Meteorology Questions with Correct Answers
Weather Correct Answer-refers to the state of the atmosphere (physical
conditions) at any given time or place
Climate Correct Answer-describes the "average weather" of a region
The standard averaging period is 30 years according to the WMO
What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere? Correct Answer-
Nitrogen
What are the major components of the atmosphere? Correct Answer-
nitrogen: 78%
oxygen: 21%
trace gasses (includes argon, carbon dioxide): 1%
What are the variable components of the atmosphere? Correct Answer-
water vapor
dust vary in both space and time
ozone
Is air considered an element, molecule, or mixture? Why? Correct
Answer-mixture because its composition varies, and the constituents can
be separated
contains many different elements (hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen) AND
molecules (H2O, N2, O2, CO2).
,What is ozone, and why is it important? Correct Answer-The oxygen gas
that we breathe: O2
Ozone: O3
- Concentrated at 10-15 km above Earth's surface because there is
sufficient UV radiation to break up O2 molecules
- Absorbs most UV rays before they reach Earth's surface
Formation of Ozone:
1) High-energy UV rays strike an O2 molecule
2) The O2 molecule splits
3) The free oxygen atoms collide with O2 molecules
4) Ozone molecules are formed
Describe the temperature trends of the four layers of the atmosphere,
starting at Earth's surface. Correct Answer-Troposphere
- The weather layer
- Temperature decreases with height
Stratosphere
- Has stable air layers, hosts most of the ozone
- Temperature increases with height
Mesosphere
- Where meteors start burning
- Temperature decreases with height
Thermosphere
, - Very little mass (less than 1% of all gas in the atmosphere)
- Temperature increases with height
What is the difference between the "atmosphere" and "space"? Correct
Answer-The boundary between the atmosphere and space is not sharp
The concentration of gas particles decreases with height until there are
too few to detect
How do you think air pressure changes with altitude? Why? Correct
Answer-Atmospheric pressure is the weight of the air above
50% of the gasses that make up the atmosphere lie below an altitude of
5.6 km.
At sea level, atmospheric pressure is about 1013 millibars (mb). This is
equivalent to 1 ATM, or 14.7 psi
How do you think air temperature changes with altitude? Why? Correct
Answer-In the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth (troposphere),
temperature decreases with height
Not all atmospheric layers show this pattern
Explain why temperature varies with altitude (e.g. Why does
temperature decrease with height in the troposphere and mesosphere?
Why does temperature increase with height in the stratosphere and
thermosphere?) Correct Answer-As you increase in elevation, there is
less air above you thus the pressure decreases. As the pressure decreases,
air molecules spread out further (i.e. air expands), and the temperature
decreases
Weather Correct Answer-refers to the state of the atmosphere (physical
conditions) at any given time or place
Climate Correct Answer-describes the "average weather" of a region
The standard averaging period is 30 years according to the WMO
What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere? Correct Answer-
Nitrogen
What are the major components of the atmosphere? Correct Answer-
nitrogen: 78%
oxygen: 21%
trace gasses (includes argon, carbon dioxide): 1%
What are the variable components of the atmosphere? Correct Answer-
water vapor
dust vary in both space and time
ozone
Is air considered an element, molecule, or mixture? Why? Correct
Answer-mixture because its composition varies, and the constituents can
be separated
contains many different elements (hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen) AND
molecules (H2O, N2, O2, CO2).
,What is ozone, and why is it important? Correct Answer-The oxygen gas
that we breathe: O2
Ozone: O3
- Concentrated at 10-15 km above Earth's surface because there is
sufficient UV radiation to break up O2 molecules
- Absorbs most UV rays before they reach Earth's surface
Formation of Ozone:
1) High-energy UV rays strike an O2 molecule
2) The O2 molecule splits
3) The free oxygen atoms collide with O2 molecules
4) Ozone molecules are formed
Describe the temperature trends of the four layers of the atmosphere,
starting at Earth's surface. Correct Answer-Troposphere
- The weather layer
- Temperature decreases with height
Stratosphere
- Has stable air layers, hosts most of the ozone
- Temperature increases with height
Mesosphere
- Where meteors start burning
- Temperature decreases with height
Thermosphere
, - Very little mass (less than 1% of all gas in the atmosphere)
- Temperature increases with height
What is the difference between the "atmosphere" and "space"? Correct
Answer-The boundary between the atmosphere and space is not sharp
The concentration of gas particles decreases with height until there are
too few to detect
How do you think air pressure changes with altitude? Why? Correct
Answer-Atmospheric pressure is the weight of the air above
50% of the gasses that make up the atmosphere lie below an altitude of
5.6 km.
At sea level, atmospheric pressure is about 1013 millibars (mb). This is
equivalent to 1 ATM, or 14.7 psi
How do you think air temperature changes with altitude? Why? Correct
Answer-In the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth (troposphere),
temperature decreases with height
Not all atmospheric layers show this pattern
Explain why temperature varies with altitude (e.g. Why does
temperature decrease with height in the troposphere and mesosphere?
Why does temperature increase with height in the stratosphere and
thermosphere?) Correct Answer-As you increase in elevation, there is
less air above you thus the pressure decreases. As the pressure decreases,
air molecules spread out further (i.e. air expands), and the temperature
decreases
