Atmospheric Science Flashcards
What is the atmospheric composition? Hint 78% is _, 21% is _, and 1% is other.
78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other.
Where is the troposphere? 0-11km above Earth’s surface.
It is the closest to Earth’s surface.
What lives in the troposphere?
All living organisms.
The troposphere is where w _ _ _ _ _ r occurs.
Weather.
What happens to temperature in the troposphere with altitude?
It decreases. Higher up is colder.
What is the tropopause?
A layer of dense air that prevents many air pollutants from escaping.
Where is the stratosphere? 11-50km above Earth’s surface.
It follows the troposphere.
Why is the stratosphere important?
It hosts the ozone layer.
Why is the ozone layer important?
Ozone blocks, absorbs, and scatters UV rays from the sun.
Why is UV dangerous?
It can damage DNA, cause mutations and potentially cancer.
Where is the mesosphere? 50-80km above Earth’s surface.
It follows the stratosphere.
Why is the mesosphere poorly studied?
Its density is too low for airplane travel.
Where is the thermosphere? 80-100km above Earth’s surface.
It follows the mesosphere.
The thermosphere is continuous with s _ _ _ e and has low d _ _ _ _ _ y.
Space and density.
What is the Coriolis Effect?
Earth’s rotation causes wind-driven ocean currents to turn right in the Northern Hemisphere, and left in the Southern Hemisphere.
