wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Hydrosphere & Atmosphere Summative Assessment

Total questions: 100

Worksheet time: 25hrs 46mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Seawater density is influenced by two main factors:

a)

Salinity, temperature

b)

Density current, surface current

c)

Density, temperature

d)

Pycnocline, thermocline

2.

Which term refers to the layer of water in which there is a rapid change of TEMPERATURE with ocean depth?

a)

Thermocline

b)

Abyssal Zone

c)

Pycnocline

d)

Deep Zone

3.

Huge circular-moving current systems on the surfaces of oceans are called ______________.

a)

Eddies

b)

gyres

c)

surface currents

d)

longshore currents

4.

One major source of elements in seawater is ______________.

a)

Volcanic eruptions

b)

Formation of sea ice

c)

Melting icebergs

d)

Evaporation

5.

What causes ocean surface currents?

a)

gravity

b)

friction between the ocean and wind on its surface

c)

ocean movements associated with earthquakes

d)

changes in ocean water density

6.

The water cycle is the ______________.

a)

Distribution of drinking water on Earth.

b)

Unending circulation of Earth's water supply.

c)

The recycling of water after industrial use.

d)

The evaporation of water from Earth's surface.

7.

What is one way that ocean currents can affect the climate of an area?

a)

making ocean water evaporate.

b)

changing the density of water in the tropics.

c)

transferring heat from the polar regions to the tropics.

d)

transferring heat and cold between the tropics and polar regions.

8.

What is the importance of upwelling?

a)

It brings deep cold water and nutrients to the surface.

b)

It brings warm water from the tropics to the poles.

c)

It helps warm the North Atlantic gyre.

d)

It decreases winds along exposed coastlines.

9.

Which is NOT a zone in the three-layered structure of the ocean according to density?

a)

surface mixed zone

b)

transition zone

c)

deep zone

d)

intertidal zone

10.

What percentage of Earth's surface is covered by the oceans?

a)

52%

b)

87%

c)

38%

d)

71%

11.

Which of the following is NOT a major ocean?

a)

Atlantic

b)

Australian

c)

Pacific

d)

Southern

12.

Cold ocean water will ______________.

a)

sink

b)

float

13.

All of the following will decrease the salinity of ocean water except ______________.

a)

precipitation

b)

melting sea ice

c)

runoff

d)

evaporation

14.

Both the thermocline and the pycnocline exist at what depth?

a)

0-100m

b)

300-1000m

c)

500-600m

d)

1500-4500m

15.

The water cycle is powered by energy from the Sun and ______________.

a)

gravity

b)

Coriolis Effect

c)

precipitation

d)

density

16.

Where will a warm water current form?

a)

equator

b)

North/South Pole

c)

Density current

d)

Precipitation

17.

A current that moves from the equator to the poles will be a ______________.

a)

cold

b)

warm

c)

runoff

d)

evaporation

18.

A current from the poles to the equator is a ______________.

a)

cold

b)

warm

c)

runoff

d)

precipitation

19.

Where will a cold water current form?

a)

Equator

b)

North/South Pole

c)

Runoff

d)

Melting iceberg

20.

The amount of dissolved material in the ocean is its ______________.

a)

Melting Sea Ice

b)

Melting Iceberg

c)

Density Current

d)

Salinity

21.

When ocean water reaches the poles, it sinks and makes a vertical ocean current called a ______________.

a)

Density Current

b)

Salinity

c)

Melting Iceberg

d)

Runoff

22.

The transition zone includes the ______________.

a)

Upwelling, Gyre

b)

Precipitation, Evaporation

c)

Thermocline, Pycnocline

d)

Surface Current, Atlantic

23.

Name the two processes that are balance each other in Earth's water cycle:

a)

Upwelling, Gyre

b)

Precipitation, Evaporation

c)

Pycnocline, Thermocline

d)

Surface Current, Atlantic

24.

Clouds form due to the process of ______________.

a)

Upwelling

b)

Precipitation

c)

Evaporation

d)

Condensation

25.

Huge circular-moving systems of currents that dominate the surfaces of oceans are called ______________.

a)

Upwelling

b)

Gyre

c)

Pycnocline

d)

Surface Current

26.

