class set

Which of these is associated with hurricanes?

A. a storm that forces strong winds toward the ground B. a storm that develops in warm air closer to the equator C. a storm that develops many highpressure thunderstorm clouds *D. a storm that causes an area of low pressure beneath the warm air

The latitudes at which hot deserts are found are defined in part by enough direct solar heating to produce the high temperatures. Which of these is another primary factor that defines these deserts?

A. almost total erosion of all land material above bedrock B. extremely rapid rainfall percolation through surface material C. soil toxicity concentrated enough to suppress foodweb formation *D. location where atmospheric convection results in a dry air mass

Which gas makes up the greatest percentage of Earth's atmosphere?

A. argon *B. nitrogen C. nitrous oxide D. carbon dioxide

One substance found on Earth is more stable as an elemental gas than as part of a solid compound. As a result, this substance is very abundant in the atmosphere. Which substance exhibits these traits?

A. argon B. chlorine *C. nitrogen D. oxygen

Which element makes up most of the air we breathe.

A. carbon *B. nitrogen C. oxygen D. argon

Highaltitude cirrus clouds are primarily formed from which substance?

A. carbon dioxide gas *B. solid ice crystals C. nitrogen compounds D. ozone molecules

An air mass travels north over the Pacific Ocean, from the tropics, and then eastward across the United States. Which weather pattern can be expected?

A. cool and dry B. warm and dry C. cool and wet *D. warm and wet

When air rises over the open ocean, a low pressure system is formed. Which factor increases the potential of a low pressure system developing into a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere?

A. cool ocean currents circulating towards the equator B. increased volcanic activity in the upper latitudes C. cold air moving south from the North Pole *D. warm water temperatures in the tropics

The average rainfall in Nevada is about 7 inches per year. The most likely reason for the low amount of rainfall is the

A. high elevations of deserts. B. location north of the equator. *C. lack of moisture in the air. D. great distance from the ocean.

In the nitrogen cycle, where is nitrogen found as an element?

A. in plants B. in rocks *C. in the air D. in animals

Atmospheric greenhouse gases help heat the atmosphere by

A. increasing the amount of solar radiation reaching Earth. B. storing energy produced by human activity. *C. absorbing infrared radiation released by Earth. D. increasing the average density of air.

Some jet airplanes fly in a layer of the atmosphere where temperature generally increases with altitude. What is this layer of the atmosphere?

A. mesosphere *B. stratosphere C. thermosphere D. troposphere

In which layer of Earth's atmosphere does weather occur?

A. mesosphere B. stratosphere C. thermosphere *D. troposphere

On Mount Everest the temperature decreases as the altitude increases. The summit of this mountain is in which atmospheric layer?

A. mesosphere B. stratosphere C. thermosphere *D. troposphere

The best description of the troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere with the

A. most ozone. *B. greatest density. C. highest altitude. D. coldest temperature.

The temperature of the stratosphere increases with altitude because of the presence of

A. nitrogen. B. water vapor. *C. ozone. D. carbon monoxide.

Which of these gases, on average, has the lowest volume in the atmosphere of Earth?

A. oxygen B. nitrogen C. water vapor *D. carbon dioxide

What major and potentially catastrophic events can be predicted to occur in the Northern Hemisphere between the months of June and November?

A. tsunamis *B. hurricanes C. asteroid impacts D. volcanic eruptions

Hurricane season for the Atlantic Ocean lasts from June to November. Which factor makes an Atlantic hurricane less likely to form during the month of March?

A. weak trade winds *B. cool ocean waters C. low humidity rates D. strong wind shears

What is the primary cause of rainstorms?

*A. Earth is heated by the Sun. B. Mountains direct moist air upward. C. Water forms droplets when cooled. D. Most of Earth is covered with water.

Which group of organisms is most responsible for changing the composition of Earth's early atmosphere?

*A. algae B. fungi C. reptiles D. angiosperms

When a plane flies, it travels through air that contains gases, liquids, and solids. This area is best described as the

*A. atmosphere. B. lithosphere. C. biosphere. D. hydrosphere.

In the United States, lightning occurs most often in Florida. Which of these is a cause of lightning?

*A. discharge between rain clouds and Earth B. rapidly expanding air caused by intense heat C. solar particles interacting with the atmosphere D. low slanting rays of the Sun refracted by ice crystals

Which four elements make up most of the human body?

*A. oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen B. silicon, calcium, oxygen, aluminum C. carbon, sodium, hydrogen, oxygen D. sulfur, phosphorous, calcium, nitrogen

The reading on a barometer rises when the air

*A. pressure increases. B. pressure decreases. C. speed increases. D. speed decreases.

Which trait is common in gases that contribute to Earth's greenhouse effect?

*A. the ability to trap heat B. a tendency to lose electrons C. a tendency to exist as diatomic molecules D. the ability to bond with multiple other elements

Hurricanes are large tropical storms with heavy winds that exceed 74 miles per hour. Hurricanes produce heavy rains and may give rise to tornadoes. What is the source of the energy contained in hurricanes?

*A. thermal energy of ocean waters B. kinetic energy of ocean waves C. thermal energy of coastal lands D. mechanical energy of moving air

When cold air is at the tops of mountains, the air

*A. will flow toward areas of lower pressure in valleys. B. will flow toward areas of higher pressure in valleys. C. is considered to be less dense than warmer air. D. is considered to be free of oxygen atoms.

Which condition is associated with most warm fronts?

