Atmosphere Study Guide Quiz 1

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Atmosphere Unit

Earth & Environmental Systems Science

Review for Quiz 1

Atmosphere Study Guide ? Quiz 1

Composition and Structure of Atmosphere

1. What is the atmosphere? thin envelope of gases that surrounds the Earth and is held in place by gravity

2. What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere? Nitrogen

3. What are the percentages of the gases in the atmosphere? Nitrogen 78% Oxygen 21% Others 1%

4. What are the layers of the atmosphere (from surface to outer space). Name the temperature trend and important characteristic of each.

Layer Name Thermosphere

Mesosphere Stratosphere Troposphere

Temp Trend Increases with altitude

Decreases with altitude Increases with altitude Decreases with altitude

Characteristic Contains Ions ? charged gases Burns up meteors

Contains the Ozone Layer

The layer you live in and where weather occurs

5. How are the layers of the atmosphere broken up/determine? Change in temperature trend for increasing to decreasing and visa versa

6. What is a temperature inversion and which layers of the atmosphere experience it? When the temperature increase with altitude due to the layers contents that absorb radiation ? stratosphere (ozone) and thermosphere (ions)

7. What are the three isothermal (same temperature) layers of the atmosphere called? Tropopause, Stratopause, Mesopause

8. What layer do you live in? Troposphere

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Atmosphere Unit ? Quiz 1 Study Guide

Name: Earth & Environmental Systems Science

9. What is Ozone? Why is it good in the atmosphere?

Atmosphere Unit Review for Quiz 1

Three oxygen molecules chemically linked. It absorbs incoming UV radiation in the atmosphere

before it reaches the surface (cancer causing).

10. By burning large amounts of fossil fuels, scientists fear we are capturing large amounts of -

greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere.

Pressure

11. Heat is unequally distributed on Earth due to Earth's tilted axis and spherical shape. Earth's Rotation (day and night) also cause an unequal heating.

12. Air has pressure because air has mass. 13. Name the tool that measures atmospheric pressure.

Barometer

14. What is the relationship of air pressure to increasing altitude? As we increase altitude, air pressure decreases

15. What is the pressure at sea level in pounds per square inch? about 15 lbs per square inch

16. Why is the air thinner as you increase your altitude? 1 ? there is less gravitational attraction 2 ? there is more surface area

17. Describe the characteristics of low pressure. Warm, rising, moist air

18. Describe the characteristics of high pressure. Cool, sinking, dry air

19. The lines that connect equal pressure on a weather map are called isobars. 20. The lines that connect equal temperature on a weather map are called isotherms.

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Atmosphere Unit ? Quiz 1 Study Guide

Name: Earth & Environmental Systems Science

21. Why does cool air tend to sink? It is more dense then surrounding air

22. Sketch a high pressure center and a low pressure center below

Atmosphere Unit Review for Quiz 1

Seasons

23. What is the difference between direct and indirect radiation? direct is focused energy on a small surface area (angle 80-90) indirect is the same amount of energy spread across a larger surface area and loses its concentration (angle 80-0)

24. How does the angle of incoming sunlight affect the amount of solar radiation a location gets? The closer to 90 degrees the more direct the sunlight energy the more radiation is concentrated. The closer to 0 degrees the more indirect the sunlight energy the less radiation is concentrated (spread out over a larger area).

25. During which season is the sun's angle the greatest at our latitude? Summer

26. During an equinox the sun's angle is equal to 90 ? latitude.

27. As the sun's angle decreases, the intensity and concentration decrease. 28. Describe the difference in the position of the North Pole and the incoming solar radiation during

summer and winter. Winter ? north pole points away from the sun ? indirect Summer ? north pole points toward the sun - direct

29. What is the difference between an equinox and a solstice? Equinox ? 12 day light hours = 12 non-day light hours (fall and spring) Solstice ? longest/shortest day light hours of the year (summer and winter)

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Atmosphere Unit ? Quiz 1 Study Guide

Name: Earth & Environmental Systems Science

30. For the figure to the right: At location A: - What season is it in the Northern Hemisphere? Winter - Southern? Summer - Which location is receiving direct sunlight? 23.5oS At location C: - What season is it in the Northern Hemisphere? Summer - Southern? Winter - Which location is receiving direct sunlight? 23.5oN

Atmosphere Unit Review for Quiz 1

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Atmosphere Unit ? Quiz 1 Study Guide

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