Chapt 15

Chapter 15 Air, Weather, and Climate
1. Climate is a description of ________ weather conditions.

A. long-term, regional
B. stable and unchanging
C. temporary
D. temporary, local
E. annual
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge
2. The earths earliest atmosphere was probably composed mainly of __________, which has/have since largely
dissipated into space.
A. hydrogen and helium
B. carbon dioxide and methane
C. oxygen
D. water
E. nitrogen and sulfur
Answer: A
3. Elements such as ______________ were added to the Earths early atmosphere through _______________.
A. hydrogen and helium; the mechanical weathering of rocks.
B. carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur; photosynthesis.
C. hydrogen and helium; contact with space.
D. carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur; volcanic emissions.
E. nitrogen and sulfur; the chemical weathering of rocks.
Answer: D
4. Aerosols are
A. gases produced by industry.
B. tiny particles and droplets suspended in the air.
C. the principal gas involved in the greenhouse effect.
D. tiny droplets of a very specific chemical composition.
E. the principal gas involved in global warming.
Answer: B
5. The two main gases making up the lower atmosphere are

A. helium and hydrogen.
B. carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.
C. oxygen and methane.
D. nitrogen and oxygen.
E. oxygen and carbon dioxide
Answer: D
6. The atmospheric zone where most weather events occur is the

A. stratosphere.
B. thermosphere.
C. troposphere.
D. mesosphere.
E. stratopause.
Answer: C
7. The correct sequence of atmospheric zones upward from the earths surface is
A. stratosphere, troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.
B. troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.
C. mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere, thermosphere.
D. thermosphere, stratosphere, troposphere, mesosphere.
E. troposphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, thermosphere.
Answer: B
8. The different layers of the atmosphere are kept from mixing by

A. sharp temperature boundaries.
B. contrasting gas compositions.
C. the extreme stillness within each layer.
D. physical barriers composed of thick layers of atmospheric dust.
E. sharp density boundaries.
Answer: A
9. The ozone hole that causes concern among scientists and the public is an ozone depletion in the
A. troposphere.
B. stratosphere.
C. thermosphere.
D. mesosphere.
E. tropopause
Answer: B
A
lti
tu
de
ab
o
ve
se
a
le
ve
l
120
80
100
80
IV
60
A
lti
tu
de
ab
o
ve
se
a
le
ve
l
40
60
III
40
II
20
20
-80
-40
40
80
120
Temperature
10. In the diagram above, which layer(s) has/have a rapid drop in temperature with increasing altitude?
A. I
B. III
C. IV
D. Both I and III
E. Both I and IV
Answer: D
Question Classification: Analysis
11. In the diagram above, which layer has the highest concentration of ozone?
A. I
B. II
C. III
D. IV
E. The highest concentration of ozone is found in the border between III and IV.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Application
12. In the diagram above, which layer has the most mixing of air?
A. I
B. II
C. III
D. IV
E. The most mixing of air is found in the border between II and III.
Answer: A
13. Heat in the atmosphere comes from

A. radioactive decay of gas particles.
B. radioactive decay of elements in the Earth.
C. gravitational pressure on air molecules.
D. solar radiation.
E. friction of the gas particles moving against each other.

Answer: D
14. Insolation is a term that means

A. heat reflectivity of clouds.
B. the energy retentive ability of gases.
C. incoming solar radiation.
D. the total amount of energy released by the sun.
E. outgoing infrared energy.
Answer: C
15. Albedo is a term describing the Earths

A. reflection of solar radiation.
B. refraction of energy.
C. production of radiant heat.
D. use of energy in biomass production.
E. outgoing infrared energy.
Answer: A
16. Which of the following would have the highest albedo?

