Structure of the Atmosphere and Solar Effects

The atmosphere extends up to an altitude of about _____.

200 miles

Oxygen makes up about ___% of the atmosphere.

21

Half of the mass of the atmosphere is found below an altitude of ______ because the air is compressed by the ____________ of the overlying atmosphere.

3 ½ miles weight

A by-product of respiration which is necessary for photosynthesis is ________.

Carbon dioxide

auroras - ions - reflected radio waves

Ionosphere

The trapping of ground radiation by the Earth's atmosphere

Greenhouse effect

constant temperature up to ozone layer

Stratosphere

lowest temperature in the atmosphere

Mesosphere

weather - clouds - storm

Troposphere

The rapid reduction in life spans after Noah's flood may be due to _____. --reduction in shielding effects of the current atmosphere --a change in the properties of the atmosphere --increase in radiation after the flood --all of the above

all of the above

Exposure to excessive ultraviolet radiation can be harmful to your _____.

body, health, skin

As you climb through the mesosphere, the temperature:

decreases

As you climb through the troposphere, the temperature:

decreases

The atmospheric gases in the thermosphere are heated _____.

directly by the sun

The ionosphere is classified by its _____.

electrical properties

Transfer of heat energy around the Earth from uneven heating of its surface is accomplished by ___________ air ____________ patterns.

global circulation

The Earth's _____________ retains the atmosphere from dissipating into space.

gravity

________________ separates the layered gases in the thermosphere by their ________________.

gravity density

The temperature of the mesosphere decreases with altitude because it is:

heated from below by the ozone layer

As you climb through the thermosphere, the temperature:

increases

As you climb through the upper stratosphere, the temperature:

increases

How does the temperature of the gases in the thermosphere change? It ___________ with altitude.

increases

An electrically charged atom.

ion

The layer of atmosphere containing ions; above the stratosphere.

ionosphere

Atoms which lose electrons and become electrically charged are called __________.

ions

As you climb through the lower stratosphere, the temperature:

is constant

For study, the Earth can be divided into three parts:

lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere

The heat which radiates outward from the Earth's surface is transformed into _____________-wave radiation.

long

A by-product of photosynthesis which is necessary for respiration is _________.

oxygen

A form of oxygen having three atoms of oxygen making up the molecule (O3).

ozone

Most ultraviolet radiation is absorbed by the ___________.

ozone layer

A region in the upper stratosphere where ozone is concentrated.

ozonosphere

How does the ionosphere help radio transmission?

permits radio waves to travel around the Earth's circumference

What practical function is provided by the ionosphere?

permits worldwide radio communication

Process by which plants use chlorophyll and energy from sunlight to manufacture food from carbon dioxide.

photosynthesis

Waste substances added to the environment.

pollution

The range of cosmic rays through visible light are included in the ___________-wave spectrum.

short

The total range of energy which reaches the Earth from the sun is called the ________________.

solar spectrum

A broad range of related waves.

spectrum

Layer of the atmosphere just above the troposphere where the temperature remains fairly constant.

stratosphere

Even though you are getting closer to the sun as you ascend into the troposphere, why does the temperature drop?

the lower atmosphere is heated by the ground.

The absence of meteorites within the Earth's rock layers indicates that _____.

the rocks formed rapidly the rock layers are young

As you fly up through the troposphere into the stratosphere, what would you expect?

the temperature would stop decreasing the temperature would remain constant

Layer of the atmosphere above the mesosphere where temperatures are the highest in the atmosphere.

thermosphere

Layer of the atmosphere nearest the Earth in which most weather changes occur.

troposphere

The atmosphere layer in which most weather occurs is the ________________.

troposphere

The ozone layer acts as a protective shield from the effects of the sun's _________________________.

ultraviolet radiation

Which gas is a major factor in causing storms?

water vapor

Select the three components of the atmosphere that absorb the heat radiated from the ground.

water vapor, carbon dioxide, clouds

The two most abundant gases in our atmosphere are:

nitrogen and oxygen

What percentage of the total incoming radiation to the Earth is lost by reflection?

40

What percentage of the total incoming radiation to the Earth reaches the ground?

40

Long-wave radiation from the ground passes through the atmosphere without absorption. True or False

False

Ozone is formed from helium in the upper atmosphere. True or False

False

The temperature of a spacecraft orbiting in the thermosphere or ionosphere would result from the effect of the extremely hot gases of the upper atmosphere. True or False

False

The total amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is estimated to have decreased by 10 to 15 percent since 1900. True or False

False

X-rays are less dangerous to health than ultraviolet radiation. True or False

False

gases separate into layers

Thermosphere

Air pollution may have a greater effect on health than on atmospheric temperature. True or False

True

The Earth does not appear to be gaining or losing heat as a planet in space. True or False

True

The overall long-term effects of air pollution are not yet certain. True or False

True

The sun provides the main source of energy for many of the phenomena that occur on Earth. True or False

True

The amount of ________ around a planet will moderate its temperature.

atmosphere

The Earth's _____________ provides protection from meteorite impacts by causing them to _____________.

atmosphere break up

Streamers or bands of light appearing in the sky at night, especially in polar regions.

aurora

The layer of the atmosphere just above the stratosphere.

mesosphere

Mass of stone or metal that has passed through the atmosphere and has struck the Earth's surface.

meteorite

Mass of stone or metal traveling through space.

meteoroid

A process in which living things obtain energy from food is called ___________.

respiration

The process by which oxygen combines with food to release energy and carbon dioxide.

respiration

The bending of light rays in all directions by gas molecules.

scattering