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 chemistry air around us importance of oxygen is air present everywhere around us? air as a natural resource

The part of atmosphere which contains constant gases with known composition called :

  1. Homosphere

  2. Thermosphere

  3. Heterosphere

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The part of the atmosphere which contains constant gases with a known composition called homo-sphere.

The homosphere is the lower of the two and the location in which turbulent mixing dominates the molecular diffusion of gases. In this region, which occurs below 100 km (about 60 miles) or so, the composition of the atmosphere tends to be independent of height.

Multiple choice chemistry air and water pollution ways to prevent air pollution ways to reduce air pollution reducing air pollution

Ozone hole is maximum spread over:

  1. Europe

  2. Antartica

  3. India

  4. Africa
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The ozone hole is caused by the effect of pollutants in the atmosphere destroying stratospheric ozone. During the Antarctic winter something special happens to the Antarctic weather.

Firstly, strong circular winds form that blow around the whole continent, this is known as the "polar vortex" -  this isolates the air over Antarctica from the rest of the world.

Secondly, special clouds form called Polar Stratospheric Clouds. Clouds don't normally form in the stratosphere and these turn out to have the effect of concentrating the pollutants that break down the ozone, so speeding the process up.

Multiple choice chemistry air and water pollution ways to prevent air pollution ways to reduce air pollution reducing air pollution

Ozone layer of stratosphere requires protection from indiscriminate use of:

  1. fungicides, insecticides, bactericides and medicines

  2. aerosols and high flying jets

  3. atomic explosions and industrial wastes

  4. weather balloons
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Aerosols are minute particles suspended in the atmosphere. When these particles are sufficiently large, we notice their presence as they scatter and absorb sunlight. Their scattering of sunlight can reduce visibility (haze) and redden sunrises and sunsets. Aerosols also can act as sites for chemical reactions to take place. The most significant of these reactions are those that lead to the destruction of stratospheric ozone. During winter in the Polar Regions, aerosols grow to form polar stratospheric clouds. The large surface areas of these cloud particles provide sites for chemical reactions to take place. These reactions lead to the formation of large amounts of reactive chlorine and, ultimately, to the destruction of ozone in the stratosphere

Multiple choice evs seeds and seeds interdependencies among organisms hunting plant interdependence between plants and animals

The earth's atmospheric window is in the:

  1. Ultraviolet region

  2. Visible region

  3. Infrared region

  4. Polar regions
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The atmospheric window refers to the range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, specifically in the infrared region, where the atmosphere is transparent to radiation, allowing it to pass through to space.

Multiple choice biology physical resources air and winds wind energy air as a natural resource

World climate is threatened by increase in atmospheric concentration of

  1. Oxygen

  2. Nitrogen

  3. Water vapours

  4. Carbon dioxide

  5. Both C and D
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

The major greenhouse gases are water vapour, which causes about 3670% of the greenhouse effect; carbon dioxide (CO$ _2$), which causes 926%; methane (CH$ _4$), which causes 49%; and ozone (O$ _3$), which causes 37%. Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas, it acts as a feedback to the climate. Water vapour increases as the earth's atmosphere warms, making these the most important feedback mechanisms to the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcano eruptions and through human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels. This is the most important long-lived cause of climate change.

Therefore, the correct answer is option C and D.

Multiple choice mathematical modelling proof by contradiction similar triangles

Scientists who study earth's atmosphere have developed

  1. physical climate models

  2. conceptual climate models

  3. mathematical climate models

  4. aerial climate models
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Scientists who study about atmosphere develop mathematical climate models which depict longitudinal and latitudinal measures and area covered by a region.

Multiple choice commercial applications global environmental change ozone and its depletion ozone layer ozone layer depletion and causes

Ozone layer of upper atmosphere is being destroyed by

  1. Chlorofluorocarbons
  2. $ { SO } _{ 2 } $

  3. Smog

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
$ { CFC } _{ s } $ are widely used as refrigerants. $ { CFC } _{ s } $ discharged in the lower part of atmosphere move upward and reach stratosphere. In stratosphere, UV rays act on them releasing CI atoms. CI degrades ozone releasing molecular oxygen, with these atoms acting merely as catalysts; CI atoms are not consumed in the reaction. $ { CFC } _{ s } $ added to the stratosphere have permanent and continuing affects on ozone levels.
So, the correct answer is 'Chlorofluorocarbons'.
Multiple choice commercial applications global environmental change ozone and its depletion ozone layer ozone layer depletion and causes

Ozone hole means

  1. Hole in the stratosphere

  2. Same concentration of ozone

  3. Decrease in the concentration of ozone

  4. Increase in the concentration of ozone
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ozone occurs in the concentration of up to 1 ppm in the stratosphere as compared to 0.5 ppm in the troposphere. Ozone is formed in the stratosphere from oxygen due to solar radiations. Maximum ozone concentration is found at a distance of 23 to 25 km above the equator and 11 to 16 km over poles. It is called as ozone layer or ozonosphere. 

Ozone protects the earth by filtering out ultra-violet radiations. The ozone layer has two variable holes, a larger over south pole or Antarctica and a minor one over the north pole. High speed jets usually fly in stratosphere causing depletion of ozone. A decrease in concentration of ozone is called as the ozone hole.

Multiple choice commercial applications global environmental change ozone and its depletion ozone layer ozone layer depletion and causes

Formation of ozone hole is maximum over

  1. India

  2. Antarctica

  3. Europe

  4. Africa
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The thickness of ozone over the poles changes with the seasons being lowest in polar spring and maximum in polar autumn. Ozone hole refers to the depletion in the concentration of ozone over a restricted area as spring time decline over Antarctica. Spring time depletion of ozone is due to the action of sunlight over pollutants, which release chemicals like chlorine, that destroy ozone.

Multiple choice commercial applications global environmental change ozone and its depletion ozone layer ozone layer depletion and causes

Ozone hole means

  1. Hole in the stratosphere

  2. Same concentration of ozone

  3. Decrease in concentration of ozone

  4. Increase in the concentration of ozone
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The ozone hole is not an actual hole in the atmosphere, but rather a significant thinning or depletion of the ozone layer concentration in the stratosphere.

Multiple choice commercial applications global environmental change ozone and its depletion ozone layer ozone layer depletion and causes

In atmosphere , Ozone hole refers to

  1. A hole in ozone layer

  2. Decrease in ozone layer thickness in troposphere

  3. Decrease in thickness of ozone layer in stratosphere

  4. Increase in the thickness of ozone layer in troposphere
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The region of stratosphere, at an altitude of 16-50km over equator and at a slightly lower altitude elsewhere having a thick sheet of ozone is known as ozonosphere. Decline in the thickness of ozone layer over a restricted area is called ozone hole. It was first discovered over Antarctica in 1985 by Dr. Joe C. Farman and his colleagues in the British Antarctica surveys. Chlorofluorocarbons are mainly responsible for ozone depletion in the stratosphere. CFC's are used as coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners, as propellants, cleaning solvents. Once released into the atmosphere, CFC'S reach the stratosphere and produce active chlorine in the presence of UV radiations. These radicals through chain reaction destroy ozone by converting it into oxygen.

Thus, the correct answer is option C.