15.2 Assessment

What is the primary reason warm air rises in the atmosphere?

• It is less dense than cool air
• It contains more moisture
• It is heated by the Sun
• It is pushed by cooler air

Which layer of the atmosphere is where all weather occurs?

• Stratosphere
• Mesosphere
• Troposphere
• Thermosphere

What happens to temperature as you move higher in the troposphere?

• It increases
• It decreases
• It remains constant
• It fluctuates randomly

What is the main source of heat for the stratosphere?

• Earth's surface
• Ozone layer
• Solar radiation
• Troposphere

How does the ozone layer protect life on Earth?

• By reflecting sunlight
• By absorbing harmful UV radiation
• By increasing air pressure
• By cooling the atmosphere

What phenomenon occurs when warm air sits over cooler air in the troposphere?

• Convection
• Temperature inversion
• Thermal expansion
• Air mixing

Why is the mesosphere extremely cold?

• It is far from the Sun
• It lacks gas molecules to absorb heat
• It is below the stratosphere
• It is where weather occurs

What are the Van Allen radiation belts?

• Layers of ozone
• Zones of charged particles
• Regions of high air pressure
• Areas of low temperature

What causes the auroras seen in the polar regions?

• Temperature inversions
• Solar wind interacting with the atmosphere
• High air pressure
• Cloud formations

What is the primary characteristic of the thermosphere?

• High density of air molecules
• Low density of air molecules
• Stable temperature
• High air pressure