Atmosphere Unit Review

A student reads the following statement. The presence of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere is important to Earth’s ability to support human life. How would Earth be different without greenhouse gases in its atmosphere?

• More heat from solar radiation would escape into space.

• More solar radiation would be reflected back into space.

• More solar radiation would penetrate Earth’s crust and mantle.

• More heat from solar radiation would be stored in Earth’s core.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb infrared radiation from Earth’s surface and reradiate some of it back to Earth. Which of these gases have the MOST significant impact on the temperature of Earth’s atmosphere?

• nitrogen and argon

• oxygen and sulfur dioxide

• carbon dioxide and water vapor

• hydrochloric acid and hydrogen

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

Which substance in the atmosphere absorbs most of the ultraviolet rays, acting like sunscreen.

• chlorofluorocarbon

• ozone

• nitrogen

• water

Which is most often a result of a warm air mass moving over a cooler air mass?

• decrease in wind speed

• decrease in cloud cover

• an increase in precipitation

• an increase in air pressure

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Rising moist air causes the frequent occurrence of which weather condition at the equator?

• high surface pressure

• cloudy and rainy

• cool and dry

• low evaporation rate

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

The air mass over the Gulf of Mexico is likely...

• cool and dry

• cool and humid

• warm and humid

• warm and dry

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Which environmental factors MOST likely impact the formation of tornadoes in this area?

• high-pressure systems colliding with other high-pressure systems

• cold dry air and warm dry air moving toward each other

• low evaporation rates and windy conditions

• cool dry air colliding with warm moist air

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

The air masses that interact to form hurricanes and cyclones rise and fall due to changes in air density and air pressure. Why do these storms also spin?

• Ocean currents drag the air above them in circles.

• The Moon’s gravity pulls air currents with the tides.

• Low-pressure air pushes high-pressure air sideways.

• Earth’s rotation causes the air to turn as it moves north.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

How does air density affect air pressure in a cyclonic storm?

• Warm air rises, creating an area of low pressure under it.

• Cool air rises, creating an area of low pressure under it.

• Warm air rises, creating an area of high pressure under it.

• Cool air rises, creating an area of high pressure under it.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Visible light reaches Earth’s surface while infrared light is trapped as heat. Which characteristic of Earth’s atmosphere causes this to happen?

• the ozone hole

• the inversion layer

• the greenhouse effect

• the atmospheric continuum

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-4