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NC Earth & Environmental Science > Atmosphere and Air > Flashcards

Atmosphere and Air Flashcards

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1
Q

Atmospheric Composition

A
  1. Nitrogen - 78%
  2. Oxygen - 21%
  3. Argon - .93%
  4. Carbon Dioxide - .03%
  5. Water Vapor
  6. Trace gases
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2
Q

Oxygen:

A
  • Gas

- Living things breathe oxygen in order to break down food for energy.

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3
Q

Carbon Dioxide:

A
  • Gas

- Has a minor role in regulating the amount of energy the atmosphere absorbs AND acts as a plant fertilizer

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4
Q

Ozone:

A
  • Gas

- Absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

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5
Q

Water Vapor:

A
  • Gas
  • Has a major role in regulating the amount of energy the atmosphere absorbs AND is the source of clouds, rain, and snow.
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6
Q

Dust and Salt:

A
  • Solid

- Provide a solid surface for water vapor to condense around so that clouds can form.

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7
Q

Layers of the Atmosphere:

A
  • Troposphere
  • Stratosphere
  • Mesosphere
  • Thermosphere
  • Exosphere
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8
Q

Troposphere:

A
  • 0-11 kilometers
  • Highest Air Pressure
  • Contains most of the gases of the atmosphere
  • Weather, Life forms, and Jets
  • Colder as altitude increase
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9
Q

Stratosphere:

A
  • 11-48 kilometers (!)
  • Molecular heat rises due to Ozone absorbing heat
  • Ozone Layer, Weather balloons
  • Hotter as altitude increase
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10
Q

Mesosphere:

A
  • 48-95 kilometers (!)
  • Molecular heat falls because there’s not a whole lot here! (coldest layer)
  • Meteors (shooting stars) burn here
  • Colder as altitude increase
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11
Q

Thermosphere:

A
  • 95-500 kilometers (!)
  • Molecular heat rises
  • Ionosphere, Auroras
  • International Space Station
  • Hotter as altitude increase
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12
Q

Exosphere:

A
  • Above 600 kilometers (!)
  • Outermost layer (Space!)
  • Some Hydrogen(H) and Helium(He)
  • Satellites
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13
Q

Temperature

A

The measurement of how rapidly or slowly molecules move around.

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14
Q

Heat

A

The transfer of energy that occurs because of a difference in temperature between substances.

  • Conduction (When molecules collide; touching)
  • Convection (through flow of a heated substance)
  • Radiation (through space or electromagnetic waves)
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15
Q

Fahrenheit:

A
  • Boiling point: 212°
  • Freezing point: 32°
  • Absolute zero: -523° (When molecules are not moving AT ALL).
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16
Q

Celsius:

A
  • Boiling point: 100°
  • Freezing point: 0°
  • Absolute zero: -273°
17
Q

Kelvin:

A
  • Boiling point: 373°
  • Freezing point: 273°
  • Absolute zero: 0°
  • There are no negative numbers on the Kelvin Scale!
18
Q

Absolute Zero

A

The temperature at which molecular motion theoretically stops! This does not occur anyplace in the universe.

19
Q

Dew Point

A

The temperature to which air must be cooled at constant pressure to reach saturation.

  • Dew is formed
  • The higher the dew point, the more uncomfortable and humid the air
20
Q

Condensation

A

The process of water vapor changing into liquid water. It plays a role in creating rain when water vapor in the atmosphere becomes water droplets.

21
Q

Density:

A
  • Mass per volume

- As altitude increases (moving up through Earth’s atmosphere), the density of the air decreases.

22
Q

Air Pressure:

A
  • The force exerted by the molecules of the atmosphere as they are pulled toward Earth’s center.
  • As altitude increases, air pressure decreases.
  • Air at the bottom of the atmosphere (The troposphere) has higher density and pressure.
23
Q

Wind:

A
  • Created by the unequal heating of the Earth

- Moves from areas of high air pressure to areas of low air pressure.

24
Q

Humidity

A

The amount of water air can hold at a given temperature. This is a constant!

25
Q

Relative Humidity

A

The amount of water the air is actually holding compared to how much it can hold.

26
Q

Temperature Inversion

A
  • When upper layers of the troposphere are warmer than the lower layers.
  • The warmer layer is above the colder layer.
  • On a cold, clear, winter night Earth’s surface cools rapidly and becomes colder than the air above it resulting in upper layer of the troposphere being warmer!
27
Q

Cloud Formation:

A
  • Convection Currents
  • Warm air rising over mountains (Orographic Lifting)
  • Air masses of different temperatures meet

Types include…

  • Cirro- (High)
  • Alto- (Middle)
  • Strato- (Low)
28
Q

The Water Cycle:

A
  • Evaporation (Water on Earth’s surface turn into water vapor)
  • Condensation (Water vapor in clouds turn to liquid
  • Precipitation (Rain, snow, sleet, or hail falls to Earth’s surface).

NC Earth & Environmental Science (9 decks)

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