Earth Atmosphere MC 1 Answers

Warming in the stratosphere is mainly caused by: (a) absorption of the ultraviolet radiation by ozone (b) release of latent heat energy during condensation (c) chemical reactions between ozone and chlorofluorocarbons (d) frictional heating caused by meteorites

(a) absorption of the ultraviolet radiation by ozone

In the atmosphere, tiny solid or liquid suspended particles of various composition are called: (a) aerosols (b) carcinogens (c) greenhouse gases (d) microbes

(a) aerosols

In the stratosphere, the air temperature normally: (a) decreases with increasing height (b) increases with increasing height (c) both increases and decreases depending on the season (d) cannot be measured

(a) decreases with increasing height

Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide tend to go up and down throughout the course of the year. The maximum concentration occurs in what season of the year? (a) early spring (b) late summer

(a) early spring

The temperature of the tropopause: (a) is close to the temperature at the earth's surface (b) is much colder than the temperature at the earth's surface (c) has never been measured (d) is much warmer than the temperature at the earth's surface (e) is nearly the same as the sun's temperature

(a) is close to the temperature at the earth's surface

Which of the following are considered a variable gas in the earth's atmosphere? (a) water vapor (b) nitrogen (c) oxygen (d) argon

(a) water vapor

In a temperature inversion: (a) air temperature increases with increasing height (b) air temperature decreases with increasing height (c) air temperature remains constant with increasing height (d) it is warmer at night than during the day

(b) air temperature decreases with increasing height

This holds a planet's atmosphere close to its surface: (a) radiation (b) gravity (c) cloud cover (d) moisture (e) pressure

(b) gravity

The earth's first atmosphere was composed primarily of: (a) carbon dioxide and water vapor (b) hydrogen and helium (c) oxygen and water (d) argon and nitrogen

(b) hydrogen and helium

The rate at which temperature decreases with increasing altitude is known as the: (a) temperature slope (b) lapse rate (c) sounding (d) thermocline

(b) lapse rate

The unit of pressure most commonly found on a surface weather map: (a) inches of mercury (Hg) (b) millibars (c) pounds per square inch (d) millimeters of mercury (Hg)

(b) millibars

Which of the following are not units of pressure? (a) millibars (b) newtons (c) inches of mercury (Hg) (d) pascals

(b) newtons

The most abundant gas in the stratosphere is: (a) oxygen (O2) (b) nitrogen (N2) (c) carbon dioxide (CO2) (d) ozone (O3) (e) chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

(b) nitrogen (N2)

The outpouring of gases from the earth's hot interior is called: (a) evaporation (b) outgassing (c) photodissociation (d) the hydrologic cycle

(b) outgassing

The primary source of oxygen for the earth's atmosphere during the past half billion years or so appears to be: (a) volcanic eruptions (b) photosynthesis (c) photodissociation (d) exhalations of animal life (e) transpiration

(b) photosynthesis

Much of Tibet lies at altitudes over 18,000 feet where the pressure is about 500 mb. At such altitudes, the Tibetans are above roughly: (a) 10% of the air molecules in the atmopshere (b) 25% of the air molecules in the atmosphere (c) 50% of the air molecules in the atmosphere (d) 75% of the air molecules in the atmosphere

(c) 50% of the air molecules in the atmosphere

The most abundant gases in the earth's atmosphere by volume are: (a) carbon dioxide and nitrogen (b) oxygen (c) nitrogen and oxygen (d) oxygen and helium (e) oxygen and ozone

(c) nitrogen and oxygen

Which of the following processes acts to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere? (a) lightning (b) deforestation (c) photosynthesis (d) brining fossil fuel

(c) photosynthesis

Which of the following weather elements always decreases as we climb upward in the atmosphere? (a) wind (b) temperature (c) pressure (d) moisture (e) all of the above

(c) pressure

The hottest atmospheric layer is the: (a) stratosphere (b) mesosphere (c) thermosphere (d) troposphere

(c) thermosphere

The gas that shows the most variation from place to place and from time to time in the lower atmosphere: (a) ozone (O3) (b) carbon dioxide (CO2) (c) water vapor (H2O) (d) methane (CH4) (e) argon (Ar)

(c) water vapor (H2O)

The most abundant greenhouse gas in the earth's atmosphere: (a) carbon dioxide (CO2) (b) nitrous oxide (N2O) (c) water vapor (H2O) (d) methane (CH4) (e) chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

(c) water vapor (H2O)

As altitude increases in the atmosphere, air density decreases _____________________ the decrease in air pressure. (a) in the completely different way than (b) much less than (c) much more than (d) in much the same way as

(d) in much the same way as

The electric field region of the upper atmosphere is called the: (a) thermosphere (b) mesosphere (c) stratosphere (d) ionosphere (e) troposphere

(d) ionosphere

Typically, water vapor occupies about what percentage of the air's volume near the earth's surface? (a) about 78% (b) about 21% (c) close to 10% (d) less than 4%

(d) less than 4%

The amount of force exerted over an area of surface called: (a) density (b) weight (c) temperature (d) pressure

(d) pressure

Most of the ionosphere is found in what atmospheric layer? (a) troposphere (b) stratosphere (c) mesosphere (d) thermosphere

(d) thermosphere

Which below is not considered a greenhouse gas? (a) carbon dioxide (CO2) (b) nitrous oxide (N2O) (c) water vapor (H2O) (d) methane (CH4) (e) oxygen (O2)

(e) oxygen (O2)

Almost all of the earth's weather occurs in the: (a) exosphere (b) stratosphere (c) mesosphere (d) thermosphere (e) troposphere

(e) troposphere

The most abundant gas emitted from volcanoes is: (a) nitrogen (b) sulfur dioxide (c) helium (d) carbon dioxide (e) water vapor

(e) water vapor