question

118) The formation of fossil fuels begins when:

answer

biomass is deposited and buried with sediment instead of decaying.

question

1) The form of oxygen that combines three atoms of oxygen into each molecule is called ________.

answer

ozone

question

10) The lowest layer of the atmosphere is the ________.

answer

troposphere

question

1) The term meteorology:

answer

is the study of the atmosphere and its related weather systems.

question

2) The BEST definition of the term climate is:

answer

a comprehensive statistical analysis of aggregate weather conditions in a specific place or region.

question

3) In the process of scientific inquiry, a theory is best defined as:

answer

a hypothesis that has been extensively tested and is generally accepted by the scientific community.

question

4) An interacting group of parts that is fueled by energy and works to accomplish the movement of matter or energy is called:

answer

a system.

question

7) Which one of the following is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?

answer

nitrogen

question

8) Which one of the gases listed below is more important meteorologically (that is, is more important in weather processes) than the others?

answer

carbon dioxide

question

9) On the AVERAGE, for every 1 km increase in altitude in the troposphere, the air temperature ________.

answer

drops about 6.5°C

question

12) The triatomic form of oxygen (O3) is known as ________.

answer

Answer: ozone

question

14) Ozone is concentrated in the ________.

answer

Answer: stratosphere

question

16) Practically all clouds and storms occur in this layer of the atmosphere.

answer

troposphere

question

17) The normal lapse rate in the troposphere is about ________ per kilometer.

answer

6.5°C

question

20) At noon on February 21, the Sun is overhead ________.

answer

at some point between the Tropic of Capricorn and the equator, heading northward

question

21) The storage of heat in the lower layer of the atmosphere produced by certain heat absorbing gases is called the ________.

answer

greenhouse effect

question

22) Which one of the following latitudes best represents the location where the Sun is directly overhead at noon on April 21?

answer

23.5°N

question

23) On the average, how much of the Sun's energy that is intercepted by Earth is reflected back to space?

answer

30%

question

24) Which one of the following statements is true about the equinoxes?

answer

Days and nights are equal in length everywhere.

question

25) On this date the length of daylight gets progressively longer going south from the equator.

answer

December 21

question

26) The spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on ________.

answer

March 21

question

27) The North Pole has a higher noon Sun angle than New York City on this date.

answer

none of these

question

28) The 90° angle solar rays are striking the Tropic of Cancer on ________.

answer

June 21

question

29) The 90° angle solar rays are striking the Tropic of Capricorn on ________.

answer

December 21

question

30) New York City has its greatest length of daylight on ________.

answer

June 21

question

31) The fall equinox in the Southern Hemisphere occurs on this date.

answer

March 21

question

32) The summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on this date.

answer

June 21

question

33) This process involves the movement of a mass or substance.

answer

convection

question

34) Earth receives energy from the Sun in this way.

answer

radiation

question

36) The transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity is

answer

conduction

question

37) On the average, how much of the Sun's energy that is intercepted by Earth is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds?

answer

20%

question

38) The two most important heat absorbing gases in the lower atmosphere are ________.

answer

water vapor and carbon dioxide

question

39) A very important control of the DAILY range of temperature is ________.

answer

the amount of water vapor in the air

question

42) The annual range of temperature may be described as the difference between ________.

answer

the average temperatures of the warmest and coldest months

question

43) A place located along a windward coast will probably have ________.

answer

cooler summer temperatures than an inland location at the same latitude

question

46) The annual temperature range at most latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere is much smaller than that in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason for this is that ________.

answer

there is a greater percentage of water surface in the Southern Hemisphere

question

119) Air may best be described as:

answer

mixture.

question

120) Which one of the following is the MOST abundant gas in the atmosphere?

answer

nitrogen

question

121) Which two gases make up a combined total of 99% of clean, dry air in the homosphere?

answer

nitrogen and oxygen

question

122) Scientists believe that a growing amount of this gas in the atmosphere will probably bring about a warming of the lower atmosphere.

answer

carbon dioxide

question

123) What best explains the "bumps" seen in the seen in the CO2 concentrations on the graph above?

