atmosphere
Argon is the third most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere, after nitrogen and oxygen. This topic is part of Earth Science within Science & Nature. This page currently draws on 65 supporting questions, with answers and bonus facts available below.
atmosphere trivia questions
Which atmospheric layer contains the ozone layer that absorbs much of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation?
Answer: Stratosphere
Bonus fact: Most atmospheric ozone is concentrated in the stratosphere.
Which branch of aerospace engineering focuses primarily on spacecraft and flight beyond Earth’s atmosphere?
Answer: Astronautical engineering
Bonus fact: Aeronautical engineering focuses on aircraft, while astronautical engineering focuses on spacecraft.
Argon makes up approximately what percentage of Earth's atmosphere by volume?
Answer: 0.93%
Bonus fact: Argon is the third most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere, after nitrogen and oxygen.
What ocean-atmosphere pattern in the tropical Pacific can significantly alter weather around the world every few years?
Answer: El Niño-Southern Oscillation
Bonus fact: ENSO alternates between El Niño and La Niña conditions and affects rainfall and temperature patterns globally.
During a total solar eclipse, what is the bright outer atmosphere of the Sun called?
Answer: Corona
Bonus fact: The solar corona becomes dramatically visible when the Moon blocks the Sun's bright surface.
Which inventor famously used a kite experiment to investigate electricity in the atmosphere?
Answer: Benjamin Franklin
Bonus fact: Franklin's 1752 experiment helped show that lightning is electrical.
About what percentage of Earth's atmosphere is nitrogen?
Answer: 78%
Bonus fact: Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere.
About what percentage of Earth's atmosphere is oxygen?
Answer: 21%
Bonus fact: Oxygen makes up about one-fifth of dry air.
What molecule do humans mainly breathe from the atmosphere?
Answer: O2
Bonus fact: Ordinary atmospheric oxygen is diatomic O2.
What process returns nitrogen gas to the atmosphere?
Answer: Denitrification
Bonus fact: Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates to nitrogen gas.
What gas makes up most of Venus's atmosphere?
Answer: Carbon dioxide
Bonus fact: A dense CO2 atmosphere produces an extreme greenhouse effect.
The biosphere overlaps with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and what solid-Earth sphere?
Answer: Lithosphere
Bonus fact: Life occupies parts of Earth's air, water, and crust.