Question 1

The ozone hole is located over ________.&#10;A) the equator in the troposphere&#10;B) the Arctic in the mesosphere&#10;C) the Antarctic in the stratosphere&#10;D) the warmest part of the Earth

Accepted Answer

The ozone hole is a depletion of the ozone layer over Antarctica in the stratosphere. It is caused by human-made chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) reacting with and breaking down ozone molecules.

Question 2

The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere varies between:&#10;A) 0-4 percent&#10;B) 5-10 percent&#10;C) 10-20 percent&#10;D) 20-25 percent

Accepted Answer

The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere typically ranges from 0 to 4 percent, depending on the location and weather conditions. It is a key component of the Earth's atmosphere but does not exceed 4 percent even in the most humid conditions.

Question 3

In the lowest layer of the atmosphere, temperatures stop decreasing with height at the:&#10;A) mesopause&#10;B) tropopause&#10;C) stratopause&#10;D) ozone layer

Accepted Answer

The tropopause is the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere, and it is characterized by a stable temperature profile in which the temperature doesn't decrease with height. Therefore, the answer is B.

Question 4

A major sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide are:&#10;A) animals&#10;B) plants&#10;C) rocks&#10;D) icefields&#10;E) termites

Accepted Answer

Plants absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and store it in their biomass, making them a major sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Question 5

The Montreal Protocol of 1987 was an international agreement to ban _____.&#10;A) chlorofluorocarbons&#10;B) leaded gasoline&#10;C) ozone&#10;D) coal burning plants

Accepted Answer

The Montreal Protocol of 1987 was an international agreement to ban chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which were found to be harmful to the ozone layer.

Question 6

The ozone layer is important to life on Earth because the ozone layer _________.&#10;A) absorbs harmful infrared radiation&#10;B) absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation&#10;C) allows solar radiation to enter the atmosphere&#10;D) is the main source of oxygen for animals

Accepted Answer

The ozone layer absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation, which can damage living cells and cause skin cancer in humans. Without the ozone layer, life on Earth would be exposed to dangerous levels of UV radiation.

Question 7

Particles, such as fine-grained dust and aerosols, are important in the atmosphere since they play a role in:&#10;A) blocking ultraviolet rays&#10;B) absorbing excess carbon dioxide&#10;C) cloud formation&#10;D) scattering light in rainbows

Accepted Answer

Particles such as dust and aerosols can act as cloud condensation nuclei, which are necessary for cloud formation.

Question 8

Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere:&#10;A) have been increasing since the 1950s&#10;B) have been decreasing since the 1950s&#10;C) have been increasing until after 1998&#10;D) have not changed in the last 600,000 years

Accepted Answer

The Keeling Curve, a graph that shows the measurement of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, has been recording an increase in carbon dioxide levels since the 1950s.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT true of the ozone hole?&#10;A) The amount of ozone depletion has grown worse over the last few years.&#10;B) Ozone depletion has led to an increase in skin cancer in some countries.&#10;C) The amount of ozone depletion is greatest over the northern polar regions.&#10;D) Ozone loss in the stratosphere is occurring in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Accepted Answer

The amount of ozone depletion is greatest over the southern polar regions, not the northern polar regions.

Question 10

Which of the following layers of the atmosphere show increasing temperatures with increasing heights?&#10;A) troposphere and mesosphere&#10;B) mesosphere and thermosphere&#10;C) stratosphere and thermosphere&#10;D) homosphere and ionosphere

Accepted Answer

The stratosphere and thermosphere both show increasing temperatures with increasing heights. The stratosphere contains the ozone layer, which absorbs incoming ultraviolet radiation and heats up as a result. The thermosphere is heated by the Sun's radiation and can reach incredibly high temperatures, despite its low density. The troposphere and mesosphere both show decreasing temperatures with increasing heights, while the homosphere and ionosphere do not have distinct temperature gradients.

Question 11

Blue skies of the atmosphere are created by scattering of sunlight by:&#10;A) ozone&#10;B) carbon dioxide&#10;C) nitrogen oxides&#10;D) aerosols

Accepted Answer

The answer of Blue skies of the atmosphere are created...

Question 12

The ozone hole is a physical hole where there is no ozone allowing solar radiation to reach the Earth's surface.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ozone hole is a physical hole...

Deck 6: Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere