Question 1

Which atmospheric gases were most abundant when Earth first formed 4.54 billion years ago?

Accepted Answer

A) oxygen and nitrogen 
B) carbon dioxide and methane 
C) oxygen and carbon dioxide 
D) hydrogen and helium 
A) oxygen and nitrogen 
B) carbon dioxide and methane 
C) oxygen and carbon dioxide 
D) hydrogen and helium

Question 2

Why would a government agency monitor and regulate the aerosol concentrations in the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) To inform the public when hazardous atmospheric conditions are taking place only. 
B) Government agencies do not monitor or regulate aerosol concentrations. 
C) To better understand the relationship between air quality and human health only. 
D) To inform the public when hazardous atmospheric conditions are taking place and to better understand the relationship between air quality and human health. 
A) To inform the public when hazardous atmospheric conditions are taking place only. 
B) Government agencies do not monitor or regulate aerosol concentrations. 
C) To better understand the relationship between air quality and human health only. 
D) To inform the public when hazardous atmospheric conditions are taking place and to better understand the relationship between air quality and human health.

Question 3

What type of clouds are shown in the figure below?

Accepted Answer

A) cumulonimbus 
B) stratus 
C) lenticular clouds 
D) altostratus 
A) cumulonimbus 
B) stratus 
C) lenticular clouds 
D) altostratus

Question 4

The atmospheric greenhouse effect is responsible for

Accepted Answer

A) hospitable surface temperatures. 
B) inhospitable surface temperatures. 
C) Earth's seasons. 
D) Earth's tilt. 
A) hospitable surface temperatures. 
B) inhospitable surface temperatures. 
C) Earth's seasons. 
D) Earth's tilt.

Question 5

The addition of ozone to our atmosphere helped life thrive on land because ozone

Accepted Answer

A) provides a protective shield by reflecting ultraviolet radiation. 
B) contributes to atmospheric warming. 
C) provides a protective shield by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation. 
D) is absorbed by organisms to aid in respiratory function. 
A) provides a protective shield by reflecting ultraviolet radiation. 
B) contributes to atmospheric warming. 
C) provides a protective shield by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation. 
D) is absorbed by organisms to aid in respiratory function.

Question 6

Photochemical smog forms when exhaust from vehicles reacts with air in the presence of sunlight to produce an ozone-rich brown haze. Without government regulation,

Accepted Answer

A) the frequency and occurrence of photochemical smog may decrease, leading to improved atmospheric quality. 
B) photochemical smog is not an issue now, therefore should not be regulated. 
C) photochemical smog would no longer be an issue. 
D) the frequency and occurrence of photochemical smog may increase, leading to poor atmospheric quality. 
A) the frequency and occurrence of photochemical smog may decrease, leading to improved atmospheric quality. 
B) photochemical smog is not an issue now, therefore should not be regulated. 
C) photochemical smog would no longer be an issue. 
D) the frequency and occurrence of photochemical smog may increase, leading to poor atmospheric quality.

Question 7

How does a mercury barometer work? How do meteorologists use it to describe atmospheric pressure?

Accepted Answer

Meteorologists measure atmospheric press

Question 8

Although the Earth itself acts like a blackbody, its atmosphere does not. Rather, each atmospheric gas absorbs and emits radiation selectively, meaning that it absorbs only certain wavelengths and emits only certain wavelengths. Why does the atmosphere exhibit this behavior?

Accepted Answer

Molecules such as O₂ and N₂, which consi

Question 9

The rate of change of temperature with elevation is a quantity known as the__________ rate, and it varies_________ from place to place and time to time.

Accepted Answer

A) environmental lapse; little 
B) environmental lapse; substantially 
C) stratosphere; substantially 
D) vertical structure rate; little 
A) environmental lapse; little 
B) environmental lapse; substantially 
C) stratosphere; substantially 
D) vertical structure rate; little

Question 10

At which altitude do cirrus clouds develop in the troposphere?

