Deck 3: Earths Modern Atmosphere

Question 1

Which of the following is true about the 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.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Air consists 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 vapor.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

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

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

Answer 3

D

Question 4

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.

Question 5

Which is not true of Earth's atmosphere?

A) It is the sum of all the exhalations and inhalations of life on Earth.
B) We consider the top of the atmosphere to be 32,000 km (20,000 mi.) from Earth.
C) It protects us from deadly UV radiation, yet lets light through.
D) Its temperatures range from -90°C (-130°F) degrees to 1200°C (2200°F).
E) The principle substance is air, a mixture of many gases that behaves like a single gas.

Question 6

Half of the total mass of Earth's atmosphere lies below an elevation of ________ meters.

A) 14,000
B) 11,000
C) 8300
D) 5500

Question 7

The highest temperatures in the atmosphere occur in the

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

Question 8

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

Question 9

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.

Question 10

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.

Question 11

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.

Question 12

At sea level, the pressure of the atmosphere is about ________ kg/cm², or ________ ln/in².

A) 1.0; 14.7
B) 2.6; 9.4
C) 8.2; 3.3
D) 6.7; 19.9

Question 13

The solar constant is measured at

A) the outer boundary of the exosphere (32,000 km (20,000 mi)).
B) the top of the atmosphere (480 km (300 mi)).
C) the top of the stratosphere (50 km (31 mi)).
D) the top of the troposphere (12 km (8 mi)).
E) Earth's surface at the equator (sea level).

Question 14

The thermosphere closely corresponds to

A) the ionosphere.
B) the heterosphere.
C) the homosphere.
D) the exosphere.
E) both the ionosphere and the heterosphere.

Question 15

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.

Question 16

The thermopause is located

A) between the mesosphere and the thermosphere.
B) wherever -90°C (-130°F) is recorded.
C) approximately 480 km (300 mi.) above Earth's surface.
D) at the bottom of the homosphere.

Question 17

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 18

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

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

Question 19

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

A) Hydrogen has a higher atomic weight than oxygen.
B) The ozonosphere stretches from the Earth's surface to approximately 50 km (30 mi.).
C) All but 0.001 percent of the atmosphere is accounted for within the troposphere.
D) The ozonosphere corresponds with the stratosphere.

Question 20

The top of the Earth's atmosphere is approximately

A) 3,200 km (1,988 mi) above the Earth's surface.
B) 480 km (300 mi) above the Earth's surface.
C) 2,000 km (1,243 mi) above the Earth's surface.
D) 1,000 km (621 mi) above the Earth's surface.

Question 21

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

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

Question 22

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

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

Question 23

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

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

Question 24

The percentages of various 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.

Question 25

The tropopause altitude is highest ________ because of the ________.

A) at the equator; intense heating from the surface
B) at the poles; diffuse solar radiation
C) during the summer; increased atmospheric pressure
D) during the winter; Sun's direct rays hitting the Tropic of Capricorn

Question 26

A by-product of photosynthesis is

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

Question 27

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 28

The two most abundant gases in the atmosphere are

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

Question 29

The high temperature in the upper thermosphere

A) is produced by the absorption of UV radiation.
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.

Question 30

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.

Question 31

Oxygen ( ) is

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

Question 32

About half of Earth's crust consists of compounds containing

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

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 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 35

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

A) 1argon
B) oxygen
C) nitrogen
D) water vapor

Question 36

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.

Question 37

How does the ionosphere affect GPS?

A) GPS satellites orbit the 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 38

Nitrogen ( ) is

A) a key component of life, integrated into our bodies directly from the air.
B) cycled through the environment via 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.

Question 39

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 40

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.

Question 41

The homosphere is so called because

A) it is the habitable sphere for humans (Homo sapiens).
B) scientists have been unable to determine its composition and assume it is homogenous.
C) the blend of gases is nearly uniform throughout.
D) it contains only one gas, nitrogen.

Question 42

Which of the following is not true about the troposphere?

A) The altitude of the upper limits of the troposphere (the tropopause) varies with season and latitude.
B) Approximately 90% of the total mass of the atmosphere is within the troposphere.
C) Temperatures increase with altitudei n the troposphere because the higher in altitude, the closer to the sun.
D) The bulk of all water vapor occurs in the troposphere.

Question 43

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 the Earth's surface, has highest concentration in Antarctica.

Question 44

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 45

Which of the following is not true of UV exposure?

A) UVA radiation is not filtered by the ozone layer and amounts for about 95% of all UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface.
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 spatially according to the season, local weather conditions, and overhead ozone depletion.

Question 46

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

A) 1 km.
B) 13 km (8 mi.).
C) 50 km (30 mi.).
D) wherever +32°F is recorded as the temperature.

Question 47

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 48

The Montreal Protocol

A) established a framework to address acid precipitation.
B) aims to reduce and eliminate all ozone depleting substances.
C) only addresses CFCs.
D) created the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
E) is ineffective because so few countries have ratified it.

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

Why is normal precipitation always slightly acidic?

A) Precipitation dissolved carbon dioxide to form carbomic 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 51

Noctilucent clouds are associated with the ________ whereas the auroras are associated with the ________.

A) stratosphere; ozonosphere
B) thermosphere; ionosphere
C) troposphere; homosphere
D) mesosphere; ionosphere

Question 52

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
E) None of the above-temperature decreases with increasing altitude in all layers of the atmosphere.

Question 53

Which of the following is not true of carbon dioxide?

A) It is critically important 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 increased by 16% from 1992 to 2012.

Question 54

In 1974, Dr. Rowland and Dr. Molina made what observation vis-à-vis ozone (O₃)?

A) The photochemical interactions of chloroflourocarbons 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 55

The atmospheric portion of the biosphere occurs in the

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

Question 56

Which of the following is true of chlorofluorocarbons?

A) They have been used as propellants in spray cans.
B) They are used in refrigeration systems.
C) They are used to make foam products.
D) All of the above are true.

Question 57

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 58

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 59

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

A) crop yields
B) phytoplankton populations
C) immune systems
D) eye tissues
E) crop yields, phytoplankton populations, immune systems, and eye tissues

Question 60

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 61

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

A) volcanoes.
B) forest fires.
C) plants and decaying plants.
D) industrial activity.

Question 62

Which of the following best describe 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 63

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 Earth's surface.

Question 64

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

Question 65

In terms of incoming solar radiation (insolation), which is the correct order?

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

Question 66

At 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 contribute to acid rain.

Question 67

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.

Question 68

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

A) The United States
B) China
C) Germany
D) India

Question 69

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) it is in direct contact with high energy solar radiation.
E) high intensity solar radiation causes strong chemical reactions with ozone, and this heats the layer to very high temperatures.

Question 70

With regards 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 colorless, odorless and tasteless gas.

Question 71

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.

Question 72

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's 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 73

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 Earth's surface.
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 74

Which of the following is false?

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 1 kg/ ; i.e., 14.7 ln/in².
D) Air pressure decreases with increasing altitude.

Question 75

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 EPA has deemed worthy of regulating.

Question 76

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.

Question 77

Photochemical smog developed with the advent of

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

Question 78

Why are temperature inversion noteworthy vis-à-vis 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 79

Which of the following is true?

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 80

In 2012, Felix Baumgartner became famous for

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