ATMO Chapter 1 Review

Winds blow ____ toward the center of a low-pressure system. Winds blow ____ the center of a high-pressure system.

low- toward high- out from

The "ozone hole" is observed above ____.

Antarctica

Areas of high atmospheric pressure are known as ____.

Anticyclones

The thermosphere is where changed particles from the sun interact with air molecules to produce ___.

Auroras

Air density is greatest in the ____.

Homosphere

Earth's first atmosphere (approximately 4.6 billion years ago) was most likely composed of ____.

Hydrogen and Helium

In a temperature inversion, air temperature _____.

Increases with increasing height

The primary source of water vapor and carbon dioxide for Earth's early atmosphere was most likely _____.

Outgassing

Which gas in the upper atmospheres shields the Earth's surface from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays?

Ozone

Which gas is responsible for the temperature inversion in the stratosphere?

Ozone

The letters H and L on a surface weather map refers to regions of low and high _____.

Pressures

Clouds often form in ____.

Rising air in the center of a low pressure area

The majority of the atmospheric ozone (about 97%) is found in the ______.

Stratosphere

The layers of the atmosphere (for example, the stratosphere, troposphere, and mesosphere) are divided this way due to the change of _____ with height within each layer.

Temperature

Match the atmospheric term with the appropriate description.

Troposphere: This layer is well stirred and contains all of the weather that we are familiar with on Earth. The temperature here typically decreases with height. • Stratosphere: In this layer, air temperature begins to increase with height producing a temperature inversion. This is also the layer, which the ozone layer lies. • Mesosphere: The air is extremely thin and the atmospheric pressure is quite low. Temperature decreases with increasing height. The percentage of nitrogen and oxygen in this layer is about the same as it is at Earth's surface, but overall there are far fewer air molecules. • Thermosphere: In this layer, oxygen molecules (O2) absorb energetic solar rays making it the warmest part of the atmosphere. Temperature increases with increasing height. This is also the location where the bulk of ionosphere lies. • Exosphere: In this layer, collisions between gas molecules and atoms are so infrequent that fast-moving lighter molecules can actually escape Earth's gravitational pull, and shoot off into space. This is the outermost layer of the atmosphere.

Molecular oxygen (O2) on the Earth's early atmosphere probably originates from the splitting of water vapor (H2O) into hydrogen and oxygen.

True

The only substance found naturally in the lowest atmosphere that can exist as a solid, a liquid, and a gas is ______.

Water

Which of the following parameters always decreases as you rise through the standard atmosphere, regardless of what layer you're in?

• Air pressure • Density • Number of air molecules

From the choices below, choose three (3) critically important variable gases that exist in today's atmosphere.

• Carbon dioxide • Water vapor • Ozone

From the choices below, choose the three (3) most common permanent gases in today's atmosphere:

• Nitrogen • Argon • Oxygen

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is removed from the atmosphere through the following processes:

• Plants consuming and absorbing it • Chemical weathering • Oceans absorbing it

Jet streams are found within the ____.

Tropopause

Atmospheric concentrations of ____ can vary significantly depending on time and location.

Water vapor

The standard lapse rate of temperature in the troposphere is_____.

3.5F/1000ft of elevation gain and 6.5C/1000m of elevation gain

Winds circle a low-pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere in a ___A___ direction. Winds circle a high-pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere in a ____B__ direction.

A)Counterclockwise B) clockwise

Tiny solid or liquid particles of various compositions that are suspended in the atmosphere are called _____.

Aerosols

The greenhouse effect is directly enhanced by ______.

Energy absorption by atmospheric water vapor particles

Middle-latitude cyclonic storm systems are also known as ____.

Extratropical cyclones

The air pressure at the summit of Mount Everest is higher than the air pressure at sea level.

False

Average atmospheric CO2 concentrations have ____ over the past 100 years.

Increased

Near Earth's surface, ____ occupies about 78%, and _____ about 21% of the total volume of dry air.

Nitrogen; Oxygen

The exosphere is ___.

The upper limit of our atmosphere

A towering cloud, or cluster of clouds, accompanied by thunder, lightning, strong gusty winds, and heavy rain is called a _______.

Thunderstorm

Carbon dioxide (CO2) enters the atmosphere through the following processes:

• Volcanic activity • Deforestation • Burning of fossil fuels • Animal exhalation • Plant decay