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1 | |
An airplane flying coast to coast might reach an altitude of about 35,000 feet. This is above about what percentage of the earth's atmosphere? |
| | A) | 50% |
| | B) | 75% |
| | C) | 90% |
| | D) | 99% |
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2 | |
On the surface of the earth, normal atmospheric pressure is enough to support what height of a column of mercury? Approximately |
| | A) | 29.9 cm. |
| | B) | 76.0 cm. |
| | C) | 101 cm. |
| | D) | 760 cm. |
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3 | |
You might notice that your ears "pop" when moving from a higher altitude to a lower altitude. This "pop" is caused by |
| | A) | air moving from the outside to the backside of your eardrum. |
| | B) | air moving from the backside of your eardrum to the outside. |
| | C) | decreased air pressure on the outside of your eardrum. |
| | D) | decreased air pressure on the backside of your eardrum. |
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4 | |
When sunlight is perpendicular to the earth's atmosphere nearly 1400 watts/meter2 of solar energy is available at the outermost part. About what percentage of this energy on average actually reaches the earth's surface? |
| | A) | 20% |
| | B) | 33% |
| | C) | 50% |
| | D) | 67% |
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5 | |
The amount of water vapor in the earth's atmosphere ranges from a small fraction of a percent composition by volume in cold air to a maximum in warm air of about |
| | A) | 1%. |
| | B) | 4%. |
| | C) | 49%. |
| | D) | 99%. |
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6 | |
Of the total energy radiated by the sun, the majority occurs in which part of the electromagnetic spectrum? |
| | A) | visible light |
| | B) | invisible ultraviolet radiation |
| | C) | invisible infrared radiation |
| | D) | this varies with the time of year |
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7 | |
The greenhouse effect results in warmer temperatures near the earth's surface because |
| | A) | clouds trap infrared radiation near the surface. |
| | B) | some of the energy that would ordinarily escape is redirected toward the surface. |
| | C) | carbon dioxide and water vapor trap infrared radiation. |
| | D) | carbon dioxide molecules do not permit radiation to escape. |
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8 | |
The ozone shield is an interaction between ultraviolet light and ozone that takes place in the |
| | A) | troposphere. |
| | B) | stratosphere. |
| | C) | exosphere. |
| | D) | ozonosphere. |
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9 | |
A "C" night is described by the words cool, clear, calm, and on such a night you would expect the air in the bottom of a valley to be |
| | A) | cooler than air on the sides of the valley. |
| | B) | warmer than air on the sides of the valley. |
| | C) | less dense than air on the sides of the valley. |
| | D) | the same temperature as air on the sides of the valley. |
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10 | |
Pollution in the form of tiny dust, smoke, soot, or salt crystals suspended in the air is necessary in the overall process of |
| | A) | water vapor condensing. |
| | B) | clouds forming. |
| | C) | participation forming and falling. |
| | D) | all of the above. |
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11 | |
A news reporter stating that the sun is expected to "burn off" a fog means that the fog will go away because |
| | A) | sunlight decomposes water vapor into hydrogen and oxygen. |
| | B) | sunlight increases the relative humidity through evaporation. |
| | C) | sunlight increases temperature, which increases the air capacity to hold water vapor. |
| | D) | fog is made up of very, very tiny droplets of water, which can burn in strong sunlight. |
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12 | |
Hot air rising from the equatorial regions spreads north and south, then cools and descends to form |
| | A) | a belt of moist, low-pressure air. |
| | B) | a belt of dry, high-pressure air. |
| | C) | the jet stream. |
| | D) | a Chinook. |
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13 | |
A measure of the amount of water vapor in the air is called |
| | A) | humidity. |
| | B) | relative humidity. |
| | C) | absolute humidity. |
| | D) | water vapor index. |
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14 | |
A measure of the amount of water vapor in the air compared to what could be in the air at that temperature is called |
| | A) | humidity. |
| | B) | relative humidity. |
| | C) | absolute humidity. |
| | D) | water vapor index. |
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15 | |
How does the average amount of water that returns to the oceans by precipitation compare to the water that leaves by evaporation? |
| | A) | Evaporation is greater than precipitation. |
| | B) | Precipitation and evaporation are equal. |
| | C) | Precipitation is greater than evaporation. |
| | D) | There is no pattern that can be generalized. |
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16 | |
Which of the following is not considered to be a form of precipitation? |
| | A) | rain |
| | B) | dew |
| | C) | snow |
| | D) | hail |
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17 | |
When water vapor in the atmosphere condenses to liquid water, |
| | A) | dew falls to the ground. |
| | B) | it rains or snows. |
| | C) | a cloud forms. |
| | D) | all of these are correct. |
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18 | |
Which cloud type is usually associated with the arrival of a strong cold front? |
| | A) | high, thin cirrus |
| | B) | towering cumulus |
| | C) | low stratus |
| | D) | any of these |
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19 | |
A warm front forms when |
| | A) | a cold air mass displaces warmer air. |
| | B) | masses of cold air and warm air move past one another in opposite directions. |
| | C) | sunlight warms a stationary cold air mass. |
| | D) | a warm air mass advances, pushing away a mass of cooler air. |
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20 | |
A cyclone is centered about a |
| | A) | region of low pressure. |
| | B) | region of high pressure. |
| | C) | cold front. |
| | D) | occluded front. |
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21 | |
Long periods of drizzle, rain, or snow are usually associated with which cloud type? |
| | A) | stratus |
| | B) | cumulus |
| | C) | cirrus |
| | D) | none of these |
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22 | |
A condition that lifts air to form cumulus clouds is |
| | A) | differential heating. |
| | B) | mountain barriers. |
| | C) | a cold front. |
| | D) | any of these. |
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23 | |
Rain never falls from which cloud type? |
| | A) | stratus |
| | B) | cumulus |
| | C) | cirrus |
| | D) | none of these |
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24 | |
Brief periods of showers are usually associated with which cloud type? |
| | A) | stratus |
| | B) | cumulus |
| | C) | cirrus |
| | D) | none of these |
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25 | |
Most of the great deserts in the world are located |
| | A) | near the equator. |
| | B) | 30˚ north or south latitude. |
| | C) | 60˚ north or south latitude. |
| | D) | deserts can be found at any latitude. |
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