Question 1

Of the four most abundant gases in our atmosphere, water vapor shows the greatest variation at Earth's surface.

Accepted Answer

Water vapor levels in the atmosphere vary significantly from place to place and over time, much more so than the other major gases (nitrogen, oxygen, and argon), due to changes in temperature and weather patterns.

Question 2

The most abundant gases in Earth's atmosphere by volume are ____.

Accepted Answer

Nitrogen and oxygen are the two most abundant gases in Earth's atmosphere, making up about 78% and 21% of the atmosphere by volume, respectively.

Question 3

On the basis of temperature, the layers of the atmosphere from the lowest layer to the highest are the thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, and troposphere.

Accepted Answer

The correct order from the lowest layer to the highest based on temperature is the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.

Question 4

These sayings are based on close observations, and most likely have some truths in them, but they are not based on the scientific method. 
Sayings about the weather, such as "red sky at morning, sailor take warning; red sky at night, sailor's delight" are based on the scientific method.

Accepted Answer

These sayings, including "red sky at morning, sailor take warning; red sky at night, sailor's delight," are based on empirical observations rather than the scientific method, which involves systematic experimentation, observation, and analysis.

Question 5

Weather in the middle latitudes tends to move from east to west.

Accepted Answer

Weather in the middle latitudes generally moves from west to east due to the prevailing westerly winds found in these regions.

Question 6

Ultraviolet light from the sun destroys nitrous oxide.

Accepted Answer

Ultraviolet light from the sun has enough energy to break the N-O bond in nitrous oxide, destroying the molecule.

Question 7

Earth's second atmosphere was denser than its first atmosphere (which formed some 4.6 billion years ago), and developed through the impact of a series of meteorites.

Accepted Answer

Earth's second atmosphere developed from volcanic outgassing, releasing gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and ammonia, which were denser than the hydrogen and helium that made up the first atmosphere. The first atmosphere was primarily formed from the solar nebula and was later replaced by the second atmosphere due to these volcanic activities, not directly through meteorite impacts, although meteorites and comets could have contributed additional water and gases.

Question 8

On average, temperature increases from the surface to the tropopause (around 10 km, then decreases to the stratopause (around 50 km), then decreases to the mesopause (around 90 km), then increases through the thermosphere.

Accepted Answer

Temperature decreases from the surface to the tropopause, then increases to the stratopause, decreases again to the mesopause, and finally increases through the thermosphere.

Question 9

Someone who says that "the wind direction today is south" likely means that the wind is blowing toward the south.

Accepted Answer

When someone says "the wind direction today is south," it typically means the wind is coming from the south and blowing toward the north. Wind direction is usually reported based on where the wind originates.

Question 10

Fronts are a sharp change in temperature, humidity, and wind direction.

Accepted Answer

Fronts represent the boundary between two different air masses, leading to significant changes in weather conditions, including temperature, humidity, and wind direction as one moves across the front.

Question 11

A decrease in stratospheric ozone would be beneficial for plants, animals, and humans.

Accepted Answer

A decrease in stratospheric ozone would lead to an increase in the amount of harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the Earth's surface, which can cause skin cancer, cataracts, and other health issues in humans and animals, and can also damage plants.

Question 12

Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring component of the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a naturally occurring gas in the Earth's atmosphere, produced by processes such as respiration, volcanic eruptions, and the decomposition of organic matter.

Question 13

The lowest average air temperature can be found in the stratosphere.

Accepted Answer

The lowest average air temperatures are found in the mesosphere, not the stratosphere. The mesosphere is above the stratosphere and temperatures decrease with altitude in this layer.

Question 14

Storms rank in size from largest to smallest, as follows: middle-latitude cyclonic storm, hurricane, thunderstorm, tornado.

Accepted Answer

Middle-latitude cyclonic storms (also known as extratropical cyclones) cover the largest area, often spanning thousands of kilometers. Hurricanes, while smaller, can still cover several hundred kilometers in diameter. Thunderstorms are much smaller in comparison, typically around 15 kilometers in diameter. Tornadoes are the smallest, with the path of destruction usually less than a kilometer wide.

Question 15

The ozone hole is an actual hole in the atmosphere, a region of complete vacuum.

Accepted Answer

The ozone hole refers to a region of significantly reduced ozone concentration in the stratosphere, not an actual physical hole or vacuum.

Question 16

Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere and its phenomena. The term itself goes back to a Roman emperor who, about 12 B.C., wrote a book on natural philosophy entitled Meteorologica.

Accepted Answer

The term "meteorology" and the early study of atmospheric phenomena are indeed ancient, but the reference to a Roman emperor writing "Meteorologica" around 12 B.C. is incorrect. The work "Meteorologica" was actually written by Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, around 340 B.C., not by a Roman emperor.

Question 17

Water vapor can best be described as a ____.

Accepted Answer

Water vapor is the gaseous phase of water, making it correctly described as a gas.

Question 18

Soil dust, salt from ocean waves, forest fire smoke, volcanic ash particles, and pollutants are some of the aerosols found in the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

Aerosols in the atmosphere can consist of a wide range of particles, including soil dust, salt from ocean waves, smoke from forest fires, volcanic ash, and various pollutants, all of which can affect climate and air quality.

Question 19

Atmospheric concentration of CO₂ has increased from below 300 ppm historically to over 400 ppm presently.

Accepted Answer

The statement refers to the atmospheric concentration of CO2 (carbon dioxide), which has indeed increased from below 300 parts per million (ppm) historically to over 400 ppm in recent years, largely due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

Question 20

The main atmospheric component of the planet Mercury is CO₂.

Accepted Answer

Mercury has a very thin atmosphere, primarily composed of oxygen, sodium, hydrogen, helium, and potassium, not CO₂.

Quiz 1: Earth and Its Atmosphere