2. Structure of the Atmosphere

Question 1

The internationally recognized boundary to space lies at 100km above sea level. What is this boundary called?

Answer 1

the Kármán Line

Question 2

How is the boundary to space, at 100km above sea level, defined?

Answer 2

this is roughly the maximum altitude at which a fixed-wing aircraft can fly without having to go at orbital velocity

Question 3

Travelers who cross the boundary to space are allowed to call themselves….

Answer 3

astronauts

Question 4

What is the difference between astronauts and aeronauts?

Answer 4

Astronauts: These are individuals trained to travel and work in space. They typically go beyond the Kármán line (100 km above sea level), where they experience microgravity and operate spacecraft.
Aeronauts: These individuals operate in the Earth’s atmosphere, usually at lower altitudes, such as those flying in hot air balloons, airplanes, or other aircraft. They do not venture into space.

Question 5

The first human-made object travelled into space during….

Answer 5

World War II

Question 6

The first (purposefully) biological entities that traveled to space were

Answer 6

Corn Kernels

Question 7

The first animals sent to space were….

Answer 7

Fruit Flies

Question 8

Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel to space in 1961, sent by which country?

Answer 8

The Soviet Union

Question 9

The following list provides the layers of the atmosphere from closest to Earth to farthest from Earth

Answer 9

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere

Question 10

90% of the mass of the atmosphere is generally found in which layer?

Answer 10

troposphere

Question 11

Noctilucent clouds are limited to the _______________

Answer 11

mesosphere

Question 12

This atmospheric layer is the highest layer that can be readily studied using helium weather balloons.

Answer 12

stratosphere

Question 13

The following best describes why the maximum altitude of a hot air balloon is limited to the lower stratosphere

Answer 13

the hot air in the balloon reaches its minimum density in the lower stratosphere, and can only rise until the air surrounding it goes from denser to equal in density.

Question 14

Most of what we refer to as “weather” takes place in this atmospheric layer

Answer 14

troposphere

Question 15

The massive eruption columns of major stratovolcanoes can reach into and inject gases and aerosols into this layer of the atmosphere

Answer 15

stratosphere

Question 16

Ozone has the chemical formula:

Answer 16

O3

Question 17

90% of the world’s ozone is found in this atmospheric layer

Answer 17

Stratosphere

Question 18

What is the missing variable in this chemical formula?: O2 + ____ = 2O

Answer 18

UV radiation

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a recognized UV radiation designation?

Answer 19

UV-D

Question 20

UV radiation between 100 and 240 nanometers is primarily absorbed by _________ in the stratosphere.

Answer 20

oxygen (O2)

Question 21

Ozone molecules effectively absorb UV radiation between 240 and 315 nanometers. What type of UV radiation does this primarily affect?

Answer 21

UV-C and UV-B

Question 22

Pre-CFCs levels of stratospheric ozone hovered around and annual maximum of…..

Answer 22

300 Dobson Units

Question 23

Scientists first expressed concern about the ozone-depleting abilities of which byproduct of high-altitude supersonic jet aircraft?

Answer 23

nitrous oxides

Question 24

Which of the following ozone depleting substances is exclusively of human origins (no natural sources)?

Answer 24

CFCs

Question 25

The ozone hole above the Antarctic was first discovered by three scientists from the British Antarctic Survey in_________.

Answer 25

1985

Question 26

True or False? The Ozone Holes above the Arctic and Antarctic persist year round.

Answer 26

False

Question 27

Significant ozone holes only form in the polar regions of the planet because…..

Answer 27

Ozone destruction by chlorinated compounds is fastest in cold temperatures and in the presence of atmospheric ice crystals.

Question 28

“CFC” is short for……..

Answer 28

chlorofluorocarbon

Question 29

True or False? The 1985 Vienna Convention saw a 196 nations commit to a total reduction of ozone-depleting substances.

Answer 29

False

Question 30

Current estimates of the rate of ozone hole “healing” predict a return to pre-CFC Dobson levels by…..

Answer 30

2050

Question 31

CFCs were widely used in the following applications (click all that apply):

Answer 31

aerosol spray can propellant
refrigeration and air conditioning
fire suppressants
foaming agents
solvents and circuit cleaners

Question 32

True or False? The increased UV radiation through the ozone holes causes global warming

Answer 32

False