Atmosphere MCQs Quiz Multiple Choice Questions & Answers

1. Choose the correct listing of radiation from the longest wavelengths to the shortest wavelengths:

1. x-rays, ultraviolet, infrared, gamma rays, visible, radio.
2. radio, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma rays.
3. gamma rays, radio, ultraviolet, infrared, visible, x-rays.
4. radio, gamma rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, x-rays.

2. Photochemical smog results from the interaction of pollutants in the presence of ................

1. water vapor
2. oxygen
3. sunlight
4. rainfall

3. Convection takes place because ................

1. warm air is more dense than humid air
2. warm and cold air have the same density
3. cold air is less dense than warm air
4. cold air is more dense than warm air

4. The ozone layer protects living things on Earth from ................

1. visible light
2. infrared rays
3. ultraviolet radiation
4. carbon dioxide

5. Most of the energy that heats Earth atmosphere is ................

1. visible light
2. ultraviolet light
3. blue light
4. infrared radiation

6. Relatively speaking, the earths atmosphere is:

1. very thin when compared to the earths diameter.
2. very thick when compared to the earths diameter.
3. stops when we reach space.
4. stops at the top of the troposphere.

7. Most of the clouds are formed in the:

1. troposphere.
2. mesosphere.
3. stratosphere.
4. thermosphere.

8. The layer of our atmosphere in which weather occurs is the ................

1. troposphere
2. stratosphere
3. mesosphere
4. exosphere

9. Which layer of the atmosphere protects Earth surface from being hit by most meteoroids?

1. troposphere
2. stratosphere
3. mesosphere
4. thermosphere

10. The four layers of the atmosphere from the top down are:

1. thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, troposphere.
2. thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere.
3. stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, troposphere.
4. troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.

11. Instruments used to measure air pressure are called ................

1. thermometers
2. hygrometers
3. hydrometers
4. barometers

12. The pressure gradient force is proportional to:

1. the slope of the isobars.
2. the change in temperature expressed in Kelvin degrees.
3. the change in air density.
4. the speed necessary to achieve hydrostatic equilibrium.

13. The four factors that are totally responsible forwind are:

1. the pressure gradient force, the Coriolis force, the centripetal acceleration, moisture content.
2. the centripetal acceleration, moisture content, friction, Coriolis force.
3. friction, centripetal acceleration, pressure gradient force, moisture content.
4. the Coriolis force, friction, the centripetal acceleration, the pressure gradient force.

14. When climbing a high mountain, you get out of breath easily because ................

1. the percentage of oxygen in the air decreases
2. the air is more dense
3. there is less oxygen in each cubic meter of air
4. air pressure is greater

15. The atmosphere is ................

1. the layer in which weather occurs
2. the layer that contains the ozone layer
3. the layer of water in the oceans
4. the layer of gases that surrounds Earth

16. Wind systems are generated by:

1. the interaction of the atmosphere with the charged particles of the solar wind.
2. different pressures in different places.
3. the drag on the atmosphere caused by the earths rotation.
4. the movements of ocean currents.

17. The stratosphere warms because of:

1. the injection of moisture by meteors.
2. the injection of moisture by high-flying jet aircraft.
3. the interaction of ozone and ultraviolet light.
4. dust and dirt deposited by volcanoes.

18. Hydrostatic equilibrium occurs when:

1. the force of gravity and the vertical pressure gradient both act to push air downward.
2. large air masses are moving either up or down.
3. the force of gravity and the vertical pressure gradient both act to push air upward.
4. the force of gravity and the vertical pressure gradient have equal value and oppose each other.

19. Most of the outgoing terrestrial radiation at the top of the atmosphere are emitted from:

1. the atmosphere
2. Earths surface

20. Saturation vapor pressure is dependent upon this variable:

1. temperature.
2. air composition.
3. air pressure.

21. The dew point temperature:

1. tells us how cold the air is.
2. tells us how moist the air is.
3. can be larger or smaller than the air temperature.

22. This occurs around a high-pressure system when the Coriolis effect exceeds the pressure gradient force, causing air to turn:

1. subgeostrophic flow.
2. geostrophic flow.
3. supergeostrophic flow.

23. The temperature is lowest here:

1. stratosphere.
2. mesopause.
3. tropopause.
4. stratopause.

24. In this atmospheric layer, the temperature is relatively constant for the first 10 kilometers, then it increases:

1. stratosphere.
2. mesosphere.
3. troposphere.
4. thermosphere.

