4: Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere

Question 1

What scatters light in the atmosphere so we can see the atmosphere?

Answer 1

Dust clouds ad aerosols

Question 2

Layers of the atmosphere (4)

Answer 2

1) Troposphere
2) Stratosphere
3) Mesosphere
4) Thermosphere

Question 3

Temperature profile of the atmosphere in the:

1) Troposphere
2) Stratosphere
3) Mesosphere
4) Thermosphere

Answer 3

1) Decreases as height increases
2) Increases due to ozone absorbing UV
3) Decreases as height increases
4) Increases due to charged particles hitting into each other

Question 4

(No need to learn but it is nice to know)

Layer above the thermosphere

Answer 4

Exosphere

Question 5

(No need to learn but it is nice to know)

Layer that combines Thermosphere & Exosphere

Answer 5

Ionosphere

Question 6

(No need to learn but it is nice to know)

Layer between troposphere and ionosphere

Answer 6

Ozonosphere

Question 7

Troposphere

1) Define
2) Where it lies
3) Constituents
4) What occurs in this layer
5) Where is the highest troposphere layer & (6) why

Answer 7

1) Layer closest to the surface
2) Around 10 km
3) Water vapor (99%) & clouds
4) Most turbulent mixing (all weather happens)
5) At the equator
6) This is where the most turbulent mixing occurs, heating from below

Question 8

What are layers defined by

Answer 8

Change in the lapse rate

+ve to -ve or vice versa

Question 9

Lapse Rate

1) Define
2) SI units

Answer 9

1) Rate of change of temperature with height 2) Degrees C km -1

Question 10

Positive Lapse rate

Answer 10

Decrease in temperature with height

Question 11

Negative lapse rate

Answer 11

Increase in temperature with height

Question 12

Stratosphere

1) Define
2) Where it lies
3) Constituents
4) What occurs in this layer (3)
5) Temperature up to 25 km
6) After 25 km

Answer 12

1) 2nd layer of atmosphere
2) 10-50 km
3) Ozone
4) Very little: mixing, water vapor & turbulence
5) Relatively constant
6) Gradually increases to 200 - 220 k

Question 13

Mesophere

1) Define
2) Where it lies
3) Constituents
4) What happens to temperature
5) Temperature at mesopause

Answer 13

1) 3rd layer of atmosphere
2) 50 - 80 km
3) neon, argon, hydrogen
4) Decreases with height
5) 190 - 180 k

Question 14

Auroras

1) How do we get them and what does earth’s magnetic fields have to do with it?
2) Where do they lie?

Answer 14

1) Charged particles get pulled towards the poles, at incredible speeds & they hit other particles
2) Ionosphere (Thermosphere & Exosphere)

Question 15

Solar flares

1) What happens to them?
2) How often do they occur?

Answer 15

1) The highly charge particles from the sun get trapped at the pole
2) 10 to 11 years

Question 16

Boundary layer

Answer 16

Height in the atmosphere where the air is effected by what happens at the surface

Question 17

Temperature gradient of the poles to equator in the atmosphere at the

1) surface
2) Stratosphere & above

Answer 17

1) Lower at poles (tropopause), Higher at equator

2) Higher at poles, Lower at equator