atmosphere Flashcards
what does the atmosphere do
It balances the amount of heat absorbed from the sun and the amount o heat that escapes back to space
It’s Earth’s insolator
It protects us from UV Rays
Regulates the atmospheric pressure at Earth’s surface that allows life to exist
It provides substances necessary for life to exist, (Oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water vapor, etc)
What is the atmosphere?
“A thin layer of gases surrounding Earth.”
Early atmosphere mostly made of
Carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and a little bit of oxygen
2 million years ago organisms produced oxygen through what process
photosynthesis (ocean organisms)
Over time, what formed in the upper atmosphere
Ozone or O3
What was the effect of the ozone filtering out the UV rays
Allowed plant life to emerge on the continents
What does the ozone do
filter out UV rays
what do chlorofluorocarbons do to the ozone
they can destroy the ozone layer by breaking down the ozone molecules
What are the gasses in the atmosphere and how much do they make up
Nitrogen-78%
Oxygen-21%
helieum, methane, krypton, xenon, hydrogen, ozone, neo-1%
argon-.93%
carbon dioxide-.03%
Acids
liquid produced by the burning of fossil fuels
How does mother nature affect the composition of the atmosphere
Solar cycles
Volcanoes
forest fires
droughts
solid particle examples
dust, pollen, salt
Liquid particles
water and other liquid substance, (cloud)
What does the atmosphe do to the liquid and solid particles?
moves them from one region to another
Weather
change in atmospheric conditions ((When the atmosphere moves its solid and liquid particles from one region to another)
when altitude ___? pressure _____?
When altitude increases pressure decreases
What does matter have
mass
weight
a measure of the pull on gravity on an objects mass
Gas has mass soo
gas also has weight
Pressure
force exerted on an area
what happens when Earth’s gravity pulls the gases toward its surface
the weight of these gases presses down on the air below, creating air pressure
How many layers does earth have
5
what are the lower layers of the earth
troposphere and stratosphere
upper layers of the earth
mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere
in what layers do the temperatures increase
stratosphere and thermosphere
Where does solar radiation go
passes through the atmosphere from the top down
how is the atmosphere heated
-each layer is different
-different gasses- have varying ability to absorb radiant energy
trophospere heated
The temperature in the troposphere decreases as you move away from Earth because most sunlight passes through the atmosphere and warms the surface, causing weather. It warms from the bottom up because nitrogen and oxygen don’t absorb radiant energy well, and carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are densest at the bottom.
stratosphere tempature
heated from top down due to ozone is high concentration at the top
mesosphere tempature
heated from bottem up due to decreasing ozone percent
thermo and exospheres tempatures
heat from tope down due to the ability of gas molecules to absorb energy individually
Trophospere meaning come from
Greek word trophos meaning change
Where is the trophosphere
the layer closest to earth surface and extends to an elevation of 8-15km (5-10mi)
What does the trophosphere layer contain
99% of the water vapor and 75-80% of the atmospheres mass, densest layer
The heat in trophosphere causes
rising and falling
tropopause
separates from the trophosphere from the stratosphere- the boundary where trend in temperature changes
Where is the stratoshpere?
Directly above the trophosphere, extends 15-50 km above Earth’s surface
stratopause
separates stratosphere from next layer above
what does the upper 1/2 of the stratosphere contain
the most ozone
why is the top of the stratosphere warmer
It is warmer because ozone at the top absorbs the Sun’s UV rays.
How does UV radiation affect living things?
It can kill plants, harm animals, and cause skin cancer in humans.
weather in stratosphere
Very stable air due to temperature stratification; very little convection or mixing of air; airflow mostly horizontal.
almost no clouds
chlorofluorocarbons in the stratosphere
chlorofluorocarbons & other materials (volcanic gases, meteorite materials, rocket exhaust) can collect in the stratosphere due to lack of vertical collection.
How thick is atmosphere at the top
Atmosphere at the top is 1,000 times thinner than at sea level.
Aircraft & weather balloons can not pass this level.
stratosphere
blue jets
Lightning that can occur above thunderstorms & extend to upper limits of the stratosphere.
where is the Mesosphere
above the statospere bout 85 km above earth
Separated above by
the mesopause where trend in temperature changes.
