Deck 3: Earth's Modern Atmosphere

Question 1

Three criteria used for classification of the atmosphere explained in the text are

A)structure,origin,temperature.
B)structure,origin,evolution.
C)composition,origin,evolution.
D)composition,temperature,and function.
E)evolution,composition,and function

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Based on function,the atmosphere has

A)five regions beginning with the outermost thermosphere.
B)two functional areas that absorb radiation from the Sun.
C)one continuous region.
D)the troposphere and the stratosphere.
E)a series of concentric layers defined by temperature variations.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Air consists of

A)gases that are not well mixed.
B)a mixture of gases that behaves as if it were a single gas.
C)oxygen only.
D)oxygen and ozone
E)carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

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.
E)hydrogen occurs at the top,followed-in descending order-by helium,nitrogen and oxygen

Question 5

Based on composition,the atmosphere is divided into

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.
E)two brad classifications that are bound by temperature changes.

Question 6

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

A)homosphere.
B)heterosphere.
C)exosphere.
D)thermosphere.
E)ozonosphere.

Question 7

When the Sun is active,

A)the thermopause lies closer to Earth's surface.
B)the thermopause extends farther from the surface of Earth.
C)the thermosphere temporarily ceases to exist.
D)the gases in the thermosphere become uniformly mixed.
E)there is no change in the thermopause.

Question 8

The thermosphere expands in size during periods when the Sun is ________ because ________.

A)quiet the pressure of the solar wind diminishes
B)quiet the exosphere sinks downward and squeezes the thermosphere
C)active the exosphere moves outward,thereby relieving pressure on the thermosphere
D)active the thermosphere acquires greater kinetic energy,which causes the gas molecules that comprise the thermosphere to move further apart from one another.
E)active the thermosphere absorbs matter from the sun causing the volume of the air to increase.

Question 9

The highest temperatures in the atmosphere occur in the ________ because ________.

A)troposphere infrared radiation from the ground heats this layer more than any other layer
B)stratosphere methane is such an effective greenhouse gas
C)thermosphere carbon dioxide has accumulated to very high levels in this layer
D)thermosphere it is in intense contact with high energy solar radiation
E)mesosphere high intensity solar radiation causes strong chemical reactions with ozone,and this heats the layer to very high temperatures.

Question 10

Lewis Thomas,in his book The Lives of the Cell,compared Earth's atmosphere to

A)a layer of human skin.
B)the membrane of a cell.
C)a layer of water.
D)the covering of soil over a rock.
E)onion skin

Question 11

Which is true of Earth's atmosphere?

A)it is the sum of all the exhalations and inhalations of animals on Earth.
B)we consider the top of the atmosphere to be about 10 km from Earth.
C)it lets light through,but blocks out all other forms of radiation.
D)its temperatures range from -90°C to 1200°C.
E)The principle substance is air,a mixture of oxygen and argon gas.

Question 12

Based on temperature,the atmosphere is divided into

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.
E)troposphere,heterosphere,and ionosphere.

Question 13

The thermosphere closely corresponds to the

A)ionosphere.
B)mesosphere.
C)homosphere.
D)exosphere.
E)ozonosphere

Question 14

The outermost region of the atmosphere,based on composition,is the

A)homosphere.
B)heterosphere.
C)troposphere.
D)thermosphere.
E)stratopause.

Question 15

Life is possible on Earth primarily because

A)gamma rays and X-rays reach the surface.
B)the ozonosphere and ionosphere shield the surface from harmful radiation.
C)variable gases of all types exist in the atmosphere.
D)ultraviolet radiation reaches the surface.
E)ozone is evenly mixed throughout all levels of the atmosphere.

Question 16

The thermopause is located

A)between the mesosphere and the thermosphere.
B)wherever -90°C is recorded.
C)approximately 480 km above Earth's surface.
D)at the bottom of the homosphere.
E)at the interface between the lithosphere and atmosphere.

Question 17

The high temperature in the upper thermosphere

A)is produced by moonlight.
B)is more a measure of sensible temperature than kinetic energy.
C)is more a measure of kinetic energy than sensible temperature.
D)produces a tremendous amount of heat transfer.
E)is a storage of potential energy for th e lower atmosphere.