A. a field of black soil
B. a snowfield
C. a dark forest
D. an asphalt parking lot
E. a grass field.
Answer: B
17. Eventually all the energy that reaches the Earths surfaces is
A. absorbed into the Earth.
B. turned into biomass.
C. used in heating.
D. reflected or radiated back to space.
E. dissipated within the Earths atmosphere.
Answer: D
18. Energy absorbed at the Earths surface is radiated back to space in the form of
A. visible light.
B. ultraviolet radiation.
C. infrared radiation (heat).
D. microwaves.
E. insolation.
Answer: C
19. Much of the ultraviolet light from the sun is absorbed by _______ as it passes through the atmosphere.
A. carbon dioxide
B. water vapor
C. nitrogen gas
D. ozone
E. green house gases
Answer: D
20. The greenhouse effect in the atmosphere occurs because

A. clouds reflect sunlight back into space.
B. oceans absorb heat and then release it slowly at night.
C. stratospheric ozone absorbs UV radiation.
D. CO2, water vapor, methanol, and other gases absorb infrared radiation.
E. All of the above.
Answer: D
21. The phenomenon causing the greenhouse effect is that ________ in the lower atmosphere selectively absorbs
reradiated ________ radiation.
A. ozone; visible light
B. carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases; infrared (heat)
C. hydrocarbons; very short wavelength
D. carbon dioxide; ultraviolet
E. carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases; insolation
Answer: B
Question Classification: Comprehension
22. Convection currents in the atmosphere are driven by

A. the different temperatures and densities of warm and cold air masses.
B. the jet stream dipping down into the troposphere.
C. forces that scientists cannot yet explain.
D. bursts of energy emitted by the ionosphere.
E. the surface winds which in turn are influenced by the Coriolis Effect.
Answer: A
23. When an area of the Earths surface becomes very hot, the air above it
A. condenses and cools.
B. warms, expands, and rises.
C. warms, condenses, and releases rain.
D. expands and sinks.
E. condenses and sinks
Answer: B
24. When cool, dry air sinks from the upper atmosphere toward the Earths surface, it is
A. compressed and cooled further.
B. allowed to expand and become warmer.
C. compressed and becomes warmer.
D. forced to release any remaining moisture.
E. going to hold more water because there is more water vapor closer to the Earths surface.
Answer: C
25. Rising, expanding air masses create a region of

A. low pressure.
B. warming air.
C. high-pressure.
D. dry air.
E. cooling air.
Answer: A
26. Intense sunlight causes a band of hot, rising air laden with evaporated water near the equator. This moisture then
falls because
A. its potential energy increases with height.
B. warm air cannot hold much moisture.
C. the rising air cools and loses its ability to hold water vapor.
D. moisture is condensed as convection currents carry air over hotter, drier regions.
E. the moisture evaporates as convection currents carry air over hotter, drier regions.
Answer: C
27. A band of deserts rings the Earth at about 23 north and south latitude because these are regions of
A. ascending, cooling air.
B. rising hot air.
C. the earths most intense solar energy.
D. air that cools as it descends.
E. descending, warming air.
Answer: E
28. The Coriolis effect is caused by the

A. jet stream.
B. rotation of the Earth.
C. heating and cooling of air masses.
D. seasonal changes in air temperature and humidity.
E. movement of tectonic plates.
Answer: B
29. Due to the influence of the _____________, in the month of January your flight from Chicago to the United
Kingdom will take ___________ than the return trip from the United Kingdom to Chicago.
A. Coriolis effect, longer
B. Coriolis effect, shorter
C. polar jet stream, longer
D. polar jet stream, shorter
E. subtropical jet stream, shorter
Answer: D
30. Monsoons occur over India when air heated over the Indian subcontinent and the Indian Ocean
A. is forced to rise because of convection.
B. is forced to rise when it meets the Himalayas.
C. begins to sink as summer approaches.
D. cools in the winter and therefore sinks.
E. is forced out over the Indian Ocean.
Answer: B
31. Efforts to seed clouds and force rainfall artificially have been
A. completely hypothetical, never tried in practice.
B. tried in experimental settings.
C. totally unsuccessful.
D. outstandingly successful.
E. somewhat successful and highly controversial.
Answer: E
32. A westward flowing wind is called a(n) ____________ due to the direction ______________.
A. east wind, it is blowing
B. east wind, from which it originates
C. west wind, it is blowing
D. west wind, from which it originates
E. west wind, it blows things
Answer: B
33. The boundary between two air masses of different temperature and density is known as a
A. front.
B. cold front.
C. warm front.
D. Hadley cell.
E. jet stream.
Answer: A
34. A cold front is a situation in which cold air