The west coast of the U.S. borders the Ocean and the east coast borders the Ocean.

a)

Atlantic, Pacific

b)

Australian, Atlantic

c)

Equatorial, Australian

d)

Pacific, Atlantic

27.

The major greenhouse gases include all of the following except.

a)

methane

b)

oxygen

c)

water vapor

d)

carbon dioxide

28.

What is responsible for warming Earth's lower atmosphere and surface, allowing life to exist on Earth?

a)

El Niño

b)

global winds

c)

the Coriolis effect

d)

the Greenhouse effect

29.

Describes the atmospheric conditions that take place over a longer period of time and helps describe a place or region.

a)

weather

b)

meteorology

c)

climate

d)

global warming

30.

The two gases that comprise 99% of the atmosphere are ______________.

a)

oxygen and nitrogen

b)

oxygen and carbon dioxide

c)

argon and ozone

d)

nitrogen and carbon dioxide

31.

Temperate climates zone experience ______________.

a)

hot summers and hot winters.

b)

cold winters and hot summers.

c)

cold winters and cold summers.

d)

cold summers and hot winters.

32.

What is the name for an air mass that is dry and cold?

a)

Maritime Polar

b)

Maritime Tropical

c)

Continental Polar

d)

Continental Tropical

33.

What is the name of an air mass that is humid and warm?

a)

Maritime Polar

b)

Maritime Tropic

c)

Continental Polar

d)

Continental Tropic

34.

What is the name for an air mass that is cold and humid?

a)

Maritime Polar

b)

Maritime Tropic

c)

Continental Polar

d)

Continental Tropic

35.

What name is given to air masses that are warm and dry?

a)

Maritime Polar

b)

Maritime Tropic

c)

Continental Polar

d)

Continental Tropic

36.

Climates that are closer to the equator are generally. than climates farther from the equator.

a)

Cooler

b)

Warmer

c)

The same

d)

Dryer

37.

When two air masses of different densities meet, the boundary is called a ______________.

a)

high pressure zone

b)

front

c)

occlusion

d)

thunderstorm

38.

In the last 200 years, the burning of fossil fuels has released major amounts of this greenhouse gas into the atmosphere:

a)

water vapor

b)

oxygen

c)

carbon dioxide

d)

methane

39.

The layer of the atmosphere where weather takes place is the:

a)

thermosphere

b)

troposphere

c)

mesosphere

d)

stratosphere

40.

Solar energy reaches the Earth through ______________.

a)

radiation

b)

conduction

c)

convention

d)

scattering

41.

Wind is caused by differences in ______________.

a)

the Coriolis effect

b)

air pressure

c)

temperature

d)

friction

42.

Which is NOT a factor that affects wind?

a)

pressure differences

b)

solar radiation

c)

friction

d)

the Coriolis effect

43.

A high pressure gradient will result in ______________.

a)

no wind.

b)

a calm, low wind.

c)

a change in wind direction.

d)

a strong, high wind.

44.

Cyclones often produce bad weather, while ______________ often produce good weather.

a)

anticyclones

b)

monsoons

c)

jet streams

d)

landmasses

45.

Global warming is ______________.

a)

an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

b)

the increase in global temperatures due to increased amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

c)

an increase in the amount of solar radiation

d)

an increase in the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere

46.

The major gas involved in the greenhouse effect is ______________.

a)

oxygen

b)

nitrogen

c)

argon

d)

carbon dioxide

47.

Distribute heat and moisture around the Earth.

a)

Greenhouse gases

b)

Pressure gradients

c)

Global winds

d)

Plate tectonics

48.

The gaseous envelope surrounding the Earth is called the ______________.

a)

atmosphere

b)

biosphere

c)

geosphere

d)

hydrosphere

49.

What type of front has quick strong storms that are over quickly, followed by a drop in temperature?

a)

Cold

b)

Warm

c)

Stationary

d)

Occulded

50.

What type of front happens when a cold air mass and warm air mass meet and do not move?

a)

Cold

b)

Warm

c)

Stationary

d)

Occluded

51.

What type of front moves slowly and brings gentle rains that last for a few days?

a)

Cold

b)

Warm

c)

Stationary

d)

Occluded

52.

