UPSC Geography: Earth's Atmosphere Composition Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary role of the earth’s atmosphere?

  • To maintain the Earth's magnetic field
  • To contain the entry of ultraviolet rays (correct)
  • To control the Earth's rotation
  • To regulate the Earth's temperature

At what height from the Earth's surface does 99 percent of the atmosphere's thickness lie?

  • 200 km
  • 32 km (correct)
  • 100 km
  • 480 km

Which gas constitutes approximately 78 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere?

  • Nitrogen (correct)
  • Oxygen
  • Argon
  • Carbon dioxide

What is the thickness of the Earth’s atmosphere?

<p>480 km (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which gas, though in a small proportion, is essential for sustaining life on Earth?

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

What is the major function of the Earth's gravity with regard to the atmosphere?

<p>To hold the atmosphere in place (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main gas in the atmosphere of Earth?

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

Which gas in the atmosphere is responsible for the greenhouse effect?

<p>Carbon Dioxide (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

At what height does the ozone layer, responsible for absorbing UV rays, exist in the atmosphere?

<p>10-50 km (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, merging into outer space?

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

In which layer of the atmosphere does the temperature increase with increasing height?

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

Which gas is used by all living things for respiration?

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

At what height does the mesopause separate the mesosphere and thermosphere?

<p>&gt; 80 km (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the layer of the atmosphere where all weather-related phenomena are absent?

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

Which layer of the atmosphere contains electrically charged particles called ions?

<p>&gt; Thermosphere (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of water vapour in the atmosphere?

<p>Acting as a blanket to regulate temperature (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of dust particles in the atmosphere?

<p>Producing clouds by condensing around hygroscopic nuclei (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is responsible for transporting heat to great heights by strong convection currents?

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

What percentage of the thickness of the earth's atmosphere lies within 32 km from the earth's surface?

<p>99 percent (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which gas constitutes less than 1 percent of the earth's atmosphere?

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

What is the primary role of the earth's gravity in relation to the atmosphere?

<p>To maintain the atmosphere's composition (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

At what height does the ozone layer, responsible for absorbing ultraviolet rays, exist in the atmosphere?

<p>$100$ km (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, merging into outer space?

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

What gas, though in a small proportion, plays a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth?

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

What gas is largely responsible for the greenhouse effect in the Earth's atmosphere?

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

At what height does the ozone layer exist in the Earth's atmosphere, responsible for absorbing UV rays?

<p>10-50 km (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of dust particles in the atmosphere?

<p>Act as hygroscopic nuclei for cloud formation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which gas, though in a small proportion, is essential for sustaining life on Earth?

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

In which layer of the atmosphere does the temperature increase with increasing height?

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

What is the main function of water vapour in the atmosphere?

<p>Contribute to stability and instability in the air (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

At what height does the mesopause separate the mesosphere and thermosphere?

<p>~ 80 km (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main gas in the atmosphere of Earth?

<p>$N_2$ (Nitrogen) (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily used by all living things and is essential for respiration?

<p>Oxygen ($O_2$) (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate height at which 99 percent of the earth's atmosphere thickness lies?

<p>32 km from the earth's surface (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which gas, constituting less than 1 percent of the earth's atmosphere, plays a significant role in sustaining life on Earth?

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

What is the primary function of dust particles in the atmosphere?

<p>Reflecting solar radiation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

At what height does the ozone layer, responsible for absorbing ultraviolet rays, exist in the atmosphere?

<p>20-30 km from the earth's surface (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which gas is largely responsible for the greenhouse effect in the Earth's atmosphere?

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

What is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, merging into outer space?

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

What is the primary function of the ozone layer in the atmosphere?

<p>Absorbing ultraviolet rays from the sun (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

At what height does the stratopause separate the stratosphere and mesosphere?

<p>80 km (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of dust particles in the atmosphere?

<p>Acting as hygroscopic nuclei for cloud formation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which layer of the atmosphere does the temperature decrease with increasing altitude?

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

What is the primary role of the Earth's gravity in relation to the atmosphere?

<p>Holding the atmosphere in place (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which gas is used by all living things for respiration?

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

At what height does the ionosphere lie within the atmosphere?

<p>50-80 km (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which gas constitutes approximately 78 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere?

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

At what height does the exosphere merge with outer space?

