ATMOSPHERIC STUDIES

Complete the following questions by selecting the corresponding letter which matches
the correct answer.

1. The term monsoon refers to:

a) seasonal winds
b) change of season
c) wind change
d) windy season

2. During the summer monsoon in Asia, the winds that travel across equatorial
waters from the south to Asia are:

a) warm and wet

b) warm and dry
c) cool and wet
d) cool and dry

Question 3 refers to the monsoon diagram below:

area of rising air

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3. Which of the following statements is true?

a) winds at A are blowing in a north easterly direction

b) as it is summer monsoon season, winds at A will be dry
c) as it is summer monsoon season, winds at B will be hot and dry
d) air at B is forced to rise

4. During the summer monsoon season in Asia:

a) an area of low pressure is created as the landmass becomes quite hot due to the
sun being directly overhead
b) air will flow from the low pressure system over Asia to the southern
hemisphere to equalise atmospheric pressure
c) an area of high pressure is created over the Asian landmass as the sun’s rays
are directly overhead
d) air will flow from the high pressure system present over Asia across the
equator to the southern hemisphere resulting in the reversal of the wind
direction

5. The Australian continent shares the operation of a monsoonal wind system

with which other continent?

a) Antarctica
b) New Zealand
c) Africa
d) Asia

6. Tropical monsoons experience heavy annual rainfalls. Annual rainfall figures

for the Himalaya region exceed:

a) 5000mm each year

b) 1000mm each year
c) 1500mm each year
d) 2000mm each year
e) 3500mm each year

7. Which statement is incorrect regarding air pressure?

a) is measured by a barometer
b) unit of measurement is a hectopascal
c) air has weight because of gravity
d) temperature does not change air pressure

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8. Air pressure is not the same in all regions nor similar in the same region due
to:

a) the earth’s rotation

b) temperature
c) altitude
d) all of the above

9. The following diagram illustrates which relationship described below?

Low pressure Low pressure

Molecules get closer Molecules get farther

together and outward apart and outward
pressure increases pressure decreases

High pressure High pressure

a) as air moves from a low to a high pressure its volume decreases

b) as air moves from a high pressure to a low pressure its volume remains the
same
c) as air moves from a low to a high pressure its volume increases
d) as air moves from a high pressure to a low pressure its volume increases

10. When air is warmed it expands, therefore the molecules spread out over a:

a) smaller area and the pressure of the air is decreased

b) larger area and the pressure of the air is decreased
c) similar area and the pressure of the air remains constant
d) an unchanged area and the pressure of the air remains constant

11. Due to the earth’s rotation, the air at the poles:

a) is “thrown” towards the equator

b) is “thrown” out into space
c) becomes piled up at the polar regions
d) remains stationary

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12. Which of the following pressure belts are found between 80 and 90 degrees
south?

a) polar low
b) equatorial low
c) polar high
d) sub tropical high

13. The degree of hotness of our atmosphere is called:

a) temperature
b) air pressure
c) altitude
d) gravity

14. The rotation of the earth causes freely moving water and air masses to be
deflected from their original courses. This is called:

a) Coriolis Law
b) Ferrals Law
c) The Coriolis Effect
d) The Ferrals Effect

15. Air masses are deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left
in the southern hemisphere. Which of the following diagram(s) illustrate this
law for winds that are deflected in the northern hemisphere?

i) L.P ii) H.P

H.P L.P

iii) L.P iv) H.P

H.P L.P

----- path winds would take if earth not rotating

___ path taken due to rotation of earth

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a) iv
b) ii
c) iii & iv
d) i
e) i & ii

16. Air masses that tend to form over oceans are referred to as:

a) maritime air masses

b) continental air masses
c) marine air masses
d) oceanic air masses

17. Which one of the following statements concerning winds and atmospheric
pressure is not correct?

a) winds blow in a clockwise direction around a centre of low pressure in the

southern hemisphere
b) winds blow in a clockwise direction around a centre of low pressure in the
northern hemisphere
c) winds blow in an anticlockwise direction around a centre of high pressure in
the southern hemisphere
d) winds blow in a clockwise direction around a centre of high
pressure in the northern hemisphere

18. The three distinctive wind types that make up the earth’s prevailing winds are:

a) Easterlies/Polar/Trades
b) Polar/Westerlies/Trades
c) Polar/Westerlies/Tropicals
d) Westerlies/Trades/Equatorials

19. A low pressure system exists at this location due to the sun being directly
overhead for most of the year:

a) north pole
b) equator
c) mid atitudes
d) south pole

20. Whenever a low pressure system is formed, air tends to flow:

a) past it
b) out of it
c) into it
d) through it

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21. An anticyclone over North America would be a system in which the winds
blow:

a) clockwise from the centre

b) anticlockwise from the centre
c) clockwise towards the centre
d) anticlockwise towards the centre

