WorksheetsAtmospheric
Total questions: 16
Worksheet time: 8mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
What causes the trade winds?
a)
Surface air moves away from high atmospheric pressure at the equator and is deflected to the east by the Coriolis effect.
b)
Surface air moves away from high atmospheric pressure at the equator and is deflected to the west by the Coriolis effect.
c)
Surface air moves toward low atmospheric pressure at the equator and is deflected to the east by the Coriolis effect.
d)
Surface air moves toward low atmospheric pressure at the equator and is deflected to the west by the Coriolis effect.
2.
Which of the following has the strongest effect on the uneven distribution of thermal energy in the atmosphere?
a)
the Coriolis effect
b)
the differences in ground cover
c)
the curvature of Earth’s surface
d)
the distribution of land and water
3.
A land area that absorbs more solar radiation than the surrounding areas most likely results in
a)
a high-pressure system causing surface winds to blow outward, toward the surrounding areas
b)
a high-pressure system causing surface winds to blow inward from the surrounding areas
c)
a low-pressure system causing surface winds to blow outward, toward the surrounding areas
d)
a low-pressure system causing surface winds to blow inward from the surrounding areas
4.
How would humans most likely function in an atmosphere that was 19% oxygen?
a)
They would suffocate in an atmosphere below 21.5% oxygen.
b)
They would be very healthy; our current atmosphere is 18% oxygen.
c)
They would be at risk of oxygen deprivation in an atmosphere below 19.5% oxygen.
d)
They would be exposed to toxic levels of oxygen; humans require an atmosphere of only 12% oxygen to survive.
5.
Over which area would a high pressure system most likely develop during the day?
a)
a large city
b)
a desert with little vegetation
c)
a grassland or prairie
d)
a large, snow-covered region
6.
The most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere is
a)
carbon dioxide
b)
hydrogen
c)
nitrogen
d)
oxygen
7.
The transfer of thermal energy by a flowing substance is called
a)
conduction
b)
convection
c)
insolation
d)
radiation
8.
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?
a)
toward the northeast
b)
toward the northwest
c)
toward the southeast
d)
toward the southwest
9.
Which statement best compares the current atmosphere on Earth to its previous atmosphere?
a)
There is more carbon dioxide (CO2) in today’s atmosphere.
b)
There is more hydrogen (H2) in today’s atmosphere.
c)
There is more ammonia (NH3) in today’s atmosphere.
d)
There is more oxygen (O2) in today’s atmosphere.
10.
Earth's atmosphere is approximately
a)
78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen
b)
76% nitrogen and 24% oxygen
c)
78% oxygen and 21% nitrogen
d)
76% oxygen and 24% nitrogen
11.
In the 1700s and 1800s, large sailing ships commonly sailed from port and out to sea at night. What is the most likely reason for this?
a)
A land breeze is weakest at night.
b)
A land breeze blows out to sea at night.
c)
A sea breeze is strongest at night.
d)
A sea breeze blows out to sea at night.
12.
Why do hurricanes rotate counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere?
a)
Solar radiation creates a high-pressure cell at the center of the storm. A resulting strong pressure gradient wind draws outside air into the storm. Though the Coriolis effect tends to move the air to the left, the pressure gradient force is strong enough to pull the air toward the right into a clockwise path.
b)
Solar radiation creates a high-pressure cell at the center of the storm. A resulting strong pressure gradient wind draws outside air into the storm. Though the Coriolis effect tends to move the air to the right, the pressure gradient force is strong enough to pull the air toward the left into a counterclockwise path.
c)
Solar radiation creates a low-pressure cell at the center of the storm. A resulting strong pressure gradient wind draws outside air into the storm. Though the Coriolis effect tends to move the air to the left, the pressure gradient force is strong enough to pull the air toward the right into a clockwise path.
d)
Solar radiation creates a low-pressure cell at the center of the storm. A resulting strong pressure gradient wind draws outside air into the storm. Though the Coriolis effect tends to move the air to the right, the pressure gradient force is strong enough to pull the air toward the left into a counterclockwise path.
13.
In the southern hemisphere, the Coriolis effect deflects the path of a moving air mass to the
a)
east
b)
left
c)
right
d)
west
14.
In which direction will a southerly wind be deflected by the Coriolis effect in the northern hemisphere?
a)
toward the northeast
b)
toward the northwest
c)
toward the southeast
d)
toward the southwest
15.
Atmospheric circulation is driven mostly by
a)
conduction
b)
Earth's rotation
c)
solar radiation
d)
the Coriolis effect
16.
Consider the diagram, showing the direction of airflow. Which statement best summarizes the circulation of air as shown in the diagram?
a)
Cool, low-density, low-pressure air forces warm, high-density, high-pressure air upward.
b)
Warm, low-density, low-pressure air forces cool, high-density, high-pressure air upward.
c)
Cool, high-density, high-pressure air forces warm, low-density, low-pressure air upward.
d)
Warm, high-density, high-pressure air forces cool, low-density, low-pressure air upward.
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