The major difference between climate and weather is ______________.

a)

climate refers to a short period of time, while weather refers to a longer period of time.

b)

climate happens in the morning and weather happens at night.

c)

weather refers to what is happening right now, while climate is over a longer period of time.

d)

weather happens in the Northern Hemisphere, climate happens in the Southern Hemisphere.

53.

High-pressure systems usually are associated with ______________.

a)

Clouds and precipitation, fair weather

b)

The jet stream, fronts

c)

Fair weather, clouds and precipitation

d)

Fair weather, fair weather

54.

Which is a natural process that affects climate change?

a)

Ocean circulation

b)

Amount of solar radiation

c)

Volcanic activity and plate tectonics

d)

All affect climate change

55.

Which of the following is true?

a)

Climates at high latitudes (near the poles) are very warm.

b)

A nearby ocean causes a climate to be colder.

c)

Mountains can affect the amount of precipitation that falls in an area.

d)

Places at lower elevations generally have colder temperatures.

56.

Transportation is a major source of pollution, adding large amounts of this gas to the atmosphere:

a)

argon

b)

carbon monoxide

c)

sulfur trioxide

d)

methane

57.

Along with greenhouse gases, the presence of ______________.

a)

ozone

b)

neon

c)

argon

d)

helium

58.

Which of the following would make the best definition for global warming?

a)

a decrease in the amount of methane in the atmosphere

b)

the increase in global temperatures due to increasing amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

c)

an increase in the amount of solar radiation

d)

an increase in the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere

59.

The layer of the atmosphere that contains the ozone layer ______________.

a)

Hydrosphere

b)

Stratosphere

c)

Troposphere

d)

Mesosphere

60.

This gas is the major component of Earth's atmosphere, around 78%.

a)

Oxygen

b)

Carbon Dioxide

c)

Methane

d)

Nitrogen

61.

The natural warming of Earth's lower atmosphere and surface ______________.

a)

Greenhouse Effect

b)

Weather

c)

Global Warming

d)

Climate

62.

A description of atmospheric conditions over a long period of time ______________.

a)

Greenhouse Effect

b)

Weather

c)

Global Warming

d)

Climate

63.

The fourth layer of the atmosphere, closest of the four layers to space ______________.

a)

Thermosphere

b)

Stratosphere

c)

Atmosphere

d)

Mesosphere

64.

This gas makes up approximately 21% of Earth's atmosphere ______________.

a)

Oxygen

b)

Carbon Dioxide

c)

Methane

d)

Nitrogen

65.

The study of Earth's atmosphere, weather and climate ______________.

a)

Weather

b)

Climate

c)

Atmosphere

d)

Meterology

66.

One of the major greenhouse gases ______________.

a)

Oxygen

b)

Water vapor

c)

Argon

d)

Nitrogen

67.

The layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth where weather takes place.

a)

Thermosphere

b)

Stratosphere

c)

Troposphere

d)

Exosphere

68.

Refers to the atmosphere at any given place/time, constantly changing.

a)

Greenhouse Effect

b)

Weather

c)

Global Warming

d)

Climate

69.

The most abundant salt in seawater is ______________.

a)

potassium chloride

b)

lithium bromide

c)

sodium chloride

d)

calcium bromide

70.

The ______________ is the deflection of currents away from their original course as a result of Earth's rotation.

a)

Water cycle

b)

Intertidal zone

c)

Greenhouse effect

d)

Coriolis effect

71.
Ocean's cover what percent of the Earth's surface?
a)
70 %
b)
60 %
c)
10 %
d)
none of the above
72.
Snow, sleet, hail, and rain are all examples of  ________________. 
a)
evaporation
b)
condensation
c)
accumulation
d)
precipitation
73.
The Gulf stream carries _____________ water from the east coast of The United States to the West coast of Europe.
a)
Cold
b)
Warm 
c)
Freezing
d)
Fresh
74.
The large, circular surface-current pattern found in each ocean.
a)
California Current
b)
Surface Current
c)
Gyre
d)
Global Conveyor Belt
75.

