58) Directly above the midlatitudes, the tropopause (-57°C) occurs at approximately:
A) 1 km.
B) 13 km (8 mi.).
C) 50 km (30 mi.).
D) wherever +32°F is recorded as the temperature.
59) Which of the following is correct regarding lapse rates in the troposphere?
A) The term “normal (average) lapse rate” refers to the actual lapse rate in effect at any particular
time.
B) The environmental lapse rate refers to the actual lapse rate at any particular time and may
differ substantially from the normal lapse rate.
C) The normal lapse rate is always the same as the dry adiabatic rate (DAR).
D) Temperatures generally increase with altitude in the troposphere.
60) Which of the following is not true about the troposphere?
A) The altitude of the upper limits of the troposphere (the tropopause) varies with season and
latitude.
B) Approximately 90% of the total mass of the atmosphere is within the troposphere.
C) Temperatures increase with altitudei n the troposphere because the higher in altitude, the
closer to the sun.
D) The bulk of all water vapor occurs in the troposphere.
61) Which country burns more coal and emits more CO2 than any other country on Earth?
A) The United States
B) China
C) Germany
D) India
62) In 2012, Felix Baumgartner became famous for
A) becoming the first individual to complete a free-fall from the stratosphere.
B) breaking Joseph Kittinger’s long-held height and speed free-fall record.
C) completing the longest spacewalk from a Space Shuttle.
D) discovering the true composition of the stratospheric ozone layer.
63) Why are humans and other living things not crushed by the pressure of the atmosphere?
A) Atmospheric pressure increases with altitude and is, therefore, lowest near the Earth’s surface.
B) While the atmosphere exerts pressure, it is a negligible amount.
C) Humans and other living things exert pressure outward, counterbalancing atmospheric
pressure.
D) The tropopause serves as a buffer against the pressure exerted by the atmosphere.
64) Despite its high temperatures, why would the thermosphere feel cold to humans?
A) The number of molecules is not high enough to transfer heat to human’s skin.
B) Humans would die due to pressure changes before they could experience the intense heat.
C) The atmosphere is denser in the thermosphere and this pressure reduces heat transfer.
D) The average kinetic energy is actually less in the thermosphere than the troposphere.
65) Why does temperature increase with altitude in the stratosphere?
A) The increase is due to the effects of the normal lapse rate effect.
B) Chlorofluorocarbons increase ozone concentrations, which enhance temperature.
C) Ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun and then reradiates it at infrared
wavelengths.
D) Ozone acts as a greenhouse gas which traps ultraviolet energy radiated by Earth’s surface.
66) Which of the following best describe conditions in the mesosphere?
A) Temperatures rapidly increase with altitude in the mesosphere.
B) High altitude noctilucent clouds form in the mesosphere.
C) The mesosphere is completely within the heterosphere.
D) The mesosphere is located between the troposphere and the stratosphere.
67) The high temperatures in the thermosphere occur because
A) infrared radiation from the ground heats this layer more than any other layer.
B) methane is such an effective greenhouse gas.
C) carbon dioxide has accumulated to very high levels in this layer.
D) it is in direct contact with high energy solar radiation.
E) high intensity solar radiation causes strong chemical reactions with ozone, and this heats the
layer to very high temperatures.
68) The tropopause occurs at a ________ elevation above the tropics than above the poles
because ________.
A) lower; the stratosphere is thicker over the tropics and so it compresses the troposphere
B) lower; the troposphere weighs more in the tropics and so it sinks
C) higher; the troposphere is hotter in the tropics, and this causes the air to rise to greater heights
D) higher; the stratosphere is thinner over the tropics and this allows the troposphere to expand
69) Which of the following is false?
A) Air pressure decreases through the troposphere then increases in the stratosphere.
B) Air molecules exert air pressure through their motion, size, and number.
C) The atmosphere exerts a force of 1 kg/ ; i.e., 14.7 ln/in2.
D) Air pressure decreases with increasing altitude.
70) In terms of incoming solar radiation (insolation), which is the correct order?
A) troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
B) thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere
C) mesosphere, thermosphere, troposphere, stratosphere
D) stratosphere, troposphere, thermosphere, mesosphere
71) Which of the following best describes air pollution?
A) Both natural and anthropogenic gases, particles, and other substances in amounts that cause
damage to the environment or are harmful to humans.
B) Solely anthropogenic gases, particles, and other substances in amounts that cause damage to
the environment or are harmful to humans.
C) Solely natural gases, particles, and other substances in amounts that cause damage to the
environment or are harmful to humans.
D) A distinct class of gases, particles, and other substances that the EPA has deemed worthy of
regulating.
72) Which of the following is true?
A) Natural sources of air pollution are not a concern in terms of human health.
B) Natural sources of air pollution are a relatively new occurrence.
C) Though infrequent, natural events that produce air pollution may cover large areas.
D) There is no reason to be concerned about natural sources of air pollution.
73) Temperature inversions occur
A) when surface temperatures are higher than overlying layers of air.
B) when there is good air drainage and ventilation of the surface air.
C) when surface temperatures are lower than warmer overlying air.
D) during episodes of reduced air pollution.
74) Why are temperature inversion noteworthy vis-à-vis air pollution?
A) Mesospheric conditions are replicated in the troposphere.
B) Vertical mixing of pollutants is halted, trapping the pollutants under the inversion layer.
C) Surface pollution is moderated by allowing surface air to mix with the air above.
D) Air pollution is completely inhibited from forming.
75) Sources of natural variable pollutants and materials include all of the following except
A) volcanoes.
B) forest fires.
C) plants and decaying plants.
D) industrial activity.
76) With regards to carbon monoxide (CO), which of the following is false?
A) Anthropogenic CO is principally produced by automobiles.
B) Natural CO is produced by decaying organic debris, forest fires, or organic matter
decomposition.
C) Few effects of CO on humans have been identified.
D) It is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas.
77) At CO levels of 100 ppm or less in the bloodstream
A) humans might develop a headache and have losses in vision and judgment.
B) there is no noticeable health effect.
C) the human bloodstream is unaffected.
D) carbon monoxide can contribute to acid rain.
78) Carbon monoxide is potentially dangerous because it
A) replaces oxygen on red blood cells.
B) causes cancer.
C) causes birth defects.
D) causes genetic mutations.
79) The reaction of automobile exhaust and ultraviolet light
A) produces photochemical smog.
B) produces industrial smog.
C) is affecting the stratospheric ozone concentration.
D) forms smoke and fog.
80) Photochemical smog developed with the advent of
A) coal burning stoves.
B) the industrial revolution.
C) smelting of ores.
D) automobiles.
81) Nitrogen dioxide ( )
A) inflames human respiratory tract, destroys lung tissues, and damages plants.
B) is yet to be of consequence in North America.
C) is produced only after photochemical reactions.
D) is more of a concern in nonurban areas than urban.
82) Photochemical reactions produce
A) principally sulfur dioxides.
B) particulates such as dust, dirt, soot, and ash.
C) ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrates (PAN).
D) carbon monoxide.
83) Acid deposition results from
A) carbonic acids dissolved from atmospheric carbon dioxide.
B) nitric acid and sulfuric acid, formed from nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
C) hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
D) hydrochloric acid, formed from the combination of hydrogen chloride and water.
84) in the lower troposphere
A) forms acid rain.
B) is not associated with transportation.
C) causes lung irritation, asthma, and susceptibility to respiratory illness in humans.
D) has not been found to cause any damage to crops and plants.
85) Which of the following is not a result of acid deposition?
A) acidification of lakes
B) release of aluminum and magnesium from clay mineral in soils
C) formation of highly toxic methylmercury in acidified lake waters
D) increase in nutrients in forest ecosystems
86) Which of the following statements about ozone is false?
A) Ozone in the stratosphere protects human health.
B) Ozone in the lower atmosphere protects human health.
C) Stratospheric ozone absorbs harmful radiation.
D) Tropospheric ozone is a component of photochemical smog.
87) The single major source for photochemical reactants in the United States are
A) steel mills and the agricultural industry.
B) electrical generation stations.
