Atmosphere Quiz

1. The two most common gases in the atmosphere are

a. Carbon dioxide and oxygen
b. Oxygen and nitrogen
c. Methane and carbon dioxide
d. Water vapor and methane

10. Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?

a. Mesosphere
b. Thermosphere
c. Troposphere
d. Stratosphere

2. Which greenhouse gas is emitted in the largest quantity as a result

of human actions?
a. Nitrogen oxides
b. Methane
c. Ozone
d. Carbon dioxide

11. Why does it become cooler as you move away from Earths
surface in the troposphere?
a. You are closer to the sun.
b. There are fewer air molecules and thus less air pressure at
higher altitudes.
c. You are farther away from the sun.
d. The ozone layer is present.

3. Which of the following gases is not a greenhouse gas?

a. Nitrogen oxides
b. Methane
c. Water vapor
d. Carbon dioxide
e. They are all greenhouse gases.
4. Humans are able to change the basic composition of Earths
atmosphere.
a. True
b. False
5. Which layer of the atmosphere is located the furthest away from
Earths surface?
a. Mesosphere
b. Thermosphere
c. Troposphere
d. Stratosphere
6. Which layer of the atmosphere is located the closest to Earths
surface?
a. Mesosphere
b. Thermosphere
c. Troposphere
d. Stratosphere
7. Which layer of the atmosphere experiences the coldest
temperatures?
a. Mesosphere
b. Thermosphere
c. Troposphere
d. Stratosphere
8. Which layer of the atmosphere experiences the warmest
temperatures?
a. Mesosphere
b. Thermosphere
c. Troposphere
d. Stratosphere
9. Which layer of the atmosphere experiences the lowest air
pressure?
a. Mesosphere
b. Thermosphere
c. Troposphere
d. Stratosphere

12. Radiation from the sun is absorbed in which layers of the

atmosphere?
a. Mesosphere
b. Thermosphere
c. Stratosphere
d. B and C
e. All of these
13. Which layer of the atmosphere is responsible for the northern
lights?
a. Mesosphere
b. Thermosphere
c. Troposphere
d. Stratosphere
14. The transferring of energy that results from the collision between
air molecules is
a. Radiation
b. Conduction
c. Convection
15. The movement of materials based on heat and density
differences is
a. Radiation
b. Conduction
c. Convection
16. The flow of electromagnetic radiation and how Earth receives
solar energy is
a. Radiation
b. Conduction
c. Convection
17. The boundary between an advancing warm air mass and a cooler
mass it is replacing is
a. An air mass
b. Albedo
c. Air pressure
d. A cold front
e. A warm front
18. The gravity on an air mass, as measured in height of a mercury
column is
a. An air mass
b. Albedo
c. Air pressure

d.
e.

A cold front
A warm front

19. The reflectivity of a surface to solar radiation is

a. An air mass
b. Albedo
c. Air pressure
d. A cold front
e. A warm front
20. A large body of air with similar temperatures and moisture content
is
a. An air mass
b. Albedo
c. Air pressure
d. A cold front
e. A warm front
21. A boundary between an advancing cold air mass and a warmer
air mass it is replacing is
a. An air mass
b. Albedo
c. Air pressure
d. A cold front
e. A warm front
22. The moisture content of the air is
a. A front
b. Clouds
c. The rainshadow effect
d. Latitude
e. Humidity
23. When two different air masses meet, the boundary is
a. A front
b. Clouds
c. The rainshadow effect
d. Latitude
e. Humidity
24. Collections of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the
atmosphere are
a. A front
b. Clouds
c. The rainshadow effect
d. Latitude
e. Humidity
25. When the leeward side of a mountain has drier conditions than
the windward side, it is
a. A front
b. Clouds
c. The rainshadow effect
d. Latitude
e. Humidity
26. The distance from the equator is
a. A front
b. Clouds
c. The rainshadow effect
d. Latitude
e. Humidity