Mesosphere temp
coldest layer
What occurs in the mesosphere
Meteors burn upon entry in this layer & look like shooting stars.
why is the mesosphere theLeast studied layer
because it is hard to access.
where are Noctilucent clouds are present
over the poles
sprites” & “elves and where
*Lightning that appears above thunderclouds.
mesosphere
how much of the atmosphere’s gas molecules are found in the mesosphere & the thermosphere.
only 1%
Mesosphere wind
Waves of air from the stratosphere move the air, otherwise, it’s very stable.
thermosphere meaning
thermos means heat in greek bc its known for its high tempatures
thermosphere solar activity causes
causes tempature vibration
how big is thermosphere
widest layer by low density that most of it is considered part of outer space
Where is it
85km-500/600 km (53-300 miles) above Earth.
thermosphere activity
Space Shuttle, the International Space Station, & many satellites orbit here, Most X-ray & some UV radiation is absorbed here
What are Aurora borealis and where do they occur
thermosphere
Northern & Southern colored lights
Electricity in thermosphere
Electrically neutral, but ions are created by solar radiation, creating the ionosphere.
Ionosphere
not officially a layer, it is a boundary and home to all the charged particles in Earth’s atmosphere.
What lives in the iosphere
home to many of our satellites
ionsphere and communication
Disturbances there can disrupt signals. The ionosphere also plays a role in our everyday communications and navigation systems. Radio and GPS signals travel through this layer of the atmosphere, or rely on bouncing off the ionosphere to reach their destinations. In both cases, changes in the ionosphere’s density and composition can disrupt these signals.
exosphere location
from beyond 500/600 km to (about 400- 800 miles high)
What is exosphere somtimes considered
part of outer space
what layer do satellites orbit
exosphere
where is the air pressure high and where is the lowest
lowest-exsphere
highest-troposphere
Pressure & density in exosphere
so low that individual gas molecules rarely strike one another. The molecules move super fast after absorbing the Sun’s radiation.
What do CFCs release that harms the ozone layer?
Chlorine atoms.
How does chlorine affect ozone?
A: It breaks ozone (O₃) into regular oxygen (O₂).
What happens when the ozone layer gets thinner?
A: More UV radiation reaches Earth’s surface.
What is the ozone hole?
A: A seasonal reduction of ozone over Antarctica.
When does the ozone start to decrease over Antarctica?
A: In late August or early September.
When does the ozone reach its lowest level?
A: By October.
When does the ozone hole disappear?
A: By December.
Can you see energy moving?
It’s hard to see energy moving. But energy is the reason that air moves, and it is sometimes possible to see that.
How does energy from the Sun reach Earth?
A: By radiation.
Q: Radiation from the sun can be
A: It can be reflected, absorbed by the atmosphere, or absorbed by land and water.
Q: How is heat energy transferred on Earth?
A: By radiation, conduction, or convection.
Q: What types of radiation make up 99% of the Sun’s energy?
Visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared radiation.
Q: How much of the Sun energy reaches Earth’s surface?
about 50%
What happens to the other 50% of the Sun’s energy that doesn’t reach Earth’s surface?
It is reflected or absorbed by the atmosphere, providing protection from harmful rays.
What type of energy travels in electromagnetic waves?
radiation (doesn’t need a medium to travel)
How does energy from the Sun reach Earth’s surface?
A: By radiation.
What happens to some of the energy Earth receives from the Sun?
A: Earth radiates some energy back into space.
What percentage of the electromagnetic spectrum is visible light?
0.0035%.
What happens to visible light when it reaches Earth’s surface?
It is converted to thermal energy (heat).
What is the majority of sunlight
visible light
electromagnetic spectrum?
A range of radiant energy carried by electromagnetic waves.
Ultraviolet (UV) light & infrared radiation (IR) wavelengths are
beyond the visibility to human eyes.
What can too much UV light do to chemical bonds
they can break the bonds
Why do UV lights break bonds
bc they have short wavelengths
How are the wavelengths of infrared (IR) and visible light different?
IR has longer wavelengths than visible light.
What are the dangers of too much UV light exposure?
It can burn human skin and cause skin cancer.
Why can’t most electromagnetic radiation from space reach the Earth’s surface?
Most electromagnetic radiation is blocked by Earth’s atmosphere.
Which types of electromagnetic radiation can reach the Earth’s surface?
Radio frequencies, visible light, and some ultraviolet light can reach sea level.
How do astronomers observe some infrared wavelengths?
Astronomers observe some infrared wavelengths by putting telescopes on mountain tops
How high can balloon experiments reach above the Earth’s surface?
Flashcard Back: Balloon experiments can reach 35 km above the Earth’s surface and operate for months
How do rocket flights help scientists study space?
Rocket flights can take instruments above the Earth’s atmosphere, but only for a few minutes before falling back to Earth
Gas & particles in the atmosphere absorb about what % of incoming solar radiation.
