3: Composition of the Atmosphere

Question 1

How much gases in the atmosphere at:

1) 10 km
2) 20 km
3) 30 km

Answer 1

1) 90 %
2) 99 %
3) 99.9 %

Question 2

Permanent gases in the atmosphere
(Meteorology Inert)
1) Residence times
2) What are they
3) Does it influence weather and climate

Answer 2

1) Added or removed very slowly (millions of years)
2) Oxygen, Nitrogen & Argon
3) No, not relevant

Question 3

Variable gases in the atmosphere

1) Residence times
2) What are they
3) Does it influence weather and climate

Answer 3

1) Added or removed relatively quickly (days to yrs)
2) CO2, H2O, Ozone & Methane
3) No

Question 4

Atmosphere composition (permanent gases)

Answer 4

Nitrogen = 78.18 %
Oxygen = 21.05 %
Argon = 0.934 %

Question 5

Atmospheric composition (variable gases)

Answer 5

H2O = 1-4 %
CO2 = 0.036 %
Ozone =  varies with location pollution or stratosphere

Question 6

Water vapor (H2O)

1) Define
2) Type of gas
3) Where a lot is held
4) Is it a greenhouse gas

Answer 6

1) Water in it’s gaseous state (can exist in all states at the same time in clouds)
2) Dry gas
3) In the tropics (depends on temperature)
4) Yes, most important with CO2

Question 7

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

1) What is major about it
2) What is minor about it

Answer 7

1) Major greenhouse gas as it traps long radiation

2) Minor constituent in atmosphere

Question 8

Ozone (O3)

1) Two types
2) What does it absorb?
3) Is it a green house gas?

Answer 8

1) Urban pollution & natural occurring in stratosphere
2) Ultra violet radiation
3) Yes, CO2 better

Question 9

Greenhouse effect (5 steps)
-Essential in keeping Earth's temperature above freezing

Answer 9

1) Solar through clear atmos
2) Most is absorbed by surface & warms it
3) Some is redirected by earth and atmos
4) Infrared is emitted from surface (long wave)
5) Infrared passes through atmos, & some is absorbed & re-emitted in all directions by GHG modules - to warm earths surface a& lower atmos

Question 10

Most important job for H2O is to transfer heat throughout the atmosphere. 
1) When does it absorb heat 
and 
2) why?
3) What does it result in?

Answer 10

1) During evaporation
2) As heat is needed to turn a liquid into a gas (breaking of bonds)
3) A reduction in temperature

Question 11

Most important job for H2O is to transfer heat throughout the atmosphere. 
1) When does it release heat 
and 
2) why?
3) What does it result in?

Answer 11

1) During condensation
2) Heat must be released for a gas to condense into liquid
3) An increase in temperature

Question 12

Hydrological cycle

1) Define
2) Most important processes involved (5)

Answer 12

1) A cycle that involves the continuous circulation of water in the Earth-atmosphere system.
2) Evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, and runoff

Question 13

Do humans directly influence the amount of H2O in the atmosphere in a way which influences weather & climate?

Answer 13

Not significantly enough, we can build dams and how long water can stay in the ground, but it is not enough to change weather/climate based on greenhouse properties on water vapour

Question 14

1) Can a warming ocean absorb more or less CO2 & give reasons?
2) What is photosynthesis is limited by (another outlet for excess CO2)

Answer 14

1) Less CO2, water is more acidic when warm

2) Water & nutrient availability

Question 15

Ocean Acidification (5 Steps)
(too much hydrogen atoms)

Answer 15

1) Carbon dioxide dissolves in ocean (CO2)
2) Reacts with water (H2O)
3) Forms Carbonic acid (H2CO3)
4) Generates Bicarbonate (HCO3)
5) Breaks down into Carbonate (CO3) and Hydrogen atoms (H)

Question 16

What are the main anthropogenic GHG’s which are driving global warming

Answer 16

Carbon dioxide (CO2) & Methane (CH4)

Question 16

What are the main anthropogenic GHG’s

Answer 16

Carbon dioxide (CO2) & Methane (CH4)

Question 17

1) What acts as a catalyst to breakdown the ozone
&
Where do they come from?

Answer 17

1) Chlorine

2) From manmade chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) migrated to the stratosphere, broken down by UV radiation

Question 18

1) Why is the ozone hole largest during spring?

2) What occurs before this?

Answer 18

1) This is when the sunlight returns to Antarctica

2) During dark Antarctic winter stratospheric ice clouds form and these promote production of chlorine & bromine

Question 19

As ozone is a greenhouse gas, does it affect global warming?

Answer 19

NO, it has nothing to do with global warming, ozone depletion is associated with stratospheric cooling