Understanding Weather and Climate, 6e (Aguado)
Chapter 1 Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere
1) The atmosphere is a mixture of:
A) precipitation and air.
B) particulate matter and water.
C) gas molecules, small particulates, and moisture.
D) moisture and gas molecules only.
Answer: C
Section: 1.1 The Atmosphere, Weather, and Climate
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
2) Relatively speaking, the earth's atmosphere is:
A) very thick when compared to the earth's diameter.
B) very thin when compared to the earth's diameter.
C) stops at the top of the troposphere.
D) stops when we reach "space."
Answer: B
Section: 1.2 Thickness of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension; Evaluation; Analysis
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2; G7
3) The atmosphere:
A) has vertical wind speeds that are typically around one-tenth that of horizontal wind speeds.
B) is about as deep as the planet is wide.
C) is more than 99 percent contained within the first 60 miles from the earth's surface.
D) has not changed substantially in composition since the earth formed over four billion years ago.
Answer: C
Section: 1.2 Thickness of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1
4) What do you notice concerning the percentage of permanent gasses throughout the atmosphere (all
levels)?
A) It varies significantly from the surface up.
B) It varies significantly only at the tropopause.
C) It is the same throughout the atmosphere from the surface up.
D) It varies only in the mesosphere.
Answer: C
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension; Evaluation
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
1
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
,5) What is the residence time of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere?
A) 10 years
B) 100 years
C) 500 years
D) 5000 years
Answer: D
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1
6) The heterosphere:
A) lies below the homosphere.
B) contains primarily heavy gases.
C) is populated primarily by variable gases.
D) is named for its chemical homogeneity.
Answer: C
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
7) This is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere:
A) nitrogen.
B) oxygen.
C) carbon dioxide.
D) water vapor.
Answer: A
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
8) Nitrogen:
A) is a variable gas.
B) has a short residence time.
C) is a relatively unstable gas.
D) has little effect on climate.
Answer: D
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
9) This is NOT a variable gas:
A) water vapor.
B) argon.
C) ozone.
D) carbon dioxide.
Answer: B
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
2
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
,10) Water vapor:
A) can comprise up to five percent of the total mass of the atmosphere.
B) has evaporation as its primary source.
C) typically increases in concentration at higher altitudes within the troposphere.
D) does not absorb infrared radiation.
Answer: B
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2; G7
11) Carbon dioxide:
A) comprises up to two percent of the atmospheric gases.
B) is being removed from the atmosphere faster than it is being inputted.
C) is removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis.
D) is not present in significant amounts in the atmosphere of Venus.
Answer: C
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2; G7
12) Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations:
A) have decreased over the last few decades.
B) increase with height above the tropopause.
C) have not been reliably measured for the northern hemisphere.
D) are highest in early spring.
Answer: D
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
13) Respiration:
A) occurs only when the Sun is shining.
B) releases oxygen into the air.
C) must give off less carbon than is fixed through photosynthesis if a plant is to experience net growth.
D) does not affect the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Answer: C
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2; G7
14) Ozone:
A) absorbs ultraviolet light.
B) typically reaches its greatest concentrations near the ground and near major cities.
C) is very difficult to split into diatomic oxygen and monatomic oxygen.
D) exists primarily in the troposphere.
Answer: A
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2; G7
3
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
, 15) Methane:
A) is a permanent gas.
B) is a good reflector of thermal radiation.
C) is removed from the atmosphere by the digestive processes of cattle.
D) has increased in concentration over the last 50 or so years.
Answer: D
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2; G7
16) Ozone depletion:
A) is highest over the Arctic.
B) occurs in a process that consumes one chlorine atom for each molecule of ozone broken apart.
C) is considered a serious problem in most developed countries.
D) is slowed by chlorofluorocarbons.
Answer: C
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2; G5
17) Aerosols:
A) include cloud droplets.
B) have little effect on weather.
C) are formed by physical processes, not chemical processes.
D) can be either solid or liquid.
Answer: D
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
18) Aerosols are typically removed from the atmosphere by:
A) falling precipitation.
B) settling to the ground due to the influence of gravity.
C) chemical decomposition.
D) traveling higher and higher above the earth until they escape into space.
Answer: A
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
19) The maximum concentrations of ozone are found in the:
A) troposphere.
B) mesosphere.
C) ionosphere.
D) stratosphere.