Gas & particles in the atmosphere absorb about 20% of incoming solar radiation.
What do oxygen, ozone, and water vapor absorb
incoming ultraviolet light
What do water, and carbon dioxide in the troposphere absorb
some infrared radiation from the sun
Does Earth’s atmosphere absorb visible light?
no bc it has to be converted to IR before it can be absorbed
How much of the Sun’s radiation is reflected by clouds and small particles in the air?
Clouds and small particles in the air reflect about 25% of the Sun’s radiation
How is some of the Sun’s radiation reflected after reaching Earth’s surface?
Some radiation is reflected by land and sea surfaces after it reaches the Earth’s surface.
Which surfaces are more reflective to solar radiation?
Snow-covered, icy, or rocky surfaces are more reflective, reflecting about 5% of incoming radiation.
What is the total percentage of incoming radiation reflected into space?
In total, 30% of incoming radiation is reflected into space.
How much of the Sun’s radiation is absorbed by Earth’s surface?
Earth’s surface receives and absorbs about 50% of incoming solar radiation
What happens to the remaining 20% of incoming radiation?
The remaining 20% of incoming radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere.
What is radiation balance?
Radiation balance occurs when the amount of radiation Earth receives from the Sun equals the amount Earth radiates into the outer atmosphere.
Greenhouses gases
some gases in the atmosphere act like the glass of a greenhouse, they allow sunlight to pass through, but they prevent some IR energy from escaping
What happens to the trapped IR greenhouse gases
They are directed back to Earth’s surface, causing additional buildup of thermal energy at Earth’s surface
The gases that trap IR best are
water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) & methane (CH4)
Conduction
the transfer of thermal energy by collisions between particles of matter. energy transfered through direct contact
Particles in conduction
must be close enough to transfer energy
How conduction works
When molecules bump into one another (by direct contact). Heat travels through something solid.
When does conduction work
doesn’t work well in gases, (The molecules are too far apart). better in liquids but not the best
Warmer vs colder molecules
warmer molecules move faster than cooler ones. When objects are in contact, energy is transferred from warm object to cooler objects.
how does Earth’s surface heats the atmosphere
through conduction (air meets the surface
Convection
transfer of energy by the movement of particles within matter and mass motion of molecules
where does convection occur
occurs in fluids (liquids & gases)
What happens to air molecules near Earth’s surface when heated by conduction?
They spread apart and become less dense.
why does warm air rise
bc its less dense then the cooler air around it
What process moves warm air to higher altitudes?
convection
what happens to the density of air as heated
decreases
How is heat transferred from Earth’s surface to the air above it?
conduction
How does Convection circulate heat throughout the atmosphere?
When the air is warmed, the molecules move apart & the air becomes less dense.
Warm, less dense air rises & cooler, more dense air moves in.
radiation
energy moved by waves
in conduction
heat moves from areas of more heat to areas of less heat substances must be in direct contact
convection
materials move depending on their heat relative to nearby materials.
Latent heat
energy transferred from Earth’s surface into the atmosphere when water changes from one phase to another
tempature inversions
occurs in the troposphere when temperature increase as altitude increases.
*A layer of cooler air is trapped by a layer of warmer air above it
what do temperature inversions prevent
It prevents air from mixing & can trap pollution in the air close to Earth’s surface
water cycle determines
The cycling of water between the atmosphere and the hydrosphere plays important role in determining weather patterns and climate types.
hydrosphere
the water environments of Earth.
How does the carbon cycle affect life on earth
1Photosynthesis- makes life on Earth possible
2) Heating- 2nd most influential greenhouse gas
3) civilization-enabled modern technology to emerge
human impact of carbon cycle
1) Positive –contributes naturally to cycle, warmer world creates more habitable area, agriculture
2) Negative – pollution, depletion of resources (energy), climate change (maybe)
How does the Nitrogen cycle affect the Earth?
1) plant life-makes life on Earth possible
2) atmospheric pressure-maintains balance
3) soils-a soil cycle; enables plants to exist
Human impact positive
Positive –agriculture (Green Revolution)
*The nitric acid formed falls on the Earth’s surface & fuses with the minerals on Earth. Nitrates are formed. The nitrates are absorbed with water by the plants & when we eat the food from this plant, we get nitrogen in our bodies.
human impact negative
Negative – water & air pollution, pool land use
*The nitric acid causes acid rain. It harms farm life, esp. if the pH value is less than 3.
Nitrogen makes up how much of the air around us
4/5
Nitrogen cycle
Nitrogen gas (N₂) is in the air, but plants and animals can’t use it directly.
