Chapter 12 Flashcards
What is the atmosphere?
“A thin layer of gases surrounding Earth.”
How many layers is Earth’s atmosphere divided into?
5 layers
What does the atmosphere do?
It makes the temperature livable, it protects us from UV rays, and it protects us from asteroids.
What was Earth’s ancient atmosphere made of?
Carbon dioxide and nitrogen
What makes up 78% of the atmosphere?
Nitrogen
What are the layers of the atmosphere?
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere
(order closest to earth – farthest)
What are some solid particles in the Earth’s atmosphere?
Dust, pollen, and salt
What are acids?
“liquids produced by the burning of fossil fuels (ex: acid rain)”
What are some liquid particles in Earth’s atmosphere?
Water and other liquids (clouds)
What is weather?
Changes in atmospheric conditions
(When the atmosphere moves its solid and liquid particles from one region to another)
What happens to the air pressure as the altitude increases?
It decreases
What causes atmospheric/air pressure?
Gravity pulling the air/the atmosphere down towards Earth. By pulling down on the air/atmosphere, the density increases. Gravitational pull is stronger near the surface of the Earth, therefore, the farther you are from it the more it decreases.
Why is it harder to breathe at higher elevations?
There is less oxygen in comparison to lower elevations because the air pressure isn’t as strong.
Which layers of the atmosphere contain most of the air?
The troposphere and stratosphere
In which atmospheric layers does the temperature decrease as altitude increases?
Troposphere, mesosphere
In which atmospheric layers does the temperature increase as altitude increases?
Stratosphere, thermosphere
Which atmospheric layer has the highest concentration of ozone?
The stratosphere
Where is the ozone layer located?
The stratosphere
How is the troposphere heated?
It is heated from the ground up because nitrogen and oxygen don’t absorb radiant energy. However, CO2, which is denser at the bottom of the layer, absorbs that energy better (temperature decreases as altitude increases)
How is the stratosphere heated?
It is heated from the top down because the ozone layer, which is very good at absorbing infrared radiation (IR), is located at the top of the layer (temperature increases as altitude increases)
How is the mesosphere heated?
It is heated from the bottom up because of the ozone layer (the bottom of the mesosphere is on top of the ozone layer, which is at the top of the stratosphere)
(temperature decreases as altitude increases)
How is the thermosphere (and exosphere) heated?
It is heated from the top down “…due to the ability of gas molecules to absorb energy individually”
What does tropos mean?
Tropos means change
How long is the troposphere?
8-15 km (5-10 miles)
Where is most of the water vapor in the atmosphere found?
The troposphere
What does the heat in the troposphere cause?
rising & falling airflow stirred up & variable (wind)
In which layer is life found?
The troposphere
What is the tropopause?
It is what separates the troposphere and stratosphere; where the temperature beings to change
Where does weather occur?
The troposphere
Where are clouds found?
The troposphere
How long is the stratosphere?
15-50 km
What is the stratopause?
The boundary that separates the stratosphere and mesosphere
Where in the stratosphere is the ozone located?
The top part
What does the ozone layer do?
It absorbs a lot of the sun’s harmful rays
What is the air like in the stratosphere?
The air is stable because there is not a lot of convection, and has mostly horizontal airflow
Convection
Heat rises, cool sinks
What are clouds like in the stratosphere?
There are almost no clouds
How long is the mesosphere?
50-90 km
What is the mesosphere known for temperature-wise?
It is the coldest layer
What happens to meteors upon entry into the mesosphere?
They burn up and look like shooting stars
Why is the mesosphere the least studied layer?
It is hard to access
What are noctilucent clouds?
Very thin clouds that look blue/silver at night located in the mesosphere
Where do noctilucent clouds appear?
In the mesosphere above thunderclouds
What are “sprites” and “elves”?
A type of lightning phenomenon that happens above thunderclouds.
What percentage of the atmosphere’s gas molecules are found in the mesosphere and thermosphere?
1%
What is the air like in the mesosphere?
Stable
What is the mesopause?
The boundary between the mesosphere and the thermosphere
What does thermos mean?
Heat
Why is the thermosphere called that?
It is called the thermosphere because it is very hot, and solar activity causes temperature vibrations to occur
Where does space begin?
100 km (62 miles) above Earth’s surface
Why is the thermosphere sometimes considered to be a part of outer space?
Because the air density is very low
How long is the thermosphere?
85-500/600 km
What goes on in the thermosphere?
Space shuttles, the ISS, and satellites orbit in the thermosphere. The northern lights (Aurora borealis) are also found in this layer.
What is the ionosphere?