Answer: D
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
4
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 1 Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere
1) The atmosphere is a mixture of:
A) precipitation and air.
B) particulate matter and water.
C) gas molecules, small particulates, and moisture.
D) moisture and gas molecules only.
Answer: C
Section: 1.1 The Atmosphere, Weather, and Climate
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
2) Relatively speaking, the earth's atmosphere is:
A) very thick when compared to the earth's diameter.
B) very thin when compared to the earth's diameter.
C) stops at the top of the troposphere.
D) stops when we reach "space."
Answer: B
Section: 1.2 Thickness of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension; Evaluation; Analysis
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2; G7
3) The atmosphere:
A) has vertical wind speeds that are typically around one-tenth that of horizontal wind speeds.
B) is about as deep as the planet is wide.
C) is more than 99 percent contained within the first 60 miles from the earth's surface.
D) has not changed substantially in composition since the earth formed over four billion years ago.
Answer: C
Section: 1.2 Thickness of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1
4) What do you notice concerning the percentage of permanent gasses throughout the atmosphere (all
levels)?
A) It varies significantly from the surface up.
B) It varies significantly only at the tropopause.
C) It is the same throughout the atmosphere from the surface up.
D) It varies only in the mesosphere.
Answer: C
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension; Evaluation
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
1
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
,5) What is the residence time of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere?
A) 10 years
B) 100 years
C) 500 years
D) 5000 years
Answer: D
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1
6) The heterosphere:
A) lies below the homosphere.
B) contains primarily heavy gases.
C) is populated primarily by variable gases.
D) is named for its chemical homogeneity.
Answer: C
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
7) This is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere:
A) nitrogen.
B) oxygen.
C) carbon dioxide.
D) water vapor.
Answer: A
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
8) Nitrogen:
A) is a variable gas.
B) has a short residence time.
C) is a relatively unstable gas.
D) has little effect on climate.
Answer: D
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
9) This is NOT a variable gas:
A) water vapor.
B) argon.
C) ozone.
D) carbon dioxide.
Answer: B
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
2
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
,10) Water vapor:
A) can comprise up to five percent of the total mass of the atmosphere.
B) has evaporation as its primary source.
C) typically increases in concentration at higher altitudes within the troposphere.
D) does not absorb infrared radiation.
Answer: B
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2; G7
11) Carbon dioxide:
A) comprises up to two percent of the atmospheric gases.
B) is being removed from the atmosphere faster than it is being inputted.
C) is removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis.
D) is not present in significant amounts in the atmosphere of Venus.
Answer: C
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2; G7
12) Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations:
A) have decreased over the last few decades.
B) increase with height above the tropopause.
C) have not been reliably measured for the northern hemisphere.
D) are highest in early spring.
Answer: D
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
13) Respiration:
A) occurs only when the Sun is shining.
B) releases oxygen into the air.
C) must give off less carbon than is fixed through photosynthesis if a plant is to experience net growth.
D) does not affect the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Answer: C
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2; G7
14) Ozone:
A) absorbs ultraviolet light.
B) typically reaches its greatest concentrations near the ground and near major cities.
C) is very difficult to split into diatomic oxygen and monatomic oxygen.
D) exists primarily in the troposphere.
Answer: A
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2; G7
3
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
, 15) Methane:
A) is a permanent gas.
B) is a good reflector of thermal radiation.
C) is removed from the atmosphere by the digestive processes of cattle.
D) has increased in concentration over the last 50 or so years.
Answer: D
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2; G7
16) Ozone depletion:
A) is highest over the Arctic.
B) occurs in a process that consumes one chlorine atom for each molecule of ozone broken apart.
C) is considered a serious problem in most developed countries.
D) is slowed by chlorofluorocarbons.
Answer: C
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2; G5
17) Aerosols:
A) include cloud droplets.
B) have little effect on weather.
C) are formed by physical processes, not chemical processes.
D) can be either solid or liquid.
Answer: D
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
18) Aerosols are typically removed from the atmosphere by:
A) falling precipitation.
B) settling to the ground due to the influence of gravity.
C) chemical decomposition.
D) traveling higher and higher above the earth until they escape into space.
Answer: A
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
19) The maximum concentrations of ozone are found in the:
A) troposphere.
B) mesosphere.
C) ionosphere.
D) stratosphere.
Answer: D
Section: 1.3 Composition of the Atmosphere
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Glob Sci Outcome: G1; G2
4
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
