Atmospheric Circulation

Question 1

What is atmospheric circulation

Answer 1

Fluid circulation based on de airy and pressure differences caused by changes in temperature

Question 2

Bulk Composition

Answer 2

1.Nitrogen- most abundant 78%
2.Oxygen- 21%
3.Argon- 0.93%
4.carbon dioxide-0.041%
5.Neon-0.002%

Other gasses-

Water vapor- 0-4%
Methane (CH4) - 0.0015%
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)- 0.0003%

Question 3

Stratosphere

Answer 3

Layer above troposphere. Contains the ozone (protects us from uv rays-mutagens)

Less turbulent

Drier than troposphere

Question 4

Ozone

Answer 4

Layer within atmosphere protecting us from harmful uv radiation (mutagen)

Question 5

Troposphere

Answer 5

Lowest point of the atmosphere. The air we breathe. Weather happens in this atmospheric layer. It is also very turbulent (due to vertical and horizontal mixing)

Contains 75% of atmospheric mass (as you move down in the atmosphere, density and pressure increase which is in part due to this mass)

Question 6

Atmospheric pressure

Answer 6

Force per unit area produced by air column

In the atmosphere, pressure likes to go from HIGH ~> LOW

Lower altitudes = more pressure
Higher altitude = less pressure

Question 7

Atmospheric density

Answer 7

Increases as you move down within the atmosphere

Cold air is more dense than warm air (relatively)

Warm air is less dense than cold air (relatively)

Question 8

Cold air ____ and hot air ____

Answer 8

Cold air sinks; hot air rises

Cold air has high pressure and density, warm air has low pressure and density which contributes to this

Question 9

Relative humidity

Answer 9

How much water vapor the air is holding to the maximum amount it can hold

Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air

Question 10

As altitude increases what happens to pressure, temperature, and density

Answer 10

As we increase in altitude, the air grows cooler (we get further away from earth’s surface which is the source of atmospheric warming) , density decreases , and pressure decreases (remember the whole mass being more at the lower levels of the atmosphere)

Question 11

Convection

Answer 11

Another way to say atmospheric circulation. Movement of fluids (be it air or water) based on density and pressure differences caused by temperature.

Air moved from huh high to low pressure

Question 12

What causes convection?

Answer 12

-uneven hearing from the sun
Due to earth’s tilt, rotation, wobble (milakovitch cycle)

(Coriolis effect)
-earth’s rotation caused wind deflection

Topography

Question 13

What does atmospheric circulation/convection dictate?

Answer 13

-Weather and climate.
-Pollution distribution (think vertical and horizontal mixing, inversion layers,ext)
-Ocean circulation

Question 14

What warms the atmosphere?

Answer 14

The earth’s surface. (Via infrared rays)

Solar radiation passed into earth’s surface and is absorbed than deflected back into atmosphere in the form of longer rays

Question 15

As altitude increases temperature _____

Answer 15

Decreases

Question 16

Coriolis effect : Earth’s rotation

Answer 16

Apparent deflection of an object moving in a fraught line on a rotating body

Northern Hemisphere- win is deflected to the RIGHT

Question 17

What direction is air deflected in the northern hemisphere due to the coriolis effect?

Answer 17

To the right.

Question 18

Hadley Cell

Question 19

Vertical mixing

Answer 19

The upwards downwards movement of cold and warm air. Warm air rises, cold air sinks but this air mixed. As you increase in altitude temperature also decreases

Question 21

Why is vertical mixing important?

Answer 21

For the carrying up of pollutants out of the trophosphere into higher levels of the atmosphere and or diluting said pollutants

Question 22

Temperature inversions and inversion layer

Answer 22

Cool air is trapped under warm air preventing vertical mixing. TRAPPING POLLUTANTS.