Question 18

The heterosphere is the layer of the atmosphere in which the gases are ________ because of ________.

A)well mixed thermal motions (i.e. ,convection)
B)well mixed the influence of gravity which causes gases of different weight to diffuse randomly
C)poorly mixed thermal motions (i.e. ,convection)
D)poorly mixed the influence of gravity which causes gases of different weight to separate into layers
E)variably mixed in layers transitioning to the vacuum of space.

Question 19

The ionosphere

A)primarily absorbs harmful infrared wavelengths.
B)allows all radio signals pass through virtually unaffected.
C)is the region that principally absorbs gamma rays,X-rays,and interacts with the solar wind.
D)is being depleted through interactions with human-produced chlorofluorocarbons.
E)has only existed since the dawn of space travel.

Question 20

The thermopause refers to

A)Earth's magnetic field.
B)the solar atmosphere that extends into space.
C)the top of Earth's atmosphere,some 480 km above the surface.
D)the Sun's surface.
E)the space boundary where the solar atmosphere meets Earth.

Question 21

The two most abundant gases in the atmosphere are

A)water vapour and carbon dioxide.
B)nitrogen and water vapor.
C)nitrogen and oxygen.
D)oxygen and carbon dioxide.
E)nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

Question 22

Temperatures increase with increasing altitude in what two atmospheric layers?

A)troposphere and mesosphere.
B)troposphere and stratosphere.
C)stratosphere and mesosphere.
D)stratosphere and thermosphere.
E)mesosphere and thermosphere.

Question 23

Nitrogen (N²)is

A)a by-product of photosynthesis.
B)relatively inert,with cycling in the environment keyed to the activity of bacteria.
C)a product of the radioactive decay of a form of potassium in the crust.
D)now measured at 20.946% by volume in the homosphere.
E)is not needed to support life on Earth.

Question 24

Oxygen (O²)

A)is a gas which principally originates from volcanic sources.
B)is a by-product of plant-leaf operations that are stimulated by light.
C)is one of the gases from Earth's earliest atmospheres.
D)is now measured at 78.084% by volume in the homosphere.
E)exists in quantities in the atmosphere which are in danger of becoming depleted.

Question 25

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 vapor
E)krypton

Question 26

Which gas in the atmosphere is used by plants to form sugars,is soluble in water,and makes rain naturally acidic?

A)nitrogen dioxide.
B)argon.
C)oxygen.
D)carbon dioxide.
E)sulfur dioxide.

Question 27

The percentages of variable gases in the atmosphere indicate that the composition of the atmosphere is controlled

A)totally by the amount and type of gases given off during volcanic eruptions.
B)totally by the composition of comets and meteors that strike Earth.
C)to a significant extent by biological processes occurring on Earth.
D)exclusively by chemical reactions between sunlight and the gases in the atmosphere.
E)natural evolution of stable atmospheric component.

Question 28

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

A)depletion is restricted to the arctic and antarctic regions.
B)depletion results from chemical reactions with chlorine that is derived from CFCs.
C)depletion results from the burning of fossil fuels.
D)the notion that ozone is being depleted as a result of human activity is pure conjecture and has little scientific evidence to support it.
E)depletion is not occurring,atmospheric ozone is increasing throughout all layers of the atmosphere.

Question 29

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

A)the level of CO₂ is currently more than 386 ppm.
B)the level of CO₂ has been increasing at the rate of 0.001% per year since 2000.
C)the level of CO₂ increased at the rate of 111.1% per year from 1990 to 1999.
D)the level of CO₂ is lower than at any time in the past 800 000 years.
E)the level of CO₂ is currently less than 386 ppm.

Question 30

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
E)nitrogen,carbon dioxide,oxygen,argon,trace gases.

Question 31

Temperatures within the stratosphere

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

Question 32

Which of the following is true of carbon dioxide?

A)it is unimportant in regulating the temperature of the planet.
B)it is a natural product of life processes (i.e. ,respiration).
C)it occurs in large amounts in the atmosphere-as one would expect given the important role it plays in life processes and in regulating the temperature of the planet.
D)the amount of carbon dioxide has decreased as a result of human activities.
E)it is unrelated to industrial manufacturing on Earth.

