Deck 1: Energy and Mass

Question 1

Nitrogen:

A)is a variable gas.
B)has a short residence time.
C)is a relatively unstable gas.
D)has little effect on climate.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The heterosphere:

A)lies below the homosphere.
B)contains primarily heavy gases.
C)is populated primarily by variable gases.
D)is named for its chemical homogeneity.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Relatively speaking,the earth's atmosphere is:

A)very thick when compared to the earth's diameter.
B)very thin when compared to the earth's diameter.
C)stops at the top of the troposphere.
D)stops when we reach "space."

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Aerosols:

A)include cloud droplets.
B)have little effect on weather.
C)are formed by physical processes, not chemical processes.
D)can be either solid or liquid.

Question 5

What do you notice concerning the percentage of permanent gasses throughout the atmosphere (all levels)? A)It varies significantly from the surface up.
B)It varies significantly only at the tropopause.
C)It is the same throughout the atmosphere from the surface up.
D)It varies only in the mesosphere.

Question 6

Carbon dioxide:

A)comprises up to two percent of the atmospheric gases.
B)is being removed from the atmosphere faster than it is being inputted.
C)is removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis.
D)is not present in significant amounts in the atmosphere of Venus.

Question 7

This is NOT a variable gas:

A)water vapor.
B)argon.
C)ozone.
D)carbon dioxide.

Question 8

Respiration:

A)occurs only when the Sun is shining.
B)releases oxygen into the air.
C)must give off less carbon than is fixed through photosynthesis if a plant is to experience net growth.
D)does not affect the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Question 9

Water vapor:

A)can comprise up to five percent of the total mass of the atmosphere.
B)has evaporation as its primary source.
C)typically increases in concentration at higher altitudes within the troposphere.
D)does not absorb infrared radiation.

Question 10

The atmosphere:

A)has vertical wind speeds that are typically around one-tenth that of horizontal wind speeds.
B)is about as deep as the planet is wide.
C)is more than 99 percent contained within the first 60 miles from the earth's surface.
D)has not changed substantially in composition since the earth formed over four billion years ago.

Question 11

Aerosols are typically removed from the atmosphere by:

A)falling precipitation.
B)settling to the ground due to the influence of gravity.
C)chemical decomposition.
D)traveling higher and higher above the earth until they escape into space.

Question 12

The maximum concentrations of ozone are found in the:

A)troposphere.
B)mesosphere.
C)ionosphere.
D)stratosphere.

Question 13

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations: [INSERT FIGURE 1-6.NO CAPTION]

A)have decreased over the last few decades.
B)increase with height above the tropopause.
C)have not been reliably measured for the northern hemisphere.
D)are highest in early spring.

Question 14

This is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere:

A)nitrogen.
B)oxygen.
C)carbon dioxide.
D)water vapor.

Question 15

Methane:

A)is a permanent gas.
B)is a good reflector of thermal radiation.
C)is removed from the atmosphere by the digestive processes of cattle.
D)has increased in concentration over the last 50 or so years.

Question 16

Carbon dioxide is an important variable gas because:

A)it is widely distributed throughout the atmosphere.
B)it is a "greenhouse" gas.
C)it has been increasing steadily since the early 900s.
D)all of the above

Question 17

Ozone:

A)absorbs ultraviolet light.
B)typically reaches its greatest concentrations near the ground and near major cities.
C)is very difficult to split into diatomic oxygen and monatomic oxygen.
D)exists primarily in the troposphere.

Question 18

The atmosphere is a mixture of:

A)precipitation and air.
B)particulate matter and water.
C)gas molecules, small particulates, and moisture.
D)moisture and gas molecules only.

Question 19

Ozone depletion: [INSERT FIGURE 1-3-1,TOP LEFT PANEL,WITHOUT TEXT ABOVE FIGURE.NO CAPTION]

A)is highest over the Arctic.
B)occurs in a process that consumes one chlorine atom for each molecule of ozone broken apart.
C)is considered a serious problem in most developed countries.
D)is slowed by chlorofluorocarbons.