answer

in plant growth that result in less CO2 being absorbed during the dormant season

question

124) Which of the following is NOT a variable component of the atmosphere?

answer

argon

question

125) This variable atmospheric component can exist in all three states of matter (solid, liquid, and gas) at the temperatures and pressures that normally exist on Earth.

answer

water

question

126) This atmospheric component absorbs damaging ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.

answer

ozone

question

127) Ninety percent of our atmosphere lies below an altitude of about:

answer

16 km.

question

128) With an increase in altitude, air pressure:

answer

decreases at a decreasing rate.

question

129) Atmospheric pressure is caused by:

answer

the weight of the air above.

question

131) Which of the following is the MOST important atmospheric component with regard to the Earth's climate?

answer

water vapor

question

132) The four thermal layers of the atmosphere in order beginning from the surface are:

answer

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.

question

133) The term troposphere literally means:

answer

region where air "turns over."

question

134) Which of the following associations is CORRECT?

answer

mesospherebegins at a height of 50 km

question

135) The "weather sphere" is in the

answer

troposphere.

question

136) The lowest temperatures in the atmosphere exist in the

answer

mesosphere.

question

137) Ozone is concentrated in the

answer

stratosphere.

question

138) The heterosphere and ionosphere are BOTH found in the

answer

thermosphere.

question

139) A primary difference between the concepts of weather and climate is the

answer

period involved.

question

140) Which of these was NOT involved with the formation and evolution of our present atmosphere?

answer

stratification

question

141) The approximate altitude of auroral displays is

answer

80 - 400 km.

question

142) The ionosphere is an atmospheric region defined on the basis of

answer

electrical charges.

question

144) The normal lapse rate applies to the

answer

troposphere.

question

147) The basic elements of weather and climate include all of the following, except:

answer

the chemical composition of the air.

question

Which one of the following gases has the greatest effect on weather?

answer

water vapor

question

Studies have shown that on average ozone depletion is greatest over this area.

answer

Antarctica

question

151) The Montreal Protocol

answer

Answer: has already created a reduction in ozone-depleting gases in the atmosphere.

question

152) The first function of water vapor in the Earth's original atmosphere was to

answer

fall as rain and thus cool the Earth's surface.

question

153) The aurora borealis will most likely be stronger

answer

when there is a lot of solar flare activity.

question

154) The primary function of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission is to:

answer

provide satellite data about precipitation in the low latitudes, over both land and water.

question

166) The tropopause is found where the air temperature stops decreasing with height.

answer

True

question

167) The oceans cover about 50 percent of the Earth's surface.

answer

True

question

169) Although carbon dioxide is present only in small amounts, it is still more significant meteorologically than the other more abundant gases composing dry air.

answer

True

question

172) At one time the Earth's atmosphere contained no free oxygen.

answer

True

question

173) Scientific hypotheses are rejected when they do not agree with observed data.

answer

True

question

177) Auroral displays increase conspicuously at times when sunspots are most numerous.

answer

True

question

178) A scientific hypothesis may be regarded as a tentative explanation of observed facts or events.

answer

True

question

179) Vertical motion in the lower atmosphere is strongly related to the environmental lapse rate.

answer

True

question

182) The biosphere interacts with the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, and the atmosphere.

answer

True

question

183) The rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels over the last century is due primarily to the burning of fossil fuels.

answer

True

question

184) Depletion of the ozone layer leads to increased amounts of UV radiation striking the surface of the Earth.

answer

True

question

186) The environmental lapse rate is not constant.

answer

True

question

188) The ions in the ionosphere come primarily from oxygen and nitrogen.

answer

True

question

189) Earth is considered a closed system in terms of matter.

answer

True

question

190) If a scientific theory is to be accepted and considered useful, it must be able to: ________.

answer

correctly predict observed facts or events

question

191) The stratosphere is home to a layer of gas known as ________.

answer

ozone

question

192) The primary usefulness of satellites in observing the weather is their ability to provide ________.

answer

cloud images

question

193) The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place defines the term ________.

answer

weather

question

194) A lightweight instrument package that is carried aloft by a balloon and transmits data on temperature, pressure, and humidity is called a(n) ________.