Question 33

The three stable (i.e. ,nonvariable)gases in the atmosphere,in order of abundance from most to least,are

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

Question 34

Which stable (nonvariable)gas in the atmosphere is derived from the radioactive decay of potassium-40 (⁴⁰K)?

A)oxygen
B)krypton
C)argon
D)carbon dioxide
E)sodium

Question 35

The thermosphere and the ionosphere ________ because ________.

A)overlap the absorption of high energy electromagnetic radiation that generates the high temperatures in the thermosphere also ionizes the gas molecules in this region of the atmosphere
B)overlap photochemical reactions in this layer separate protons from neutrons,thereby creating charged particles
C)do not overlap only the outermost layer of the atmosphere-the ionosphere-receives enough energy for ionization to occur
D)do not overlap only the outermost layer of the atmosphere-the ionosphere-receives enough energy for photochemical reactions to occur
E)overlap the processes of molecular heating cause the atmospheric particles to ionize-to burst into space.

Question 36

The ozonosphere is critical to life because it

A)affects temperatures.
B)absorbs visible light wavelengths.
C)absorbs most ultraviolet wavelengths.
D)produces the auroras.
E)provides free oxygen at the surface.

Question 37

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)is is called the noble gas.
E)it is not needed by plants.

Question 38

About half of Earth's crust consists of compounds containing

A)nitrogen.
B)argon.
C)carbon dioxide.
D)oxygen.
E)ozone

Question 39

A by-product of photosynthesis is

A)nitrogen.
B)argon.
C)oxygen.
D)xenon.
E)fluorine

Question 40

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

A)the level is currently over 386 ppm.
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.
E)the rate of increase is not important as we have passed a threshold level to support life in the atmosphere.

Question 41

Which layer of the atmosphere contains noctilucent clouds?

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

Question 42

The high temperatures in the thermosphere occur because

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)direct contact with high energy solar radiation excites molecules creating kinetic energy.
E)high intensity solar radiation causes strong chemical reactions with ozone,and this heats the layer to very high temperatures..

Question 43

Which of the following is true of chlorofluorocarbons?

A)CFC molecules react with ultraviolet light to release carbon which then destroys ozone.
B)CFC molecules react with ultraviolet light to release fluorine which then destroys ozone.
C)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.
E)CFC molecules do not react with ultraviolet light.

Question 44

Which of the following is true of the stratospheric ozone?

A)the most severe loss of ozone occurred during 1996.
B)UV radiation at Ushuaia,Argentina increased 236%.
C)the "ozone hole" is now three times larger than the England.
D)ozone depletion is not occurring over the Arctic.
E)ozone depletion is balanced by ozone in the lower atmosphere.

Question 45

The tropopause occurs at a ________ elevation above the tropics than above the poles because ________.

A)lower the stratosphere is thicker over the tropics and so it compresses the troposphere
B)lower the troposphere weighs more in the tropics and so it sinks
C)higher the troposphere is hotter in the tropics,and this causes the air to rise to greater heights
D)higher the stratosphere is thinner over the tropics and this allows the troposphere to expand
E)lower heating of the thermosphere forces it downward compressing all layers below.

Question 46

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

A)crop yields increase
B)phytoplankton populations explode
C)immune system health is supported.
D)eye tissues are damaged
E)algal blooms cover freshwater lakes.

Question 47

Increased levels of ultraviolet light at Earth's surface

A)pose no threat of skin cancer to all races.
B)are related to an increasing rate of skin cancer.
C)cannot cause damage to oceanic life forms.
D)are unrelated to the general reduction in stratospheric ozone.
E)have been measured since Roman times.

Question 48

Temperatures increase in the stratosphere because

A)of the normal lapse rate effect.
B)ozone blocks sunlight from entering this layer.
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 Earth's surface.
E)latent heat transfer is happening at all times.

Question 49

Temperatures decrease with increasing altitude in what two atmospheric layers?

