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Earth Science
Q:
Because percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is so small, it is considered an insignificant gas.
Q:
By volume, nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the modern homosphere.
Q:
The amount of C in the atmosphere is higher now than any time in the last 800,000 years.
Q:
The ozone layer protects Earth's surface from most of the incoming ultraviolet radiation.
Q:
Atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude.
Q:
The principal gases of the homosphere (by volume) are nitrogen, helium, and argon.
Q:
The aurora occur primarily in the ozonosphere.
Q:
The ionosphere resides principally within the thermosphere, and the ozonosphere resides within the stratosphere.
Q:
Despite the thermosphere's high temperature, the density of molecules is so low little actual heat is produced.
Q:
When the Sun is active (e.g. more sunspots and eruptions), the thermosphere increases in size.
Q:
Based on the criteria of composition, the atmosphere is divided into two broad regions: the ionosphere and the ozonosphere.
Q:
Weather (rain, fog, storms, etc.) occurs primarily in the troposphere.
Q:
Which of the following is not sited as a factor in helping to reduce air pollution?A) Stricter air emission regulations.B) Increased use of coal as an energy source.C) Use of more alternative, clean energy sources such as wind and solar.D) Increased vehicle fuel-efficiency.
Q:
Which best describes the cost-benefit results of the first 20 years of the Clean Air?
A) Costs have been far greater than the benefits.
B) In 2010, alone, estimated benefits exceeded costs by 4 to 1.
C) Because many of the benefits of clean air are intangible, it is not possible to make such comparisons.
D) While costs have exceed benefits 2 to 1, benefits are expected to increase in the coming decades.
Q:
The Clean Air Act
A) is no longer in effect.
B) did not result in significant reductions of any major air pollutants.
C) was made stronger during the Reagan administration.
D) has saved the country several trillion dollars.
Q:
In 2010, the Clean Air Act
A) was repealed.
B) cost $27 billion to implement, but saved an estimated $110 billion.
C) resulted in some 4 million lost works days.
D) was severely weakened by the Congress in a new bill that was ultimately vetoed by the President.
Q:
According to the EPA, the direct benefits of the Clean Air Act are worth
A) $500 million.
B) $500 billion.
C) $2 trillion.
D) $22 trillion.
Q:
The Clean Air Act
A) has resulted in the significant reduction in various atmospheric pollutants.
B) )is proposed legislation to address climate change.
C) was ratified by the U.S. Congress in 1987.
D) has not met its stated objectives.
Q:
Particulate matter
A) is, by definition, larger than 100 microns.
B) can include material in smoke.
C) has not yet been studied by scientists.
D) has not been associated with health risks.
Q:
The main ingredients in photochemical smog are
A) ozone, PAN, and nitric acid.
B) PAN, nitric acid, and carbon monoxide.
C) ozone, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide.
D) PAN, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.
Q:
What percent age of the U.S. population lives with unhealthy levels of air pollution.
A) 33%
B) 41%
C) 59%
D) 62%
Q:
Based on human-induced changes to the atmosphere, some have tentatively labeled the Earth's next atmosphere the
A) living atmosphere.
B) modern atmosphere.
C) ozonosphere.
D) anthropogenic atmosphere.
E) pollution sphere.
Q:
Given the pH scale is logarithmic where each whole number represents a tenfold increase, a rain with a pH of 3 is how many times more acidic than rain with a pH of 7?
A) 3
B) 4
C) 100
D) 10,000
E) 1,000,000,000
Q:
The lower the pH of a liquid
A) the more acidic it is.
B) the more basic (alkaline) it is.
C) the more neutral it is.
D) the more chemical reactive it is.
Q:
Which of the following is true regarding acid deposition?
A) Acids have been causally linked to fish kills in the northeastern United States.
B) Acid precipitation is precipitation that measures more than 7.0 on a pH scale.
C) No lakes or streams have been damaged by acid precipitation.
D) Soil processes generally are not affected by acid precipitation.
Q:
What two pollutants react with water to produce acid rain?
A) sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides
B) sulfur oxides and ozone
C) nitrogen oxides and ozone
D) sulfur oxides and PAN
Q:
Which of the following is not true regarding the oxides of sulfur and nitrogen
A) They lead to the formation of airborne sulfuric and nitric acid.
B) They are produced by industry and transportation.
C) They are causing major environmental problems in Europe and Asia.
D) They are naturally occurring and, therefore, not considered pollutants.
Q:
In the lower atmosphere, is
A) formed from photochemical reactions.
B) related to the problem of acid deposition.
C) a problem that only occurred during the first half of this century.
D) formed by a combination of and .
Q:
Natural rainfall primarily results from the interaction of water with
A) carbon dioxide.
B) sulfur oxides.
C) nitrogen oxides.
D) PAN.