answer

radiosonde

question

195) That portion of the atmosphere where the makeup of the air is uniform in terms of the proportions of its component gases is termed the ________.

answer

homosphere

question

196) What causes the region of warmer temperatures found in the stratosphere?

answer

Absorption of solar ultraviolet by ozone.

question

197) List four of the basic elements of weather and climate.

answer

temperature-humidity-clouds-precipitation-air pressure-wind speed-wind direction

question

198) The Earth's physical environment is traditionally divided into three major parts, one solid, one liquid, and one gaseous. List these three parts.

answer

lithosphere(solid)-hydrosphere(liquid)-atmosphere(gaseous)

question

199) What are the two energy sources for the Earth system?

answer

the Sun and the Earth's interior

question

200) Suppose the albedo of a planet is measured to be 40 percent. This means that

answer

40 percent of the Sun's energy is reflected.

question

201) During natural processes, heat transfer is always from

answer

warmer to cooler substances.

question

202) During the Earth's orbit around the Sun, the inclination (tilt) of the Earth's axis

answer

remains constant at 23.5 degrees.

question

203) Low sun angles result in reduced solar energy because

answer

energy is spread over a larger area.

question

204) Which of the following correctly describes the equinoxes?

answer

Days and nights are equal in length in all parts of the world.

question

205) Flagstaff, AZ is at 35 degrees N latitude. What is the angle of the Sun's noon rays here on March 21?

answer

55 degrees

question

206) At 45 degrees S latitude, the angle of the noon Sun is lowest and the length of daylight is shortest on:

answer

June 21.

question

208) The first day of the climatological season of summer is:

answer

June 1.

question

213) The wavelengths emitted by the Earth are:

answer

longer than those emitted by the Sun.

question

214) On the average, how much of the Sun's energy that is intercepted by the Earth system is reflected to space?

answer

30 percent

question

215) The length of daylight gets progressively longer going south from the equator on

answer

December 21.

question

216) The spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere starts on

answer

March 21.

question

217) The 90 degrees angle rays strike the Tropic of Cancer on

answer

June 21.

question

218) New York City has its greatest length of daylight on

answer

June 21.

question

219) The Earth receives energy from the Sun by

answer

radiation.

question

220) The process of ________ involves the movement of a mass or substance.

answer

convection

question

221) Wind is an example of

answer

convection.

question

222) Thermals and advection are both types of:

answer

convection.

question

228) At what time of year is the Earth's axis not tilted either toward or away from the Sun?

answer

autumnal equinox

question

229) During the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the circle of illumination passes directly through the

answer

poles.

question

230) The date that the Sun "sets" at the North Pole is

answer

September 22.

question

231) The date that the Sun "rises" at the North Pole is

answer

March 21.

question

233) The surface with the HIGHEST albedo is

answer

fresh snow.

question

Wavelengths of the visible spectrum are between

answer

0.4 and 0.7 micrometers.

question

240) If an imbalance occurs between incoming and outgoing energy at the Earth's surface

answer

temperatures either increase or decrease.

question

241) Earth is closest to the Sun during

answer

Northern Hemisphere winter.

question

242) Most of the solar energy absorbed by planet Earth and its atmosphere is absorbed by

answer

the Earth's surface.

question

244) Which of the following gases does not absorb any portion of incoming solar radiation?

answer

nitrogen

question

245) The atmosphere is heated primarily by

answer

absorption of Earth radiation.

question

252) The primary cause of the Earth's seasons is

answer

inclination of Earth's rotation axis.

question

253) Atmosphere is strongly ________ with respect to terrestrial radiation.

answer

absorptive

question

257) Early in January the Earth is closer to the Sun than at any other time of year. This position is termed:

answer

perihelion.

question

258) The atmosphere is nearly ________ to terrestrial radiation that has a wavelength between 8 and 11 micrometers.

answer

transparent

question

260) Which of the following gases is the best absorber of ultraviolet light?

answer

oxygen

question

297) The blue color of the sky is due to ________ of light.

answer

scattering

question

298) The intensity of the Sun's rays at a place is determined by the time of year and the ________ of the place.

answer

latitude

question

299) The brightness of the daytime sky is due to ________ of light.

answer

scattering

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