27. Every rise of 1,000 feet in elevation results in approximately a

___ F drop in temperature.
a. 1
b. 3
c. 5
d. 10
e. 25
28. Cool air holds ____ water vapor as warm air.
a. More
b. Less
29. Low pressure areas produce
a. Cloudy and stormy weather
b. Warm and fair weather
30. High pressure areas produce
a. Cloudy and stormy weather
b. Warm and fair weather
31. When warm air rises, it does all of the following EXCEPT
a. Expands due to decreasing air temperature
b. Drops in temperature
c. Holds onto less moisture
d. Creates dry conditions on the ground
e. Forms clouds and rain
32. Ocean temperatures are more stable than land temperatures due
to
a. The high specific heat of water
b. The high melting point of water
c. The fact that solid ice is less dense than liquid water
d. The surface tension of water
e. The prevalence of water on Earth
33. The Earth is heated unevenly due to all of the following EXCEPT
a. Earth is closer to the sun during certain times of the year
b. Earth rotates every 24 hours on its axis
c. Earth is tilted
d. Earth experiences seasons
e. Water and land are heated at different rates
34. In a convection cell, the areas of the greatest air pressure occur
a. Where air is rising
b. Where air is sinking
c. Where air is moving laterally
35. In a convection cell, the areas of the least air pressure occur
a. Where air is rising
b. Where air is sinking
c. Where air is moving laterally
36. Deserts would be expected to occur
a. Where air is rising
b. Where air is sinking
c. Where air is moving laterally
37. Forests would be expected to occur
a. Where air is rising
b. Where air is sinking
c. Where air is moving laterally

38. Where air is moving laterally along Earths surface, we

experience
a. Deserts only
b. Forests only
c. Prevailing wind patterns
39. The appearance that winds travel in arcs rather than in straight
lines is known as
a. Prevailing winds
b. A convection cell
c. The Coriolis effect
d. The greenhouse effect
e. A hurricane
40. Winds in the northern hemisphere bend toward the
a. Right
b. Left
41. Winds in the southern hemisphere bend toward the
a. Right
b. Left
42. The prevailing wind patterns that are found in the polar regions of
the world are called
a. Trade winds
b. Polar easterlies
c. Jet streams
d. Westerlies
43. The prevailing wind patterns that are found in the tropical regions
of the world are called
a. Trade winds
b. Polar easterlies
c. Jet streams
d. Westerlies
44. The prevailing wind patterns that are found at high altitudes are
called
a. Trade winds
b. Polar easterlies
c. Jet streams
d. Westerlies
45. The prevailing wind patterns that are found in the temperate
regions of the world are called
a. Trade winds
b. Polar easterlies
c. Jet streams
d. Westerlies
46. Which global circulation cell is located in temperate regions?
a. Hadley
b. Ferrel
c. Polar
47. Which global circulation cell is located in tropical regions?
a. Hadley
b. Ferrel
c. Polar
48. Which global circulation cell is located in arctic regions?

a.
b.
c.

Hadley
Ferrel
Polar

49. Air is rising at which latitudes?

a. 0
b. 30
c. 60
d. A and C
e. All of these
50. Air is sinking at which latitudes?
a. 0
b. 30
c. 60
d. A and C
e. All of these
51. Deserts are found at which latitudes?
a. 0
b. 30
c. 60
d. A and C
e. All of these
52. Forests are found at which latitudes?
a. 0
b. 30
c. 60
d. A and C
e. All of these
53. The North Pole occurs in a region of ___ air.
a. Rising
b. Sinking
54. Forests are found in areas with ___ air pressure.
a. High
b. Low
55. Deserts are found in areas of ___ air pressure.
a. High
b. Low
56. The bottom of the Hadley Cell, Ferrel Cell, and Polar Cell is
called a prevailing wind. These prevailing winds arc and curve on
Earths surface because
a. The Earth is tilted
b. The Earth experiences seasons
c. The Earth is closer to the sun during summer months
d. The Earth rotates
e. All of these
57. The top of the Hadley Cell, the Ferrel Cell, and the Polar Cell is
called a
a. Polar easterly
b. Westerly
c. Jet stream
d. Trade wind
e. Convection cell