C) automobiles.
D) rapid transit, buses, and excessive use of light rail systems.
88) Peroxyacetyl nitrates (PANs) in the lower troposphere
A) are principally related to sulfur dioxides.
B) are formed by particulates such as dust, dirt, soot, and ash.
C) damages and kills plant tissue but does not appear to affect people.
D) are emitted from the tail pipes of automobiles; i.e., it comes directly from automobile exhaust.
89) Industrial smog is
A) associated with photochemistry.
B) principally associated with coal-burning industries.
C) a relatively recent problem that developed during the latter half of this century.
D) principally associated with transportation.
90) Natural rainfall primarily results from the interaction of water with
A) carbon dioxide.
B) sulfur oxides.
C) nitrogen oxides.
D) PAN.
E) ozone.
91) In the lower atmosphere, is
A) formed from photochemical reactions.
B) related to the problem of acid deposition.
C) a problem that only occurred during the first half of this century.
D) formed by a combination of and .
92) Which of the following is not true regarding the oxides of sulfur and nitrogen
A) They lead to the formation of airborne sulfuric and nitric acid.
B) They are produced by industry and transportation.
C) They are causing major environmental problems in Europe and Asia.
D) They are naturally occurring and, therefore, not considered pollutants.
93) What two pollutants react with water to produce acid rain?
A) sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides
B) sulfur oxides and ozone
C) nitrogen oxides and ozone
D) sulfur oxides and PAN
94) Which of the following is true regarding acid deposition?
A) Acids have been causally linked to fish kills in the northeastern United States.
B) Acid precipitation is precipitation that measures more than 7.0 on a pH scale.
C) No lakes or streams have been damaged by acid precipitation.
D) Soil processes generally are not affected by acid precipitation.
95) The lower the pH of a liquid
A) the more acidic it is.
B) the more basic (alkaline) it is.
C) the more neutral it is.
D) the more chemical reactive it is.
96) Given the pH scale is logarithmic where each whole number represents a tenfold increase, a
rain with a pH of 3 is how many times more acidic than rain with a pH of 7?
A) 3
B) 4
C) 100
D) 10,000
E) 1,000,000,000
97) Based on human-induced changes to the atmosphere, some have tentatively labeled the
Earth’s next atmosphere the
A) living atmosphere.
B) modern atmosphere.
C) ozonosphere.
D) anthropogenic atmosphere.
E) pollution sphere.
98) What percent age of the U.S. population lives with unhealthy levels of air pollution.
A) 33%
B) 41%
C) 59%
D) 62%
99) The main ingredients in photochemical smog are
A) ozone, PAN, and nitric acid.
B) PAN, nitric acid, and carbon monoxide.
C) ozone, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide.
D) PAN, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.
100) Particulate matter
A) is, by definition, larger than 100 microns.
B) can include material in smoke.
C) has not yet been studied by scientists.
D) has not been associated with health risks.
101) The Clean Air Act
A) has resulted in the significant reduction in various atmospheric pollutants.
B) )is proposed legislation to address climate change.
C) was ratified by the U.S. Congress in 1987.
D) has not met its stated objectives.
102) According to the EPA, the direct benefits of the Clean Air Act are worth
A) $500 million.
B) $500 billion.
C) $2 trillion.
D) $22 trillion.
103) In 2010, the Clean Air Act
A) was repealed.
B) cost $27 billion to implement, but saved an estimated $110 billion.
C) resulted in some 4 million lost works days.
D) was severely weakened by the Congress in a new bill that was ultimately vetoed by the
President.
104) The Clean Air Act
A) is no longer in effect.
B) did not result in significant reductions of any major air pollutants.
C) was made stronger during the Reagan administration.
D) has saved the country several trillion dollars.
105) Which best describes the cost-benefit results of the first 20 years of the Clean Air?
A) Costs have been far greater than the benefits.
B) In 2010, alone, estimated benefits exceeded costs by 4 to 1.
C) Because many of the benefits of clean air are intangible, it is not possible to make such
comparisons.
D) While costs have exceed benefits 2 to 1, benefits are expected to increase in the coming
decades.