A. tornado formations B. low temperatures C. violent air mass collisions *D. cloud formations bringing precipitation

Earth can be viewed as an engine and heat exchange is part of the engine system. Which would be an example of a transfer of energy from the atmosphere to the lithosphere?

A. A volcano erupts in the state of Washington. B. An earthquake takes place off the coast of Japan. C. A wild fire scorches a prairie in the upper Midwest. *D. A hurricane moves from the Gulf of Mexico onto land.

An increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is associated with an increase in global temperature. Which property of carbon dioxide is responsible for this temperature increase?

A. Carbon dioxide transmits more sunlight than other atmospheric gases. B. Carbon dioxide efficiently turns sunlight into heat. *C. Carbon dioxide keeps heat in the atmosphere from escaping into space. D. Carbon dioxide stores solar energy in chemical bonds.

If cyanobacteria had failed to appear on Earth, how would the evolution of Earth's atmosphere most likely be different?

A. Earth's atmosphere would lack significant amounts of nitrogen. *B. Earth's atmosphere would consist of volcanic gases and water vapor. C. Earth's atmosphere would contain more oxygen and less carbon dioxide. D. Earth's atmosphere would still be composed mainly of hydrogen and helium.

Which statement is describing climate?

A. It snowed 12 centimeters last night. *B. Last winter was colder than normal. C. There is a thunderstorm watch for the local area. D. The temperature will be between 32°C and 37°C all week.

Which best explains why air temperatures near mountaintops are often much colder than air temperatures near sea level?

A. Large amounts of snowfall decrease the temperature. *B. Air near mountaintops is less dense. C. Strong winds near mountaintops decrease temperatures. D. The lack of vegetation at sea level allows the ground to absorb more heat.

A weather balloon is about 2 meters wide when it is near the ground. It grows to about 6 meters wide at higher altitudes. Which change most likely makes the balloon become wider at higher altitudes?

A. More gases enter the balloon. B. The gas inside the balloon gets much hotter. *C. The air pressure surrounding the balloon decreases. D. Sunlight breaks down the material of the balloon.

Which of these statements best describes temperature as elevation in the atmosphere increases?

A. Temperature remains constant with elevation in the thermosphere. B. Temperature remains constant with elevation in the mesosphere. C. Temperature generally decreases with elevation in the stratosphere. *D. Temperature generally decreases with elevation in the troposphere.

How is the stratosphere different from the troposphere?

A. The clouds in the stratosphere produce more rain. B. The air in the stratosphere has a greater density. C. The composition of the stratosphere lacks ozone. *D. The temperature of the stratosphere warms at higher altitude.

A highspeed wind, called a jet stream, is moving from the west to the east across the United States. Which characteristic of this jet stream is most important in predicting weather patterns?

A. The jet stream controls the speed of surface wind. B. The jet stream controls the direction of surface wind. C. The jet stream separates moist northern air from dry southern air. *D. The jet stream separates cold northern air from warm southern air.

How do the conditions for a tornado differ from the conditions for a hurricane?

A. Tornadoes never form when there is rain, while hurricanes always form with rain. B. Tornadoes form under low pressure, while hurricanes form under high pressure. C. Tornadoes form in a stable atmosphere, while hurricanes form in an unstable atmosphere. *D. Tornadoes form over land, while hurricanes form over bodies of water.

Scientists theorize that the original atmosphere of Earth was stripped away by the solar wind shortly after the formation of the planet. The Jovian planets are far enough from the Sun that the solar wind has less of an impact. Studies of the Jovian planets suggest the early atmosphere of Earth was mainly composed of which two gases?

A. oxygen and argon *B. hydrogen and helium C. carbon dioxide and nitrogen D. sulfur dioxide and water vapor

The saturation of surface rock with oxygen early in Earth's history reflected a change in Earth's atmosphere. This change directly made which life process possible?

A. photosynthesis B. nitrogen fixation C. sulfur reduction *D. aerobic respiration

What instrument should be used to monitor atmospheric pressure changes as a weather system approaches?

A. psychrometer B. thermometer C. anemometer *D. barometer

Which type of activity would most likely be included on a weather map?

A. satellite B. seismic C. volcanic *D. hurricane

Which two factors are most responsible for a flash flood?

A. the distance from rivers and the time when it rains B. the temperature of the rain and the time since it last rained *C. how much rain is falling and how long the rain lasts D. how far the water must flow and time of the year it is raining

Which provides the oldest evidence for oxygen accumulation in Earth's atmosphere?

A. the earliest fossils of animals *B. the earliest sediments of oxidized rock C. impact craters of oxidizediron asteroids D. extensive volcanic calderas of similar age

In which layer of the atmosphere does most of Earth's weather occur?

A. the exosphere, which is the outermost layer *B. the troposphere, which is the lowest layer C. the thermosphere, which has the highest temperature D. the stratosphere, which contains a sublayer of ozone

Meteorologists categorize hurricanes based on the SaffirSimpson scale. The scale measures the intensity and destructive potential of hurricanes. Which factor has the most significant effect on the strength of a hurricane?

A. the initial speed of a hurricane B. the direction that the hurricane rotates C. the number of hurricanes that form in a year *D. the temperature of the water below the hurricane

Which layer of the atmosphere contains the greatest amount of water vapor?

A. thermosphere B. mesosphere C. stratosphere *D. troposphere

An air mass in a valley travels up a mountainside. What causes the movement of this air?

A. tidal pull of the moon's gravity B. evaporation of water from soil in the valley *C. warming by solar energy reradiated from the ground D. cooling effect of ice crystals in the air over the mountain