Weather and Climate

About how far does the atmosphere extend above Earth's surface?

300 Miles

Which of the following statements is true about climate?

All answers are correct. It is measured on the scale of seasons, years, and decades. It is an average of the daily weather conditions. It refers to long-term atmospheric conditions.

Which of the following is true about weather and climate?

Climate reflects average weather conditions.

It is measured on the scale of seasons, years, and decades. It is an average of the daily weather conditions. It refers to long-term atmospheric conditions.

Hourly Data

Which of these choices demonstrates the significance of the troposphere?

It contains the air we breathe, which is a mix of mostly nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide

Which of the following statements is NOT true about weather?

It describes average atmospheric conditions over long periods of time.

Which of these answer choices best describes the thermosphere?

It is the highest of the four main layers of Earth's atmosphere; some of Earth's satellites reside here, along with the International Space Station

Which level of the atmosphere is too far down to be warmed directly by the sun and too far up to benefit from the warmth trapped by clouds in the troposphere?

Mesosphere

Which gas is the second most common one in our atmosphere?

Oxygen

Why is there concern about the thinning of the ozone layer that surrounds the earth?

Ozone blocks UV radiation from the sun

Which statement is true about the gases in the 'other' category?

They make up about 0.04% of the atmosphere.

We see and hear a lot of reporting about the dangers of greenhouse gases. What receives little coverage are the benefits of having greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. What is the value of having greenhouse gases in small amounts?

They work to keep the Earth warm.

One reason that Thomas Jefferson is an important figure is because he:

Was one of the first climatologists.

The area of the atmosphere that makes radio communication possible is called the _____.

ionosphere

Only two markers of human activity are evident in the stratosphere. They are indicated by _____ .

the condition of the ozone layer and the presence of spy planes