A)troposphere and mesosphere
B)troposphere and stratosphere
C)stratosphere and mesosphere
D)stratosphere and thermosphere
E)temperature decreases with increasing altitude in all layers of the atmosphere.

Question 50

Which of the following is true of the mesosphere ?

A)it contains no clouds.
B)windstorms involving wind velocities in excess of 320 km h?¹ occur in this layer.
C)it is the warmest layer of the atmosphere.
D)it is the densest layer of the atmosphere.
E)it contains so few molecules that temperature cannot be measured.

Question 51

Which of the following is true of chlorofluorocarbons?

A)they can easily be eliminated as they are used for so few manufacturing processes as to be unimportant.
B)they are used in refrigeration systems,as propellants in spray cans,and to make foam products.
C)they are used for storing chemicals in large manufacturing facilities.
D)they are unregulated in developing countries,so do not need to be regulated in North America.
E)they contribute to small changes in carbon dioxide levels.

Question 52

Noctilucent clouds consist of ice crystals that form around

A)pollen grains.
B)clay particles derived from deserts.
C)meteorite dust.
D)salt crystals from the sea.
E)volcanic ash.

Question 53

Directly above the midlatitudes,the tropopause (-57°C)occurs at approximately:

A)1 km.
B)13 km.
C)50 km.
D)wherever 0°C is recorded as the surface temperature.
E)480 km.

Question 54

Dr.Rowland and Dr.Molina

A)first stated the photochemistry interactions of chlorofluorocarbons and .
B)found automobile exhaust and sunlight were producing photochemical smog.
C)first wrote about the possible destruction of ozone in the year 1989.
D)are not mentioned in the text.
E)do not study ozone.

Question 55

Weather is confined to the troposphere because

A)terrestrial radiation provides no heat whatsoever to the other layers of the atmosphere.
B)solar radiation does not heat other layers of the atmosphere.
C)cold air sinks from the stratosphere into the troposphere.
D)the temperature of the stratosphere prevents tropospheric air from rising into it.
E)the tropopause is a physical barrier to movement.

Question 56

Temperatures in the stratosphere ________ with increasing altitude because ________.

A)decrease of the normal lapse rate effect
B)decrease ozone blocks sunlight from entering this layer
C)increase ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun and then reradiates it at infrared wavelengths
D)increase ozone acts as a greenhouse gas which traps ultraviolet energy radiated by Earth's surface
E)remain the same energy is not transmitted in this portion of the atmosphere.

Question 57

Which of the following is true of ozone?

A)the total amount of ozone is very large compared to the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere.
B)it is inert i.e.,it is chemically non-reactive.
C)it consists of threeoxygen molecules.
D)it experiences natural fluctuations in amount and has been increasing in volume for hundreds of millions of years.
E)if the production of CFCs were stopped today,the CFCs already present in the atmosphere would be unable to continue to destroy ozone for decades.

Question 58

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.
E)temperatures generally remain constant throughout the troposphere.

Question 59

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.
E)ozone depletion in this location is 50% less than the depletion at the Arctic.

Question 60

The atmospheric portion of the biosphere occurs in the

A)heterosphere.
B)troposphere.
C)ozonosphere.
D)lithosphere.
E)mesosphere.

Question 61

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)is

A)a gas,reddish-brown in colour that causes choking and is damaging to respiratory tracts.
B)yet to be of consequence in North America.
C)produced only after photochemical reactions.
D)more of a concern in nonurban areas than urban.
E)destroys ozone in the stratosphere.

Question 62

Which of the following can lead to a temperature inversion?

A)heat into mountain valleys
B)radiative cooling of the ground at night
C)a lowering of the stratosphere during periods of low Sun activity
D)rapid rise of air during low pressure events.
E)reflectance of sunlight off cloud tops.

Question 63

Which of the following can cause tropospheric air to rise into the stratosphere?

A)surface heating by forest fires.
B)turbulence associated with the jet streams,volcanic eruptions and hurricanes
C)tornadoes
D)space shuttle launches.
E)it is impossible for this to happen

Question 64

The problem of air pollution was first reported during

A)the time of the Romans (2000 years ago).
B)the Middle Ages (approximately 550 A.D.to 1500 A.D. ).
C)the 1800s.
D)the twentieth century.
E)the beginning of the industrial revolution.