E) ozone.
Q:
Industrial smog is
A) associated with photochemistry.
B) principally associated with coal-burning industries.
C) a relatively recent problem that developed during the latter half of this century.
D) principally associated with transportation.
Q:
Peroxyacetyl nitrates (PANs) in the lower troposphere
A) are principally related to sulfur dioxides.
B) are formed by particulates such as dust, dirt, soot, and ash.
C) damages and kills plant tissue but does not appear to affect people.
D) are emitted from the tail pipes of automobiles; i.e., it comes directly from automobile exhaust.
Q:
The single major source for photochemical reactants in the United States are
A) steel mills and the agricultural industry.
B) electrical generation stations.
C) automobiles.
D) rapid transit, buses, and excessive use of light rail systems.
Q:
Which of the following statements about ozone is false?
A) Ozone in the stratosphere protects human health.
B) Ozone in the lower atmosphere protects human health.
C) Stratospheric ozone absorbs harmful radiation.
D) Tropospheric ozone is a component of photochemical smog.
Q:
Which of the following is not a result of acid deposition?
A) acidification of lakes
B) release of aluminum and magnesium from clay mineral in soils
C) formation of highly toxic methylmercury in acidified lake waters
D) increase in nutrients in forest ecosystems
Q:
in the lower troposphere
A) forms acid rain.
B) is not associated with transportation.
C) causes lung irritation, asthma, and susceptibility to respiratory illness in humans.
D) has not been found to cause any damage to crops and plants.
Q:
Acid deposition results from
A) carbonic acids dissolved from atmospheric carbon dioxide.
B) nitric acid and sulfuric acid, formed from nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
C) hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
D) hydrochloric acid, formed from the combination of hydrogen chloride and water.
Q:
Photochemical reactions produce
A) principally sulfur dioxides.
B) particulates such as dust, dirt, soot, and ash.
C) ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrates (PAN).
D) carbon monoxide.
Q:
Nitrogen dioxide ()
A) inflames human respiratory tract, destroys lung tissues, and damages plants.
B) is yet to be of consequence in North America.
C) is produced only after photochemical reactions.
D) is more of a concern in nonurban areas than urban.
Q:
Photochemical smog developed with the advent of
A) coal burning stoves.
B) the industrial revolution.
C) smelting of ores.
D) automobiles.
Q:
The reaction of automobile exhaust and ultraviolet light
A) produces photochemical smog.
B) produces industrial smog.
C) is affecting the stratospheric ozone concentration.
D) forms smoke and fog.
Q:
Carbon monoxide is potentially dangerous because it
A) replaces oxygen on red blood cells.
B) causes cancer.
C) causes birth defects.
D) causes genetic mutations.
Q:
At CO levels of 100 ppm or less in the bloodstream
A) humans might develop a headache and have losses in vision and judgment.
B) there is no noticeable health effect.
C) the human bloodstream is unaffected.
D) carbon monoxide can contribute to acid rain.
Q:
With regards to carbon monoxide (CO), which of the following is false?
A) Anthropogenic CO is principally produced by automobiles.
B) Natural CO is produced by decaying organic debris, forest fires, or organic matter decomposition.
C) Few effects of CO on humans have been identified.
D) It is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas.
Q:
Sources of natural variable pollutants and materials include all of the following except
A) volcanoes.
B) forest fires.
C) plants and decaying plants.
D) industrial activity.
Q:
Why are temperature inversion noteworthy vis--vis air pollution?
A) Mesospheric conditions are replicated in the troposphere.
B) Vertical mixing of pollutants is halted, trapping the pollutants under the inversion layer.
C) Surface pollution is moderated by allowing surface air to mix with the air above.
D) Air pollution is completely inhibited from forming.
Q:
Temperature inversions occur
A) when surface temperatures are higher than overlying layers of air.
B) when there is good air drainage and ventilation of the surface air.
C) when surface temperatures are lower than warmer overlying air.
D) during episodes of reduced air pollution.
Q:
Which of the following is true?
A) Natural sources of air pollution are not a concern in terms of human health.
B) Natural sources of air pollution are a relatively new occurrence.
C) Though infrequent, natural events that produce air pollution may cover large areas.
D) There is no reason to be concerned about natural sources of air pollution.
Q:
Which of the following best describes air pollution?
A) Both natural and anthropogenic gases, particles, and other substances in amounts that cause damage to the environment or are harmful to humans.
B) Solely anthropogenic gases, particles, and other substances in amounts that cause damage to the environment or are harmful to humans.
C) Solely natural gases, particles, and other substances in amounts that cause damage to the environment or are harmful to humans.
D) A distinct class of gases, particles, and other substances that the EPA has deemed worthy of regulating.
Q:
In terms of incoming solar radiation (insolation), which is the correct order?
A) troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
B) thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere
C) mesosphere, thermosphere, troposphere, stratosphere
D) stratosphere, troposphere, thermosphere, mesosphere
Q:
Which of the following is false?
A) Air pressure decreases through the troposphere then increases in the stratosphere.
B) Air molecules exert air pressure through their motion, size, and number.
C) The atmosphere exerts a force of 1 kg/; i.e., 14.7 ln/in2.
D) Air pressure decreases with increasing altitude.
Q:
The tropopause occurs at a ________ elevation above the tropics than above the poles because ________.
A) lower; the stratosphere is thicker over the tropics and so it compresses the troposphere
B) lower; the troposphere weighs more in the tropics and so it sinks
C) higher; the troposphere is hotter in the tropics, and this causes the air to rise to greater heights
D) higher; the stratosphere is thinner over the tropics and this allows the troposphere to expand
Q:
The high temperatures in the thermosphere occur because
A) infrared radiation from the ground heats this layer more than any other layer.
B) methane is such an effective greenhouse gas.
C) carbon dioxide has accumulated to very high levels in this layer.
D) it is in direct contact with high energy solar radiation.
E) high intensity solar radiation causes strong chemical reactions with ozone, and this heats the layer to very high temperatures.
Q:
Which of the following best describe conditions in the mesosphere?
A) Temperatures rapidly increase with altitude in the mesosphere.
B) High altitude noctilucent clouds form in the mesosphere.
C) The mesosphere is completely within the heterosphere.
D) The mesosphere is located between the troposphere and the stratosphere.
Q:
Why does temperature increase with altitude in the stratosphere?
A) The increase is due to the effects of the normal lapse rate effect.
B) Chlorofluorocarbons increase ozone concentrations, which enhance temperature.
C) Ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun and then reradiates it at infrared wavelengths.
D) Ozone acts as a greenhouse gas which traps ultraviolet energy radiated by Earth's surface.
Q:
Despite its high temperatures, why would the thermosphere feel cold to humans?
A) The number of molecules is not high enough to transfer heat to human's skin.
B) Humans would die due to pressure changes before they could experience the intense heat.
C) The atmosphere is denser in the thermosphere and this pressure reduces heat transfer.
D) The average kinetic energy is actually less in the thermosphere than the troposphere.
Q:
Why are humans and other living things not crushed by the pressure of the atmosphere?
A) Atmospheric pressure increases with altitude and is, therefore, lowest near the Earth's surface.
B) While the atmosphere exerts pressure, it is a negligible amount.
C) Humans and other living things exert pressure outward, counterbalancing atmospheric pressure.
D) The tropopause serves as a buffer against the pressure exerted by the atmosphere.
Q:
In 2012, Felix Baumgartner became famous for
A) becoming the first individual to complete a free-fall from the stratosphere.
B) breaking Joseph Kittinger's long-held height and speed free-fall record.
C) completing the longest spacewalk from a Space Shuttle.
D) discovering the true composition of the stratospheric ozone layer.
Q:
Which country burns more coal and emits more CO2 than any other country on Earth?
A) The United States
B) China
C) Germany
D) India
Q:
Which of the following is not true about the troposphere?
A) The altitude of the upper limits of the troposphere (the tropopause) varies with season and latitude.
B) Approximately 90% of the total mass of the atmosphere is within the troposphere.
C) Temperatures increase with altitudei n the troposphere because the higher in altitude, the closer to the sun.
D) The bulk of all water vapor occurs in the troposphere.
Q:
Which of the following is correct regarding lapse rates in the troposphere?
A) The term "normal (average) lapse rate" refers to the actual lapse rate in effect at any particular time.
B) The environmental lapse rate refers to the actual lapse rate at any particular time and may differ substantially from the normal lapse rate.
C) The normal lapse rate is always the same as the dry adiabatic rate (DAR).
D) Temperatures generally increase with altitude in the troposphere.
Q:
Directly above the midlatitudes, the tropopause (-57C) occurs at approximately:
A) 1 km.
B) 13 km (8 mi.).
C) 50 km (30 mi.).
D) wherever +32F is recorded as the temperature.
Q:
The atmospheric portion of the biosphere occurs in the
A) heterosphere.
B) troposphere.
C) ozonosphere.
D) lithosphere.
Q:
Which of the following is true regarding ozone depletion in Antarctica?
A) Increasing levels of ultraviolet radiation have not actually been measured at this time.
B) The atmosphere above Antarctica has experienced a complete loss of protective ozone.
C) Maximum ozone depletion occurs during the Antarctic spring, following the development of polar stratospheric clouds in winter.
D) There has actually been a decrease in ultraviolet levels measured at the surfacewhich is contrary to what is predicted by ozone depletion models.
Q:
Which of the following is not true of UV exposure?