58. The Hadley Cell, the Ferrel Cell, and the Polar Cell are all
examples of
a. Convection cells
b. Ocean currents
c. Prevailing winds
d. Jet streams
e. Storm patterns
59. How many global circulation cells are found on Earth? Consider
both the northern and the southern hemispheres.
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 5
e. 6
60. What percentage of the suns incoming solar radiation is reflected
off of the Earths atmosphere?
a. 0
b. 25
c. 50
d. 75
e. 100
61. What percentage of the suns incoming solar radiation reaches
Earths surface?
a. 0
b. 25
c. 50
d. 75
e. 100
62. What percentage of the suns incoming solar radiation is
absorbed by the molecules in the thermosphere and stratosphere?
a. 0
b. 25
c. 50
d. 75
e. 100
63. The greenhouse effect occurs because
a. The Earth absorbs solar radiation and reemits it at a longer
wavelength
b. There are greenhouse gases in the troposphere
c. The ozone layer absorbs heat
d. A and B
e. All of these
64. As more greenhouse gases are emitted, the more reemitted heat
will be absorbed in Earths troposphere, raising the temperature of
the Earth. This is the main idea of
a. The greenhouse effect
b. Global warming
c. Climate change
d. B and C
e. All of these
65. The Coriolis effect is important in the development of which storm
systems?
a. Hurricanes
b. El Nio
c. Monsoons

d.
e.

La Nia
All of these

66. Which storm system requires warm ocean temperatures in order

to form?
a. El Nio
b. La Nia
c. Hurricanes
d. A and B
e. A and C
67. Which storm systems begin in oceans?
a. El Nio
b. La Nia
c. Monsoons
d. Hurricanes
e. All of these
68. Which storm systems involve the collision between cool and
warm air masses?
a. Tornadoes
b. Hurricanes
c. El Nio
d. Monsoons
e. La Nia
69. When trade winds are reduced, it creates warmer than normal
ocean temperatures off the coast of South America. This results in
global weather changes that can last up to a year. This is referred to
as
a. A tornado
b. A hurricane
c. El Nio
d. A monsoon
e. La Nia
70. The severe weather phenomenon that greatly affects the climate
of India is
a. A tornado
b. A hurricane
c. El Nio
d. A monsoon
e. La Nia
71. The storm systems that greatly affect the Midwest USA is
a. Tornadoes
b. Hurricanes
c. El Nio
d. Monsoons
e. La Nia
72. The risk of hurricanes developing in the Pacific greatly increase
during
a. Tornadoes
b. Hurricanes
c. El Nio
d. Monsoons
e. La Nia
73. Southern California is likely to experience tremendous increases
in rainfall during
a. El Nio

b.

La Nia

74. Southern California is likely to experience prolonged drought

during
a. El Nio
b. La Nia
75. Which severe weather events form because of the Coriolis
effect?
a. El Nio
b. La Nia
c. Hurricanes
d. Tornadoes
e. Monsoons
f. A and B
g. C and D
h. All of these
76. During a monsoon, ___ air on land rises, pulling ___ air from
oceans onto land during the ___ season.
a. Warmer; cooler; rainy
b. Warmer; cooler; dry
c. Cooler; warmer; rainy
d. Cooler; warmer; dry
77. The center of a hurricane is a center of ___ air pressure.
a. High
b. Low
78. Some of the greatest damage from hurricanes is caused by the
increased height of water found in the low pressure areas of the
hurricane. This increased height of water is referred to as the
a. Tidal wave
b. Storm surge
c. Eye of the hurricane
d. Cyclonic flow
e. Gale force winds
79. The highest velocity winds ever measured were found in which
type of severe weather event?
a. Hurricane
b. Monsoon
c. Tornado
d. El Nio
e. La Nia
80. Tornado alley includes which states? Circle all that apply.
a. Kansas
b. Texas
c. Nebraska
d. Florida
e. Iowa
81. During the rainy monsoon season, air on land is ___ than air over
the oceans.
a. Warmer
b. Cooler
82. Fishermen off the coast of Chile would be expected to suffer from
a lack of fish during
a. El Nio

b.