A region in the thermosphere that has charged particles (ions)
What are ions?
charged particles
What goes on in the ionosphere/what does it do?
Radio waves travel through the ionosphere, making it useful in long-distance communication. However, if the ionosphere were to change, the waves would be disrupted.
How long is the exosphere?
500/600 km and beyond (no clear boundary)
Why is the exosphere sometimes considered part of outer space?
It is the outermost layer of the atmosphere, and the pressure/density is so low that air molecules barely ever strike one another, and molecules sometimes escape. There is no clear boundary between the exosphere and outer space.
Where do satellites orbit?
The exosphere and the thermosphere
What is the hottest layer of the atmosphere?
The thermosphere
What is the coldest layer of the atmosphere?
The mesosphere
Which atmospheric layer has the greatest air pressure?
The troposphere
Which atmospheric layer has the lowest air pressure?
The exosphere
How does energy from the sun reach the earth?
Radiation
What is radiation?
“…the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves.”
What are the types of radiant energy that come from the sun?
Visible light, ultraviolet light (UV), and infrared radiation (IR)
What is visible light?
“…light that you can see.”
What is ultraviolet light?
UV light is a form of radiant energy that “…has short wavelengths and can break chemical bonds.”
What is infrared radiation?
“…thermal energy or warmth.”
What percentage of the Sun’s energy is absorbed by the Earth’s surface?
50%
What happens to the radiation from the sun?
It can be reflected in space, absorbed by the atmosphere, or absorbed by land/water
What are the three ways that heat energy can be transferred?
Radiation, conduction, convection
What percentage of the Sun’s energy is reflected and/or absorbed?
50%
Which gas molecules absorb incoming UV light? (3)
Ozone, water vapor, oxygen
Approximately what % of the visible light makes up the electromagnetic spectrum?
0.0035%
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
“range of radiant energy carried by electromagnetic waves”
What is radiation?
“energy that travels in electromagnetic waves”
What type of radiant energy is the majority of sunlight?
Visible light
Why can ultraviolet rays not be seen?
Their wavelengths are shorter than the wavelengths of visible light
Why can infrared radiation not be seen?
Their wavelengths are longer than the wavelengths of visible light
What percentage of incoming solar radiation do gas and particles in the atmosphere absorb?
20%
What absorbs infrared radiation in the troposphere?
Water and CO2
What must happen to visible light for the Earth’s atmosphere to be able to absorb it?
It has to be converted into infrared radiation. This contributes to the greenhouse effect
What is reflection?
“return light, heat sound after it strikes a surface”
What percentage of the Sun’s radiation is reflected by clouds and other particles?
25%
(it can also be reflected by the land or the sea)
What percentage of the Sun’s radiation is reflected by snow-covered, icy, or rocky surfaces?
5%
What is the total percentage of reflected solar radiation?
30%
What is radiation balance?
“The amount of radiation Earth receives from the Sun is the same as the amount Earth radiates into the outer atmosphere until a balance is achieved.”
How is the atmosphere like a greenhouse?
It allows sunlight to enter but not leave
How does the greenhouse effect work?
The gases in the atmosphere do not absorb visible light, so they allow visible light to pass through them. However, for the atmosphere to be able to absorb the radiation, the visible light has to convert to infrared radiation. So, the atmosphere allows visible light to pass through, but traps the infrared radiation
Which gases trap infrared radiation best (the greenhouse gases)?
Carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor (H2O), and methane (CH4)
What is conduction?
“the transfer of thermal energy by collisions between particles of matter.”
Which state of matter is the best conductor?
Solids are good, liquids are okay, and gases aren’t good
During conduction, which molecules receive the thermal energy?
The cooler molecules
How does Earth’s surface heat the atmosphere?
Conduction (the ground touches the air)
What is convection?
“transfer of energy by the movement of particles within matter”
In which states of matter does convection occur?
Liquids and gases
How does convection circulate heat throughout the atmosphere?
When the air is closer to the surface, it heats up due to conduction. When air heats up, it becomes less dense, causing it to rise. The air that was previously at the top (the now cool air) is denser than the warmer air, so it sinks.
Air pressure _____ in warm air because fewer molecules are in the same space.
(increase or decrease)
Decreases
In cold air, air pressure ___ as molecules move closer together.
(increase or decrease)
Increases
What is latent heat?
“energy transferred from Earth’s surface into the atmosphere when water changes from one phase to another”
What is a temperature inversion?
When an area in the troposphere has the temperature increase as the altitude increases
What happens in temperature inversions?
A layer of warm air traps a layer of cool air beneath it. This can also trap air pollution close to the surface.