Accepted Answer

A) between 3 and 6 km (10,000-20,000 ft) 
B) above 6 km (20,000 ft) 
C) below 3 km (10,000 ft) 
D) between 0 and 6 km (0-20,000 ft) 
A) between 3 and 6 km (10,000-20,000 ft) 
B) above 6 km (20,000 ft) 
C) below 3 km (10,000 ft) 
D) between 0 and 6 km (0-20,000 ft)

Question 11

What are the different sources of atmospheric aerosols and where might they be found?

Accepted Answer

A) Aerosols found over land are salts and sulfates, whereas aerosols found over the ocean come from windblown dust, fires, and human activities. 
B) Aerosols found over the ocean include salts and sulfates, whereas aerosols found over land come from windblown dust, fires, and human activities. 
C) Common sources for atmospheric aerosols include respiration and asphyxiation and can be found wherever there are humans. 
D) All atmospheric aerosols are the same and all are created in urban areas. 
A) Aerosols found over land are salts and sulfates, whereas aerosols found over the ocean come from windblown dust, fires, and human activities. 
B) Aerosols found over the ocean include salts and sulfates, whereas aerosols found over land come from windblown dust, fires, and human activities. 
C) Common sources for atmospheric aerosols include respiration and asphyxiation and can be found wherever there are humans. 
D) All atmospheric aerosols are the same and all are created in urban areas.

Question 12

Because various atmospheric gases have different absorption and emission characteristics, Earth's atmosphere is transparent to only two wavelength ranges. The two ranges of wavelengths that can pass between Earth's surface and space through an atmospheric window are __________ and __________ wavelengths.

Accepted Answer

A) radio; visible 
B) ultraviolet; infrared 
C) visible; infrared 
D) radio; ultraviolet 
A) radio; visible 
B) ultraviolet; infrared 
C) visible; infrared 
D) radio; ultraviolet

Question 13

According to researchers, the increase in atmospheric oxygen can be explained primarily by

Accepted Answer

A) the appearance of cyanobacteria. 
B) a decrease in volcanic activity. 
C) an increase in biomass. 
D) a decrease in carbon dioxide. 
A) the appearance of cyanobacteria. 
B) a decrease in volcanic activity. 
C) an increase in biomass. 
D) a decrease in carbon dioxide.

Question 14

Define the word mirage. What are the similarities and differences between an inferior mirage and a superior mirage?

Accepted Answer

Desert travelers sometimes see what look

Question 15

Atmospheric pressure affects the density of atmospheric gases. Therefore, if atmospheric pressure__________, then the atmospheric gases will__________, becoming less dense.

Accepted Answer

A) decreases; contract 
B) decreases; expand 
C) increases; expand 
D) increases; stay the same 
A) decreases; contract 
B) decreases; expand 
C) increases; expand 
D) increases; stay the same

Question 16

What role does the stratosphere play in allowing life to exist on Earth? Hypothesize what life might be like without the global regulation of chemicals that react and break up the ozone molecules.

Accepted Answer

The increase in temperature with elevati

Question 17

What important role do deposition nuclei play in the formation of a snowflake?

Accepted Answer

A) When temperatures are above freezing, aerosols serve as deposition nuclei. Water molecules attach to it and grow into a composite of ice crystals. 
B) Deposition nuclei do not play any role in the formation of a snowflake. 
C) When temperatures are below freezing, aerosols serve as deposition nuclei. Water molecules can attach to it and grow into a composite of ice crystals. 
D) Deposition nuclei serve as a layer in Earth's atmosphere. 
A) When temperatures are above freezing, aerosols serve as deposition nuclei. Water molecules attach to it and grow into a composite of ice crystals. 
B) Deposition nuclei do not play any role in the formation of a snowflake. 
C) When temperatures are below freezing, aerosols serve as deposition nuclei. Water molecules can attach to it and grow into a composite of ice crystals. 
D) Deposition nuclei serve as a layer in Earth's atmosphere.