Question 20

What is the residence time of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere?

A)10 years
B)100 years
C)500 years
D)5000 years

Question 21

The average length of time that individual molecules of a given substance remain in the atmosphere is called the:

A)residence time.
B)steady state.
C)thermocline.
D)travel time.

Question 22

The ozone layer:

A)is in the troposphere.
B)is composed of nearly half ozone.
C)absorbs ultraviolet energy.
D)radiates gamma rays toward Earth.

Question 23

Which of the following gases is crucial to the existence of all forms of life?

A)nitrogen
B)oxygen
C)carbon dioxide
D)argon

Question 24

The troposphere:

A)is thinnest at the tropics.
B)maintains a relatively constant temperature.
C)is thicker in summer.
D)often disappears near the poles in winter.

Question 25

The stratosphere:

A)is part of the heterosphere.
B)has a low moisture content compared to the troposphere.
C)typically gets colder as elevation increases.
D)is where much of Earth's weather occurs.

Question 26

Ozone is found primarily in the ________ and is important because of ________.

A)stratosphere; its interaction with ultraviolet radiation
B)troposphere; it enhances thunderstorm development
C)mesosphere; it makes the mid-levels of the atmosphere cold
D)thermosphere; it makes the upper levels of the atmosphere very warm

Question 28

In this atmospheric layer,the temperature is relatively constant for the first 10 kilometers,then it increases:

A)troposphere.
B)mesosphere.
C)thermosphere.
D)stratosphere.

Question 29

True or false: Pressure and density always decrease with height in the atmosphere.Why?

Question 30

The troposphere:

A)has height that is relatively consistent at about ten kilometers.
B)stays about the same temperature above three kilometers.
C)contains a bit less than half the atmosphere's mass.
D)is characterized in part by vertical mixing of air.

Question 31

The ionosphere:

A)is characterized by the neutral state of its constituent atoms.
B)begins in the lower stratosphere.
C)ends in the thermosphere.
D)has a relatively constant temperature.

Question 32

The four layers of the atmosphere from the top down are: [INSERT FIGURE 1-13.REMOVE TEXT "THERMOSPHERE","MESOPAUSE","MESOSPHERE","STRATOPAUSE","STRATOSPHERE","TROPOPAUSE",AND "TROPOSPHERE". NO CAPTION]

A)troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.
B)thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, troposphere.
C)stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, troposphere.
D)thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere.

Question 33

The percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (by hemisphere)varies by season because:

A)plants grow in the warm season and not in the cold season.
B)more residential heating is required during the cold season.
C)less plant decay takes place during the cold season.
D)all of the above

Question 34

By volume,how much more water vapor is there in the Earth's atmosphere than is there carbon dioxide?

A)twice
B)three times
C)almost 7 times
D)nearly 10 times

Question 35

The thermosphere:

A)has a low heat content.
B)would feel very hot to an astronaut.
C)is characterized by a decrease in temperature as height increases.
D)is part of the homosphere.

Question 36

The highest temperatures are typically found in the:

A)troposphere.
B)thermosphere.
C)mesosphere.
D)stratosphere.

Question 37

The atmosphere is held in place by:

A)an invisible force of ion attraction.
B)gravity.
C)the hydrostatic balance of water vapor and carbon dioxide.
D)compression of the ionosphere by the solar wind.

Question 38

The temperature is lowest here:

A)mesopause.
B)stratopause.
C)tropopause.
D)stratosphere.

Question 39

Which of the following would be considered to be a "variable" gas?

A)argon
B)oxygen
C)water vapor
D)carbon dioxide

Question 40

The increase in carbon dioxide concentration since the 1950s is NOT the result of which of the following?

A)increase in the burning dirty fossil fuels like coal
B)increase in the burning of cleaner fossil fuels like natural gas
C)deforestation of large tracts of woodland
D)none of the above

Question 41

The recent alternative explanation for the disappearance of Earth's early atmosphere sees this as the primary causative agent:

A)volcanic outgassing.
B)collisions of Earth with other large bodies.
C)periodic energy pulses from the surface of the Sun.
D)gravitational attraction of the Moon.