A. remains stationary for weeks at a time.
B. displaces a mass of warmer air.
C. recedes in the face of warmer air.
D. is heated by seasonal changes in solar energy.
E. slips over a mass of warmer air.
Answer: B
35. As a cold front advances, the warm air is forced to

A. rise, become warmer, and absorb more moisture.
B. go under the mass of cold air.
C. retreat laterally and become more dense.
D. fall, condense, and lose its moisture.
E. rise, cool, and release its moisture.
Answer: E
36. Narrow, violent bands of rain and storms are characteristic of

A. advancing cold fronts.
B. advancing warm fronts.
C. both advancing warm and cold fronts.
D. stationary bends in the jet stream.
E. a stationary warm front.
Answer: A
37. If you see high wispy cirrus clouds with layers of other clouds in a wedge shape, you can expect ________ due
to an ____________.
A. heavy rain and thunderstorms, advancing cold front
B. heavy rain and thunderstorms, advancing warm front
C. drizzle and cloudy skies, advancing warm front
D. drizzle and cloudy skies, advancing cold front
E. heavy rain and thunderstorms, stationary warm front
Answer: C
38. Hurricanes are powered by

A. the hydrologic cycle.
B. rising air masses.
C. sinking air masses.
D. heat released from condensing water vapor.
E. subtropical jet streams coupled with convection currents.
Answer: D
39. Why dont storms over land have as much energy as storms over oceans?
A. Convection currents are intensified by the latent energy of condensation.
B. Convection currents are intensified by the latent energy of warm dry air.
C. High pressure cells are more common over oceans.
D. There arent as many low-pressure systems over land.
E. None of these, storms over land have as much energy as those over oceans.
Answer: A
40. Which of the following events is not part of the explanation of how tornadoes form?
A. Strong, dry air cold fronts collide with warm humid air moving north.
B. Convection currents are formed when warm air rises.
C. Latent heat (energy) is released from the condensation of water vapor.
D. The air mass is set spinning by the Coriolis Effect.
E. All of these are part of the explanation of how tornadoes form.
Answer: D
41. How can tornadoes be even more dangerous than other violent storms?
A. They can develop extremely fast without warning for people to seek shelter.
B. The wind speeds of tornadoes can exceed even hurricanes.
C. Sometimes people do not take the threat of a tornado as seriously as the threat of a hurricane.
D. The force of the wind from tornadoes can cause debris to impale objects (such as body parts).
E. All of these describe the danger of a tornado.
Answer: E
42. Milankovitch cycles involve the periodic ___________ and could be responsible for ________ weather changes.
A. convection currents in the lower atmosphere, drastic
B. summer/winter seasonality on the Earth, gradual
C. wobbling of the earths axis and orbital shifts, cyclic
D. tidal cycles from month to month, seasonal
E. seasons, daily
Answer: C
43. When El Nio occurs every three to seven years, a mass of warm Pacific water that is usually pushed westward
by trade winds
A. surges back eastward toward South America.
B. becomes much warmer than usual, strengthening trade winds.
C. cools dramatically.
D. sinks and therefore cools substantially.
E. surges northward toward Japan.
Answer: A
44. As far as we are currently aware, who were the first people to notice the El Nio Southern Oscillation cycle?
A. scientists studying atmospheric changes
C. meteorologists
B. indigenous people in South America
D. Peruvian fishermen
E. colonial governors in South America from Spain.
Answer: D
45. Proponents of climate change say that given what we know about the probability of the greenhouse effect the
best thing to do is
A. immediately cease all industrial activity.
B. wait and see how much temperatures change before we change our habits.
C. severely cut back on production of greenhouse gases.
D. not worry about greenhouse gas production.
E. focus on the development of technological advances to help decrease the effects of climate change.
Answer: C
46. Weather is a term for atmospheric moisture and temperature on a short-term basis.
A. True
B. False
Answer: A
47. Convection currents are the driving force(s) of the hydrologic cycle.
A. True
B. False
Answer: A
48. Where air is sinking (high pressure), rainfall is likely as the air sinks.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
49. Most of the excessive carbon dioxide that is expected to cause global warming is generated by green plants.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
50. Since biodiversity is usually higher in warmer, milder climates, biodiversity will probably be increased with
global warming.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
51. Higher temperatures and carbon dioxide levels of the greenhouse effect could possibly be counteracted by higher
humidity, more cloud cover and greater reflection of incoming solar energy.
A. True
B. False
Answer: A
52. Ocean circulation patterns do not change because the ocean is quite stable.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
Short Answer/Essay Questions

