Earth's Atmosphere and Composition Quiz

In the stratosphere, air temperature increases with altitude due to exothermic reactions from sunlight.

Ozone (O3) is created in the stratosphere through chemical reactions triggered by UV radiation from the sun.

In the mesosphere, air temperature decreases with altitude.

The thermosphere's temperature rises due to energetic particles (like electrons and protons) from the sun bombarding oxygen and nitrogen atoms.

The ionosphere reflects radio waves back to Earth, due to ionized particles.

Auroras like the Northern Lights are dazzling light displays caused by collisions of charged particles from the sun with Earth's upper atmosphere.

Solar flares release electrons and protons that get trapped by Earth's magnetic field, leading to collisions that excite atoms and molecules in the atmosphere.

The Northern Lights are a specific type of aurora that occurs in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Southern Lights are a type of aurora that occurs in the Southern Hemisphere.

When excited atoms return to their ground state, they release energy as light photons.

Excited oxygen atoms can emit green and red light during auroras.

Ionized nitrogen molecules contribute to the blue and violet colors in auroras.

Auroral displays are concentrated in donut-shaped zones around the Earth's poles, where the magnetic field lines converge.

Acid rain damages forests, agricultural lands, and aquatic organisms. This is caused by the acidic precipitation that dissolves nutrients needed for healthy growth and kills sensitive species by releasing damaging chemicals.

Acid rain primarily originates from the release of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides from human activities, such as burning fossil fuels in power plants and vehicles.

The extraction of metals from their sulfide ores through smelting releases sulfur dioxide (SO2) as a byproduct. This process often involves heating the metal sulfide in air, leading to the formation of metal oxide and SO2.

Coal is a primary source of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions. The sulfur content of coal can range significantly, contributing to various levels of SO2 released when coal is burned for energy.

Acid rain has a pH less than 5.5, much lower than normal rainwater's pH of around 5.6. This acidity is primarily due to the presence of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) reacts with water in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4), which is a major contributor to the acidity of acid rain.

Acidic oxides, such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), react with water to produce corresponding acids. For example, SO2 reacts with water to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4).

Nature, such as volcanic eruptions, also contributes to sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions in the atmosphere. Volcanic activity releases significant amounts of SO2, impacting atmospheric composition.

Radon, a radioactive gas, is a major cause of lung cancer, responsible for about 20,000 deaths annually in the US.

Radon is primarily generated from uranium-containing phosphate minerals, making it a common environmental threat.

Radon gas enters homes through cracks in foundations, especially basements, and can accumulate to dangerous levels.

Radon is slightly soluble in water, which allows it to spread through various media, including air and water.

Radon decays into radioactive polonium isotopes, which can build up in enclosed spaces and contribute to lung cancer.

Polonium emits alpha particles that can damage lung tissue, leading to an increased risk of lung cancer.

Using short-term or long-term test kits, radon levels can be measured in homes to assess the risk.

The first step in addressing radon contamination is to measure its presence in the home, using a reliable test kit.

A type of smog formed by reactions of automobile exhaust with sunlight, leading to harmful secondary pollutants like NO2 and O3.

Gases directly released into the atmosphere, such as NO, CO, and unburned hydrocarbons, that trigger reactions leading to smog.

Harmful substances formed through chemical reactions in the atmosphere, mainly NO2 and O3, which contribute to photochemical smog.

A primary pollutant produced in car engines from the reaction between nitrogen and oxygen at high temperatures.

A secondary pollutant formed by oxidizing nitric oxide in the atmosphere. Sunlight then breaks NO2 down into NO and atomic oxygen.

Ozone formation in the lower atmosphere (troposphere) is a consequence of photochemical smog reactions, involving atomic oxygen and oxygen molecules.

Ozone is a beneficial component of the stratosphere (protecting Earth from UV radiation), but it's a harmful air pollutant in the lower atmosphere (troposphere).

Ozone reacts with carbon-carbon double bonds in rubber, causing it to deteriorate, highlighting its damaging effects on materials.

Short-term kits use charcoal canisters to absorb radon, while long-term track etch kits use special film to detect alpha particles emitted by radon.

Exposure to high levels of radon can increase the risk of lung cancer, especially for smokers.

Ventilation systems can remove radon from homes by drawing air from underneath the basement floor to the outside.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends taking action when radon levels exceed 4 pico-curies (pCi) per liter of air.

Studies in the 1950s showed that uranium miners had a higher than average incidence of lung cancer, likely due to radon exposure.

Radon exposure and smoking together can have a multiplicative effect on lung cancer risk.