Chapter 3

Question 1

how far does the atmosphere extend from earths surface

Answer 1

6,000 miles

Question 2

what % of the atmosphere lies within 16 miles of sea level

Answer 2

98%

Question 3

how much nitrogen?

Answer 3

78%

Question 4

how much oxygen?

Answer 4

21%

Question 5

how much argon?

Answer 5

0.9%

Question 6

how much carbon dioxide and other gases?

Answer 6

less than 1%

Question 7

nitrogen
oxygen
argon

Answer 7

permanent gases

Question 8

water vapor
carbon dioxide
ozone

Answer 8

variable gases

Question 9

added by decay and burning of organic matter, volcanic eruptions, and chemical breakdown of specific rocks

Answer 9

nitrogen

Question 10

produced by vegetation

Answer 10

oxygen

Question 11

removed by certain biological processes and by being washed away in rain or snow

Answer 11

nitrogen

Question 12

removed by a variety of organic and inorganic processes

Answer 12

oxygen

Question 13

water in the form of a gas

Answer 13

water vapor

Question 14

effects heating and cooling processes

Answer 14

water vapor

Question 15

absorbs infrared radiation helping to warm the lower atmosphere

Answer 15

carbon dioxide

Question 16

a molecule made up of 3 oxygen atoms

Answer 16

ozone

Question 17

absorbs UV solar radiation

protects life forms from deadly effects

Answer 17

ozone

Question 18

tiny solid and liquid particles

Answer 18

particulates (aerosols)

Question 19

absorb water, and water vapor condenses around them as they float, leading to cloud formation

Answer 19

hygroscopic

Question 20

absorb or reflect sunlight reducing the amount of solar energy reaching the surface

Answer 20

particulates

Question 21

lowest layer of the atmosphere

where all weather occurs

Answer 21

troposphere

Question 22

order of thermal layers

Answer 22

troposphere
stratosphere
mesosphere
thermosphere
exosphere

Question 23

boundaries

Answer 23

tropopause
stratopause
mesopause

Question 24

weight of the overlying air

highest at sea level and decreases with increasing altitude

Answer 24

pressure

Question 25

zone of homogenous composition (uniform distribution of principal gases)

Answer 25

homosphere

Question 26

zone of heterogeneous composition (layered distribution of gases according to molecular weights)

Answer 26

heterosphere

Question 27

concentration of ozone relative to other gases is at its max

Answer 27

ozonosphere

Question 28

deep layer of electrically charged molecules and atoms called ions

Answer 28

ionosphere

Question 29

naturally produced in the stratosphere and serves as a shield to protect life on earth from deadly uv rays of the sun

Answer 29

ozone

Question 30

short run atmospheric conditions that exist for a given time in a specific area

Answer 30

weather

Question 31

the pattern of day to day weather conditions over a long period of time, encompassing both the average characteristics and the variations and extremes

Answer 31

climate