Atmosphere Flashcards
What type of layer is the atmosphere?
It is a transparent (to allow light and view to pass through)and odorless gas around the earth.
What gases is the earth composed of?
78%nitrogen 21%oxygen 1%other gases
Earths gravitational keeps the atmosphere attached to it-but it is in constant motion.
The earth maintains the balance between incoming energy from the sun and outgoing energy form the earth.(earths energy budget)
The nerdy is used ,stored and transferred between the eart and the atmosphere.The output from the system is the energy from the earth (terrestrial radiation)which is radiated outwards and lost in space.
Approximately 20z of the solar radiation,suns energy is absorbed from the sun by the ozone layer,clouds and atmospheric gases
About 25%of the suns energy is scattered and reflected by clouds and air
About 50% of the suns energy is absorbed by the earths surface.
About how 5% of the suns energy is reflected back into the atmosphere by the earths surface
What are the layers of the atmosphere?
Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere (Exosphere-fades into space)
Troposphere and stratosphere are most important
Troposphere
Closest to earth
80% of all our air
Bottom of troposphere is warmed by terrestrial radiation from earth so temperature falls increasing height from the earths surface.
Has highest percentage of both water vapour and carbon dioxide
Contains majority of the atmospheres clouds dust and pollution
All weather happens in the troposphere including weather patterns cloud cover and wind systems that affect the Earth
stratosphere
The stratosphere is above the troposphere and the two are divided by a line called the tropopause
See a rise in temperature from the tropopause temperatures rising with distance from the tropopause.
Dust free and cloudless
As little carbon dioxide and water vapour which means the air is very dry
Is above the weather so aircraft climb up to the stratosphere to avoid storms and turbulence
Contains the ozone layer
Has the highest concentration of ozone
Ozone absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun and protects life on Earth surface as a result the stratosphere has a higher record the temperature than troposphere
Composition of atmosphere
Nitrogen 78%
Oxygen 21%
Argon(inert gas) 0.95%
Carbon dioxide 0.05%
Composition of atmosphere
Dry surface air is dominated by nitrogen and oxygen
The tiny percent of carbon dioxide is vital to support life on the Earth(used by plants for photosynthesis and absorbs radiation from the surface of the Earth)
Nitrogen and oxygen retain very little heat so without carbon dioxide the Earth would be about 30° cooler making it frozen and lifeless
Whilst there is only a Minute amount of ozone in the atmosphere it is vital for the Earth life
The ozone absorbs the cancer including UV rays which would otherwise be humble plants animals and humans
Water Vapour in the atmosphere varies from place to place it is the source of cloud formation and precipitation found in the troposphere the troposphere is where the hydrosphere and the atmosphere intercept.
The atmosphere also contains other Inert gases dust salt smoke and other pollutants
Ozone layer
15 to 35 km above the Earth surface a gas called Ozone surrounds our planet
As a barrier between the Earth and ultraviolet radiation
Pollution has caused the ozone layer to thin
Stratosphere contains the ozone layer
Made of molecules which contain three oxygen atoms
Ozone layer absorbs 98% of damaging ultraviolent UV light
Chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons are the main reason for ozone breakdown
CFC contains the elements carbon chlorine and fluorine
Mainly found in refrigerants aerosols and plastic products
Chlorine element reacts with the ozone and rips apart the ozone molecule
Ozone layer damage is most prevalent over the North and South poles
In 1989 depleting substances were banned since then the amount of chlorine and other ozone-depleting substances in the atmosphere have been banned
The ozone layer is only 3 to5 mm thick
Effects of ozone layer depletion
Increased levels of UV radiation reaching the surface of the Earth
Links to skin cancer eye cataracts and a reduction in immunity to diseases
The hole in the ozone layer allows more of the Sun is UV rays So it does not allow more of the Sun light rays through which contain heat
The Earth is not heating up because of the hole in the ozone layer
El Nino
- It is a warming weather pattern that results from variations in temperature between the ocean and the atmosphere
- it is part of a complex cycle linking the hydrosphere in the atmosphere
- It’s usually Asked about a year and happens every 3 to 4 years
- During this year the South East trade winds are weaker
- these results in ocean currents that vary in strength
- Warm westerly wins become more dominant blowing eastwards towards the coast of South America
- The temperatures rise as a result and the pattern of flow of surface currents is reversed
- The effects of El Nino begin with a sudden change in sea temperatures
- warm ocean currents, plankton and fish because it is low in oxygen and nutrients
- large Shoals of fish move offshore into Colder Waters in search of food and out of reach for local fishermen
- Remarkable chromatic affects hurricanes storms bush fires and drought are experienced around the world
- some areas can receive up to 10 times the monthly rainfall while others experience severe drought.
Climate change
This results in bad weather conditions and events such as heatwaves,droughts and floods
-Climate change is being increased by the activities of people
Climate change includes global warming the greenhouse effect and damage the ozone layer and air pollution
What is the difference between global warming and the greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is how heat is retained by the atmosphere due to greenhouse gases whereas global warming is the increase in average annual temperature across the globe
