Atmosphere and Hydrologic Cycle - Week 6

Question 1

What are the five major atmospheric layers?

Answer 1

Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.

Question 2

In which layer of the atmosphere does weather occur?

Answer 2

Troposphere

Question 3

Why does the atmospheric temperature vary (in a zig-zag pattern) throughout the layers of the atmosphere? (3 points)

Answer 3

1. Reduction in pressure, as well as heat radiation from the ground up, causes decline in temperature in stratosphere
2. Fewer gases in mesosphere to absorb heat radiation from the sun
3. Less protection in thermosphere from solar radiation, so temps begin to climb again

Question 4

Why are helium and hydrogen present in the exosphere and thermosphere?

Answer 4

Solar radiation/wind. Both elements are present in high quantities in stars.

Question 5

What is the atmospheric function of the ionosphere?

Answer 5

Protection against high-energy/short wavelength radiation (gamma, x-rays).

Question 6

What is the atmospheric function of the ozonosphere?

Answer 6

Protection against medium energy/medium wavelength radiation (UVc; some UVa and UVb reaches ground).

Question 7

What was the Paleo Eocene Thermal Maximum?

Answer 7

An interval of maximum temperature lasting ~100,000 years.

Question 8

What are Milankovitch cycles and what do they dictate?

Answer 8

Cycles of the Earth’s movement that historically have dictated changes in the Earth’s climate.

Question 9

Compare and contrast natural and anthropogenic greenhouse effect.

Answer 9

1. Natural greenhouse effect maintains homeostasis

2. Anthropogenic greenhouse effect causes climate change

Question 10

How does the anthropogenic greenhouse effect cause climate change?

Answer 10

Emission of greenhouse gases means that less heat is able to escape Earth’s atmosphere

Question 11

What is the pressure of Earth’s atmosphere and its concentration of CO2?

Answer 11

• 1 Atm.

- <1%

Question 12

Why are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) harmful to earth’s atmosphere?

Answer 12

When hit by UV radiation, can discharge their chlorine atom and the chlorine atom may steal an oxygen atom from ozone (O3)

Question 13

Where do 90% of CFCs currently in the atmosphere come from?

Answer 13

Industrialised countries in the northern hemisphere.

Question 14

When did the hole in the ozone fully emerge?

Answer 14

1984

Question 15

What is the approximate total mass of the ozone in the atmosphere?

Answer 15

3 billion tonnes, or 0.00006 percent of the atmosphere.

Question 16

What is the Montreal protocol?

Answer 16

An environmental treaty that aims to prevent the manufacture and use of substances that deplete ozone.

Question 17

What are the three types of convection cells and where do they occur?

Answer 17

Hadley cells (tropics/sub-tropics), Ferrel cells (temperate zones) and Polar cells (polar regions).

Question 18

What are Walker cells and to what do they contribute?

Answer 18

Walker cells are involved in longitudinal air circulation and contribute to climate cycles, e.g. La Nina and El Nino.

Question 19

What are noctilucent clouds?

Answer 19

Clouds found in mesosphere, usually in polar regions when sun is low. Thought to form from volcanic ash.

Question 20

What is the difference between troposphere in polar regions versus tropical regions?

Answer 20

The altitude of the troposphere changes in elevation relative to temperature, so it is lower close to the poles and higher at the equator.

Question 21

What is the significance of the higher altitude of tropopause in tropical regions?

Answer 21

Allows for more rainfall.

Question 22

What is the Coriolis effect?

Answer 22

Circulating air is deflected as a result of the Earth’s rotation, i.e. wind moves in a curve
- Creates belts of wind and belts of calm

Question 23

What processes does the hydrologic cycle include?

Answer 23

Evaporation, precipitation, infiltration/runoff, groundwater flow, weather & climate

Question 24

What is an aquiclude?

Answer 24

A surface (e.g. shale) with very low permeability that prevents water from passing through it.

Question 25

What features of the landscape can aquicludes produce?

Answer 25

Perched lakes; water is prevented from becoming runoff or passing through to main water table and pools at surface

Question 26

If a rock is highly porous, what does that mean for its permeability?

Answer 26

Rocks that are highly porous tend to also be highly permeable (spaces between enable flow of water)

Question 27

What is an aquifer?

Answer 27

A rock formation through which groundwater flows in sufficient quantities to supply bores/wells

Question 28

What is a confined aquifer?

Answer 28

One that is situated between two aquicludes.

Question 29

What is an artesian well?

Answer 29

A well from which water flows under natural pressure