Unit 3 Review Guide: Atmosphere

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1 Unit 3 Review Guide: Atmosphere Atmosphere: A thin layer of gases that forms a protective covering around the Earth. Photosynthesis: Process where plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Trace Gases: Gases that are so few in quantity. Water Vapor: Water in the atmosphere that s visible to us. Thermosphere: The top layer in Earth s atmosphere (Broken into 2 sub layers) Ionosphere: Bottom part of the thermosphere. Exosphere: Top part of the thermosphere. Mesosphere: The third layer from the bottom in Earth s atmosphere (Coldest Layer) Stratosphere: The second layer from the bottom in Earth s atmosphere, where the ozone layer is located. Troposphere: Lowest layer to the ground in Earth s atmosphere, where weather occurs. Ozone: Gas made up of 3 oxygen molecules that we cannot breathe. Ozone Layer: The layer that absorbs some of the UV rays instead of allowing them all to come through. Air Pressure: The weight from all the air above. Albedo: Another word for reflectivity. Heat: When energy is transferred from a higher temperature object to a lower temperature object. Radiation: The transfer of energy in the form of waves. Conduction: The transfer of energy when molecules bump into each other. Convection: The transfer of energy by the flow of material. Wind: The horizontal movement of air from high pressure to low pressure. Ultraviolet Radiation: A type of energy that comes to Earth from the sun, can damage skin and cause cancer, and is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer.

2 CFC: Group of chemical compounds used in refrigerators, air conditioners, foam packaging, and aerosol sprays that may enter the atmosphere and destroy the ozone. Coriolis Effect: Causes moving air and water to turn left in the southern hemisphere and turn right in the northern hemisphere due to Earth s rotation. Sea Breeze: Movement of air from sea to land during the day when cooler air from above the water moves over the land, forcing the heated, less dense air above the land to rise. Land Breeze: Movement of air from land to sea at night, created when cooler, denser air from the land forces up warmer air over the sea. Practice Problems: 1. Which element in Earth s atmosphere is essential for human life and is extremely rare or nonexistent in the atmospheres of other planets in our solar system? A. Carbon Dioxide B. Hydrogen C. Nitrogen D. Oxygen 2. What causes currents in the atmosphere? A. Ocean waves and currents B. Pressure from the ozone layer C. Solar heating of the upper atmosphere D. Warm air rising and cold air sinking 3. If there were a slight increase in the amount of solar energy that reached the Earth, there would be an immediate increase in- A. Erosion B. Evaporation C. Volcanic Activity D. Groundwater Flow

3 4. The chart shows the relationship between altitude and air pressure. What is the approximate air pressure at an altitude of 22 kilometers? A. 40 Millibars B. 120 Millibars C. 200 Millibars D. 400 Millibars 5. Release of CFC s and similar compounds are a possible cause of- A. Destruction of the ozone in the upper atmosphere B. Acid rain in the northeast U.S. C. Greenhouse gas buildup in the lower atmosphere D. Increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration 6. Ozone Molecules protect Earth from the harmful effects of the sun by- A. Insulating the temperature at the poles B. Condensing water particles in clouds C. Regulating the heat from the sun D. Absorbing ultraviolet radiation 7. Because of the unique position of the Earth in the solar system, life has flourished due to the presence of- A. Helium B. Volcanoes C. Liquid Water D. Salt

4 8. Which of the following was primarily responsible for the development of life outside of the oceans? A. A decrease in atmospheric hydrogen B. A decrease in atmospheric carbon dioxide C. An increase in atmospheric nitrogen D. An increase in atmospheric oxygen 9. What would explain the change in the direction of air movement from daytime to night? A. Water is always cooler than land B. Land temperature changes more quickly than water temperature C. Cool air rises more quickly than warm air D. The sun warms the moist ocean air more than the dry land air 10. Land breezes and sea breezes are created by the differences in- A. The Earth s tilt on its axis B. Solar radiation reaching the Earth s surface C. The heat capacity between water and land D. The living organisms occurring in the land and sea 11. Which diagram correctly shows wind motion between pressure areas? A. B. C. D.

5 12. The ozone layer protects life on Earth from- A. Ultraviolet Rays B. Gamma Rays C. Infrared Rays D. X-Rays