Atmosphere Unit Test

A high pressure system (H) is moving to the southeast as shown on the weather map. Cold air is usually found north and west of a high pressure system. Warm air is to the south and east of the front. Based on this information, what is the best prediction for weather on the day after the system passes the point marked X?

Drier air with cooler temperatures.

What can be inferred about what Earth was like before the formation of the redbeds?

Earth was warmer.

What is the most likely reason for the temporary cooling of the island?

Fine particles of atmospheric dust block sunlight.

Which organisms will be affect most as a result of the change in sea level?

Fish that live in coral reefs in shallow waters.

"It has warm summers, moderate winters, and frequent rainfall." What information does this description best provide?

General climate.

Which of these situations potentially is a result of climate change?

Glaciers will become smaller, causing sea levels to rise.

While studying the ozone layer, scientists also noted that icebergs on the ice caps covering the North and South Pole were breaking up and melting. Which statement best explains the observation?

Global warming has an effect on the ice caps.

As more livestock are raised to provide food for humans, what is the most likely effect of the increase in methane?

Global warming.

Which human-produced effect could these urban weather stations be measuring?

Heat Island.

The average temperature of the surface of Earth has increased approximately 1 C in the past century. Which reason best explains this increase in temperature?

Higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

What happens to a moist air mass as it moves upward in the atmosphere?

It becomes cooler and forms clouds.

A student writes the following statement in a journal: "It was 84 F at 3 p.m. on Tuesday in the schoolyard." This statement best describes which system?

Local Weather.

As the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases, which occurrence is most likely a long-term result?

The polar ice caps will melt.

The discovery of these iridium-containing layers has been matched to which phenomena in Earth's history?

mass species extinctions.

What are the characteristics of maritime polar air masses?

Cool and humid.

Energy at which wavelength is most likely absorbed by the ozone layer in Earth's stratosphere?

250 nm.

Over a 30-day period residents of an area have noticed that spring-like conditions have been starting earlier each year. This general observation is most likely based on

A series of weather observations indicating a possible change in climate.

If an air mass develops over Region 1, which properties will it most likely have?

Cool and moist.

Which environmental factors most likely impact the formation of tornadoes in this area?

Cool dry air colliding with warm moist air.

Which of the following best describes an interaction between Earth and solar energy that functions to warm up the planet?

Absorption of solar energy by continental land masses.

How did the lack of differentiation in Earth's core most likely affect the transition in atmospheric composition from the first atmosphere to the second?

By allowing the solar wind to blow away much of the lighter elemental gases.

How could strong winds prevent a temperature inversion from forming?

By mixing the warm upper air layer with the cool air layer?

Which gas accounts for the largest percentage of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

Carbon Dioxide.

In which way is carbon a threat to the biosphere?

Carbon dioxide gas can effectively trap heat in the atmosphere.

Which of these statements best describes a difference in climate?

Carson City averages over twice as much rain yearly as Las Vegas.

A greenhouse is used as a model of the atmosphere. Which of the following cannot be demonstrated by the model?

Changes in greenhouse gases.

A warm moist air mass moving northward collides with a strong cold air mass moving southward, what observations will most likely be made?

Clouds begin to form.

Clay is watching the weather. The forecast predicts that a low-pressure system will move in overnight. Which type of weather can Clay most likely expect in the morning?

Cloudy and rainy.

Rising moist air causes the frequent occurrence of which weather condition at Location X?

Cloudy and rainy.

What is the most likely reason for the change in pH levels?

Coal-burning factories.

Which factor is most likely responsible for the dry period?

Cold air moving in from the north.

What property of the air is most responsible for the formation of convection currents?

Density differences.

What statement best describes the climate of Nevada?

Humidity is low throughout every summer.

Which phenomenon most closely models current theories of early Earth?

Hundreds of active volcanoes on Io.

On December 13th a snowstorm in a city produced 20 centimeters of snowfall. When can this event be used to describe the climate of the region?

If the snowfall was consistent with weather in December over time.

Some scientists have predicted that build up of greenhouse gases will contribute to the occurrence of more hurricanes. Which of the most likely assumption used in making this prediction.

Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide will cause increased surface temperatures.

Which of the following best describes a change in Earth's atmosphere made by early photosynthetic life?

Increased level of oxygen.

If this trend continues, which impact will coal consumption most likely have on the environment after the year 2010?

Increased levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

Which of the following do researchers most attribute to this temperatures in decrease?

Increased use of fossil fuels.

Which will most likely cause changes to estuary habitats on a global scale?

Increases in sea level.

Which statement describes a characteristic of a temperature inversion that can lead to extended periods of poor air quality?

Inversions prevent the normal convection of air masses.

How would Earth be different without greenhouse gases in its atmosphere?

More heat from solar radiation would escape into space.

Which of the following is a secondary pollutant?

Ozone (O3)

Why is the ozone content of the stratosphere important to living organisms?

Ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.

How does the action of ozone in the atmosphere affect Earth?

Ozone removes electromagnetic radiation that is harmful to living things.

Which substance in the atmosphere absorbs most of the ultraviolet rays?

Ozone.

Why is the graph useful for making predictions of future temperatures for the area?

The graph was made from a large data set.

What most likely happens when a cold air mass comes into contact with a warm, moist air mass?

Rain or snow begins to fall.

What would a warm air mass over the ocean most likely cause?

Rainfall.

Which condition is most likely to cause the formation of a temperature inversion?

Rapid cooling of the ground at night.

A hydrologist is studying the acidity level of a city lake. Which of the following steps is the best way to check the accuracy of her data?

Retest the original samples.

These data allow scientists to use a volcano as a model for which system?

Sources for compounds in Earth's early atmosphere.

Which of these weather conditions contributes most to the formation of smog?

Temperature Inversion.

Which best describes how an increase in atmospheric particles would affect temperatures on the surface of Earth?

Temperatures would decrease because the particles would absorb solar radiation before it could reach the surface of Earth.

What is the main source of energy that drives all weather patterns?

The Sun.

Which of the statements from the brochure is a fact?

The average rainfall in Los Angeles is about 38 centimeters per year.

Which of these data can best be used for this type of climatic modeling?

The ratio of magnesium ions that compare to calcium in estuarine fossils.

Which statement best describes why the force of a hurricane diminishes as the hurricane moves over land?

The supply of warm, moist air decreases.

How does the high moisture content affect the coastal area climate?

There is greater precipitation.

This production of oxygen in the ozone layer is caused by exposing ozone to a strong source of which type of electromagnetic radiation?

Ultraviolet Light.

Which of these has been controlled in an attempt to reduce the depletion of ozone in Earth's atmosphere?

Use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Which statement best describes natural variations in the amount of ozone found in the atmosphere of Earth's atmosphere?

Variations in the ozone layer follow a pattern that matches variations within the solar cycle.

A stationary air mass over the Gulf of Mexico would typically be

Warm and humid.

An air mass that moves from the equator over the Gulf of Mexico would be

Warm and humid.

Which of these gases is the most abundant gas in the lower atmosphere of Earth?

Water Vapor.

Which of these is a greenhouse gas?

Water Vapor.

Which factor best enables climatologists to forecast the time and location of hurricane formation?

Water current and temperature.

As energy is removed from the air, which change will most likely take place?

Water in the atmosphere will undergo a phase change.

Ozone depletion is most often caused

When fluorocarbons are released into the atmosphere.

The student examines the information and concludes that the data is incomplete because the

X-coordinate gives average monthly temperatures.