A) UVA radiation is not filtered by the ozone layer and amounts for about 95% of all UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface.
B) Only exposure to UVA is a concern, not exposure to UVB and UVC.
C) UV radiation is potentially harmful and individuals should take appropriate precautions depending on the UV index.
D) UV radiation varies spatially according to the season, local weather conditions, and overhead ozone depletion.
Q:
Which of the following are affected by the loss of ozone?
A) crop yields
B) phytoplankton populations
C) immune systems
D) eye tissues
E) crop yields, phytoplankton populations, immune systems, and eye tissues
Q:
Why is stratospheric ozone loss a concern?
A) Stratospheric ozone is a major greenhouse gas; its loss will contribute to the cooling of the planet.
B) Stratospheric ozone absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVB and UVC).
C) Stratospheric ozone is a component of photochemical smog.
D) Stratospheric ozone contributes to the brilliant auroras.
Q:
The Montreal Protocol
A) established a framework to address acid precipitation.
B) aims to reduce and eliminate all ozone depleting substances.
C) only addresses CFCs.
D) created the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
E) is ineffective because so few countries have ratified it.
Q:
Which of the following is true of chlorofluorocarbons?
A) The CFC molecules react with ultraviolet light to release carbon which then destroys ozone.
B) The CFC molecules react with ultraviolet light to release fluorine which then destroys ozone.
C) The CFC molecules react with ultraviolet light to release chlorine which then destroys ozone.
D) Most of the CFC-induced ozone destruction is occurring near the equator, rather than near the poles.
Q:
Which of the following is true of chlorofluorocarbons?
A) They have been used as propellants in spray cans.
B) They are used in refrigeration systems.
C) They are used to make foam products.
D) All of the above are true.
Q:
In 1974, Dr. Rowland and Dr. Molina made what observation vis--vis ozone (O3)?
A) The photochemical interactions of chloroflourocarbons and O3.
B) Automobile exhaust and sunlight were producing photochemical smog.
C) Anthropogenic O3 releases were a major culprit in global warming.
D) Ground-level O3 irritates human eyes and respiratory systems.
Q:
Which of the following is true of the mesosphere?
A) It contains clouds that are visible at night.
B) Temperatures are uniform through the zone.
C) It is the warmest layer of the atmosphere.
D) It has the greatest vertical extent of all atmospheric layers.
Q:
The homosphere is so called because
A) it is the habitable sphere for humans (Homo sapiens).
B) scientists have been unable to determine its composition and assume it is homogenous.
C) the blend of gases is nearly uniform throughout.
D) it contains only one gas, nitrogen.
Q:
Noctilucent clouds are associated with the ________ whereas the auroras are associated with the ________.
A) stratosphere; ozonosphere
B) thermosphere; ionosphere
C) troposphere; homosphere
D) mesosphere; ionosphere
Q:
Why is the hole in the ozone greatest over Antarctica?
A) The ozone hole is a natural phenomenon related to high polar stratospheric clouds.
B) South American countries have not ratified the Montreal Protocol and continue to release ozone-destroying CFCs.
C) Chlorine freed from CFCs elsewhere migrate to the Antarctic region, where they are trapped by the polar vortex.
D) Ozone, a greenhouse gas which traps ultraviolet energy radiated from the Earth's surface, has highest concentration in Antarctica.
Q:
In which two atmospheric zones does temperature decrease with altitude?
A) troposphere and mesosphere
B) troposphere and stratosphere
C) stratosphere and mesosphere
D) stratosphere and thermosphere
E) None of the abovetemperature decreases with increasing altitude in all layers of the atmosphere.
Q:
In which two atmospheric zones does temperature increase with altitude?
A) troposphere and mesosphere
B) troposphere and stratosphere
C) stratosphere and mesosphere
D) stratosphere and thermosphere
Q:
Which of the following is not true of carbon dioxide?
A) It is critically important in regulating the temperature of the planet.
B) Today, it far exceeds its natural range of 180 to 300 pp.
C) It occurs in large amounts in the atmosphere relative to other gases, such as nitrogen and oxygen.
D) Overall, atmospheric CO2has increased by 16% from 1992 to 2012.
Q:
Why is normal precipitation always slightly acidic?
A) Precipitation dissolved carbon dioxide to form carbomic acid.
B) Nitrogen fixing bacteria form nitric acids which evaporate into the atmosphere.
C) Sulfur dioxide from volcanic explosions combines with water to form sulfuric acid.
D) Chlorine, in the presence of sunlight and hydrogen, is converted to hydrochloric acid.
Q:
Which of the gases listed below has accumulated in the atmosphere as a result of biological processes?
A) 1argon
B) oxygen
C) nitrogen
D) water vapor
Q:
A by-product of photosynthesis is
A) nitrogen.
B) argon.
C) oxygen.
D) xenon.