atmosphere Flashcards
what is a positive feedback loop and what is a negative feedback loop
positive feedback loops are series of events that increase the original action
negative feedback loops are series of events that lead in a circle, resulting in a net neutral
how does a positive feedback loop occur with atmospheric temperature and CO2
atmospheric temperature increases
ocean temperature increases
CO2 solubility decreases
increased atmospheric CO2
how does a positive feedback loop occur with increased atmospheric temperature, ice, and albedo
atmospheric temperature increases
ice melts
albedo is reduced and heat is absorbed into the oceans
increased ocean temperature
how does a positive feedback loop occur with decreased atmospheric temperature, ice, and albedo
atmospheric temperature decreases
more water freezes into ice
increased albedo so less sunlight is absorbed
how does a negative feedback loop occur with atmospheric temperature, evaporation, clouds, and albedo
atmospheric temperature slightly increases
ocean evaporation increases
increased clouds
more light reflected before reaching surface
atmospheric temperature decreases
ocean evaporation decreases
less clouds
less light reflected before reaching surface
what are the four main carbon sources and four main carbon sinks
the sources are respiration, ocean to atmosphere, combustion of fossil fuels and organic matter, and volcanism from tectonic plates (add most to least)
the sinks are chemical weathering, formation of fossil fuels, atmosphere to ocean, and photosynthesis (subtract least to most)
how do the four carbon sources add carbon
respiration takes in oxygen and glucose sugar to produce CO2, water, and energy, resulting in CO2 entering the atmosphere. decomposers also produce CO2 during decomposition
CO2 can be dissolved in oceans but when water warms and there is higher kinetic energy, previously dissolved CO2 is instead released
carbon and hydrogen from objects burn and react to create CO2, water vapor, and other by products
volcanoes form when carbon-containing crust subducts, melts, and rises out of volcanoes, expelling CO2 into the atmosphere
how do the four carbon sinks remove carbon
in chemical weather, rain reacts with atmospheric CO2 to create carbonic acid which weather rocks and creates ions that runoff into oceans. these ions are then used by marine organisms, removing CO2 from the atmosphere
usually dead organisms decompose and release CO2. in low oxygen areas decomposition cannot occur so carbon remains and turns into fossil fuels.
colder water can dissolve CO2 from the atmosphere due to its polarity and lower kinetic energy
in photosynthesis, plants use CO2, water, and sunlight to make oxygen and glucose. they use this glucose to form organic matter
what are carbon reservoirs
carbon reservoirs are areas that hold large amounts of carbon.
the largest one is rocks and sediments, then the oceans, the atmosphere, and living organisms
how is the earth heated
visible light and infrared as well ultraviolet from the sun radiates to earth and is absorbed by the surface of the earth. however 30% is reflected by the atmosphere, clouds, and the surface of the earth. 19% is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds. the sunlight that an area receives is called insolation
how does energy reradiate back into space
after visible light strikes earth’s surface, some is absorbed and reflected as visible light. on the other hand some is turned into heat, which wishes to move from hot to cold to maintain equilibrium. so energy reradiates from earth’s surface towards space as invisible, lower wavelength infrared light. this light travels through clouds and the atmosphere through latent heat in water vapor, conduction, and rising convection currents, occasionally being absorbed, before reradiating out into space
what are some greenhouse gases and what causes the greenhouse affect
some greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and nitrous oxide.
these gases prevent infrared radiation from passing through. so when heat attempts to reradiate out, it can end up being blocked and reflected back towards earth by greenhouse gases. these greenhouse gases also often reflect incoming infrared radiation from the sun
what is albedo
albedo is a number from 1 through 0 representing the amount of sunlight reflected by a surface. 1 means 100% of light is reflected, appearing completely white while 0 means all light is absorbed, appearing completely black.
what characteristics affect albedo
smoothness, more smooth = higher albedo
color, brighter = higher albedo
what are the stratosphere and troposphere
the troposphere is the lowest section of the atmosphere, containing most clouds, convection currents, and weather patterns.
the stratosphere is the layer above the troposphere, housing the ozone layer
how do low pressure systems create storms
low pressure systems suck up air from around them in a circular motion due to the coriolis effect. this leads to air rising and cooling, forming clouds and rain
low pressure systems between 30-60 degrees latitude suck up cold air from the poles and warm air form the tropics, forming mid-latitude cyclones
low pressure systems between 0 -30 degrees latitude suck up hot air and form tropical storms and hurricanes
what is the biological carbon cycle
autotrophs (e.g. photosynthetic) take in carbon from the atmosphere / ocean to produce organic matter (e.g. glucose)
heterotrophs consume these autotrophs and use their organic matter for energy through respiration, emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere / ocean
when heterotrophs die, carbon from their organic matter is released by decomposers
what is geological carbon cycle
carbon dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which weathers rocks and eventually produces carbonate
this carbonate reacts with calcium ions to form calcium carbonate which is used by marine organisms to form their shells, eventually turning into limestone
this carbon is returned into the atmosphere through volcanic eruptions