Question 42

The high levels of atmospheric nitrogen are due primarily to the fact that:

A)the earth is constantly bombarded by small, house-sized comets.
B)nitrogen has a very long residence time.
C)nitrogen is the major component of the gas emitted from volcanoes.
D)nitrogen is produced by many species of bacteria.

Question 43

The evolution to an oxygen-rich atmosphere:

A)was heavily dependent upon aerobic bacteria.
B)would have occurred even if carbon dioxide had not been present.
C)occurred at the same time the atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide were decreasing.
D)required large amounts of atmospheric nitrogen.

Question 44

Which of the following will increase given an increase in pressure?

A)mass
B)density
C)volume
D)none of the above

Question 45

The "stratosphere" warms because of:

A)dust and dirt deposited by volcanoes.
B)the interaction of ozone and ultraviolet light.
C)the injection of moisture by meteors.
D)the injection of moisture by high-flying jet aircraft.

Question 46

An inversion

A)never occurs in the atmosphere.
B)refers to a temperature increase with height.
C)promotes upward motion in the atmosphere.
D)inhibits upward motion in the atmosphere.
E)Both B and D.

Question 47

The difference between the atmosphere's "permanent" gasses and "variable" gasses is that:

A)permanent gasses exchange rapidly between the atmosphere and the biosphere.
B)variable gasses are so called because of their horizontal displacement.
C)permanent gasses exhibit a constant proportion from the earth's surface to higher reaches of the atmosphere.
D)variable gasses are dependent on storms for world-wide dispersion.

Question 48

Atmospheric gas:

A)will, for a given amount of gas, experience an increase in pressure if the volume of the gas is decreased.
B)undergoes abrupt pressure changes as height above the surface of the earth increases.
C)has a smaller mean free path at higher elevations than at lower elevations.
D)has no significant effect on sports events played at different elevations.

Question 49

The ________ is characterized by the large quantity of charged particles it contains.

Question 50

Of the following planets,which has the most massive atmosphere?

A)Mercury
B)Venus
C)Earth
D)Mars

Question 51

Which of the following does NOT contribute to the layered structure of the atmosphere?

A)density
B)temperature
C)electrical characteristics
D)chemical composition
E)All of these contribute.

Question 52

The region of the earth's atmosphere below 80 km is called:

A)the stratosphere.
B)upper hemisphere.
C)the alpha quadrant.
D)the homosphere.

Question 53

This is the least likely reason for the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere:

A)leakage into space from the upper atmosphere.
B)incorporation into solid material.
C)dissolution into oceans, lakes, and rivers.
D)dissolution into raindrops.

Question 54

The aurora borealis:

A)is a different type of physical phenomenon than the aurora australis.
B)gains its energy from sunlight reflected from Earth.
C)is typically strongest near the equator.
D)emits light as electrons move from higher orbits around the nucleus to lower ones.

Question 55

The "ionosphere" is so designated because:

A)satellites have a difficult time flying through it.
B)visible sunlight is deflected by it.
C)of the electrical charges of atoms associated with it.
D)no radio waves can pass through it.

Question 56

This was probably the predominant gas in Earth's earliest atmosphere:

A)argon.
B)hydrogen.
C)water vapor.
D)nitrogen.

Question 57

Volcanic outgassing:

A)created the earth's first atmosphere.
B)has had little effect on the earth's atmosphere.
C)emits large amounts of water vapor.
D)emits very little carbon dioxide.

Question 58

Which of the following are used to identify places of equal atmospheric pressure?

A)isobars
B)isotherms
C)isohyets
D)isotachs

Question 59

The D-layer of the ionosphere:

A)has most of its electrons combined with positively charged ions at night.
B)lies above the E-layer.
C)is transparent to AM radio waves.
D)has no significant effect on AM radio waves.

