Exam 7: Earth: Our Home in Space

The three most abundant gases in our atmosphere are nitrogen,oxygen,and argon.

When strong solar wind storms are diverted poleward by our magnetic fields,we often observe ________ in the ionosphere.

What is the principal evidence that new plate material is continually being formed?

Almost all of our atmospheric gases lie in the:

The partial trapping of solar radiation is known as the ________.

Which of the following layers of the Earth is unique among the terrestrial planets?

Within Earth's atmosphere,in which layer does convection occur?

What are some of the consequences that could happen if the average global temperature increases by 5 Kelvin,as predicted if the carbon dioxides continue to rise at the current rate?

Plate ________ is the process by which convection within the mantle reforms the crust above it.

The region around Earth where the magnetic field traps charged particles is the:

The ________ on the edges of the continents come from subduction of oceanic basalt beneath the advancing continental plate.

What is the process that physically transfers heat from a lower (hotter)to a higher (cooler)level?

Why do volcanic mountain chains,such as the Andes,accompany deep trenches like the Nazca Trench off South America?

Evidence that the Earth was nearly molten at one time comes from the differentiation of materials by ________ from core to crust.

In plate tectonics,how are trenches formed? What always accompanies them?

How did Alfred Wegener first notice the possibility of plate tectonics? What lies in the gap he noted?

Why is the sky blue?

Name the layers of the Earth's atmosphere,going up from the surface.

The energy for plate tectonics comes primarily from radioactive decay in our core.

Describe several features on the Earth's crust explained by plate tectonics.