atmosphere Flashcards
1
Q
contents of the atmosphere
A
- nitrogen (78%)
- oxygen (21%), stabilised by nitrogen and argon
- argon (0.9%)
- carbon dioxide (0.05%)
- aerosols, condensation nuclei, aid cloud formation
2
Q
troposphere
A
- up to 10km
- where weather forms and most clouds are
- temperature decreases with distance from surface
3
Q
tropopause
A
upper limit of troposphere
4
Q
stratosphere
A
- 10-50km
- temperature increases with distance from lower limit
- contains ozone layer
5
Q
mesosphere
A
- 80-100km
- limits less defines
- lowest temperatures
6
Q
thermosphere
A
- 100km+
- outside protection of atmosphere
- highest temperatures here
- contains aurora and ISS
7
Q
ozone
A
- triatomic O3
- absorbs harmful UV rays
8
Q
greenhouse effect
A
- includes CO2, water vapour, nitrous oxide
- earth reemits solar radiation as infrared radiation
- most absorbed and reradiated by greenhouse gases in atmosphere
- infrared causes vibration in covalent bonds
- gases with more covalent bonds have capacity to absorb and reemit more energy
- without greenhouse effect, temperatures would be ~35C lower
9
Q
Hadley, ferrel and polar cells
A
- causes trade winds and jet streams
- creates areas of low and high pressure
10
Q
jet streams
A
- fast flowing currents of air high and low in the atmosphere
- can reach 200mph
- ribbon shape, wide but not deep
11
Q
polar front jet stream
A
- from pressure gradient force due to meeting of cold polar and warm tropical air at midlatitudes, deflected by coriolis effect
- stronger in winter as temperature difference is higher, also further south (N hemisphere) due to tilt
12
Q
A
