Topic 6.1: Introduction to the Atmosphere Questions

In Bangladesh, rice is grown in flooded paddy fields, and farmers add nitrogen fertiliser to raise their yields. State the name of one greenhouse gas produced by flooded, fertilised rice paddies.

A weather balloon released in Reykjavik, Iceland, records falling temperatures up to about 11 km, after which the temperature starts to rise. State the two layers of the atmosphere nearest to the Earth's surface, and identify which one contains most of the weather.

Farmers in the Netherlands spread nitrogen fertiliser on grassland to grow grass for dairy cows. Some of the nitrogen escapes to the air as a gas. State a greenhouse gas other than CO2.

At the Sleipner gas field in the North Sea, Norway separates carbon dioxide from natural gas and pumps about a million tonnes of it a year into rock deep under the seabed, to manage climate change. Outline the evidence that CO2 acts as a greenhouse gas.

A climate scientist measures the albedo of five surfaces around Hudson Bay, Canada, in early summer. Figure 1 shows the results.

Since 2021 the Orca plant in Iceland has used giant fans to pull carbon dioxide out of the air and turn it into rock underground. Outline the evidence that CO2 acts as a greenhouse gas.

Figure 1 shows how much of every 100 units of incoming sunlight is reflected by fresh snow and by dark ocean. Calculate the difference in albedo between the two surfaces.

A school poster on climate change says only: 'Carbon dioxide keeps Earth warm.' A teacher asks the class to add the other greenhouse gases. State a greenhouse gas other than CO2.

The Bantar Gebang landfill near Jakarta, Indonesia, receives about 7,000 tonnes of household waste every day. Much of it is food waste that rots under the newer layers. State the name of one greenhouse gas produced by rotting waste in a landfill.

A student says sunlight is short-wave radiation and the heat leaving the Earth is long-wave radiation. Define the term long-wave radiation.

A sample of clean, dry air is collected at sea level in Cape Town, South Africa. Figure 1 shows the gases found in it.

Figure 1 lists greenhouse gases present in air near a busy city and near a remote ocean. Identify two greenhouse gases from the list.

A student uses Figure 1, the albedo of five surfaces around Hudson Bay, to compare how much each surface warms in summer sunshine. Identify the surface that would absorb the most solar radiation, and give a reason.

Wales has about 9 million sheep, nearly three for every person. Most graze on hill pastures all year round. State the name of one greenhouse gas produced by sheep.

In Mumbai, India, thick monsoon clouds cover the sky on most days from June to September. Outline one way in which more cloud cover changes the Earth's energy budget.

Figure 1 shows a simple energy budget for the Earth, per 100 units of incoming sunlight. Calculate how many units of the incoming sunlight are absorbed by the Earth's surface.

At the Boundary Dam power station in Saskatchewan, Canada, carbon dioxide is captured from the chimney of a coal-burning power plant and stored underground. Outline the evidence that CO2 acts as a greenhouse gas.

Over the Amazon rainforest, trees release huge amounts of water into the air each afternoon, and tall clouds build up. State a greenhouse gas other than CO2.

A student says, “Earth’s atmosphere is like a life-support system.” Define the term atmosphere.

A passenger jet flying from London to Singapore cruises at about 11 km above sea level. Identify the layer of the atmosphere it is flying in, and state one feature of that layer.