Ch.16 Geology 1401 – Flashcards
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Which specific gas is most abundant in Earth's atmosphere?
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nitrogen
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Which gas in Earth's atmosphere has a significant role in the heating of the atmosphere?
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carbon dioxide
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What is not one of the variable components of Earth's atmosphere?
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oxygen
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Which component of Earth's atmosphere is not a primary pollutant?
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ozone
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When considered by weight percent, what is the principal source for the majority of primary pollutants in Earth's atmosphere?
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transportation
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How is ozone produced in Earth's atmosphere by combustion of petroleum products?
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A reaction occurs between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds when exposed to sunlight near Earth's surface.
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The four layers in Earth's atmosphere from closest to farthest from the surface?
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troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
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What parameter is used to define the four layers of Earth's atmosphere?
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temperature
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Most of Earth's weather activity takes place in which layer of the atmosphere?
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troposphere
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Which rays of the electromagnetic spectrum are useful in weather forecasting?
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infrared
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Which rays of the electromagnetic spectrum do we feel as heat is transferred between Earth and the atmosphere?
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infrared
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When you see a rainbow in the sky or in the mist of a waterfall, you are seeing all the wavelengths of visible light. Which process separates the different components of the visible light spectrum so you can see them?
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refraction
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What is the most common result when heat radiation is released from Earth?
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Certain gases in the atmosphere absorb the heat.
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In addition to water vapor, which gas has the ability to absorb heat energy?
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carbon dioxide
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Which surface would have the highest albedo?
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continental ice sheets and snow fields
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If the numbers indicated by isobars on a weather map are increasing toward the center of the weather system, which is moving toward you, what type of weather would you expect in the next few days?
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This indicates a high-pressure system, so good weather will follow.
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You notice that the isobars on a weather map are closely spaced together. This situation indicates that which of the following conditions are likely to occur?
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High winds will occur.
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Characteristics of Earth's relationship to the Sun explains the existence of Earth's seasons?
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-Earth's axis is tilted relative to its orbital plane.
-Earth spins on its axis, completing one rotation each day.
-Earth's axis always points in the same direction relative to the stars.
-Earth orbits around the Sun, completing one orbit each year.
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When are the Sun's rays perpendicular to Earth's surface at the equator?
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march and september equinox
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When do all locations on Earth experience equal lengths of day and night?
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march and september equinox
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On Earth, what causes the development of winds, ocean circulation patterns, and weather?
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unequal heating of Earth's surface
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Which represents the point in Earth's revolution around the Sun when it is at aphelion?
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early July
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How much of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation reaches Earth's surface?
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little
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How is ozone formed in the stratosphere?
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Ultraviolet radiation breaks apart molecules made up of paired oxygen atoms. Individual oxygen atoms bond with paired oxygen molecules to form ozone.
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What is ozone?
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a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms
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How does ultraviolet radiation cause ozone depletion?
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Ultraviolet radiation breaks down CFC, a molecule containing chlorine. Chlorine then breaks one oxygen atom away from ozone, leaving behind a paired oxygen molecule.
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What would happen to the oxygen atoms in ozone if the ozone layer were completely destroyed by ultraviolet radiation?
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The oxygen atoms would be bound together in pairs.
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On a cloudless day, what happens to most of the visible light headed toward Earth?
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It reaches Earth's surface, where some is reflected and some is absorbed.
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On a day with half cloud cover, what happens to the visible light headed toward Earth?
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The clouds reflect some of it back to space, and some still reaches the surface.
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What happens to the energy that the ground absorbs in the form of visible sunlight?
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It is returned upward in the form of infrared light.
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The greenhouse effect raises Earth's surface temperature (from what it would be otherwise) because the infrared light radiated by Earth's surface __________.
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is temporarily absorbed by greenhouse gases and then reemitted in random directions
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Which two gases are the primary components of clean, dry air?
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nitrogen and oxygen
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Which of the following areas experiences the highest annual temperature range?
Greenland
Brazil
Central Australia
Central Asia
Central Europe
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Central Asia
