ESS COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADE A+ NEWEST EDITION
2024
What is the name of the atmospheric layer (defined by temperature) where most of our
weather happens?
Troposhere
Which of the following is a sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide?
Photosynthesis
Why is 80% of the gas in the atmosphere in the lower 10km (the troposphere)?
Because the gas molecules closest to the ground are compressed by the weight of the other gas
molecules above them
Which of the following would increase Earth's albedo?
replacing forest with areas of tundra
What would a decrease in Earth's albedo do to global temperatures?
increase global temperature
Which of the following is the reason that nitrogen and argon make up a large proportion of
Earth's atmosphere today?
Because they are both chemically nonreactive and do not dissolve easily in the oceans
Where would you find most of the carbon that used to form the carbon dioxide in Earth's
second atmosphere?
in Earth's rocks and sediment
Where is the concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere highest?
Close to Earth's surface at low latitudes
Ozone is a very important gas for life on Earth. Which of the statements about ozone is
true?
The absorption of ultraviolet radiation by oxygen (and ozone) in the stratosphere results in a
warming with increasing altitude
What is the name for the atmospheric layer in which the relative composition of permanent
gases is always the same?
Homosphere
Calculate the solar flux density (also known as the solar constant) for Mercury using the
following information:
Solar luminosity = 3.865 x 10^26 W
Distance of Mercury from the Sun = 5.791 x 10^10 m
9171 W/m2
, whats responsible for the sky appearing blue
rayleigh scattering
What would happen to SOUTHERN hemisphere seasons if the orientation of Earth's tilt
were to change from that shown in Figure A to that shown in Figure B?
winters would be warmer and summers colder
Using the graph below, which gas(es) in the atmosphere are most important for absorbing
radiation with wavelengths in the ultraviolet range?
oxygen and ozone
Which of the following is the best explanation of Earth's (and other planets') greenhouse
effect?
Incoming visible (shortwave) radiation is transmitted by the atmosphere but outgoing infrared
(longwave) radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere
The surface temperature on Venus is EXTREMELY hot - over 450 oC. Which of the
following is NOT a reason that Venus is hotter than Earth?
Venus has a higher albedo than the Earth
The first law of thermodynamics (the law of conservation of energy) is a statement that:
the total amount of energy in a system is constant but can change from one form to another
If a plane flies from the Equator towards the South Pole it would be deflected to the:
east
What type of energy transfer occurs in the atmosphere due to moving air molecules (wind)
bumping into objects and so moving vertically in the atmosphere?
forced convection
When water vapor in the atmosphere condenses to form clouds (droplets of liquid water) is
energy released or absorbed, and what does this do to the temperature of the surrounding
air?
energy is released which warms the surrounding air
Pressure gradient
(high pressure - low pressure) / distance
When I add 4000 Joules to a kg of a substance it heats up from 12 oC to 20 oC. What is the
specific heat of this substance?
500 J/kg/oC
Which two forces from the list below balance out to create geostrophic winds?
horizontal pressure gradient force and Coriolis
Compared to a clear night, a cloudy night would be:
warmer because clouds absorb outgoing radiation from the Earth
Which of the following is a reason that the temperature during the day in Las Vegas can be
a lot higher than in Irvine
surrounded by desert
cold ocean from in irvine
there are fewer clouds during the day in las vegas
Which of the following is NOT a reason that the temperature during the day in Las Vegas
can be a lot higher than in Irvine?
Las Vegas is at higher altitude than Irvine
What is the name for the process where frost (ice) forms directly from water vapor?
desposition
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADE A+ NEWEST EDITION
2024
What is the name of the atmospheric layer (defined by temperature) where most of our
weather happens?
Troposhere
Which of the following is a sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide?
Photosynthesis
Why is 80% of the gas in the atmosphere in the lower 10km (the troposphere)?
Because the gas molecules closest to the ground are compressed by the weight of the other gas
molecules above them
Which of the following would increase Earth's albedo?
replacing forest with areas of tundra
What would a decrease in Earth's albedo do to global temperatures?
increase global temperature
Which of the following is the reason that nitrogen and argon make up a large proportion of
Earth's atmosphere today?
Because they are both chemically nonreactive and do not dissolve easily in the oceans
Where would you find most of the carbon that used to form the carbon dioxide in Earth's
second atmosphere?
in Earth's rocks and sediment
Where is the concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere highest?
Close to Earth's surface at low latitudes
Ozone is a very important gas for life on Earth. Which of the statements about ozone is
true?
The absorption of ultraviolet radiation by oxygen (and ozone) in the stratosphere results in a
warming with increasing altitude
What is the name for the atmospheric layer in which the relative composition of permanent
gases is always the same?
Homosphere
Calculate the solar flux density (also known as the solar constant) for Mercury using the
following information:
Solar luminosity = 3.865 x 10^26 W
Distance of Mercury from the Sun = 5.791 x 10^10 m
9171 W/m2
, whats responsible for the sky appearing blue
rayleigh scattering
What would happen to SOUTHERN hemisphere seasons if the orientation of Earth's tilt
were to change from that shown in Figure A to that shown in Figure B?
winters would be warmer and summers colder
Using the graph below, which gas(es) in the atmosphere are most important for absorbing
radiation with wavelengths in the ultraviolet range?
oxygen and ozone
Which of the following is the best explanation of Earth's (and other planets') greenhouse
effect?
Incoming visible (shortwave) radiation is transmitted by the atmosphere but outgoing infrared
(longwave) radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere
The surface temperature on Venus is EXTREMELY hot - over 450 oC. Which of the
following is NOT a reason that Venus is hotter than Earth?
Venus has a higher albedo than the Earth
The first law of thermodynamics (the law of conservation of energy) is a statement that:
the total amount of energy in a system is constant but can change from one form to another
If a plane flies from the Equator towards the South Pole it would be deflected to the:
east
What type of energy transfer occurs in the atmosphere due to moving air molecules (wind)
bumping into objects and so moving vertically in the atmosphere?
forced convection
When water vapor in the atmosphere condenses to form clouds (droplets of liquid water) is
energy released or absorbed, and what does this do to the temperature of the surrounding
air?
energy is released which warms the surrounding air
Pressure gradient
(high pressure - low pressure) / distance
When I add 4000 Joules to a kg of a substance it heats up from 12 oC to 20 oC. What is the
specific heat of this substance?
500 J/kg/oC
Which two forces from the list below balance out to create geostrophic winds?
horizontal pressure gradient force and Coriolis
Compared to a clear night, a cloudy night would be:
warmer because clouds absorb outgoing radiation from the Earth
Which of the following is a reason that the temperature during the day in Las Vegas can be
a lot higher than in Irvine
surrounded by desert
cold ocean from in irvine
there are fewer clouds during the day in las vegas
Which of the following is NOT a reason that the temperature during the day in Las Vegas
can be a lot higher than in Irvine?
Las Vegas is at higher altitude than Irvine
What is the name for the process where frost (ice) forms directly from water vapor?
desposition
