The Atmosphere: Structure and Temperature

The following image shows the five layers of Earth's atmosphere. (The image is not drawn to scale.) Which of the following statements is correct?

• Temperature decreases steadily in layer D only (moving from bottom to top), then increases steadily in layer E only (moving from bottom to top).
• Temperature increases steadily in layer D only (moving from bottom to top), then decreases steadily in layer E only (moving from bottom to top).
• Temperature both increases and decreases below layer D, then increases steadily above layer D.
• Temperature both increases and decreases below layer D, then decreases steadily above layer D.

·  The following image shows the five layers of Earth's atmosphere. (The image is not drawn to scale.) In which layer do temperatures fall to –80°?

• A
• B
• C
• D

An airplane is cruising at an altitude of 30 km. In which layer of the atmosphere is the airplane located?

• mesosphere
• stratosphere
• thermosphere
• troposphere

The stratopause separates which two layers of the atmosphere?

• the troposphere and stratosphere
• the stratosphere and mesosphere
• the thermosphere and stratosphere
• the stratosphere and exosphere

Approximately what is the thickness of the ionosphere?

• from 50 to 1,000 km above the planet's surface
• from 500 to 5,000 km above the planet's surface
• from 1,000 to 10,000 km above the planet's surface
• from 10,000 to 100,000 km above the planet's surface

Which of the following best explains the relationship between temperature and altitude in the mesosphere?

• The mesosphere is dominated by ozone, which absorbs solar radiation and warms the surrounding air; therefore, the mesosphere is warmer than any other atmospheric layer.
• The mesosphere is warmed primarily by heat that moves down from the thermosphere; therefore, higher regions of the mesosphere are warmer than lower regions.
• The mesosphere is warmed primarily by heat that moves up from the stratosphere; therefore, higher regions of the mesosphere are cooler than lower regions.
• o  The mesosphere is mostly empty space through which charged solar particles travel; therefore, pockets of the mesosphere are extremely hot, though most of the mesosphere is very cold.

Which of the following statements most accurately compares and contrasts the different layers of Earth's atmosphere?

• In the troposphere and mesosphere, air pressure steadily decreases with altitude, whereas in the stratosphere and thermosphere, air pressure steadily increases with altitude.
• In the troposphere and mesosphere, air pressure steadily increases with altitude, whereas in the stratosphere and thermosphere, air pressure steadily decreases with altitude.
• In the troposphere and mesosphere, temperatures steadily decrease with altitude, whereas in the stratosphere and thermosphere, temperatures steadily increase with altitude.
• In the troposphere and mesosphere, temperatures steadily increase with altitude, whereas in the stratosphere and thermosphere, temperatures steadily decrease with altitude.

How do auroras form?

• Auroras form when solar radiation interacts with oxygen atoms, producing ozone.
• Auroras form when solar flairs interact with the mesosphere's magnetic field.
• Auroras form when solar radiation interacts with ozone molecules in the stratosphere.
• Auroras form when solar flare activity interacts with the charged particles in the ionosphere.

In the stratosphere, temperature

• remains constant
• decreases steadily with increasing altitude
• increases steadily with increasing altitude
• decreases below the stratopause and increases above the stratopause  

Which of the following best explains the relationship between temperature and altitude in the troposphere?

• In the troposphere, air is warmed primarily by Earth's surface; therefore, higher regions of the troposphere are cooler than lower regions.
• In the troposphere, air is warmed primarily by solar radiation from space; therefore, higher regions of the troposphere are warmer than lower regions.
• The troposphere is dominated by ozone, which absorbs solar radiation and warms the surrounding air; therefore, the troposphere is warmer than any other atmospheric layer.
• The troposphere is dominated by ozone, which reflects solar radiation away from the surrounding air; therefore, the troposphere is cooler than any other atmospheric layer.