Atmospheric Science Quiz

Which of the following is considered a variable gas in the earth’s atmosphere?

• nitrogen

• oxygen

• argon

• water vapor

Which weather element always decreases as we climb upward in the atmosphere?

• wind

• moisture

• dew point

• temperature

• pressure

The four thermal layers of the atmosphere from the surface up are:

• thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere.

• thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, troposphere.

• troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.

• stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, troposphere.

The temperature of the tropopause ____.

• mirrors the temperature of Earth’s oceans.

• is nearly the same as the sun's temperature.

• is much colder than the temperature at Earth's surface.

• can never be measured.

• is much warmer than the temperature at Earth's surface.

Your altimeter reads 18,000 feet, your barometer reads 500 hPa, and your air temperature reads –10C. The pressure is less at 18,000 feet than at the surface because

• there are fewer molecules above you.

• gravity is less than at the surface.

• the temperature is less than at the surface.

• the air has more light molecules at higher altitudes.

The earth’s atmosphere is divided into layers based on the vertical profile of:

• air pressure.

• air density.

• air temperature.

• wind speed.

Most human-made impurities found in the atmosphere present a health and environmental hazard. These are called ____.

• dust

• pollutants

• aerosols

• nutrients

• particles

The unit of pressure most commonly found on a surface weather map is ____.

• pounds per square inch

• kilograms per hectare

• millibars or hectopascals

• millimeters of mercury (Hg)

• inches of mercury (Hg)

In the stratosphere, the air temperature normally:

• increases with increasing height.

• decreases with increasing height.

• both increases and decreases depending on the season.

• cannot be measured.

Earth’s atmosphere is a relatively thin, gaseous envelope that comprises mostly ____ and ____, with small amounts of other gases.

• nitrogen, carbon dioxide

• nitrogen, oxygen

• carbon dioxide, water vapor

• oxygen carbon dioxide

• oxygen, water vapor