Atmosphere

Question 1

Atmosphere

Answer 1

the gaseous envelope that surrounds a celestial body

Question 2

The atmosphere is comprised of

Answer 2

a mixture of gases and suspended particles (liquid droplets called aerosols)

Question 3

Haden Earth’s atmosphere

Answer 3

Primordial atmosphere - comprised of hydrogen, helium, methane, ammonia, and water with little winds that were stripped away from solar winds.

Question 4

Second haden atmosphere

Answer 4

A primordial environment with little to no free oxygen, with proportions of water, CH4H2, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and argon.

Question 5

Archean to Proterozoic

Answer 5

• initial traces of O2, may have been formed by ultraviolet light breaking down water
• photosynthesis by cyanobacteria oxygenated atmosphere

Question 6

Cyanobacteria oxygenated atmosphere between

Answer 6

2.5 and 1.8 billion years ago

Question 7

Cyanobacteria transition is marked by

Answer 7

banded iron formations (alternating reduced and oxidized iron)

Question 8

Cyanobacteria effect on ozone

Answer 8

with more O2 came ozone, which absorbed harmful UV radiation, making it possible for life to survive in shallow water and on land.

Question 9

O2 comprises how much of today’s atmosphere

Answer 9

21%

Question 10

Primary factors measured when studying the atmosphere include:

Answer 10

pressure, temperature, and moisture

Question 11

Radio-stands

Answer 11

instruments that are used to measure altitude, pressure, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and wind direction

Question 12

Barometers

Answer 12

Measure pressure, including mercury and aneroid barometers

Question 13

Pressure Variation in the atmosphere

Answer 13

The pressure in the atmosphere decreases as you go up due to gases being highly compressible. Molecules are forced together by the mass of air above.

Question 14

Isobars

Answer 14

Contours of constant air pressure

Question 15

Air flows from regions of ____ pressure to ____ pressure. This drives ____ and ____.

Answer 15

High to low, drives winds and weather

Question 16

Temperature

Answer 16

A measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules

Question 17

Heat

Answer 17

the total kinetic energy of all molecules in a substance

Question 18

Layers of Atmosphere

Answer 18

Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere

Question 19

Troposphere thickness

Answer 19

16-10 km thick from the equator

Question 20

How is the troposphere heated

Answer 20

through energy transfer from earth’s surface with the base of the troposphere being the thickest

Question 21

Tropopause

Answer 21

the top surface of the troposphere

Question 22

Stratosphere thickness

Answer 22

40 km thick, going up to 50 km from the surface fo the earth.

Question 23

Stratosphere temperature _____ upward due to

Answer 23

increases due to absorption of solar UV by ozone

Question 24

Stratopause

Answer 24

The upper boundary of the stratosphere

Question 25

Mesosphere temperature

Answer 25

decreases upward as there is no ozone to absorb energy and particles are widely spaced

Question 26

coldest point in the atmosphere

Answer 26

-100 degrees Celcius in mesosphere

Question 27

Thermosphere temperature

Answer 27

High as it is directly exposed to sun, X-ray, and ultraviolet radiation absorption. However, the total heat content is low as the density is very low.

Question 28

Ionosphere

Answer 28

The region where high-energy photons strip electrons from molecules, forming ionized gases forming the aurora borealis

Question 29

Composition of modern atmosphere

Answer 29

nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and water vapour, and trace gases of CO2, O3, CH4 which are critical greenhouse gases

Question 30

Aerosols in atmosphere

Answer 30

water droplets, ice particle, solid particles such as dust, salt, and carbon

Question 31

The greenhouse effect steps:

Answer 31

1. Solar radiation powers the climate system
2. Some solar radiation is reflected by the Earth and the atmosphere and half is absorbed by the earth’s surface and warms it
3. Infrared radiation is emitted from the earth’s surface

Question 32

Different gases absorb different parts of the sun’s _____

Answer 32

energy spectrum

Question 33

Absorbed energy is converted into ___ in the atmosphere

Answer 33

heats

Question 34

Greenhouse gases

Answer 34

water, carbon dioxide, methane, N2O, and O3

Question 35

Greenhouse gases ___ some of it’s long-wave radiation and ___ resulting in heating

Answer 35

absorb radiation and re-emit it

Question 36

Earth emits most of it’s radiation in the:

Answer 36

15 micrometers band

Question 37

why CO2 is a hazard

Answer 37

CO2 absorbs most of its energy at 15 micro-m band. As there is more CP2, oceans are evaporated and cause more water to be in the atmosphere resulting in more heat absorbed in the atmosphere.

Question 38

Negative feedback of CO2

Answer 38

More evaporation of oceans forms more clouds. Clouds form more and in turn reflect more light making the earth cool.