What is the hydrosphere?
“the water environments of Earth.”
What determines weather patterns and climate types?
“the cycling of water between the atmosphere and the hydrosphere” (water cycle)
Why is the Earth not warmed equally?
The Earth is curved, so the sun’s rays don’t hit different spots with the same amount of energy. The equator receives more sunlight, while the poles receive less
What is it like near the equator?
Since areas around the equator (0 degrees latitude) receive the most sunlight, they are warmer. This causes the air to be warm and less dense, resulting in low air pressure.
What is it like near the poles?
Since areas around the poles (90 degrees north and south) receive less sunlight than other parts of the globe, they are colder. This causes the air to be more dense, and the air pressure to be greater.
What is wind?
“…the movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.”
What causes wind?
Differences in air pressure around the globe
What is the Coriolis Effect?
When air and water appear to move off of their intended path (to the left or to the right) due to the Earth’s rotation. An object’s intended path is always straight, but due to the fact that the Earth spins, the object will appear to be turning in a certain direction.
Which direction does air and water turn to due to the Coriolis Effect in the Northern hemisphere?
They turn to the right
Which direction does air and water turn to due to the Coriolis Effect in the Southern hemisphere?
They turn to the left
What are prevailing winds?
The normal direction that the wind blows in a certain area
How are prevailing winds formed?
A combination of the Coriolis Effect and different air pressures (high and low) creating distinct wind patterns
Who used distinct wind patterns to navigate the ocean?
Early sailors
Where is there little to no wind?
Near the equator
What are doldrums?
“This windless, rainy zone near the equator”
Why is there no wind in the doldrums?
Since the doldrums is an area that receives a lot of sunlight, the air there is hot and less dense. This causes it to rise directly up, resulting in no wind.
What are the northerly winds?
Winds that blow from the north to the south (towards equator)
What are the southerly winds?
Winds that blow from the south to the north (towards equator)
What are trade winds?
Cool air (originally from the equator) that traveled to 30 degrees latitude (north or south) and sinks; “steady winds that blow in tropical regions.”
What are the prevailing westerlies?
“Steady winds that flow from west to east between latitudes 30ºN and 60ºN & 30ºS and 60ºS “
Which of the prevailing winds do we experience?
The westerlies
What are the polar easterlies?
“…cold winds that blow from east to the west near the North & South poles”
90 degrees to 60 degrees (north and south)
What are convection cells?
“a self-contained convective zone in a fluid in which upward motion of warmer fluid in the center is balanced by downward motion of cooler fluid at the periphery.”
A global wind belt
How many convection cells are there on Earth?
3
Which direction do trade winds move?
East to west
Which direction do the westerlies move?
West to East
Which direction do the polar easterlies move?
East to west
What are jet streams?
“Near the top of the troposphere is a narrow band of high winds…”
In which direction do jet streams move?
West to east
What do jet streams do?
They are very fast winds (up to 300km/h) that blow cold air from the poles to the tropics and warm air from the tropics to the poles. They impact the weather by moving storms across the country
How many jet streams are there?
4 total
Where are the jet streams located?
polar (50-60 degrees N & S)
subtropical (30 degrees N & S)
Where do jet streams form?
“They form at the boundary of air of different temperatures.”
Likely at the top of the troposphere where the warm air begins to cool
What are global wind belts?
“…large-scale, persistent wind patterns that encircle the Earth, driven by the sun’s unequal heating and the Earth’s rotation, and are characterized by the trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies.”
What are the three global wind belts?
Trade winds, westerlies, polar easterlies
What is the difference between global wind systems and local wind systems?
“Global wind systems determine the major weather patterns for the entire planet.
Smaller wind systems affect local weather.”
What is a sea breeze?
“…wind that blows from the sea to the land due to local temperature and pressure differences.”
How are sea breezes formed?
When the air above the land is warmer, so it rises, and the air above the sea is cooler, so it sinks, forming a convection current
When do sea breezes occur?
During the day when the ground is warmer than the sea
What is a land breeze?
“…a wind that blows from the land to the sea due to local temperature and pressure differences.”
How do land breezes form?
When the air above the land is cooler, so it sinks, and the air above the ocean is warm, so it rises, forming a convection current
When do land breezes occur?
At night when the sea is warmer than the ground
What can collect in the stratosphere due to lack of vertical collection?
CFCs and other materials (volcanic gases, meteorite materials, rocket exhaust)
How thin is the atmosphere at the top of the stratosphere compared to it at sea level?
The atmosphere is 1000 times thinner at the top of the stratosphere than at sea level
What are “blue jets”?
