Atmosphere Multiple Choice Questions and Answers for Practice

16. Wind systems are generated by:

1. the interaction of the atmosphere with the charged particles of the solar wind.
2. different pressures in different places.
3. the drag on the atmosphere caused by the earths rotation.
4. the movements of ocean currents.

17. The stratosphere warms because of:

1. the injection of moisture by meteors.
2. the injection of moisture by high-flying jet aircraft.
3. the interaction of ozone and ultraviolet light.
4. dust and dirt deposited by volcanoes.

18. Hydrostatic equilibrium occurs when:

1. the force of gravity and the vertical pressure gradient both act to push air downward.
2. large air masses are moving either up or down.
3. the force of gravity and the vertical pressure gradient both act to push air upward.
4. the force of gravity and the vertical pressure gradient have equal value and oppose each other.

19. Most of the outgoing terrestrial radiation at the top of the atmosphere are emitted from:

1. the atmosphere
2. Earths surface

20. Saturation vapor pressure is dependent upon this variable:

1. temperature.
2. air composition.
3. air pressure.

21. The dew point temperature:

1. tells us how cold the air is.
2. tells us how moist the air is.
3. can be larger or smaller than the air temperature.

22. This occurs around a high-pressure system when the Coriolis effect exceeds the pressure gradient force, causing air to turn:

1. subgeostrophic flow.
2. geostrophic flow.
3. supergeostrophic flow.

23. The temperature is lowest here:

1. stratosphere.
2. mesopause.
3. tropopause.
4. stratopause.

24. In this atmospheric layer, the temperature is relatively constant for the first 10 kilometers, then it increases:

1. stratosphere.
2. mesosphere.
3. troposphere.
4. thermosphere.

25. The highest temperatures are typically found in the:

1. stratosphere.
2. troposphere.
3. mesosphere.
4. thermosphere.

26. The Stefan-Boltzmann Law gives the relationship between:

1. solar energy and distance.
2. moisture and long-wave radiation.
3. emissivity and wavelength.
4. the intensity of radiation and the temperature of an object.

27. The mixing ratio has the most in common with this measure of water vapor:

1. saturation vapor pressure.
2. absolute humidity.
3. specific humidity.
4. relative humidity.

28. Which of the following will increase in a rising parcel of air?

1. saturation vapor pressure.
2. relative humidity.
3. air temperature.

29. As the air temperature increases, with no addition of water vapor to the air, the relative humidity will:

1. remain the same.
2. increase.
3. decrease.

30. Sunsets are red for all of the following reasons except:

1. red light has more energy than blue light.
2. Rayleigh & Mie scattering.
3. light has to travel through more atmosphere to reach the observer.