earth science unit 7 test

Low air pressure usually means bad weather. This is because _____.

warm air rises and condenses, usually forming clouds and precipitation

Select all of the answers that apply. Without our unique atmosphere, the earth might be _____.

- lifeless - more similar to Mars - bombarded by meteorites

Earth's temperature is maintained at an average of 15°C because of _____.

- our atmosphere's thickness - the water cycle - greenhouse gases

Select all of the answers that apply. The Sun emits a lot of radiation. The different types of radiation are the electromagnetic spectrum. Which of the following wave types are part of the spectrum?

- radio waves - microwaves - gamma rays - X-rays - visible rays

At sea level, the atmospheric pressure is ______ pounds per square inch.

14.7

Select all of the answers that apply. Air pollution causes _____.

- acid rain - respiratory distress - damage to buildings

Select all of the answers that apply. Without its atmosphere, Earth would be _____.

- bombarded by meteorites - similar to Mars - relatively lifeless

Select all of the answers that apply. If you have respiratory or heart problems, _____ can make it worse.

- carbon monoxide - sulfur oxide - nitrogen oxide

Select all of the answers that apply. Global air circulation cells move air _____.

- clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern hemisphere - from the equator to the poles - in different directions at different latitudes

Select all of the answers that apply. Which of the following are measures taken to reduce air pollution?

- higher fuel efficiency for cars - mass transit, like buses and trains - automobile emissions tests - limiting power plant emissions

__________ are causes of the "hole" in the ozone layer.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

There is a balance of heat coming into and going out of Earth. This is known as the _____.

Earth's energy budget

Over time, the Earth's orbit becomes more or less elongated. This change in orbit, which is linked to past cooling trends, is called a _____.

Milankovitch cycle

Essential life materials, like nitrogen and carbon, are exchanged and recycled through _____.

biogeochemical cycles

Most meteors do not hit the earth's surface because they collide with the atmosphere causing friction with the air and thus the meteor _____________.

burns up

Which of the following locations would probably have the highest humidity?

california

We participate in the ________ cycle every time we breathe.

carbon-oxygen

The _____ set guidelines on the amount of air pollution considered acceptable.

clean air act of 1970

High air pressure means that the air is _____ and ________.

colder, heavier

In the greenhouse effect, the earth's atmosphere acts like ______ that warms the earth.

a blanket

Choose the object that would provide the best greenhouse effect.

a box sealed with clear plastic

Coriolis effect

a circular pattern created on Earth from its rotation

carbon monoxide

a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas

Glass windows allow light in, but trap the heat inside. This describes _____.

a greenhouse effect

albedo

ability of a material to reflect solar radiation

Nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides make _____.

acid rain

It is believed that ______ may affect climate.

air pollution

_______ is thought to be another factor that will affect climate change.

air pollution

The most abundant trace gas in the atmosphere is _____.

argon

A _________ is used to measure air pressure.

barometer

If you place your cold hand on a warm furnace, it becomes warm due to ________. But, if you climb a ladder and hold your hands in the warm air rising from the furnace, they become warm due to _________.

conduction, convection

The Sun's rays are distributed unevenly over the earth. As a result, _______ in the atmosphere causes wind to blow.

convection

Air that comes in from the ocean during the day is usually _____.

cooler than air on land

carbon-oxygen cycle

describes how carbon and oxygen are exchanged and recycled on Earth

Which sub-layer thins out into space, where there is no air?

exosphere

As you increase altitude, air pressure increases.

false

It is too late to remedy air pollution.

false

troposphere

first (lowest) layer

thermosphere

fourth (highest) layer

Certain gases in the atmosphere, like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, absorb heat and prevent it from escaping into space. These gases are _____.

greenhouse gases

altitude

height above the earth's surface

It's a hot, clear, sunny day outside. You are most likely in a _____.

high-pressure zone

Air pollution comes from _____.

human industrialization

Moisture in the air, more commonly known as _______, is regularly found near bodies of water.

humidity

The warmth you feel as heat is _____.

infrared rays

barometer

instrument used to measure air pressure

Northern lights or auroras can be seen within the _____ sub-layer.

ionosphere

The _________ is the coldest layer of the atmosphere.

mesosphere

The coldest atmospheric layer is the _______ ; the hottest is the ________ .

mesosphere, thermosphere

Without the carbon-oxygen cycle, _____.

most life would not exist

Which chemical is the building block of amino acids and proteins?

nitrogen

The primary gases of the atmosphere are _____.

nitrogen and oxygen

CFCs can negatively affect _______.

ozone

The sub-layer that protects us from ultraviolet radiation is the _____.

ozonosphere

_________ been linked to climate changes.

plate tectonics

The atmosphere is full of nitrogen and oxygen. These are _____.

primary gases

When the Sun shines on your face, you feel warmth from its _____.

radiation

convection

rocess of heat transfer by the circulation or movement of a liquid or a gas

stratosphere

second layer

There is little vertical air movement in the _________ because of the cold, heavy air at the bottom of the layer.

stratosphere

Air tends to flow faster over _______ formations.

taller

Wind blows because of _____.

temperature and pressure differences

Earth's energy budget

the balance between the amount of energy coming in from the Sun and going back out into space

exosphere

the sub-layer of the thermosphere where the atmosphere blends into space

conduction

the transfer of heat between two stationary entities

Nitrogen and carbon are important to life because _____.

they are needed for cellular growth

mesosphere

third layer

Our atmosphere is the largest _____.

transport and distribution system on Earth

We hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, while other friends hiked to the top of Mt. Everest. Both of these activities occurred in the _____.

troposphere

Weather is associated with the _____ layer of the atmosphere.

troposphere

Air has weight.

true

Air pressure is gravity pulling down on air molecules.

true

The earth's atmosphere absorbs UV rays, maintains a warm temperature, and supports life.

true

The temperature in the stratosphere gets warmer with altitude.

true

Without gravity, air molecules would float away into space, leaving us without an atmosphere.

true

Without the greenhouse effect, the earth might be too cold for most people to survive.

true

Water vapor in the air can be high or low, depending on your location. Water vapor is a _____.

variable gas

The light you see around you from the Sun is called _____ rays.

visible

Tropical regions have high humidity and frequent storms due to _____.

warm water and latent heat

The biogeochemical cycle that most affects the earth's temperature is the _____.

water cycle

Water vapor holds in heat and distributes it during the _____.

water cycle