AP Environmental Science : Atmosphere
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Atmospheric Organization
The layer of the Earth's atmosphere in which weather takes place:
stratosphere
magnetosphere
thermosphere
mesosphere
troposphere
troposphere
The troposphere contains the majority of the atmosphere's water vapor, and is thus the layer in which weather occurs.
Example Question #2 : Atmospheric Organization
Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
Trophosphere
Stratosphere
Exosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Stratosphere
The ozone layer is contained in the stratosphere, protecting life in the trophosphere from harmful cosmic radiation.
Example Question #2 : Atmosphere
Which of the following would NOT be a likely consequence of excessive greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
An increase in the amount of heat energy from the sun entering Earth's atmosphere
The depletion of the ozone layer (if the greenhouse gases were of a certain type)
An increase in the amount of heat energy retained on the Earth's surface and in the atmosphere
Increased acidification of Earth's oceans
Potential changes in weather patterns and climate
An increase in the amount of heat energy from the sun entering Earth's atmosphere
Greenhouse gases cause heat rays from the sun that hit Earth to be retained on the planet's surface, which raises temperatures and has a potential to change climates. Excess carbon in the atmosphere is absorbed largely by the planet's oceans, which results in acidification. Chlorofluorocarbons (or CFCs) are potent greenhouse gases that also deplete ozone. The greenhouse effect does not result in an increase in heat energy entering earth, but actually retains the heat already entering earth at a higher rate than normal.
Example Question #3 : Atmospheric Organization
What can we say about the temperature changes in the troposphere with respect to altitude?
The troposphere increases in temperature as altitude increases because hot air rises.
The troposphere decreases in temperature as altitude increases because air particles are less dense as altitude increases.
Temperature changes based on altitude are relatively insignificant, at least in the troposphere.
The troposphere decreases in temperature as altitude decreases because hot air gets trapped in the thermosphere.
The troposphere is where all the heat energy is retained, and cyclical air currents make the overall temperature pretty consistent in this thin layer of the atmosphere.
The troposphere decreases in temperature as altitude increases because air particles are less dense as altitude increases.
While hot air does rise over colder air, density of air particles is more the determining factor for temperature change in the atmosphere. Heat energy is retained better at lower altitudes because there is a greater density of air particles, resulting in greater insulative properties than at higher altitudes, where air particle density is much less.
Example Question #1 : Atmosphere
Which of the following are parts of the Earth's atmospheric layers?
Exosphere
Mesosphere and thermosphere
Troposphere and stratosphere
All of these
All of these
The following mnemonic device may be useful to remember the earth’s atmospheric layers in order: The Silly Monkeys Twirled Endlessly (Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere). All of the choices are part of the earth’s atmospheric layers.
Example Question #1 : Atmosphere
In which part of the atmosphere does the aurora borealis take place?
Hydrosphere
Troposphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Stratosphere
Thermosphere
Since the aurora borealis is caused by electrons from the Sun striking against oxygen atoms in the the highest level of the atmosphere, it must occur in the thermosphere (also known as the ionosphere). The thermosphere extends up to 60 miles or even higher.
Example Question #1 : Atmosphere
Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
The exosphere
The ionosphere
The stratosphere
The troposphere
The stratosphere
The stratosphere contains the most concentrated amount of ozone in any layer of the atmosphere, and is found at the bottom towards the troposphere. The troposphere is where weather occurs and sustains life on Earth. The ionosphere contains atoms stripped of their electrons, and the exosphere is the part of the atmosphere that bleeds into space.
Example Question #7 : Atmospheric Organization
Which layer of the atmosphere do our rain clouds reside within?
Thermosphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Troposphere
Troposphere
The correct response is troposphere. This is the lowest part of the atmosphere where our weather patterns and rain clouds reside.
Example Question #1 : Atmospheric Organization
What layer of the atmosphere does the majority of the ozone layer reside within?
Thermosphere
Troposphere
Tropopause
Stratosphere
Stratosphere
The correct response is stratosphere. Over 90% of the ozone layer is found in the stratosphere.
Example Question #1 : Weather
Which of the following does not impact an area's climate?
The Earth's surface features
Patterns of air and water movement
Gases in the atmosphere
The Earth's rotation
The population dynamics of the keystone species
The population dynamics of the keystone species
Climate may impact the population dynamics of a keystone species, but not the other way around.
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