Atmosphere Exam Flashcards
(37 cards)
The earth’s atmosphere is divided into layers based on the vertical profile of:
Air temperature
Which of the following substances is released by CFC’s and catalyzes a chain reaction that breaks down ozone in the upper atmosphere?
Chlorine
The Coriolis effect is..
A result of the Earth’s rotation from the west to the east and causes objects to curve to the right in the northern hemisphere
The primary source of energy for the earth’s atmosphere is:
The sun
An air mass is a large body of air with generally heterogeneous temperature and humidity
False
Without atmospheric greenhouse effect, the average surface temperature would be:
Lower than at present
Greenhouse effect refers to:
Ability of certain atmospheric gases to trap heat and keep the planet relatively warm
Stratospheric ozone
Protects Earth from most of the harmful UV radiation
Latitude strongly influences climate because _______ solar energy falls on areas that are closer to the equator than to the poles
More
Photochemical smog results from the mixing of ultraviolet light and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
False
The difference between climate and weather is:
Weather is a day-to-day phenomenon, climate is a long-term average
The gas that shows the most variation form place to place and from time to time in the lower atmosphere is:
Water vapor (H2O)
Which of the following gases are mainly responsible for the atmospheric greenhouse effect in the Earth’s atmosphere?
Water vapor and carbon dioxide
Warming the stratosphere is mainly caused by:
Absorption of ultraviolet radiation by ozone
The Coriolis effect contributes to:
Global wind patterns
Which of the following would occur if Earth were not tilted relative to the plane of its orbit?
Temperature regions would not longer have seasonal changes in climate
Air pollutants fall under this category of atmospheric constituents:
Variable gases
The Net effect of circulation is to move warm air from ________, and this moderate the equator-to-pole energy gradient created by __________.
The tropics to the poles; the latitudinal distribution of absorbed insolation
Which of the following is a secondary pollutant?
O3
Which process is responsible for most of the water vapor that enters the atmosphere?
Evaporation
Which of the following property pairs best characterizes a sinking air mass?
Cool, low humidity
The critical difference between today’s global warming and Earth’s previous climate change is that:
Global warming may occur more rapidly than it did during previous climate changes
Atmosphere is divided into
Four layers
Where is the Coriolis effect the strongest?
At the North and South poles