25. The highest temperatures are typically found in the:

1. stratosphere.
2. troposphere.
3. mesosphere.
4. thermosphere.

26. The Stefan-Boltzmann Law gives the relationship between:

1. solar energy and distance.
2. moisture and long-wave radiation.
3. emissivity and wavelength.
4. the intensity of radiation and the temperature of an object.

27. The mixing ratio has the most in common with this measure of water vapor:

1. saturation vapor pressure.
2. absolute humidity.
3. specific humidity.
4. relative humidity.

28. Which of the following will increase in a rising parcel of air?

1. saturation vapor pressure.
2. relative humidity.
3. air temperature.

29. As the air temperature increases, with no addition of water vapor to the air, the relative humidity will:

1. remain the same.
2. increase.
3. decrease.

30. Sunsets are red for all of the following reasons except:

1. red light has more energy than blue light.
2. Rayleigh & Mie scattering.
3. light has to travel through more atmosphere to reach the observer.

31. The sky is blue because of:

1. rayleigh scattering.
2. reflection.
3. mie scattering.
4. absorption.

32. Winds are caused by differences in ................

1. precipitation
2. humidity
3. air pressure
4. turbulence

33. This is NOT a variable gas:

1. ozone.
2. carbon dioxide.
3. argon.
4. water vapor.

34. Water vapor in the atmosphere is an important source of:

1. ozone pollution.
2. sunlight.
3. carbon dioxide.
4. heat.

35. If object A is at 400 K, and object B is at 800 K, then the radiation intensity of object A will be this amount of that the radiation intensity of object B:

1. one-fourth.
2. one-sixteenth.
3. one-eighth.
4. one-half.

36. A greenhouse works because:

1. of the difference in the solar constant.
2. all greenhouses face south and into the maximum angle of solar energy.
3. short wave lengths of energy pass through the glass but longer ones cant.
4. the windows of the greenhouse only allow green light wavelengths to pass through.

37. Geostrophic flow:

1. occurs in atmospheric levels with substantial friction.
2. occurs when the pressure gradient force equals the Coriolis force.
3. can occur in all levels of the atmosphere.

38. The maximum concentrations of ozone are found in the:

1. mesosphere.
2. troposphere.
3. ionosphere.
4. stratosphere.

39. Of the following planets, which has the most massive atmosphere?

1. Mars
2. Earth
3. Venus

40. The solar constant:

1. is higher for Earth than for Mars.
2. varies inversely with the fourth power of an objects distance from the Suns surface.
3. is the same throughout the solar system.

41. The Coriolis force:

1. is caused by pressure gradient forces.
2. affects the speed of motion.
3. is constant.
4. affects the direction of motion.

42. Specific humidity:

1. is a useful measure for comparing water vapor at two different locations.
2. is the same as the relative humidity.
3. changes as a given mass of air expands

43. The atmospheric window:

1. is a local phenomenon similar to the ozone hole that opens over Antarctica in winter.
2. is located at a band of wavelengths between 0.1 and 0.4 micrometers.
3. allows certain wavelengths of longwave radiation to pass through the atmosphere.

44. As you rise upwards in the atmosphere air pressure ................

1. increases
2. decreases
3. doesnt changefirst increases, then decreases

45. If the air temperature remains constant, evaporating water into the air will ……………….. the dew point and …………………. the relative humidity.

1. increase, increase.
2. increase, decrease.
3. decrease, decrease.
4. decrease, increase.

46. Anticy clones:

1. have clockwise winds in the Northern Hemisphere.
2. have air spiraling into them near the surface.
3. are associated with subgeostrophic winds.

47. Volcanic outgassing:

1. has had little effect on the earths atmosphere.
2. created the earths first atmosphere.
3. emits very little carbon dioxide.
4. emits large amounts of water vapor.

48. The radiation emitted by Earth:

1. had its origin in radioactive elements in the earths interior.
2. is primarily absorbed by the atmosphere.
3. has little effect on the earths energy budget.
4. is in the form of radio waves.

49. A geostrophic wind:

1. flows perpendicular to the pressure gradient force.
2. is usually not affected by the Coriolis force.
3. follows the pressure gradient force.

50. Cyclones:

1. experience Coriolis effects that deflect air to the right in the Southern Hemisphere.
2. are associated with supergeostrophic winds.
3. are typically regions of fair weather.
4. are associated with low-pressure systems.