<p>&gt;400 km (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What gas is largely responsible for the greenhouse effect in the Earth's atmosphere?

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

Which gas constitutes less than 1 percent of the Earth's atmosphere?

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

What is primarily used by all living things and is essential for respiration?

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

Flashcards

Exosphere

The uppermost layer of the atmosphere, merging into outer space.

Troposphere

The layer of the atmosphere where all weather-related phenomena occur.

Nitrogen

The gas that constitutes approximately 78 percent of the Earth's atmosphere.

Thermosphere

The layer of the atmosphere where temperature increases with increasing altitude.

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Stratosphere

The layer of the atmosphere where the ozone layer resides, absorbing harmful UV rays.

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Oxygen

The gas that is essential for all living things to breathe and survive.

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Carbon Dioxide

The gas that is primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect, trapping heat in the atmosphere.

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32 km

The height at which 99 percent of the Earth's atmosphere's thickness lies.

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10-50 km

The height at which the ozone layer exists, responsible for absorbing ultraviolet rays.

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Gravity's Role in Atmosphere

The process by which the Earth's gravity holds the atmosphere close to the planet.

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Dust Particles' Function

The main function of dust particles in the atmosphere.

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Mesosphere

The layer of the atmosphere that lies above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere.

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Troposphere

The layer of the atmosphere where temperature decreases with increasing altitude.

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Mesopause

The height at which the mesopause separates the mesosphere and thermosphere.

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Ionosphere

The layer of the atmosphere containing electrically charged particles called ions.

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Atmosphere's Role

The primary role of the Earth's atmosphere.

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Argon

The gas that constitutes less than one percent of the Earth's atmosphere.

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Exosphere's Transition

The height at which the exosphere merges with outer space.

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Carbon Dioxide

The gas that is largely responsible for the greenhouse effect, trapping heat in the atmosphere.

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Water Vapor's Function

The main function of water vapor in the atmosphere.

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Stratopause

The height at which the stratopause separates the stratosphere and mesosphere.

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Ionosphere's Location

The height at which the ionosphere lies within the atmosphere.

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Gravity's Role in Atmosphere

The process by which the Earth's gravity holds the atmosphere close to the planet.

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Ozone Layer

The layer of the atmosphere that protects life on Earth from harmful UV radiation from the sun.

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Dust Particles' Function

The primary function of dust particles in the atmosphere.

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Thermosphere

The layer of the atmosphere where the temperature increases with increasing height.

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Argon

The gas that constitutes less than one percent of the Earth's atmosphere.

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Oxygen

The gas that is primarily used by all living things and is essential for respiration.

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Convection Currents

The process of transporting heat to higher altitudes by strong convection currents.

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Water Vapor's Function

The main function of water vapor in the atmosphere.

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Study Notes

Composition of the Atmosphere

  • Nitrogen constitutes approximately 78 percent of the Earth's atmosphere.
  • A gas, though in a small proportion, essential for sustaining life on Earth is oxygen.
  • Oxygen constitutes less than 1 percent of the earth's atmosphere but plays a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth.

Structure of the Atmosphere

  • 99 percent of the atmosphere's thickness lies within 32 km from the earth's surface.
  • The ozone layer, responsible for absorbing UV rays, exists in the atmosphere at a height of approximately 15-30 km.
  • The stratopause separates the stratosphere and mesosphere.
  • The mesopause separates the mesosphere and thermosphere at a height of approximately 80-85 km.
  • The thermosphere is the layer of the atmosphere where the temperature increases with increasing height.
  • The exosphere is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, merging into outer space.

Functions of the Atmosphere

  • The primary function of the Earth's gravity is to retain the atmosphere.
  • Water vapor plays a crucial role in the atmosphere, facilitating the water cycle and influencing climate.
  • Dust particles in the atmosphere scatter and absorb light, influencing climate and weather patterns.
  • The ozone layer's primary function is to absorb UV rays.

Other Key Facts

  • The main gas in the atmosphere of Earth is nitrogen.
  • Oxygen is primarily used by all living things for respiration.
  • The ionosphere is the layer of the atmosphere containing electrically charged particles called ions.
  • The exosphere merges with outer space at an approximate height of 10,000 km.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the composition and structure of the earth's atmosphere, which is essential for UPSC prelims. This quiz covers topics relevant to the UPSC syllabus and can help aspirants prepare for the IAS Exam.

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