Environmental Studies · Geography

Atmospheric Structure and Ozone

1,319 Questions

Atmospheric structure and ozone layer topics examine the Earth's atmospheric layers, the impact of solar radiation, and ozone depletion mechanisms. These environmental science concepts are crucial for general awareness sections in multiple competitive examinations. Review these questions to solidify your understanding of the stratosphere, polar vortex effects, and greenhouse gases.

Earth's atmospheric layersOzone layer depletionSolar ultraviolet radiationPolar vortex effectsCarbon dioxide impactOzone-depleting substances

Atmospheric Structure and Ozone Questions

Multiple choice

Ozone is spread in the swimming pool because

  1. it acts as a disinfectant.

  2. it absorbs UV radiation

  3. oxygen is easily available from ozone

  4. All of the above

  5. -
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Ozone functions as both, an oxidant and disinfectant, in the treatment of drinking (potable) water .

Multiple choice

Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight causes a reaction that produces

  1. Fluorides

  2. Carbon monoxide

  3. Sulfur dioxide

  4. Ozone

  5. -
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Ozone is formed.Ozone far above us in the upper atmosphere (stratosphere) absorbs and protects us from deadly ultraviolet radiation. Ozone in the lower atmosphere, (troposphere) where we live is toxic.

Multiple choice

Ozone hole results in

  1. UV radiation reaching the earth

  2. cataract

  3. increase in skin cancer

  4. All of the above

  5. -
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

UV rays can damage the eyes as more than 99% of UV radiation is absorbed by the front of the eyes. Corneal damage, cataract and macular degeneration are all possible chronic effects from UV exposure and can ultimately lead to blindness. Melanoma, a type of skin cancer, can also develop within the eye.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Ozone is a non-toxic gas.

  2. The ozone layer protects the surface of Earth from infrared rays.

  3. Ozone hole is a region of marked thinning of the ozone layer at high altitudes.

  4. Ozone is present in the mesosphere.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ozone hole is a region of marked thinning of the ozone layer at higher altitudes. It is a toxic gas and the ozone layer or ozone shield is a region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation.  

Multiple choice

Which of the following are required for life to exist on earth?

  1. High temperature range, presence of water, blanket of ozone

  2. Low temperature range, presence of water, blanket of ozone, atmosphere

  3. Suitable temperature range, atmosphere, presence of water, blanket of ozone

  4. Suitable temperature range, carbon dioxide, presence of water, blanket of ozone
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Suitable temperature range, atmosphere, presence of water and blanket of ozone are required for life to exist on earth.

Multiple choice

The formation of ozone hole in the Antarctic region has been a cause of concern. What could be the reason for the formation of this hole?

  1. Presence of prominent tropospheric turbulence; and inflow of chlorofluorocarbons.

  2. Presence of prominent polar front and stratospheric clouds; and inflow of chlorofluorocarbons.

  3. Absence of polar front and stratospheric clouds; and inflow of methane and chlorofluorocarbons.

  4. Increased temperature at polar region due to global warming.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The winter stratospheric air over the Antarctic routinely gets colder than the air anywhere else. Because the winter, stratospheric air over most of Antarctica is isolated from warmer, lower altitude air by a strong set of confining winds known as the polar vertex, this air gets so cold that polar stratospheric clouds regularly form between the altitudes of approximately 12 to 25 km. Particles surface in these clouds cause chemical reactions that create even more reactive halogen chemicals.

Multiple choice

Human activities in the recent past have caused the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but a lot of it does not remain in the lower atmosphere because of

  1. Its escape into the outer stratosphere.
  2. the photosynthesis by phytoplankton in the oceans.
  3. the trapping of air in the polar ice caps.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

  1. 1 and 2

  2. 2 and 3

  3. 2 only

  4. 3 only
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Human activities in the recent past have caused the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but a lot of it does not remain in the lower atmosphere because of the photosynthesis by phyto-plankton in the oceans. The trapping of air in the polar ice caps is concerned with Mars, not Earth.

Multiple choice

A layer in the Earth's atmosphere called Ionosphere facilitates radio communication. Why?

  1. The presence of ozone causes the reflection of radio waves to Earth.
  2. Radio waves have a very long wavelength.

Which of the statements given above is/ correct?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. Ozone layer is present in Stratosphere, not Ionosphere. Statement 2 is also incorrect. When a radio wave reaches the ionosphere, the electric field in the wave forces the electrons in the ionosphere into oscillation at the same frequency as the radio wave. Some of the radio-frequency energy is given up to this resonant oscillation. The oscillating electrons will then either be lost to recombination or will re-radiate the original wave energy. Total refraction can occur when the collision frequency of the ionosphere is less than the radio frequency, and if the electron density in the ionosphere is great enough.

Multiple choice

Besides pollution related ozone hole, what other factor is associated with depletion of Earth’s ozone layer?

  1. Spring time polar tropospherics

  2. Tri-chloro-ethane

  3. Reduction of plankton populations in the ocean's photic zone

  4. Nuclear wastes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Ozone depletion describes two distinct, but related phenomena observed since the late 1970s: a steady decline of about four percent in the total amount of ozone in the Earth’s stratosphere (the ozone layer) and a much larger springtime decrease in stratospheric ozone around the Earth's polar regions. The latter phenomenon is referred to as the ozone hole. In addition to these well-known stratospheric phenomena, there are also springtime polar tropospheric ozone depletion events. Reduction of plankton populations in the ocean's photic zone may result from the increased UV exposure due to ozone depletion.

Multiple choice
 
Column I Column II
P. Coriolis effect 1. Rotation of earth
Q. Fumigation 2. Lapse rate and vertical temperature profile
R. Ozone layer 3. Inversion
S. Maximum mixing depth (mixing height) 4. Dobson

The correct match of Column I with Column II is

  1. P - 2, Q - 1, R - 4, S - 3

  2. P - 2, Q - 1, R - 3, S - 4

  3. P - 1, Q - 3, R - 2, S - 4

  4. P - 1, Q - 3, R - 4, S - 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 $\text{Coriolis effect - Rotation of earth}\\ \text{Fumigation -Inversion}\\ \text{Ozone layer - Dobson}\\ \text{Maximum mixing depth - Lapse rate and vertical temperature profile}$