Bacteria in the soil change N₂ into usable forms (like nitrates) that plants absorb through their roots.
Animals get nitrogen by eating plants.
When plants and animals die or poop, bacteria break it down, returning nitrogen to the soil or air.
carbon cycle
Plants take in carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air during photosynthesis to make food.
Animals eat plants, getting carbon from them.
Animals and plants release CO₂ back into the air when they breathe (respiration).
When plants and animals die, their bodies break down, releasing carbon into the soil or air.
Burning fossil fuels (like coal, oil) adds extra CO₂ to the air.
what makes up the surface of the earth and how much
land and 3/4 of it is ocean
does the sun warm the earth
yes but not equally
Different latitudes receive different amounts of
Different latitudes receive different amounts of radiation because Earth is curved.
At what angle does sunlight strike the Earth’s surface near the equator?
At nearly 90 degrees year-round.
Why is it always warm near the equator
Because sunlight hits at a direct 90 degree angle, providing more energy and heat all year.
What areas of Earth are called the tropics?
The regions near the equator where it is warm all year.
How does sunlight affect the land, water, and air near the equator?
It keeps them warm throughout the year.
What is special about the amount of sunlight near the equator?
It gets more sunlight than other parts of the earth year round
What happens to air at the equator when its heated
becomes less dense and rises
What replaces the rising warm air at the equator
denser, cold, air
What do convection currents do in the atmosphere
move warm air up and cold air down circulating heat
What causes convection currents to form?
Differences in air density due to temperature changes.
Why are the air at the poles much cooler?
Cold, denser air comes from the poles, which receive less radiation from the Sun, making air at the poles much cooler.
what’s is the effect of Earth’s rotation on moving air and water called
coriolis effect
In which direction does the Coriolis effect cause moving air and water to turn in the Northern Hemisphere?
right
In which direction does the Coriolis effect cause moving air and water to turn in the Southern Hemisphere?
left
Uneven heating and the Coriolis effect together create __________ on Earth’s surface.
global wind belts
What did early sailors use global wind patterns for?
to navigate the oceans
doldrums
windless, rainy zone near the equator
If light strikes perpendicularly
The light energy is concentrated over a smaller area, making it warmer.
What happens when light strikes a surface at an angle?
The light energy spreads out over a larger area, making it cooler.
What happens when light strikes a surface at an angle?
The light energy spreads out over a larger area, making it cooler.
Why are equatorial regions warmer than polar regions?
At the equator, sunlight hits directly, delivering more energy and heat.
How is sunlight like a flashlight shining on a surface?
Direct light is brighter and warmer, while angled light is weaker and cooler.
What is the Coriolis effect?
The Coriolis effect is the way Earth’s rotation causes moving air and water to curve:
Right in the Northern Hemisphere
Left in the Southern Hemisphere
trade winds
air descending to Earth’s surface near 30º North and South latitude creates steady winds that blow in tropical regions.
prevailing surface winds
the predominant surface winds in a specific area. winds that blow from a specific direction over a specific area of the Earth.
*the 3 global cells in each hemisphere create north & southerly surface winds
prevailing westerlies
steady winds that flow from west to east between latitudes 30ºN and 60ºN & 30ºS and 60ºS (latitude); these winds blow in the opposite direction from trade winds.
*responsible for the wind in most of North America.
*responsible for the movement of much of the weather across the US.
polar easterlies
cold winds that blow from east to the west near the North & South poles
Near the north pole, easterlies blow from northeast to southwest.
Near the south pole, polar easterlies blow from the southeast to the northwest.
jet stream
A narrow band of high winds near the top of the troposphere that flows west to east around Earth.
direction that jet streams flow
From west to east, often making large loops to the north or south.
how do jet streams effect the weather
They move cold air from the poles toward the tropics and warm air from the tropics toward the poles, helping to move storms across the country.
where do jet streams form
At the boundary of air masses with different temperatures.
How fast can jet streams move?
Up to 300 km/h, and they move faster in winter when the temperature difference is greater.
2 types of jet streeams
Polar jet stream (50°-60° N & S)
Subtropical jet stream (30° N & S)
What do global wind systems do?
They determine the major weather patterns for the entire planet.
What do smaller wind systems affect?
local weather
What are two local wind systems near large bodies of water?
Sea breezes and land breezes
sea breaze
cool wind that blows from the sea to the land during the day because the land heats up faster than the water.
land breeze
cool wind that blows from the land to the sea at night because the land cools faster than the water.
Why do sea breezes and land breezes form?
Because of differences in temperature between the land and water.
