6.1: Introduction to the atmosphere

Question 1

How is the earth’s atmosphere a system

Answer 1

It has continous inputs and outputs: hydrological cycle and nutrient cycles

Question 2

Main gases present in the atmosphere? (with percentages)

Answer 2

• 78% nitrogen
• 20% oxygen
• 0.2% argon
• 0.03% carbon dioxide

Question 3

State each layer in the atmosphere (TSMT= Tienes

Answer 3

• Troposphere
• Stratosphere
• Mesosphere
• Thermosphere

Question 4

Ensure you can construct and label a sketch diagram of height against temperature for the different layers within the earth’s atmosphere.

Answer 4

Foto 11 en mi docs

Question 5

Main GHG (green house gasses)

Answer 5

• Water vapour
• Carbon dioxide
• Methane
• Nitrous Oxide
• chloroflurocarbons (CFCS) and hydrochoroflurocarbons (HCFC)

Question 6

Carbon dioxide- state source

Answer 6

• burning fossil fuels
• respiration
• volcanic activity
• deforestation (removal of carbon sinks)

Question 7

Methane - state source

Answer 7

• emmissions from livestock (pedo de vaca)

Question 8

Nitrous oxide - state source

Answer 8

• fertilizers
• combustion

Question 9

Chloroflurocarbons (CFCS) and hydrochoroflurocarbons (HCFC) - state source

Answer 9

• liquid coolants (old refrigeratiors, air conditionsing)
• production of plastic foam

Question 10

Troposphere- describe it

Answer 10

• layer closest to the earth- 10km above sea leve
  l
• where:
  
  • earth surface absorbs heat from the sun
  • The warm earth then heats the atmosphere through conduction
  • Most of the atmospheric mass is found
    • includesnearly all the water vapour,clouds and pollutants

Question 11

Greenhouse effect occurs- what is it?

Answer 11

• When energy from the sun enters the earth’s atmosphere it is absorbed by the earth’s surface
• As the ground warms, heat energy is radiated back into the atmosphere (as long wave radiation)
• In the absence of GHGs (green house gasses) the heat would be radiated back into space
• In the presence of GHGs (green house gases) the radiation is absorbed by the gases resulting in warming of the atmosphere

Question 12

Try to draw it

Answer 12

Foto 12 en el docs

Question 13

Stratosphere

Answer 13

• 10-50km above sea level
• dry air, wind increases
• stratospheric ozone absorbs ultra violete radiation from the sun!! aqui esta la capa de ozono!

Question 14

Mesosphere

Answer 14

• 50-80km
• temperature declines with height because there is no ozone to absorb UV radiation- coldest part of atmosphere

Question 15

Thermosphere

Answer 15

• 80-500 km
• temp increases with height, can reach beyond +2,000 degrees C
• esto ya es espais 🌌 🚀
  
  • there is debate where the earths atmosphere ends and space begins.

Question 16

chloroflurocarbons (CFCS) and hydrochoroflurocarbons (HCFC)

Answer 16

• liquid coolants (old refrigeratiors, air conditionsing)
• production of plastic foam

Question 17

What is albedo?

Answer 17

Albedo is a measure of the reflectivity of a surface

Question 18

What does the albedo effect measure?

Answer 18

The albedo effect when applied to the Earth is a measure of how much of the Sun’s energy is reflected back into space

Question 19

Different parts of the Earth have different albedos. Give examples of parts of the earth that have high vs low albedos

Answer 19

Low albedos: (Relfect less)
- ocean surfaces
- rain forests

High albedos: (Reflect more:)
- Desert’s
- ice
- clouds

Question 20

Over the whole surface of the Earth, about ____a)____ percent of incoming solar energy is reflected back to space.

Answer 20

a) 30%

Question 21

Because a cloud usually has a higher albedo than the surface beneath it, the cloud reflects more shortwave radiation back to space than the surface would in the absence of the cloud, thus leaving less solar energy available to heat the surface and atmosphere.