4.1 (The Atmosphere & Greenhouse Gases) Flashcards
Troposphere
- CLOSEST layer to Earth’s surface (about 16-20 km
or 7 miles high) - Weather occurs here
- All greenhouse gases are located here
– The Greenhouse Effect occurs here - Pressure and temperature decrease with altitude
Troposphere “Tropo-” means change
Stratosphere
- SECOND layer of Earth’s atmosphere
– Extends from Earth’s surface up to about 50
km or 31 miles high - Airplanes fly here
-
“Good” ozone (O3) exists here
– Absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the
sun’s rays that cause cancer
Mesosphere
- THIRD highest layer of Earth’s atmosphere
– Extends from Earth’s surface up to about 80
km or 50 miles high - Burning meteors or “shooting stars” are seen in this layer
Thermosphere
- Extends from the top of the mesosphere to about
700 km or 440 miles high - Auroras (E.g. Northern Lights) are found here
Thermosphere “Therm-” means heat
The atmosphere is made up of…
– mostly Nitrogen (78%);
– some Oxygen (21%);
– 1% Other Gases
* Greenhouse gase
Global Warming Potential (GWP)
Measures how much heat energy 1 ton of gas emissions will absorb over a given period of time.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Most important contributor to human caused global warming.
Abundance
● 82%
Source/Causes of Increase
● Combustion of fossil fuels (like coal and oil) to generate electricity
Global Warming Potential
● GWP = 1
Lifespan
● Some absorbed quicker by oceans, some remans thousands of years.
Methane (CH4)
Traps a lot of heat. The 2nd most important contributer to global warming out of all greenhouse gases.
Abundance
● 10%
Source/Cause of Increase
● Natural gas released from fossil fuels and cattle
Global Warming Potential
● GWP = 25
Lifespan
● 12 years
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
Comes from factories, power plants, and plant fertilizer.
Damages ozone layer.
Abundance
● 6%
Source/Cause of Increase
● Car exhaust and synthetic fertilizers
Global Warming Potential
● GWP = 300
Lifespan
● 115 years
Fluorinated carbons (FCs)
NOT created in nature. They damage the protective ozone layer.
Abundance
● 3%
Source/Cause of Increase
● Replaced ozone layer-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in aerosol sprays
Global Warming Potential
● GWP = +1,000
Lifespan
● 300 years
Water Vapor (H2O)
BLOCKS HEAT from escaping so it gets WARMER.
This causes more water to evaporate.
Ozone (O3)
- Close to the ground
- Acts as a greenhouse gas
- Formed by burning gas in cars and factories.
In which layer of the atmosphere is the protective or “good” ozone layer located?
Stratosphere (sunscreen)
b/c this layer absorbs UV radiation from the sun that cause cancer
In which layer of the atmosphere does weather occur?
Troposphere
b/c it’s the closest to earth
In which layer of the atmosphere does the Greenhouse Effect occur?
Troposphere (blanket)
b/c (GHGs) warm Earth by
absorbing heat + slows the rate energy leaves