Question 18

In Earth's present atmosphere, an average sample of dry air consists of mainly

Accepted Answer

A) nitrogen and carbon dioxide. 
B) argon and oxygen. 
C) nitrogen and oxygen. 
D) carbon dioxide and ozone. 
A) nitrogen and carbon dioxide. 
B) argon and oxygen. 
C) nitrogen and oxygen. 
D) carbon dioxide and ozone.

Question 19

Atmospheric pressure is __________ at sea level than at the top of Mt. Everest.

Accepted Answer

A) lower 
B) higher 
C) the same 
D) more stagnant 
A) lower 
B) higher 
C) the same 
D) more stagnant

Question 20

Earth has had three atmospheres since its formation 4.54 Ga years ago. Distinguish Earth's first atmospheric gases from Earth's current atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

When the Earth first formed, at 4.54 Ga,

Exam 17: The Air We Breathe: Introducing Earths Atmosphere

Which atmospheric gases were most abundant when Earth first formed 4.54 billion years ago?

Why would a government agency monitor and regulate the aerosol concentrations in the atmosphere?

What type of clouds are shown in the figure below?

The atmospheric greenhouse effect is responsible for

The addition of ozone to our atmosphere helped life thrive on land because ozone

Photochemical smog forms when exhaust from vehicles reacts with air in the presence of sunlight to produce an ozone-rich brown haze. Without government regulation,

How does a mercury barometer work? How do meteorologists use it to describe atmospheric pressure?

Although the Earth itself acts like a blackbody, its atmosphere does not. Rather, each atmospheric gas absorbs and emits radiation selectively, meaning that it absorbs only certain wavelengths and emits only certain wavelengths. Why does the atmosphere exhibit this behavior?

The rate of change of temperature with elevation is a quantity known as the__________ rate, and it varies_________ from place to place and time to time.

At which altitude do cirrus clouds develop in the troposphere?

What are the different sources of atmospheric aerosols and where might they be found?

According to researchers, the increase in atmospheric oxygen can be explained primarily by

Define the word mirage. What are the similarities and differences between an inferior mirage and a superior mirage?

Atmospheric pressure affects the density of atmospheric gases. Therefore, if atmospheric pressure__________, then the atmospheric gases will__________, becoming less dense.

What role does the stratosphere play in allowing life to exist on Earth? Hypothesize what life might be like without the global regulation of chemicals that react and break up the ozone molecules.

What important role do deposition nuclei play in the formation of a snowflake?

In Earth's present atmosphere, an average sample of dry air consists of mainly

Atmospheric pressure is __________ at sea level than at the top of Mt. Everest.

Earth has had three atmospheres since its formation 4.54 Ga years ago. Distinguish Earth's first atmospheric gases from Earth's current atmosphere.

The Earth in Context

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

A Surface Veneer: Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

A Process of Change: Metamorphism and the Rock Cycle

Crags, Cracks, and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Deep Time: How Old Is Old

A Biography of Earth

Riches in Rock: Energy and Mineral Resources

Shaping the Earths Surface: Landscapes, the Hydrologic Cycle, and Mass Wasting

Freshwater: Streams, Lakes, and Groundwater

Extreme Realms: Desert and Glacial Landscapes

Ocean Waters: the Blue of the Blue Marble

Marine Geology: the Study of Ocean Basins and Coasts

Winds of the World: the Earths Major Weather Systems

Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, and Local Weather Systems

Climate and Climate Change

Our Solar System and Beyond

Our Neighborhood in Space

The Sun, Stars, and Deep Space

Prelude: Welcome to Earth Science

Filters

The rate of change of temperature with elevation is a quantity known as the__ rate, and it varies_ from place to place and time to time.

Atmospheric pressure affects the density of atmospheric gases. Therefore, if atmospheric pressure, then the atmospheric gases will, becoming less dense.