Question 60

Which of the following is shown as a heavy blue line with triangles?

A)dry line
B)warm front
C)cold front
D)occluded front

Question 61

According to the scientific method,a hypothesis

A)must have already been tested in previous experiments
B)must be phrased in highly technical jargon
C)must always be understandable to the layperson
D)must lead to predictions

Question 62

The scientific method may be trusted because

A)it has several logical steps
B)it's value has been proven over centuries of use
C)it is an extremely strict process
D)it led to the invention of the computer

Question 63

According to the scientific method,an experiment

A)must always be performed in a laboratory setting
B)must always be performed by researchers with good reputations
C)must produce data that allows the prediction to be evaluated

Question 64

The altitude of the upper boundary of the atmosphere

A)may be easily measured using a hot air balloon
B)may be easily measured using rockets
C)is difficult to determine because weather instruments don't work at high altitudes
D)is difficult to determine because we must first define how much air in a given volume indicates the presence of an atmosphere

Question 65

The temperature usually decreases with height in the troposphere.Explain this apparent paradox.

Question 66

Most weather occurs in this temperature-characterized atmospheric layer,the ________.

Question 67

The most destructive tornadoes are rated as a:

A)F1.
B)F2.
C)F4.
D)F5.

Question 68

The scientific method can only disprove a hypothesis because

A)experiments must be performed several times before a hypothesis is considered proven.
B)if the prediction is correct, other explanations cannot be ruled out
C)the hypothesis must constantly be revised
D)they might be accepted as scientific theory

Question 69

Technological advances in computer hardware and software

A)have had little effect on our ability to understand and predict the weather
B)have had a huge impact on our ability to understand and predict the weather
C)occurred long before the landmark achievements of early meteorologists
D)are essentially irrelevant to meteorology

Question 70

A station model

A)analyzes the composition of the atmosphere.
B)warns people a storm is coming.
C)presents weather information on a map.
D)provides information on the layers of the atmosphere.

Question 71

Atmospheric motions are mostly horizontal because

A)gravity restricts vertical motions
B)the atmosphere is very heavy
C)its shallowness doesn't allow large vertical motions
D)the oceans restrict vertical air motions

Question 72

If you were to travel vertically upward for one mile,

A)the pressure would be much higher than if you traveled horizontally for one mile
B)the pressure would be much lower than if you traveled horizontally for one mile
C)the pressure would be more or less the same as if you traveled horizontally for one mile
D)the pressure could either increase or decrease, depending on weather conditions

Question 73

Atmospheric motions over large distances

A)must be primarily horizontal
B)must be primarily vertical
C)may be either primarily horizontal or primarily vertical

Question 74

The weather event that annually takes the most human life is the:

A)hurricane.
B)tornado.
C)flood.
D)lightning.
E)extreme cold.

Question 75

According to the scientific method,a prediction

A)is a logical consequence that follows from the hypothesis
B)leads to a hypothesis
C)may not be made until an experiment has been performed
D)always refers to something that will occur in the future

Question 76

According to the scientific method,a legitimate hypothesis

A)must be testable
B)need not be testable
C)must be understandable by the layperson
D)can never be proven to be incorrect

Question 77

The scientific method,a framework for answering scientific questions,is essentially

A)a strict procedure for proving the truth of something
B)a way to verify facts that are already known
C)a convention regarding what it means to "know" something
D)a large collection of facts

Question 78

The most costly average annual weather event is:

A)tornadoes.
B)hurricanes.
C)extreme hot or cold episodes.
D)floods.

Question 79

If the earth and it's atmosphere were reduced to the size of an apple,the atmosphere

A)would be about 1/1,000,000 as thick as the apple's skin
B)would be about 100 times thicker than the apple's skin
C)would be about 1/100 as thick as the apple's skin
D)would be about as thick as the apple's skin

Question 80

Wind direction is properly referred to as

A)the direction the wind is blowing toward.
B)the direction the wind is blowing from.