Environmental Studies · Geography

Atmospheric Structure and Ozone

1,401 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

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

Why does life not exist on Venus and Mars?

  1. Because the major component of their atmosphere is nitrogen

  2. Because the major component of their atmosphere is oxygen

  3. Because the major component of their atmosphere is carbon dioxide

  4. Because the major component of their atmosphere is water vapours
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Life does not exist on Venus and Mars because the major component of their atmosphere is carbon dioxide.

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

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