Unit 3 Environmental Science

In which situation does the biosphere or hydrosphere cause a chemical change to the atmosphere?

• Evaporation from the surface of the ocean cools the lower atmosphere.

• Transpiration from coastal ocean plants adds water vapor to the atmosphere.

• Density currents in the ocean transfer heat that warms the atmosphere

• Photosynthesis by oceanic algae removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

The image shows the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between living things and the atmosphere.

What can be concluded from the diagram?

• Both animals and plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

• Only animals release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere

• Both animals and plants take in oxygen from the atmosphere

• Only plants release oxygen back into the atmosphere.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

What might happen to Earth's atmosphere if photosynthesis suddenly stopped?

• The amount of oxygen in the atmosphere would decrease.

• The amount of oxygen in the atmosphere would increase

• The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would decrease.

• Nothing in Earth's atmosphere would change

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Some man-made chemicals, such as chlorofluorocarbons, are capable of releasing vapors into the atmosphere that have been directly related to the —

• increase of dust particles in the upper atmosphere

• decrease of helium molecules within the lower atmosphere

• decrease of ozone concentrations in the upper atmosphere

• increase of oxygen molecules in the lower atmosphere

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The most likely reason for the increase in atmospheric oxygen in earth's early atmosphere is-

• Photosynthetic organisms living in the oceans

• Comets and meteorites striking earth

• Gases released during volcanic eruptions

• Radioactive decay of elements in earth's crust

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

The atmosphere of Mars is 95.3% carbon dioxide. The atmosphere of Venus is nearly the same at 96.5% carbon dioxide. However, the mean temperature on Mars is –63.2°C,

while the mean temperature on Venus is 464°C. Which statement best explains why the high percentages of atmospheric carbon dioxide failed to result in a similar mean atmospheric temperature for the two planets?

• Too little thermal energy reaches the atmospheric carbon dioxide of Mars.

• The number of carbon dioxide molecules on Mars is very low.

• Carbon dioxide gas has a different structure on Mars than it does on Venus.

• Carbon dioxide on Venus absorbs more energy than it does on Mars.

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Atmospheric greenhouse gases help heat the atmosphere by

• increasing the average density of air.

• increasing the amount of solar radiation reaching Earth.

• storing energy produced by human activity.

• absorbing infrared radiation released by Earth.

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

Which element is most abundant in Earth's atmosphere?

• Oxygen

• Argon

• Nitrogen

• Carbon Dioxide

Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?

• Mesosphere

• Ionosphere

• Exosphere

• Stratosphere

What layer of the atmosphere is labeled number 1?

• Stratosphere

• Thermosphere

• Troposphere

• Mesosphere