Earth Science Final UPDATED Actual
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Air is best described as ________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a mixture of gases, with solid
particles and liquid droplets in it
Which one of the following is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- nitrogen
How is climate different from weather? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Climate is the sum of
all statistical weather information that helps describe a region.
Sea salts from breaking waves, fine soil blown into the air, smoke and soot from wildfires,
pollen and microorganisms lifted by the wind, and ash from volcanic eruptions are all
examples of ________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- aerosols
Water vapor levels in Earth's atmosphere ________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- all of these
Dust in the atmosphere is responsible for which of the following? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- Atmospheric dust does all of these.
Even though ground-level ozone is a health hazard, the "ozone layer" in the stratosphere is a
health benefit because ________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- it screens out some harmful
solar radiation
The lowest layer of the atmosphere is the ________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-
troposphere
Imagine you are in a flying aircraft. You note the presence of clouds and storms at your same
altitude. What layer of the atmosphere must the aircraft be traveling through? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- troposhphere
, Approximately how many kilometers (miles) above Earth's surface does the atmosphere end
and outer space begin? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- There is no clearly defined upper limit to
the atmosphere; it gradually fades into space.
Which of the following locations would have the lowest average air pressure? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- Summit of Mount Everest, tallest mountain on Earth
The tops of tall mountains are much colder than surrounding lowlands. This is evidence of
________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the environmental lapse rate
Weather is ultimately driven by ________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- energy input from
the Sun
In total, Earth receives about 7% more energy from the Sun during ________ relative to
________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- perihelion; aphelion
Examine the figure. Which of the four lettered positions depicts the Northern Hemisphere
winter solstice? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- D
If it were December and you wanted to travel to "the land of the midnight Sun," where would
you have to go? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- anywhere south of 66 1/2° S latitude
________ is the agent of atmospheric temperature change. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Heat
Energy from the Sun reaches Earth through ________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-
Radiation
Solar radiation is ________, as compared to the ________ emitted by Earth. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- short-wave radiation; long-wave radiation
The fraction of the total radiation that is reflected by a surface is ________. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- its albedo
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Air is best described as ________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- a mixture of gases, with solid
particles and liquid droplets in it
Which one of the following is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- nitrogen
How is climate different from weather? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Climate is the sum of
all statistical weather information that helps describe a region.
Sea salts from breaking waves, fine soil blown into the air, smoke and soot from wildfires,
pollen and microorganisms lifted by the wind, and ash from volcanic eruptions are all
examples of ________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- aerosols
Water vapor levels in Earth's atmosphere ________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- all of these
Dust in the atmosphere is responsible for which of the following? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- Atmospheric dust does all of these.
Even though ground-level ozone is a health hazard, the "ozone layer" in the stratosphere is a
health benefit because ________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- it screens out some harmful
solar radiation
The lowest layer of the atmosphere is the ________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-
troposphere
Imagine you are in a flying aircraft. You note the presence of clouds and storms at your same
altitude. What layer of the atmosphere must the aircraft be traveling through? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- troposhphere
, Approximately how many kilometers (miles) above Earth's surface does the atmosphere end
and outer space begin? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- There is no clearly defined upper limit to
the atmosphere; it gradually fades into space.
Which of the following locations would have the lowest average air pressure? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- Summit of Mount Everest, tallest mountain on Earth
The tops of tall mountains are much colder than surrounding lowlands. This is evidence of
________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the environmental lapse rate
Weather is ultimately driven by ________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- energy input from
the Sun
In total, Earth receives about 7% more energy from the Sun during ________ relative to
________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- perihelion; aphelion
Examine the figure. Which of the four lettered positions depicts the Northern Hemisphere
winter solstice? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- D
If it were December and you wanted to travel to "the land of the midnight Sun," where would
you have to go? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- anywhere south of 66 1/2° S latitude
________ is the agent of atmospheric temperature change. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Heat
Energy from the Sun reaches Earth through ________. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-
Radiation
Solar radiation is ________, as compared to the ________ emitted by Earth. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- short-wave radiation; long-wave radiation
The fraction of the total radiation that is reflected by a surface is ________. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- its albedo
