2. Structure of the Atmosphere Flashcards
The internationally recognized boundary to space lies at 100km above sea level. What is this boundary called?
the Kármán Line
How is the boundary to space, at 100km above sea level, defined?
this is roughly the maximum altitude at which a fixed-wing aircraft can fly without having to go at orbital velocity
Travelers who cross the boundary to space are allowed to call themselves….
astronauts
What is the difference between astronauts and aeronauts?
Astronauts: These are individuals trained to travel and work in space. They typically go beyond the Kármán line (100 km above sea level), where they experience microgravity and operate spacecraft.
Aeronauts: These individuals operate in the Earth’s atmosphere, usually at lower altitudes, such as those flying in hot air balloons, airplanes, or other aircraft. They do not venture into space.
The first human-made object travelled into space during….
World War II
The first (purposefully) biological entities that traveled to space were
Corn Kernels
The first animals sent to space were….
Fruit Flies
Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel to space in 1961, sent by which country?
The Soviet Union
The following list provides the layers of the atmosphere from closest to Earth to farthest from Earth
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere
90% of the mass of the atmosphere is generally found in which layer?
troposphere
Noctilucent clouds are limited to the _______________
mesosphere
This atmospheric layer is the highest layer that can be readily studied using helium weather balloons.
stratosphere
The following best describes why the maximum altitude of a hot air balloon is limited to the lower stratosphere
the hot air in the balloon reaches its minimum density in the lower stratosphere, and can only rise until the air surrounding it goes from denser to equal in density.
Most of what we refer to as “weather” takes place in this atmospheric layer
troposphere
The massive eruption columns of major stratovolcanoes can reach into and inject gases and aerosols into this layer of the atmosphere
stratosphere
Ozone has the chemical formula:
O3
90% of the world’s ozone is found in this atmospheric layer
Stratosphere
What is the missing variable in this chemical formula?: O2 + ____ = 2O
UV radiation
Which of the following is NOT a recognized UV radiation designation?
UV-D
UV radiation between 100 and 240 nanometers is primarily absorbed by _________ in the stratosphere.
oxygen (O2)
Ozone molecules effectively absorb UV radiation between 240 and 315 nanometers. What type of UV radiation does this primarily affect?
UV-C and UV-B
Pre-CFCs levels of stratospheric ozone hovered around and annual maximum of…..
300 Dobson Units
Scientists first expressed concern about the ozone-depleting abilities of which byproduct of high-altitude supersonic jet aircraft?
nitrous oxides
Which of the following ozone depleting substances is exclusively of human origins (no natural sources)?
CFCs
The ozone hole above the Antarctic was first discovered by three scientists from the British Antarctic Survey in_________.
1985
True or False? The Ozone Holes above the Arctic and Antarctic persist year round.
False
Significant ozone holes only form in the polar regions of the planet because…..
Ozone destruction by chlorinated compounds is fastest in cold temperatures and in the presence of atmospheric ice crystals.
“CFC” is short for……..
chlorofluorocarbon
True or False? The 1985 Vienna Convention saw a 196 nations commit to a total reduction of ozone-depleting substances.
False
Current estimates of the rate of ozone hole “healing” predict a return to pre-CFC Dobson levels by…..
2050
CFCs were widely used in the following applications (click all that apply):
aerosol spray can propellant
refrigeration and air conditioning
fire suppressants
foaming agents
solvents and circuit cleaners
True or False? The increased UV radiation through the ozone holes causes global warming
False