Currents that flow from the equator toward the poles are usually ______________.

a)
warm
b)
cold
c)
irregular in motion
d)
no specific temperature
76.
What force guides the movement of deep currents?
a)
density differences
b)
wind
c)
Coriolis Effect
d)
continental barriers
77.
What is the name of the current along the east coast of the US?
a)
West Wind
b)
Canary
c)
California
d)
Gulf Stream
78.
Which of the following causes the Coriolis Effect?
a)
Earth's Revolution
b)
Earth's Rotation
c)
Earth's Temperature
d)
Earth's Core
79.
The two categories of ocean currents are _____________________.
a)
salinity, temperature
b)
density, temperature
c)
surface, deep
d)
freshwater, saltwater
80.
Which gas in our atmosphere is most abundant?
a)
Argon
b)
Oxygen
c)
Nitrogen
d)
Carbon Dioxide
81.

The air in the troposphere has a greater density than the air in any other layer of the atmosphere.

a)
True
b)
False
82.
Temperature in the stratosphere warms as altitude increases.
a)
True
b)
False
83.
What is the percentage of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere?
a)
1%
b)
21%
c)
78%
d)
90%
84.
Which layer of the atmosphere contains the greatest amount of water vapor?
a)
Thermosphere
b)
Troposphere
c)
Mesosphere
d)
Stratosphere
85.
In which layer of the atmosphere does weather occur?
a)
Mesosphere
b)
Thermosphere
c)
Stratosphere
d)
Troposphere
86.
What decreases as you go up in the atmosphere?
a)
Altitude
b)
Atmosphere
c)
Meteors
d)
Air Pressure
87.
What is the outer most main layer of Earth's atmosphere?
a)
Thermosphere
b)
Troposphere
c)
Stratosphere
d)
Mesosphere
88.
The layers of the atmosphere are classified according to changes in _________.
a)
altitude
b)
density
c)
composition
d)
temperature
89.
James plans to climb to the top of Mount Everest.  Which of the following statements about his climb will be the most accurate?
a)
Air pressure will rise and the temperature on a thermometer will increase.
b)
Air pressure will fall and the temperature on a thermometer will decrease.
c)
Air pressure will rise and the temperature on a thermometer will decrease.
d)
Air pressure and thermometer will not change.
90.
Which of the following is the correct order of the atmosphere layers from Earth to space?
a)
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere
b)
troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere, stratosphere
c)
thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, troposphere, exosphere
d)
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, exosphere, thermosphere
91.
Describe how the ozone layer protects the earth.
a)
Absorbs solar radiation, Protects Earth from UV Rays,  and emits heat
b)
Ozone in the lower atmosphere is a pollutant
92.

When warm air rises and cools high in the atmosphere and then sinks to the earth creates _________ currents.

a)
convection
b)
surface
c)
deep
d)
precipitaiton
93.
Heat from the sun travels to Earth by _____.
a)
conduction
b)
convection
c)
insulation
d)
radiation
94.
The layer of the atmosphere containing the ionosphere and auroras is
a)
troposphere
b)
mesosphere
c)
stratosphere
d)
thermosphere
95.
The warming of the atmosphere by the trapping of heat being radiated to space is called
a)
evaporation
b)
condensation
c)
the greenhouse effect
d)
radiation
96.
Water vapor is a greenhouse gas
a)
True
b)
False
97.
Which of the following is NOT a reason why the atmosphere is important?
a)
It is made of many layers.
b)
It provides gases living things need.
c)
It provides warm temperatures.
d)
It protects us from UV rays and meteors.
98.

Which best explains why there is higher salinity near the equator than in coastal regions?

a)

The ocean is deeper at the equator, resulting in a higher concentration of salt.

b)

The rotation of the Earth causes increased evaporation of freshwater at the equator, leaving the salt behind.

c)

The water temperature is higher at the equator, causing increased evaporation of freshwater and leaving the salt behind.

d)

Large ships transporting cargo across the ocean move the salt from a higher concentration to a lower concentration.

99.

Which best describe how the total amount of water present in the hydrosphere varies over time?

a)

The total amount of water in the hydrosphere decrease over time due to the process of evaporation.

b)

The total amount of water in the hydrosphere increase over time due to the process of precipitation.

c)

The total amount of water in the hydrosphere remains the same over time, but changes form due to the water cycle.

d)

The total amount of water in the hydrosphere both decreases and increases over time due to competing processes such as evaporation and precipitation.

100.

What percent of the water is located in oceans?

a)

97%

b)

3%

c)

96%

d)

1%