Question 65

Industrial smog is

A)associated with photochemistry.
B)principally associated with coal-burning industries.
C)a relatively recent problem that developed during the latter half of this century.
D)principally associated with transportation.
E)has been recorded since Roman times.

Question 66

Which of the following results from the anthropogenic production of ozone in the lower atmosphere?

A)oxidation of paint.
B)preservation of aging of rubber.
C)conservation of aging of paper.
D)plant growth.
E)increased agricultural yields.

Question 67

Which of the following statements about ozone is false
?

A)ozone in the stratosphere protects human health.
B)ozone in the lower atmosphere protects human health.
C)anthropogenically-produced ozone in the lower atmosphere cannotoffset the loss of ozone that is destroyed by CFCs in the upper atmosphere.
D)ozone is a highly reactive,unstable gas.
E)ozone damages plants in low concentrations.

Question 68

What three pollutants react in the presence of sunlight to produce ozone?

A)particulates,carbon monoxide,and water vapour
B)sulfur oxides,lead,and carbon monoxide
C)hydrocarbons,nitrogen d oxide,and carbon monoxide
D)nitrogen dioxide,particulates,and water vapour
E)water vapour,lead,and carbon monoxide.

Question 69

Sources of natural variable gases and materials include all of the following except

A)flooding.
B)landslides.
C)plants and decaying plants.
D)surface heating.
E)wind.

Question 70

O₃ in the lower troposphere

A)forms acid rain.
B)is not associated with transportation.
C)causes eye,nose,and throat irritation in humans.
D)has not been found to cause any damage to crops and plants.
E)is stable.

Question 71

Photochemical reactions produce

A)principally sulfur dioxides.
B)particulates such as dust,dirt,soot,and ash.
C)ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrates (PAN).
D)carbon monoxide.
E)noctilucent clouds.

Question 72

With regard to carbon monoxide (CO),which of the following is false ?

A)anthropogenic CO is principally produced by automobiles.
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 colourless,odorless and tasteless gas.
E)it is a naturally occurring gas.

Question 73

At CO levels of 100 ppm or less,

A)most humans develop a headache and can make errors on simple tests.
B)there is no noticeable health effect.
C)the human bloodstream is unaffected.
D)carbon monoxide can contribute to acid rain.
E)it has a noticeable odour.

Question 74

Which of the following is false regarding sulfur dioxide (SO?)?

A)it is odorless.
B)it is colourless.
C)it is associated with coal-fired power plants and heavy industry.
D)it forms sulfuric acid in the presence of water vapor.
E)it is dangerous to human health.

Question 75

Photochemical smog developed with the advent of

A)coal burning stoves.
B)the industrial revolution.
C)smelting of ores.
D)automobiles.
E)photography.

Question 76

Temperature inversions occur

A)when surface temperatures are higher than overlying layers of air.
B)when there is good air drainage and ventilation of the surface air.
C)when surface temperatures are lower than warmer overlying air.
D)during episodes of reduced air pollution.
E)when tropospheric temperatures remain unchanged with altitude.

Question 77

Carbon monoxide is potentially dangerous because it

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

Question 78

The reaction of automobile exhaust and ultraviolet light

A)produces photochemical smog.
B)produces industrial smog.
C)is affecting the stratospheric ozone concentration.
D)forms smoke and fog.
E)only occurs in warm temperatures.

Question 79

PAN in the lower troposphere

A)is principally related to sulfur dioxides.
B)is formed by particulates such as dust,dirt,soot,and ash.
C)damages and kills plant tissue but does not appear to affect people.
D)is emitted from the tail pipes of automobiles i.e. ,it comes directly from automobile exhaust.
E)is a form of particulate matter that is quickly washed from the atmosphere.

Question 80

Variable atmospheric components refer to

A)only natural gases and materials.
B)nitrogen,oxygen,argon,and carbon dioxide.
C)natural sources of dust and aerosols,such as volcanic dust and forest fire smoke,but nothing anthropogenic (human-caused).
D)both natural and anthropogenic gases and materials.
E)only anthropogenic gases and materials.