Earth's Atmosphere Quiz

Which term is a thin part of the Earth's atmosphere that absorbs almost all of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet light?

• ozone

• troposphere

• thermosphere

• greenhouse gases

As altitude increases, why does the pressure differ significantly between the troposphere and other layers of the atmosphere?

• The air is less dense in the troposphere, so the pressure is lower.

• The air is more dense in the troposphere, so the pressure is higher.

• The air is less dense in the troposphere, so the pressure is higher.

Based on the data, why might high levels of heat be trapped in the lower atmosphere?

• Ozone and nitrogen are located in the stratosphere.

• Nitrosonium (NO+) and methane (CH4) are located in the thermosphere.

• Oxygen atoms and oxygen molecules are located in the mesosphere.

How is the loss of rainforests related to increasing temperatures in the troposphere?

Which describes convection?

• The transfer of heat energy through empty space.

• The transfer of heat energy with no direct contact between particles.

• The transfer of heat energy through direct contact between particles.

• The transfer of heat energy due to the fluid movement of the particles.

Which correctly describes the difference in how the Sun heats the land masses and the oceans?

• The sun heats the land masses and the oceans by radiation; the heat is spread through the land masses by convection and through the oceans by conduction.

• The sun heats the land masses and the oceans by radiation; the heat is spread through the land masses by conduction and through the oceans by convection.

• The sun heats the land masses and the oceans by conduction; the heat is spread through the land masses by radiation and through the oceans by convection.

• The sun heats the land masses and the oceans by convection; the heat is spread through the land masses by conduction and through the oceans by radiation.

A group of students took a field trip to the local beach. As the students walked around on the shore and in the water, they noticed that the dry land was much warmer than the water. The students wanted to know if this temperature difference was occurring in other areas of the beach, so they walked to various parts of the beach to feel the temperature of the land and the water. Which TWO statements BEST explain the outcome of the students' investigation?

• The students found that the land was warmer than the water at all locations because the land absorbs heat faster than the water.

• The students found that the water was warmer than the land at most locations because the land absorbs heat slower than the water.

• The students found that the land was about as warm as the water at most locations on the beach because the water and the land absorb heat energy at the same rate.

• The students found that the land was about as warm as the water at most locations because energy from the Sun radiates heat to the land and the water at the same rate.

Which revision to the investigation would provide data that answers the question?

• The students could conduct two tests, one outdoors in sunlight and one indoors with a heating lamp, using equal masses of soil and water, and collect data every minute for 15 minutes.

• The students could conduct multiple tests indoors by heating equal amounts of soil and water under heat lamps and equal amounts of soil and water on hot plates for one hour.

• The students could conduct multiple tests using different amounts of soil and water and heating them using heat lamps and by placing them in direct sunlight.

Which term describes winds that continuously blow throughout the year in a fixed direction?

• global winds

• land breeze

• local winds

• sea breeze

What is demonstrated by Mara's model?

• the Coriolis effect as it affects the direction of global winds

• strong rotating winds as caused by the rhythmic pattern of ocean tides

• local winds as influenced by unequal heating and topographical features

• global winds as influenced by variations in temperature and the rotation of Earth