Geog chapter 1

Aerosols are typically removed from the atmosphere by: A.falling precipitation. B.settling to the ground due to the influence of gravity. C.chemical decomposition. D.traveling higher and higher above the earth until they escape into space.

A

The D-layer of the ionosphere: A.has most of its electrons combined with positively charged ions at night. B.lies above the E-layer. C.is transparent to AM radio waves. D.has no significant effect on AM radio waves.

A

The average length of time that individual molecules of a given substance remain in the atmosphere is called the:A.residence time. B.steady state. C.thermocline. D.travel time.

A

The thermosphere: A.has a low heat content. B.would feel very hot to an astronaut. C.is characterized by a decrease in temperature as height increases. D.is part of the homosphere.

A

Carbon dioxide: A.comprises up to two percent of the atmospheric gases. B.is being removed from the atmosphere faster than it is being inputted. C.is removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis. D.is not present in significant amounts in the atmosphere of Venus.

C

Respiration: A.occurs only when the Sun is shining. B.releases oxygen into the air. C.must give off less carbon than is fixed through photosynthesis if a plant is to experience net growth. D.does not affect the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

C

The "ionosphere" is so designated because: A.satellites have a difficult time flying through it. B.visible sunlight is deflected by it. C.of the electrical charges of atoms associated with it. D.no radio waves can pass through it

C

The Martian atmosphere: A.is not capable of producing clouds of water vapor. B.recaptures nearly all the heat radiated from the planet's surface. C.consists primarily of carbon dioxide. D.is nearly as dense as that of Earth.

C

The atmosphere is a mixture of: A.precipitation and air. B.particulate matter and water. C.gas molecules, small particulates, and moisture .D.moisture and cas molecules only.

C

The ozone layer:A.is in the troposphere.B.is composed of nearly half ozone.C.absorbs ultraviolet energy.D.radiates gamma rays toward Earth.

C

The troposphere: A.is thinnest at the tropics. B.maintains a relatively constant temperature. C.is thicker in summer. D.often disappears near the poles in winter.

C

Volcanic outgassing: A.created the earth's first atmosphere. B.has had little effect on the earth's atmosphere .C.emits large amounts of water vapor. D.emits very little carbon dioxide.

C

Aerosols: A.include cloud droplets. B.have little effect on weather. C.are formed by physical processes, not chemical processes. D.can be either solid or liquid.

D

Methane: A.is a permanent gas. B.is a good reflector of thermal radiation. C.is removed from the atmosphere by the digestive processes of cattle. D.has increased in concentration over the last 50 or so years.

D

The maximum concentrations of ozone are found in the: A.troposphere. B.mesosphere .C.ionosphere. D.stratosphere.

D

Atmospheric gas: A.will, for a given amount of gas, experience an increase in pressure if the volume of the gas is decreased. B.undergoes abrupt pressure changes as height above the surface of the earth increases. C.has a smaller mean free path at higher elevations than at lower elevations. D.has no significant effect on sports events played at different elevations.

A

Ozone: A.absorbs ultraviolet light. B.typically reaches its greatest concentrations near the ground and near major cities. C.is very difficult to split into diatomic oxygen and monatomic oxygen. D.exists primarily in the troposphere.

A

The temperature is lowest here: A.mesopause. B.stratopause. C.tropopause. D.stratosphere

A

This is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere: A.nitrogen. B.oxygen. C.carbon dioxide. D.water vapor.

A

Relatively speaking, the earth's atmosphere is: A.very thick when compared to the earth's diameter. B.very thin when compared to the earth's diameter. C.stops at the top of the troposphere. D.stops when we reach "space."

B

Which of the following gases is crucial to to the existence of all forms of life? A.Nitrogen. B.Oxygen. C.Carbon dioxide. D.Argon.

B

Which of the following will increase given an increase in pressure? A.Mass. B.Density. C.Volume. D.None of the above.

B

The atmosphere: A.has vertical wind speeds that are typically around one-tenth that of horizontal wind speeds. B.is about as deep as the planet is wide. C.is more than 99 percent contained within the first 60 miles from the earth's surface. D.has not changed substantially in composition since the earth formed over four billion years ago.

C

The evolution to an oxygen-rich atmosphere: A.was heavily dependent upon aerobic bacteria. B.would have occurred even if carbon dioxide had not been present. C.occurred at the same time the atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide were decreasing. D.required large amounts of atmospheric nitrogen

C

The heterosphere: A.lies below the homosphere. .contains primarily heavy gases. C.is populated primarily by variable gases. D.is named for its chemical homogeneity.

C

What do you notice concerning the percentage of permanent gasses throughout theatmosphere (all levels)? A.It varies significantly from the surface up B.It varies significantly only at the tropopause. C.It is the same throughout the atmosphere from the surface up. D.It varies only in the mesosphere.

C

The aurora borealis: A.is a different type of physical phenomenon than the aurora australis. B.gains its energy from sunlight reflected from Earth. C.is typically strongest near the equator. D.emits light as electrons move from higher orbits around the nucleus to lower ones.

D

The four layers of the atmosphere from the top down are: A.troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere. B.thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, troposphere .C.stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, troposphere .D.thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere.

D

The increase in carbon dioxide concentration since the 1950s is NOT the result of which of the following: A.an increase in the burning dirty fossil fuels like coal. B.an increase in the burning of cleaner fossil fuels like natural gas. C.Deforestation of large tracts of woodland. D.none of the above

D

The most destructive tornadoes are rated as a: A.F1. B.F2. C.F4. D.F5.

D

The percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (by hemisphere) varies by season because: A.plants grow in the warm season and not in the cold season. B.more residential heating is required during the cold season. C.less plant decay takes place during the cold season. D.all of the above.

D

The troposphere: A.has height that is relatively consistent at about ten kilometers. B.stays about the same temperature above three kilometers. C.contains a bit less than half the atmosphere's mass. D.is characterized in part by vertical mixing of air.

D

The "stratosphere" warms because of:A.dust and dirt deposited by volcanoes.B.the interaction of ozone and ultraviolet light.C.the injection of moisture by meteors.D.the injection of moisture by high-flying jet aircraft.

B

The atmosphere is held in place by: A.an invisible force of ion attraction. B.gravity. C.the hydrostatic balance of water vapor and carbon dioxide. D.compression of the ionosphere by the solar wind.

B

The most costly average annual weather event is: A.tornadoes. B.hurricanes .C.extreme hot or cold episodes. D.floods

B

The recent alternative explanation for the disappearance of Earth's early atmosphere sees this as the primary causative agent: A.volcanic outgassing. B.collisions of Earth with other large bodies. C.periodic energy pulses from the surface of the Sun. D.gravitational attraction of the Moon.

B

The stratosphere: A.is part of the heterosphere. B.has a low moisture content compared to the troposphere. C.typically gets colder as elevation increases. D.is where much of Earth's weather occurs.

B

This is NOT a variable gas: A.water vapor. B.argon. C.ozone. D.carbon dioxide.

B

This was probably the predominant gas in Earth's earliest atmosphere: A.argon. B.hydrogen. C.water vapor. D.nitrogen.

B

At a height of 10 miles, what is the density of the atmosphere when compared to sealevel? A.1%. B.10%. C.50%. D.90%.

B