopause above the tropics compare to its elevation above the poles and why does this occur?

A)It is lower above the tropics because the stratosphere is thicker over the tropics and so it compresses the troposphere.
B)It is lower above the tropics because the troposphere weighs more in the tropics and so it sinks.
C)It is higher above the tropics because the troposphere is hotter in the tropics,and this causes the air to rise to greater heights.
D)It is higher above the tropics because the stratosphere is thinner over the tropics and this allows the troposphere to expand.

Question 64

In terms of incoming solar radiation (insolation),which is the correct order from space to the surface of Earth?

A)Troposphere,stratosphere,mesosphere,thermosphere.
B)Thermosphere,mesosphere,stratosphere,troposphere.
C)Mesosphere,thermosphere,troposphere,stratosphere.
D)Stratosphere,troposphere,thermosphere,mesosphere.

Question 65

When do temperature inversions occur?

A)They occur when surface temperatures are higher than overlying layers of air.
B)They occur when there is good air drainage and ventilation of the surface air.
C)They occur when surface temperatures are lower than warmer overlying air.
D)They occur during episodes of reduced air pollution.

Question 66

Which of the following best describes air pressure?

A)Air pressure decreases through the troposphere then increases in the stratosphere.
B)Air molecules exert air pressure through their motion,size,and number.
C)The atmosphere exerts a force of 100 kg • cm-2.
D)Air pressure increases with increasing altitude.

Question 67

Which of the following best describes air pollution?

A)Both natural and anthropogenic gases,particles,and other substances in amounts that cause damage to the environment or are harmful to humans.
B)Solely anthropogenic gases,particles,and other substances in amounts that cause damage to the environment or are harmful to humans.
C)Solely natural gases,particles,and other substances in amounts that cause damage to the environment or are harmful to humans.
D)A distinct class of gases,particles,and other substances that the Environment Canada has deemed worthy of regulating.

Question 68

Which of the following best describes conditions in the mesosphere?

A)Temperatures rapidly increase with altitude in the mesosphere.
B)High altitude noctilucent clouds form in the mesosphere.
C)The mesosphere is completely within the heterosphere.
D)The mesosphere is located between the troposphere and the stratosphere.

Question 69

Why is carbon monoxide potentially dangerous?

A)It replaces oxygen on red blood cells.
B)It causes cancer.
C)It causes birth defects.
D)It causes genetic mutations.

Question 70

Why are temperature inversion noteworthy with respect to air pollution?

A)Mesospheric conditions are replicated in the troposphere.
B)Vertical mixing of pollutants is halted,trapping the pollutants under the inversion layer.
C)Surface pollution is moderated by allowing surface air to mix with the air above.
D)Air pollution is completely inhibited from forming.

Question 71

Why does temperature increase with altitude in the stratosphere?

A)The increase is due to the effects of the normal lapse rate effect.
B)Chlorofluorocarbons increase ozone concentrations,which enhance temperature.
C)Ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun and then reradiates it at infrared wavelengths.
D)Ozone acts as a greenhouse gas which traps ultraviolet energy radiated by the surface of Earth.

Question 72

Why do high temperatures occur in the thermosphere?

A)Infrared radiation from the ground heats this layer more than any other layer.
B)Methane is such an effective greenhouse gas.
C)Carbon dioxide has accumulated to very high levels in this layer.
D)It is in direct contact with high energy solar radiation.

Question 73

Which country burns more coal and emits more CO2 than any other country on Earth?

A)Canada.
B)China.
C)Germany.
D)India.

Question 74

What is the result of the reaction of automobile exhaust and ultraviolet light?

A)The reaction produces photochemical smog.
B)The reaction produces industrial smog.
C)The reaction is affecting the stratospheric ozone concentration.
D)The reaction forms smoke and fog.

Question 75

Why are humans and other living things not crushed by the pressure of the atmosphere?

A)Atmospheric pressure increases with altitude and is,therefore,lowest near the surface of Earth.
B)While the atmosphere exerts pressure,it is a negligible amount.
C)Humans and other living things exert pressure outward,counterbalancing atmospheric pressure.
D)The tropopause serves as a buffer against the pressure exerted by the atmosphere.

Question 76

Which of the following is true regarding air pollution?

A)Natural sources of air pollution are not a concern in terms of human health.
B)Natural sources of air pollution are a relatively new occurrence.
C)Though infrequent,natural events that produce air pollution may cover large areas.
D)There is no reason to be concerned about natural sources of air pollution.

Question 77

What human health effect is related to CO levels of 100 ppm or less in the bloodstream?

A)Humans might develop a headache and have losses in vision and judgment.
B)There is no noticeable health effect.
C)The human bloodstream is unaffected.
D)Carbon monoxide can cause lower limb paralysis.

Question 78

Despite its high temperatures,why would the thermosphere feel cold to humans?

A)The number of molecules is not high enough to transfer heat to human skin.
B)Humans would die due to pressure changes before they could experience the intense heat.
C)The atmosphere is denser in the thermosphere and this pressure reduces heat transfer.
D)The average kinetic energy is actually less in the thermosphere than the troposphere.

Question 79

Which of the following is a source of natural variable pollutants?

A)Automobile exhaust.
B)Paint fumes.
C)Plants and decaying plants.
D)Industrial activity.

Question 80

In 2012,for what did Felix Baumgartner become famous?

A)He was the first individual to complete a free-fall from the stratosphere.
B)He broke Joseph Kittinger's long-held height and speed free-fall record.
C)He completed the longest spacewalk from a Space Shuttle.
D)He discovered the true composition of the stratospheric ozone layer.