22. Vertical movements of air are called:

a) currents
b) winds
c) willy-willies
d) pressure systems

23. The example of a simple wind illustrated below is a:

a) sea breeze
b) land breeze
c) day breeze
d) night breeze

24. Referring to the operation of a sea breeze, which statements are correct?

i) during the day, the land heats up much faster than the ocean
ii) cooler air flows from the land towards the sea
iii) cooler air flows from the sea towards the land
iv) during the day, the ocean heats up much faster than the land
v) the warmer land creates an area of lower pressure relative to the ocean.

a) i&iii
b) i&ii
c) i,ii&iii
d) ii&v

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25. These winds occurs due to the difference in temperatures between Asia and the
surrounding oceans:

a) trades
b) monsoons
c) chinooks
d) doldrums

26. Trade winds may best be described as:

a) near calm winds in the equatorial low pressure area

b) very strong and fast winds in the upper troposphere
c) winds which blow from the southeast in the northern hemisphere
d) winds which blow from the subtropical high pressure area towards the
equatorial low

*27. When valley slopes are heated an area of low pressure results producing an
upslope breeze. This uphill wind is called:

a) an anabatic wind
b) an adiabatic wind
c) a katabatic wind
d) a katiabatic wind

28. What is the name of the pressure system which forms about 60 degrees north
and south , as air flows away from the poles?

a) sub tropical high

b) sub tropical low
c) sub polar high
d) sub polar low

29. Which statement is incorrect concerning the characteristics of the inter-

tropical convergence zone?

a) it is a region which is thermally induced

b) it is a region of convectional rainfall
c) it is a region if orographic rainfall
d) it is a region of low pressure
e) it is a zone that migrates seasonally

30. With reference to global wind circulation, how many intermediate pressure
belts exist?

a) 4
b) 1
c) 3
d) 7

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*31. Hadley cells are established:

a) through the cooling of polar air as it moves towards the equator

b) through a heating and cooling pattern of circulation of equatorial air
c) when warm equatorial air meets cool polar air forming an area of low pressure
d) through sub tropical pressure belts

32. An air mass is a:

a) a body of air with similar pressure and temperature conditions

b) a body of air that flows only over ocean from land
c) large body of air with similar pressure and temperature conditions
d) a stable area of descending air

33. The hydrosphere may best be described as the:

a) the earth’s solid shell

b) system of water storage
c) zone in which all life exists
d) transparent gaseous envelope surrounding the earth

34. The mesosphere temperatures fall quickly with elevation due to which
factor(s) absorbing insolation?

a) water vapour
b) dust particles
c) cloud
d) all of the above

35. All weather systems and surface winds occur in the:

a) stratosphere
b) thermosphere
c) troposphere
d) mesosphere

36. The earth’s atmosphere may be divided into 4 distinct layers from sea level.
These layers occur in which of the following orders?

a) troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere

b) troposphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, thermosphere
c) stratosphere, troposphere, thermosphere, mesosphere
d) mesosphere, troposphere, thermosphere, stratosphere

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37. The hydrosphere may best be described as the:

a) earth’s solid shell

b) system of water storage
c) zone in which all life exists
d) transparent and gaseous envelope surrounding the earth

38. Which of the following factors will not affect the amount of insolation the
earth receives?

a) latitude
b) season
c) composition of the atmosphere
d) distribution of daylight hours
e) altitude

39. The main contributor to smog production is:

a) power stations
b) the use of wood heaters
c) car exhaust fumes
d) burning fossil fumes

40. The global heat budget is described as:

a) a balance between incoming insolation and outgoing thermal radiation

b) gain of heat produced through thermal radiation
c) transfer of heat from the tropics to the poles
d) the gain or loss of heat in the atmosphere

41. Which process does not deal with long wave radiation?

a) convection
b) radiation
c) transmission
d) conduction

42. Incoming solar radiation becomes heat energy only after it reaches the earth’s
surface. This heat energy is radiated back into the atmosphere as:

a) insolation
b) infrared energy
c) short wave radiation
d) long wave insolation

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43. Which two statements are incorrect?

1. the atmosphere is heated through long wave radiation

2. the atmosphere is heated through short wave radiation
3. the earth is heated through short wave radiation
4. the earth is heated through long wave radiation

a) 1&2
b) 3&4
c) 1&3
d) 2&4

44. Transmission is the:

a) heat energy that passes through the atmosphere

b) heating of the atmosphere as the sun’s rays passes through it
c) sun emitting solar radiation
d) inability of the atmosphere to permit the suns rays to passing through

45. Insolation stands for:

a) incoming solar radiation

b) incoming sun rays
c) incoming solar reflection
d) incoming solar rays

46. Which gas comprises the greatest percentage of the atmosphere?

a) oxygen
b) carbon dioxide
c) carbon monoxide
d) nitrogen

*47. Heat energy is measured by the unit:

a) kilowatt
b) solar joule
c) kilojoule
d) calorie

*48. To raise the temperature of one litre of water by one degrees celcius takes:

a) 1 calorie of heat energy

b) 10 calories of heat energy
c) 100 calories of heat energy
d) 1kilojoule of heat energy

