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Environmental science > Atmosphere > Flashcards

Atmosphere Flashcards

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1
Q

What 3 gases make up the atmosphere?

A

Nitrogen - 78% Oxygen - 21% CO2 - >1%

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2
Q

How does the atmosphere support life?

A

Natural processes, Absorption of electromagnetic radiation, delaying the escape of infrared energy, heat distribution, ocean currents, transport of water vapour

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3
Q

What is a tipping point

A

When a smaller activity is no longer needed to contribute and affect climate change.

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4
Q

An example of - Feedback

A

Evaporation leads to condensation, increases cloud cover which increases the albedo, reduces the temperature

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5
Q

Example of + feedback

A

Snow and ice melting

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6
Q

What is dendrochronology?

A

Width of the tree ring shows the growth rate

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7
Q

What is proxy data?

A

Involves an estimate for a factor that can’t be measures

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8
Q

How can Ice core data be used to collect data?

A

Drilling out ice cores and seeing the air bubbles can indicate the atmospheric composition

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9
Q

How can satellitles be used to collect data?

A

can collect data on wind velocity, ocean currents, temperature, ice cover and vegetation cover

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10
Q

How can ocean currents be measured?

A

Using Argo floats - can be moved up and down

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11
Q

How can computer models be used?

A

allows interconnections and consequences to be estimated more accurately

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12
Q

What are difficulties in monitoring and predicting climate change?

A

time delay between cause and effect, natural fluctuations, hard to establish long term trends, interconnected systems

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13
Q

Do ice sheets that break directly cause sea levels to rise

A

no

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14
Q

What is El Nino

A

Trade winds weaken which causes warm water to rise over near S. America which cause flooding and tropical storms

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15
Q

What is La Nina

A

Trade winds increase pushing warm waters over Australia causing unusually cold water over Americas which pushes Jet stream north and causes draughts

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16
Q

What are CFCs used in

A

aerosol propellant, refrigerating systems, fire extinguishers

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17
Q

How do CFCs cause ozone depletion

A

Take an ozone molecule and split it into diatomic oxygen and monotomic oxygen. The chlorine then bonds with the single oxygen which prevents it from creating ozone

18
Q

What is the Vienna convention?

A

Set out legislation to reduce the impact of CFCs

19
Q

What is the Montreal protocol and what are the main aspects?

A

created legally binding legislation to ban CFCs and all members of the UN agreed.

  • Manufacture and use of ODS was phased out and banned
  • Use of HCFCs will be phased out by 2030
  • Essential use of some ODS are still permitted
  • Funding is available in order to make changes
20
Q

What does atmospheric pressure control?

A

controls the ease with which water molecules can evaporate and escape

21
Q

What are the 4 parts to the atmosphere?

A

Troposphere - Stratosphere - Mesosphere - Thermosphere

22
Q

What are the common EMR that reach earth?

A

UV, visible light, near infrared

23
Q

What are the common EMR that leave earth?

A

long wavelength and far wavelength infrared radiation

24
Q

What does the natural atmospheric greenhouse effect describe?

A

The atmospheric processes that warms the troposphere

25
Q

What type of radiation is easily absorbed by greenhouse gases?

A

Infrared Radiation

26
Q

What are the two common greenhouse gases?

A

Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapour

27
Q

What are the ecological changes as a result of climate change?

A
  • Directly/indirectly affected by temperature change
  • Plants can grow faster
  • Precipitation changes could change wetlands size
  • Trees with deeper roots will be able to survive longer
  • Hibernation could be disturbed causing starvation
  • Ecological events e.g. flowering, migration and nesting may change
  • Distribution of species may change
28
Q

What changes in climatic processes may there be as a result of climate change?

A
  • Wind Pattern changes

- Changes in rainfall

29
Q

How can changes in rainfall occur?

A

Increased temperatures increases evaporation

30
Q

How can changes in wind patterns occur?

A

Jet streams are created by temperature difference

As the polar regions warm these temperature differences will decrease shrinking the jet stream

31
Q

What changes can occur in the cryosphere?

A

Reduction in amount and duration of snow cover
Changes in the extent and speed of movement of land ice
Loss of ice shelves
Changes in ice thickness and area
Ice lakes
Ice and snow fed rivers

32
Q

What can cause sea levels to rise?

A

Thermal expansion of water

Melting Land ice

33
Q

How are ocean currents driven?

A
  • Winds cause surface water to move
  • Evaporation of water has to be replaced
  • Temperature changes will affect the density
  • Changes in Salinity
34
Q

What 2 movements drive the North Atlantic Converyor?

A

Friction with prevailing winds blowing over the ocean

Water in NE Atlantic sinks as it cools which draws water in to replace it

35
Q

What changes have occured in the NAC due to climate change?

A

High temp. caused ice from Greenland to melt into the sea which dilutes the salinity levels
Less saline water sinks which reduces the flow rate of the water current which can cause NW Europe to become colder

36
Q

What impacts can climate change have on society?

A

Health
Water Supplies
Food Supplies
Impacts on Infrastructure

37
Q

What are the impacts on infrastructure?

A 
Road heat stress
Track Building
Drainage
Landslides
Bridge Damage
38
Q

What are 2 ways climate change be controlled?

A

Control of Greenhouse gases

Carbon Storage

39
Q

How can we adapt to climate change?

A

Flood control
Coastal erosion management
Managed retreat
Urban Drainage control

40
Q

What are the 4 points to the Rowland-Molina hypothesis?

A

Persistence of CFCs
Dissociation by UV and the release of chlorine
Reaction of chlorine and oxygen
Other halogens

41
Q

How can evidence for ozone depletion by gathered?

A

Measuring Ozone
Ground based data collection
Satellite surveys
Air Samples

42
Q

2 ways the Montreal Protocol has been implemented?

A

Use of alternative processes

Use of alternative materials

Environmental science (14 decks)

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