Structure of the Atmosphere

What is meteorology?

• The scientific study of the atmosphere that explains and predicts atmospheric events

• The state of the air and the atmosphere at a particular time and place

• The weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

• The layer of gases that surrounds the Earth

What is weather?

• The scientific study of the atmosphere that explains and predicts atmospheric events

• The state of the air and the atmosphere at a particular time and place

• The weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

• The layer of gases that surrounds the Earth

What is climate?

• The scientific study of the atmosphere that explains and predicts atmospheric events

• The state of the air and the atmosphere at a particular time and place

• The weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

• The layer of gases that surrounds the Earth

What causes weather?

• The atmosphere responding to uneven heating of the Earth by the Sun which causes currents.

• The atmosphere of the Earth being evenly cooled by the Sun which causes currents

• The atmosphere is unevenly heated by the sun preventing currents.

• The atmosphere is evenly heated by the Sun preventing currents.

Which of the following is not a reason the atmosphere is important?

• Provides protection from the Sun's harmful rays

• Contains gasses that are important for living organisms

• Protects the Earth from meteoroids

• Reflects Sun's radiation to allow for more extreme temperature variations

What are the two primary gases in the atmosphere?

• Nitrogen and oxygen

• Argon and carbon dioxide

• Carbon dioxide and oxygen

• Argon and nitrogen

Most molecules are close to Earth's surface because of gravity.

• True

• False

Pressure increases with height.

• True

• False

Which of the following is used to measure air pressure?

• Aneroid barometer

• Resistance thermometer

• Seisometer

• Anemometers

Hot air balloons and commercial planes fly in which layer of the atmosphere?

• Troposphere

• Mesosphere

• Stratosphere

• Thermosphere