La Nia

83. Hurricanes are more likely to occur in the Pacific during

a. El Nio
b. La Nia
84. Increased rainfall in China would expected during
a. El Nio
b. La Nia
85. The factors that cause air circulation include all of the following
EXCEPT
a. Uneven heating of Earths resources
b. Seasons
c. The changing distance of Earth from the sun
d. Earths rotation
e. Differing properties of land and water
86. The Coriolis effect occurs because
a. The Earth is tilted
b. The Earth is a rotating object
c. The Earth is a sphere
d. The Earth experiences seasons
e. The Earth experiences differential heating
87. Air masses in the northern hemisphere are deflected
a. Clockwise
b. Counterclockwise
88. Air masses in the southern hemisphere are deflected
a. Clockwise
b. Counterclockwise
89. The longer the distance that an air mass travels, the greater it will
be affected by the Coriolis effect.
a. True
b. False
90. Hurricanes cannot develop at the equator for all of these reasons
EXCEPT
a. It is an area of rising air
b. It does not have the right temperature water
c. It is an area of low pressure
d. There are no prevailing winds
e. It is an area referred to as the doldrums
91. Without the Coriolis effect, winds on Earths surface would
a. Travel in straight lines
b. Not travel at all
c. Travel in belts around the equator
d. Form only in polar areas
e. Never form over oceans
92. Which of the following is NOT one of the 3 sets of prevailing wind
patterns in Earth?
a. Westerlies
b. Northerlies
c. Easterlies
d. Trade winds
93. Air masses in the northern hemisphere are deflected ____ or to
the ___.

a.
b.
c.
d.

Clockwise; right
Clockwise; left
Counterclockwise; right
Counterclockwise; left

101. Warm air rises because it is

a. More dense
b. Less dense

94. Air masses in the southern hemisphere are deflected ___ or to

the ___.
a. Clockwise; right
b. Clockwise; left
c. Counterclockwise; right
d. Counterclockwise; left
95. The Earth rotates from ____ when looking at it from space.
a. Right to left
b. Left to right

102. In a convection cell, what sorts of weather do you get where air
is rising?
a. Clear and dry
b. Cloudy and moist

96. Air masses moving from the North Pole toward the equator will be
deflected
a. Clockwise
b. Counterclockwise

104. In a convection cell, what do we call the bottom of the

convection cell?
a. Prevailing winds
b. Jet streams
c. Rising air
d. Sinking air
e. Hurricanes

97. Air masses moving from the South Pole toward the equator will
be deflected
a. Clockwise
b. Counterclockwise
98. Air masses moving from the equator toward the North Pole will be
deflected
a. Clockwise
b. Counterclockwise

103. In a convection cell, what sorts of weather do you get where air
is sinking?
a. Clear and dry
b. Cloudy and moist

105. In a convection cell, what do we call the top of the convection

cell?
a. Prevailing winds
b. Jet streams
c. Rising air
d. Sinking air
e. Hurricanes

99. Air masses moving from the equator toward the South Pole will
be deflected
a. Clockwise
b. Counterclockwise

106. Hurricanes in the northern hemisphere rotate

a. Clockwise
b. Counterclockwise

100. Cool air sinks because it is

a. More dense
b. Less dense

107. Hurricanes in the southern hemisphere rotate

a. Clockwise
b. Counterclockwise

Answer Key
Question
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57

Answer
b
d
e
a
b
c
a
b
b
d
b
d
b
b
c
a
e
c
b
a
d
e
a
b
c
d
b
b
a
b
d
a
a
b
a
b
a
c
c
a
b
b
a
c
d
b
a
c
d
b
b
d
b
b
a
d
c

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a
e
b
c
b
d
d
a
e
e
a
c
d
a
b
e
b
g
a
b
b
c
a, b, c, e
a
a
a
b
c
b
a
b
a
b
a
b
a
c
b
a
b
b
a
a
b
b
a
a
b
b
a