Atmosphere Flashcards
1
Q
Atmosphere
A
Layers of air/gases surrounding the earth that protects and supports life
2
Q
Troposphere
A
- The layer in which we live
- Located from 0km-10km above earth’s surface
- Warmest and densest layer
3
Q
Stratosphere
A
- located from 10-50 km above earth’s surface
- contains a layer of ozone that absorbs UV rays
4
Q
Mesosphere
A
- located from 50-90km above earth’s surface
- at the top, temperature is -85 degrees Celsius
- meteorites burn up here
5
Q
Thermosphere
A
- located from 90-~500km above earth’s surface
- difficult to measure because it continues to space
6
Q
Exosphere
A
- layer above the thermosphere
- beyond this layer is space
- located from ~500km- beyond
7
Q
Ultraviolet radiation
A
- type of radiation that has higher energy than visible light
- not visible to the eye
- causes sunburn and other types of damage
8
Q
Infrared radiation
A
- type of radiation with less energy than visible light
- not visible to the eye
- warms the material that absorbs it
9
Q
Ozone (O3)
A
- molecule made of 3 oxygen atoms
- ozone found in troposphere is considered pollution
10
Q
Ozone layer
A
-the ozone layer, located in the stratosphere, absorbs harmful UV radiation from the sun
11
Q
Gases of the atmosphere:
A
78% nitrogen (N2)
21% oxygen (O2)
1% trace gases (CO2, Ne, Ar, H, water vapor)
12
Q
Air pressure
A
- The force of air molecules pushing on an area
- the greater the force, the higher the pressure
- air pressure is pushing in all directions
13
Q
Barometer
A
- an instrument that measures air pressure
- 2 types: aneroid and Mercury
- a rising barometer indicates good weather coming
- a falling barometer indicates bad weather coming
14
Q
Density
A
The amount of mass in a given formula
Density= mass/volume
