Atmospheric Composition
Which are the two most abundant gases in the atmosphere?
Nitrogen and Helium
b. Carbon and Sulfur
c. Nitrogen and Oxygen
d. Oxygen and Hyrdogen
c. Nitrogen and Oxygen
How does the atmosphere play a crucial role in supporting life on Earth, and what would be the potential consequences of its absence?
a. The atmosphere regulates Earth's temperature and blocks harmful radiation; without it, life would struggle due to extreme conditions.
b. The atmosphere provides oxygen and protects from harmful UV rays; without it, life would thrive due to higher energy levels.
c. The atmosphere produces all Earth's water and food; without it, life would adapt to alternative resources.
d. The atmosphere solely prevents meteor impacts; without it, life would remain unaffected in other ways.
a. The atmosphere regulates Earth's temperature and blocks harmful radiation; without it, life would struggle due to extreme conditions.
What is the source of all energy that reaches earth?
a. gravitational pull from the moon
b. convection currents in the mantle
c. solar radiation via the sun
d. air currents
c. solar radiation via the sun
How does the atmosphere help regulate Earth's temperature through energy transfer?
a. By reflecting all sunlight away from Earth
b. By eliminating heat during convection processes
c. By trapping heat through the greenhouse effect
d. By absorbing energy only in the troposphere
c. By trapping heat through the greenhouse effect
What is precipitation?
a.The collection of water in rivers and lakes.
b.The formation of clouds in the atmosphere.
c.The process of water turning into vapor
d. The downward movement of water from clouds.
d. The downward movement of water from clouds.
Water vapor in the atmosphere is the source of
a. clouds and rain
b. pollution
c. carbon dioxide
d. wind
a. clouds and rain
The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth’s surface. Which of these would you expect to find in the troposphere?
a. a shooting star
b. extremely high temperatures
c. clouds and rain
d. the ionosphere
c. clouds and rain
What is the primary way energy from the Sun reaches Earth?
a. conduction
b. radiation
c. convection
d. evaporation
b. radiation
Which statement about green house gases are true?
a. they have no significance in Earth's temperature regulation
b. the trap heat in the atmosphere
c. they are the primary backers of cloud formation
d. none of the above are true about green house gases
b. the trap heat in the atmosphere
How does the process of condensation lead to the formation of a cloud?
a. Warm air rises and cools, causing water vapor to turn into liquid droplets.
b. Liquid water droplets combine to form larger droplets of water vapor.
c. Ice crystals melt and turn back into liquid water droplets.
d.Cold air sinks and warms up, creating invisible water vapor.
a. Warm air rises and cools, causing water vapor to turn into liquid droplets.
Ozone in Earth’s atmosphere is important because it
a. causes rain to fall.
b. helps clouds form.
c. absorbs harmful pollution.
d. absorbs harmful radiation.
d. absorbs harmful radiation.
What is the primary function of the ozone layer in the atmosphere?
a. To produce oxygen for breathing
b. To regulate Earth's weather patterns
c. To trap heat and keep the planet warm
d. To block harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun
d. To block harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun
What is the transfer of heat by vertical movements of air masses called?
a. conduction
b. radiation
c. sublimation
d. convection
d. convection
Which greenhouse gas is most likely being released into the air from smoke stacks on a factory burning fossil fuels?
a. water vapor
b. carbon dioxide
c. methane
d. helium solfate
b. carbon dioxide
What are the two primary forces that act as the engines of the water cycle?
a. The moon's pull and the Earth's rotation
b. The sun's energy and Earth's gravity
c. Wind patterns and ocean currents
d. Volcanic heat and underwater vents
b. The sun's energy and Earth's gravity
Solid particles in the atmosphere include salt and
a. lightning
b. ozone
c. leaves
d. dust
d. dust
Which is NOT one of the four main layers of the atmosphere?
a. troposphere
b. thermosphere
c. lithosphere
d. exosphere
c. lithosphere
The transfer of heat via direct contact is known as
a. radiation
b. conduction
c. convection
d. the Green House Effect
b. conduction
The melting of glaciers and polar ice cass due to an increase of the green house effect can result in....
a. will result in cooler temperatures in the Arctic
b. will have no effect on ecosystems
c. will result in sea-levels rising
d. none of the above
c. will result in sea-levels rising
Based on the roles of the sun and gravity, what would be the most likely consequence if Earth's gravity was significantly weaker?
a. The sun's energy would no longer cause evaporation.
b. Oceans and lakes would immediately freeze over.
c. Water vapor might not fall back to Earth as precipitation.
d. Water would evaporate much faster than before.
c. Water vapor might not fall back to Earth as precipitation.
The amount of energy the atmosphere absorbs depends in part on its level of
a. nitrogen
b. argon
c. carbon dioxide
d. nitrogen dioxide
c. carbon dioxide
What is the correct order of the atmosphere layers from space to Earth?
a. Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere
b. Exosphere, Thermosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere
c. Exosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Thermosphere, Troposphere
d. Thermosphere, Exosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere
b. Exosphere, Thermosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere
Explain with detail how energy is transferred from the Sun and retained as heat in Earth's atmosphere. Be sure to mention the role of radiation, conduction, and convection
~Radiation:electromagnetic waves penetrate Earth's atmosphere (47%) and heats Earth's surface.
~Conduction: the hot surface warms the surface air directly above it
~Convection: the warm air masses rise, replaced by the cooler air masses above.
Greenhouse effect: green house gases trap the outgoing heat from the air masses, which is retained in the atmosphere to help keep the Earth's warm.
Wavelengths of incoming solar radiation are __________________ the wavelengths of reradiated heat.
a. shorter than
b. greater than
c. the same
a. shorter than
Imagine a large, dense forest is completely cleared of all its trees. Based on the information about how water enters the atmosphere, what would be the most likely result?
a. There would be no change in the total amount of water vapor in the air.
b. The amount of water vapor from transpiration would significantly decrease.
c. There would be no change in the total amount of water vapor in the air.
d. The amount of water vapor from animals breathing would increase.
b. The amount of water vapor from transpiration would significantly decrease.