Planetary Science Quiz

<p>Enceladus' water plumes (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>10,000-20,000 years (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>He has corrected past inaccuracies in Jupiter's energy budget. (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

<p>Understanding the relationship between temperature and wind on planets (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

<p>They have a dense, solid core. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

<p>The presence of a suitable atmosphere (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>$T^2 \propto R^3$ (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Its thick atmosphere traps heat through the greenhouse effect. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Discovery of Eris, a celestial body comparable in size to Pluto (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is located beyond Neptune and contains icy objects, including Pluto. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nuclear fusion, where lighter atoms combine to form heavier ones (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>5777 K (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It creates a magnetic field that influences the Sun's activity (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Tidal fluctuations in ocean waters (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>5 billion years (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

<p>Earth's tilt on its axis (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It pulls Earth towards the Sun, keeping it in orbit (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

<p>The planet's gravitational pull (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It absorbs harmful radiation, protecting us from solar wind and cosmic rays. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Volcanic Outgassing (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

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

<p>It shields the Earth from harmful radiation. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The presence of a thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The lack of moisture from the ocean reduces the energy available for the storm. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Climate encompasses long-term atmospheric patterns, while weather focuses on short-term changes. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The intensity of the Earth's magnetic field. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sunspots are surrounded by brighter areas called faculae, which contribute to increased irradiance. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) (F)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Both greenhouses and the Earth's atmosphere allow sunlight to enter but block some outgoing heat. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Carbon dioxide (CO₂) (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Carbon dioxide is a powerful greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, leading to warming. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Human-induced increase in CO₂ (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Regulating Earth's energy balance and heat distribution (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Having complex effects that can lead to both short-term cooling and long-term warming (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Increased global ice and snow coverage (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They would make hurricanes both more frequent and stronger (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Monitoring climate change and providing assessments to policymakers (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Encouraging industrial emissions of greenhouse gases (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The natural fluctuations in climate patterns over short periods (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The solar system consists of 8 planets, satellites, rings, and extrasolar systems.

Planets have unique atmospheric conditions affecting phenomena like storms.

Understanding planetary atmospheres helps in climate insights for Earth and other planets.

Planetary atmospheres are studied using observations, theoretical studies, and numerical models.

A mission that explored Saturn and discovered lakes on Titan and water plumes on Enceladus.

The first polar-orbit spacecraft to Jupiter, studying its deep atmosphere since 2011.

Describes the relationship between temperature and wind, used for studying planetary atmospheres.

Cassini revealed Saturn's Great Storm, Titan's lakes, and Enceladus' water plumes.

The Sun's radius is 696,000 km, about 100 times that of Earth.

The Sun's mass is 1.99 × 10³⁰ kg, approximately 300,000 times that of Earth.

The Sun's core temperature reaches around 15 million K due to nuclear fusion.

The Sun's surface layer where sunspots and solar flares occur.

Continuous flow of charged particles from the Sun, impacting Earth.

Dark, cooler spots on the Sun’s surface, around 3700 K, larger than Earth.

Sudden, bright explosions on the Sun that release energy and particles.

Process in the Sun's core where hydrogen converts to helium, releasing energy.

The IAU set 3 criteria for an object to be classified as a planet: orbits the Sun, nearly round shape, and has cleared its orbit.

Dwarf planets meet the first two criteria set by the IAU but have not cleared their orbits.

A hypothetical planet suggested by researchers, larger than Earth, estimated orbital period of 10,000-20,000 years.

Jupiter, the largest planet, holds about 0.095% of the solar system's total mass, while the Sun holds 99.8%.

Most planets in our solar system rotate counterclockwise, but Venus and Uranus rotate differently.

Venus is the hottest planet due to a strong greenhouse effect, trapping heat.

The asteroid belt is located between Mars and Jupiter, housing the largest object, Ceres.

The Oort Cloud extends from 10,000 to 50,000 AU and is considered the origin of most comets.

The balance between absorbed solar energy and emitted thermal energy in Earth's atmosphere.

Earth's atmosphere consists of major gases: 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and 0.9% Argon.

Climate refers to long-term atmospheric patterns, while weather is short-term changes.

The long-term increase in Earth's surface temperature due to various factors.

The process where greenhouse gases allow sunlight in but trap some outgoing heat.

Key gases contributing to warming: CO₂, H₂O, CH₄, N₂O.

Sun's energy output affects Earth's temperature and climate.

Over the past 160 years, CO₂ rose ~100 ppm while temperature increased ~1°C.

If CO₂ levels rise, global warming may increase 1.5°C to 4°C.

Most scientists agree human-caused CO₂ increase is the main driver of global warming.

Oceans help regulate energy balance and transport heat, influencing climate.

El Niño represents unusually warm ocean temperatures, affecting weather worldwide.

La Niña denotes unusually cool ocean temperatures, also impacting global weather.

Volcanoes can cool (ash blocking sun) or warm (CO₂ emissions) the climate.

Impacts include sea level rise, reduced ice, and more extreme weather events.

The IPCC monitors climate change and publishes reports every 5 years to guide global policies.

Three main types: Cinder Cone, Shield, and Composite.

A small, steep-sided volcano formed from ash and cinders.

A large, broad volcano with gentle slopes formed by slow lava flows.

A tall volcano with layered structures, known for explosive eruptions.

Generated by liquid iron and nickel; protects from solar wind.

Regions of the atmosphere defined by temperature changes from 0 to beyond 500 km.

Lowest atmospheric layer where weather occurs, rich in water vapor.