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49. The degree of reflection is referred to as:

a) reflection
b) albino
c) albedo
d) reflectivity

50. At night when the earth’s surface starts to cool down, some of the heat trapped
in the atmosphere is:

a) radiated back to earth

b) absorbed back to earth
c) conducted back to earth
d) reflected back to earth

51. The transfer of heat energy back to the atmosphere is called:

a) thermal radiation
b) convection
c) transmission
d) thermal transference
e) terrestrial transference

52. A person which burns their finger by touching a hot toaster is an example of:

a) conduction
b) convection
c) absoprtion
d) insulation

53. Two of the following proposals concerning the Greenhouse Effect are
incorrect. Which two are untrue?

Without the Greenhouse Effect the earth would:

i) experience freezing nights

ii) not maintain a relatively constant planetary temperature
iii) result in a greater range between minimum and maximum temperatures
iv) retain more long-wave heat energy
v) experience a smaller range of maximum and minimum temperatures

a) i & ii
b) ii & iv
c) iv & v
d) iii & v

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54. One full revolution of the earth around the sun takes:

a) 366 days
b) 365.25 days
c) 364 days
d) 366.25 days
e) 364.25 days

55. The orbit the earth takes is:

a) eclipsal in shape
b) round in shape
c) spheroidal in shape
d) elliptical in shape

56. The area of the earth that receives the most insolation and is the closest part of
the earth’s surface to the sun is referred to as:

a) inter-tropical convergence zone

b) heat equator
c) thermal equator
d) all of the above

57. If the sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer which season would the
hemisphere be experiencing?

a) winter
b) summer
c) spring
d) autumn

58. Which of the following statement(s) is true?

a) the equator receives 12 hours of sunlight per day

b) due to the tilt of the earth’s axis, places further from the equator
experience longer Summer days and shorter days in Winter
c) during the Summer Solstice the poles receive six months of constant sunlight
d) all of the above

59. Which description is incorrect?

Due to the effect of the angle of incidence of the suns rays:

a) the poles receive heat rays dispersed over a larger area

b) the suns rays must pass through more atmosphere to reach the polar regions
c) the poles receive heat rays dispersed over a smaller area?
d) polar regions receive less insolation than equatorial regions due to the greater
distance from the sun

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60. There are a number of contributing greenhouse gases that assist in the
retaining of heat within the earth’s atmosphere. Which one of the following is
NOT a contributor?

a) carbon dioxide
b) nitrogen
c) nitrous oxide
d) methane

61. In the Greenhouse Effect, the earth’s atmosphere

a) permits all radiated heat to escape as short wave radiation

b) allows only part of the radiated heat to escape as long wave radiation
c) allows all radiated heat to escape as long wave radiation
d) permits only a portion of radiated heat to escape as short wave radiation

62. Man’s activities have often been criticised for their role they play in
exacerbating the Greenhouse Effect. Which one of the following actions is
NOT likely to increase levels of carbon dioxide within the atmosphere?

a) reforestation
b) burning of firewood
c) release of vehicle exhaust fumes
d) fossil fuel consumption

63. The breaking down of the ozone layer through the manufacture of
chloroflurocarbons has been responsible for:

a) an increase in ultraviolet radiation levels

b) a thinning of the ozone layer at polar regions
c) a decrease in the magnification of the Greenhouse Effect
d) an increase in global temperatures

64. The Greenhouse Effect may also be called:

a) Global Warming
b) Glasshouse Effect
c) Radiated Effect
d) Hot House Warming

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65. The Greenhouse diagram bellows illustrates:

Greenhouse Atmosphere

a) incoming solar radiation warms up both the glasshouse and atmosphere

b) insolation becomes trapped inside the glasshouse, causing it to warm up
c) shortwave radiation warms the greenhouse
d) longwave heat energy can not escape easily through the greenhouse, thus the
greenhouse stays warm
e) the atmosphere and greenhouse operate similarly as long wave radiation
passes slowly out of the greenhouse and atmosphere, causing it to remain
warm

66. The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect has occurred due to:

a) the naturally occurring levels of carbon dioxide that exist within the
atmosphere
b) increased consumption of fossil fuels
c) methane production from grazing animals
d) reafforestation

*67. Some scientists believe that due to the continued production of greenhouse
gases, global warming is occurring. If these emissions are not controlled or
reduced, it is likely to result in a dramatic change in rainfall received in years
to come. This changing rainfall may produce:

a) wetter winters and drier summers

b) only warmer seasons
c) only wetter seasons
d) only drier summers

68. It is believed with the onset of Global Warming, the increase in temperatures
will affect polar ice caps. Which is NOT likely to be a direct result of polar ice
cap melt?

a) increase in oceans levels

b) flooding of low lying areas
c) contamination of salt water by fresh water
d) relocation of people living in low lying areas/islands
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*69. Mt Fuji draws thousands of visitors annually for both its beauty, religious
significance and ski season. However it is believed that the icecap that adorns
the summit of Mt Fuji is retreating. Which of the following statements will not
occur due to this retreat?

a) length of the ski season will be extended

b) new meadow lines will be created
c) length of ski season will be shortened
d) food chains will alter as some species are forced to relocate

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