Atmospheric

What causes the trade winds?

• Surface air moves away from high atmospheric pressure at the equator and is deflected to the east by the Coriolis effect.
• Surface air moves away from high atmospheric pressure at the equator and is deflected to the west by the Coriolis effect.
• Surface air moves toward low atmospheric pressure at the equator and is deflected to the east by the Coriolis effect.
• Surface air moves toward low atmospheric pressure at the equator and is deflected to the west by the Coriolis effect.

Which of the following has the strongest effect on the uneven distribution of thermal energy in the atmosphere?

• the Coriolis effect
• the differences in ground cover
• the curvature of Earth’s surface
• the distribution of land and water

A land area that absorbs more solar radiation than the surrounding areas most likely results in

• a high-pressure system causing surface winds to blow outward, toward the surrounding areas
• a high-pressure system causing surface winds to blow inward from the surrounding areas
• a low-pressure system causing surface winds to blow outward, toward the surrounding areas
• a low-pressure system causing surface winds to blow inward from the surrounding areas

How would humans most likely function in an atmosphere that was 19% oxygen?

• They would suffocate in an atmosphere below 21.5% oxygen.
• They would be very healthy; our current atmosphere is 18% oxygen.
• They would be at risk of oxygen deprivation in an atmosphere below 19.5% oxygen.
• They would be exposed to toxic levels of oxygen; humans require an atmosphere of only 12% oxygen to survive.

Over which area would a high pressure system most likely develop during the day?

• a large city
• a desert with little vegetation
• a grassland or prairie
• a large, snow-covered region

The most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere is

• carbon dioxide
• hydrogen
• nitrogen
• oxygen

The transfer of thermal energy by a flowing substance is called

• conduction
• convection
• insolation
• radiation

Earth rotates from west to east. However, imagine Earth rotating in the opposite direction, from from east to west. In which direction would a southerly wind be deflected in the northern hemisphere if Earth rotated in this opposite direction?

• toward the northeast
• toward the northwest
• toward the southeast
• toward the southwest

Which statement best compares the current atmosphere on Earth to its previous atmosphere?

• There is more carbon dioxide (CO₂) in today’s atmosphere.
• There is more hydrogen (H₂) in today’s atmosphere.
• There is more ammonia (NH₃) in today’s atmosphere.
• There is more oxygen (O₂) in today’s atmosphere.

Earth's atmosphere is approximately

• 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen
• 76% nitrogen and 24% oxygen
• 78% oxygen and 21% nitrogen
• 76% oxygen and 24% nitrogen