1. Earths first atmosphere approximately 4.6 billion years ago was most likely composed of

Chapter 1

• Earth's first atmosphere (approximately 4.6 billion years ago) was most likely composed of

____.

• nitrogen and oxygen

*b. hydrogen and helium

• carbon dioxide and nitrogen
• oxygen and carbon dioxide

• The primary source of water vapor and carbon dioxide for Earth’s early atmosphere was most

likely ____.

• photosynthesis
• ozone reactions

*c. outgassing

• nitrogen chemical reactions

• The most abundant gases in Earth's present day atmosphere (by volume) are ____.

• carbon dioxide and nitrogen
• oxygen and water vapor

*c. nitrogen and oxygen

• oxygen and helium

• Near Earth’s surface, ____ occupies about 78% and ____ about 21% of the total volume of

dry air.

*a. nitrogen; oxygen

• hydrogen; oxygen
• oxygen; hydrogen
• nitrogen; water vapor

• Atmospheric concentrations of ____ can vary significantly depending on time and location.

• hydrogen

*b. water vapor

• helium
• argon

• The only substance found naturally in the lower atmosphere that can exist as a solid, a liquid,

and a gas is ____.

• carbon dioxide

(Essentials of Meteorology An Invitation to the Atmosphere, 8e Donald Ahrens) (Test Bank, Correct Answer are marked with*) 1 / 4

*b. water

• methane
• ozone

• Which chemical process is an example of condensation?

• water vapor formation

*b. cloud droplet formation

• photosynthesis
• ice formation

• The greenhouse effect is directly enhanced by ____.

• photosynthesis

*b. energy absorption by atmospheric water vapor particles

• chemical weathering
• carbon dioxide dissolution in the oceans

• Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere through the process of ____.

• fuel combustion
• respiration
• volcanic activity

*d. photosynthesis

• Average atmospheric CO2 concentrations have ____ over the past 100 years.

• slightly decreased
• remained constant
• significantly decreased

*d. increased

• Which gas in the upper atmosphere shields Earth’s surface from the sun’s harmful

ultraviolet rays?

• nitrogen
• methane

*c. ozone

• chlorofluorocarbons

• Tiny solid or liquid particles of various compositions that are suspended in the atmosphere

are called ____. 2 / 4

*a. aerosols

• carcinogens
• greenhouse gases
• chlorofluorocarbons

• The "ozone hole" is observed above ____.

• the equator
• Australia

*c. Antarctica

• Asia

• In sunlight, nitrogen dioxide reacts with hydrocarbons and other gases to produce ____.

• weather elements

*b. surface ozone

• the ionosphere
• pollution

• The vertical profile of ____ is variable in each layer of Earth’s atmosphere.

*a. air temperature

• air pressure
• altitude
• air density

• In a temperature inversion, air temperature ____.

*a. increases with increasing height

• decreases with increasing height
• increases with decreasing height
• remains constant with increasing height

• A radiosonde ____.

• measures particulate matter in the atmosphere
• monitors surface weather conditions in remote areas

*c. measures the vertical distribution of atmospheric temperature, pressure, and humidity

• uses radio waves to determine the height of the ionosphere

• All of the weather we are familiar with on Earth occurs in the ____. 3 / 4

• exosphere
• stratosphere
• mesosphere

*d. troposphere

• Jet streams are found within the ____.

• thermosphere

*b. tropopause

• stratopause
• exosphere

• Which gas is responsible for the temperature inversion in the stratosphere?

• carbon dioxide
• nitrogen

*c. ozone

• argon

• Air density is greatest in the ____.

• heterosphere
• thermosphere
• ionosphere

*d. homosphere

• The thermosphere is where charged particles from the sun interact with air molecules to

produce ____.

• ozone

*b. auroras

• radio waves
• humidity

• The exosphere is ____.

• where jet streams are found
• the ozone layer

*c. the upper limit of our atmosphere

• where air density is greatest

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