Meteorology and Atmosphere

What gas needed to be established within the Earth's atmosphere before the atmosphere was able to absorb and maintain heat?

• Nitrogen

• Carbon dioxide

• Oxygen

• Hydrogen

Which event followed a massive volcanic eruption and led to the cooling of global temperatures?

• the release of carbon dioxide and methane gases

• thunderstorms that developed near the eruption

• the outflow of magma over Earth’s surface

• the addition of ash particles into the atmosphere

Most of the molecular oxygen in the early atmosphere of Earth resulted from:

• lightning striking Earth

• photosynthesis in primitive plants

• volcanic eruptions

• decaying primitive plants and animals

Which of the following was primarily responsible for the development of life outside of the oceans?

• A decrease in atmospheric carbon dioxide

• An increase in atmospheric oxygen

• An increase in atmospheric nitrogen

• A decrease in atmospheric hydrogen

Where is the majority of O3 found in the Earth's atmosphere?

• Mesosphere

• Troposphere

• Stratosphere

• Thermosphere

Most scientists believe Earth’s Early Archean atmosphere was formed primarily by gases released from:

• volcanic eruptions

• stream erosion

• chemical weathering

• plant transpiration

The composition of Earth's atmosphere has changed over geologic time. Early cyanobacteria performed photosynthesis contributing which chemical to the early atmosphere?

• Freon

• Oxygen

• Carbon dioxide

• Methane

Fossil evidence indicates that the earliest forms of life that appeared on Earth were most likely —

• bacteria

• trilobites

• protists

• diatoms

About 2.0 billion years ago, complex organisms began to inhabit Earth. These complex organisms developed primarily because of —

• sunlight being absorbed by land

• the eruption of volcanoes

• changes in atmosphere gases

• the impact of comets

What layer of the atmosphere is labeled number 1?

• Thermosphere

• Troposphere

• Mesosphere

• Stratosphere