Atmosphere Flashcards
order of layers in the atmosphere
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Exosphere
Ionosphere
-weather occurs, water cycle, breathing air (moist)
-99% of water vapor in atmosphere found
-higher=low air pressure=lower temp= lower density
troposphere
- breakdown of meteors
- odd electrical charges “sprites”
- higher= dec temp= dec air pressure
- influenced by waves and tides
Mesosphere
Daily changes in temp, wind, and precipitation
weather
long-term temperatures and precipitation trends
climate
layer around earth
protects from UV radiation
regulates climate
storage of gases
dissipates air pollutants
transport of energy and water
atmosphere
currents that redistribute heat and moisture only in troposphere
causes turbulence in airplanes
convection currents
minute particles and liquid droplets suspended in the atmosphere
aerosols
reflectance or “whiteness”
high=reflect energy
low=absorb energy
albedo
capture of energy by gases in the atmosphere
atmosphere transmits sunlight but traps some heat inside
atmosphere lets that gradually dissipate to space
Greenhouse effect
gases that traps heat in the atmosphere
greenhouse gases
natural greenhouse effect enhanced with increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
enhance greenhouse effect
any substance released at a concentration sufficient to cause harm to humans, other animals, vegetation, other materials
air pollutant
part of natural biogeochemical cycles; naturally undergo cleansing mechanism
natural sources
released concentrated regions in high concentrations; disrupt natural cycles; released faster than natural cleansing mechanisms
anthropogenic sources
harmful when released; can be precursor chemicals for secondary pollutants
primary pollutants
converted from primary pollutants (in the presence of light/UV)
if emitted, not necessarily harmful
secondary pollutants
effects of air pollution
smog (industrial/photochemical)
acid rain
ozone depletion
climate change
mix of ash, soot, SO2, VOCs;
formed especially in the burning of coal;
mostly a result of primary pollutants
industrial smog
series of reactions: NOx + VOCs w sunlight
mainly due to secondary pollutants
largely due to emissions from motor vehicles
photochemical smog
pollutants such as SO2 and NOx further lower pH of rain to 3
acid rain
consequences of acid rain in trees:
premature leaf fall and branch dieback
consequences of acid rain in soil:
-important minerals leach out
-Aluminum toxicity from soil to water bodies
consequences of acid rain on structures:
discoloration and weathering
thin layer of O3 in lower stratosphere
absorbs UV rays
ozone layer
-inert, non-toxic, non–flammable
destroy O3 w UV (coolant/solvent)
-will stay between 55 to 140 years in the atmosphere from emission
chlorofluorocarbons
control import of ozone depleting substances (ODS)
philippine ozone desk
1987: 24 countries called for CFC reduction by 50% by 1990
1990: 90 countries vowed to stop all production of CFCs and Halons by 2000
montreal protocol
alternative to CFC: decompose more readily; don’t build up in stratosphere
hydrochloroflurocarbons
alternative to CFC: for refrigerants; but are flammable and contribute to global warming
hydrofluorocarbons
hydrofluorocarbons banned due to its high global warming potential
kigali amendment
-international body assessing the science related to climate change
-scientific assessments for governments
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
1992: holds a COP almost every year
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
1997: treaty extending UNFCCC
- reduce emissions by 5.2% compared to 1990 emissions by 2008
- carbon credit scheme
- extended until 2012
Kyoto protocol
2012: covered 2013 to 2020
reduce emissions by 18% of 1990 emissions
Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol
- countries party to the UNFCCC meet
- scientists and activists
- try to reach agreement on collective action, funding, etc.
Yearly COP
a global climate accord; to limit global warming to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit the temp inc to 1.5C
Paris agreement
- absorbs high energy x-rays, UV radiation, heat from sun
- low air density
- infrequent collisions of gas molecules
- aurora lights
- variation in height of top layer
thermosphere
series of regions in parts w large electrically charged atoms and molecules
- higher conc of ions and free electrons
ionosphere
