Earth's Atmosphere: Composition and Layers

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Questions and Answers

What primarily holds a planet's atmosphere in place?

  • Solar radiation
  • Gravity (correct)
  • Outgassing
  • Volcanic activity

Which two gases make up the largest percentage of Earth's modern atmosphere?

  • Helium and hydrogen
  • Nitrogen and oxygen (correct)
  • Carbon dioxide and methane
  • Oxygen and argon

In which atmospheric layer does most weather occur?

  • Thermosphere
  • Troposphere (correct)
  • Mesosphere
  • Stratosphere

Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?

<p>Stratosphere (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which atmospheric layer do meteors typically burn up?

<p>Mesosphere (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which property of the atmosphere is defined as the force exerted by the weight of the atmosphere on a given area?

<p>Pressure (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to temperature as altitude increases in the thermosphere?

<p>Temperature increases (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere?

<p>Exosphere (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primarily drives global atmospheric circulation?

<p>Differences in solar heating. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the Coriolis Effect on air currents in the Northern Hemisphere?

<p>Deflection to the right. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a greenhouse gas?

<p>Carbon dioxide. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is advection?

<p>Horizontal transport by wind. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What causes wind?

<p>Differences in air pressure. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of heat transfer involves the movement of fluids?

<p>Convection. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is climate?

<p>Long-term average of weather patterns. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is a form of precipitation?

<p>Rain. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a Hadley cell?

<p>A tropical circulation pattern. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following affects aerodynamic forces on aircrafts?

<p>Atmospheric pressure. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is latent heat?

<p>Heat during phase changes of water. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a jet stream?

<p>Strong wind band in the upper atmosphere. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What causes acid rain?

<p>Release of sulfur and nitrogen oxides. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an optical phenomenon?

<p>Rainbow. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is ozone depletion?

<p>Thinning of the ozone layer. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Atmosphere

Layer of gases held by gravity surrounding a planet.

Earth's Atmosphere Composition

Nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%).

Troposphere

The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where weather occurs.

Stratosphere

Layer containing the ozone layer, which absorbs UV radiation.

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Mesosphere

The coldest layer where meteors burn up.

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Thermosphere

Layer with increasing temperature due to solar radiation absorption; location of the ISS.

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Exosphere

Outermost fading layer where gas molecules can escape into space.

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Atmospheric Pressure

Force exerted by the weight of the atmosphere.

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Radiation

Transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves.

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Convection

Transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (air).

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Advection

Horizontal transport of heat, moisture, or pollutants by wind.

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Coriolis Effect

Deflection of moving objects due to Earth's rotation.

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Weather

State of the atmosphere at a specific time and place.

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Climate

Long-term average of weather patterns in a region.

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Clouds

Visible masses of water droplets or ice crystals.

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Precipitation

Any form of water falling from the atmosphere.

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Winds

Movement of air relative to Earth's surface.

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Global Circulation

Large-scale movement of air around the Earth.

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Hadley Cells

Circulation patterns in the tropics.

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Jet Streams

Narrow bands of strong winds in the upper atmosphere.

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Air Pollutants

Substances harmful to health or the environment in the atmosphere.

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Greenhouse Gases

Gases trapping heat in the atmosphere.

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