53. What does the acronym ENSO stand for? Describe the repercussions in weather systems for Australia, Indonesia,
North America, and South America from ENSO.
Answer: For a total of 15 points (Note: The numbers can be changed to fit your assessment needs.)
15 =
Correctly identified ENSO; Provided accurate descriptions of weather systems in all countries/continents
during ENSO years; Communicated effectively with a well written summary
10 =
Correctly identified ENSO; Provided accurate descriptions of weather systems in most of the
countries/continents during ENSO years; Communicated with a fairly well written summary
5=
Incorrectly identified ENSO; Provided some accurate descriptions of weather systems in the
countries/continents during ENSO years; Communicated with a poorly written summary
0=
Incorrectly identified ENSO; Provided inaccurate descriptions of weather systems in the
countries/continents during ENSO years; Communicated with a poorly written summary
54. Consider the following statement: The greenhouse effect is a controversial issue. Discuss why or why you do not
agree with this statement and provide supporting explanations and/or evidence.
Answer: For a total of 15 points (Note: The numbers can be changed to fit your assessment needs.)
15 =
Disagreed with the statement; Provided well-supported explanation of the greenhouse effect and explained
that climate change is controversial; Communicated effectively with a well written discussion
10 =
Disagreed with the statement; Provided a fairly well-supported explanation of the greenhouse effect and
explained that climate change is controversial; Communicated with a fairly well written discussion
5=
Disagreed with the statement; Did not provide a well-supported explanation of the greenhouse effect and
did not explain that climate change is controversial; Communicated with a poorly written discussion
0=
Agreed with the statement; Did not provide a well-supported explanation; Communicated with a very
poorly written discussion

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Chapt 15

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Chapter 15 Air, Weather, and Climate

1. Climate is a description of ________ weather conditions.

5. The two main gases making up the lower atmosphere are

Question Classification: Knowledge

6. The atmospheric zone where most weather events occur is the

8. The different layers of the atmosphere are kept from mixing by

13. Heat in the atmosphere comes from

E. friction of the gas particles moving against each other.

14. Insolation is a term that means

15. Albedo is a term describing the Earths

16. Which of the following would have the highest albedo?

20. The greenhouse effect in the atmosphere occurs because

22. Convection currents in the atmosphere are driven by

25. Rising, expanding air masses create a region of

28. The Coriolis effect is caused by the

34. A cold front is a situation in which cold air

35. As a cold front advances, the warm air is forced to

36. Narrow, violent bands of rain and storms are characteristic of

38. Hurricanes are powered by

Question Classification: Knowledge

Short Answer/Essay Questions

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