A type of lightning that “…can occur above thunderstorms & extend to upper limits of [the] stratosphere. “
What are chlorofluorocarbons?
CFCs are any chemical compounds made up of the elements chlorine, fluorine, and carbon.
How do chlorofluorocarbons harm the atmosphere?
First, UV rays break up a chlorofluorocarbon molecule. The chlorine atom then goes to the ozone molecule (O3) and breaks it up, leaving a chlorine and oxygen atom paired, and 2 oxygen atoms paired (O2). Then, a free oxygen atom joins the oxygen atom that was with the chlorine, leaving the chlorine alone again to find another ozone molecule to break up. This destroys the ozone layer, and allows more harmful UV rays to pass through the atmosphere.
What is the water cycle?
The process by which water moves through the Earth and atmosphere
What are the steps in the water cycle?
Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration, infiltration
(no order)
What is evaporation?
When water heats up so much that it turns to gas (water vapor)
What is condensation?
When water vapor cools to form a cloud
What is precipitation?
“rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground”
What is transpiration?
“(of a plant or leaf) the exhalation of water vapor through the stomata.”
In what ways does the water cycle affect the earth?
- Provides water for organisms
- impacting weather
What is one positive human impact on the water cycle?
Contribute to the cycle naturally (we drink the water at some point)
What is one negative human impact on the water cycle?
Pollution
What is the carbon cycle?
The movement of carbon throughout the earth
What are some steps in the carbon cycle?
(no order)
Photosynthesis (absorbed by plants from air), animals eat the plants (have carbon in them), respiration (animals breathe in oxygen and breathe out CO2), dead organisms (dead matter decays into earth, along with carbon; eventually become fossil fuels), combustion (burning something), large bodies of water absorb carbon (in cool regions), large bodies of water release carbon (in warm regions)
What is photosynthesis?
Plants converting sunlight into glucose (food), using up CO2 and producing O2
What is combustion?
Burning of something
Which steps in the carbon cycle involve absorbing carbon?
Photosynthesis, animals eating plants, oceans in cold regions, dead matter decaying,
Which steps in the carbon cycle involve releasing carbon?
Respiration, oceans in warm regions, combustion, plant respiration
What is plant respiration?
When plants break down the glucose they made and, as a waste product, produce CO2
What is the nitrogen cycle?
Nitrogen’s movement throughout the Earth
How does the carbon cycle affect the Earth?
- Allows plants to perform photosynthesis
- Is a greenhouse gas (heats the planet)
- Humans used fossil fuels to create modern technology
What are some negative ways that humans impacted the carbon cycle?
pollution, using up all the fossil fuels, climate change
What are some positive ways that humans impacted the carbon cycle?
We naturally contribute to the carbon cycle, made the Earth warmer,
What is carbon known as?
The building block of life
What does nitrogen make up/why is it important?
It builds amino acids (proteins), nucleotides and nucleic acids, it is the main gas in our atmosphere, makes up important biomolecules for life
What does nitrogen have to be converted into in order to be used by plants and animals?
Nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia
(the nitrogen becomes “fixed”)
What converts nitrogen into ammonia?
Anaerobic bacteria (also sunlight, volcanoes, lightning, industrial activity)
What are the 3 main steps in the nitrogen cycle?
Nitrogen fixation (turned into usable form), nitrification (…), denitrification (…)
What are 2 other steps in the nitrogen process that aren’t the main ones?
Assimilation and ammonification
What is nitrification?
Bacteria converting ammonia (NH3) into nitrites and then into nitrates
What is denitrification?
Bacteria returns nitrogen into its gas form
What is assimilation?
When a plant turns nitrates into plant protein and an animal eats the plant, thus absorbing the nitrogen
What is ammonification?
When an animal excretes waste (or dies) and the nitrogen inside of it is turned into ammonia
What is nitrogen fixation?
Converting atmospheric nitrogen into usable nitrogen (ammonia)
How does the nitrogen cycle affect the Earth?
“1. plant life-makes life on Earth possible
2. atmospheric pressure–maintains balance
3.soils-a soil cycle; enables plants to exist”
Which gas is beneficial higher in the atmosphere but is a pollutant down below?
Ozone
What liquids are produced by the burning of fossil fuels?
Acids
What reflects AM radio waves?
The ionosphere
What always decreases with altitude?
Air pressure
Which atmospheric layer contains electrically charged particles that reflect radio waves?
The thermosphere
What is a mountain wave?
When air flows through a mountain range, creating an up and down motion
What are lenticular clouds?
Clouds formed from mountain waves
What is the air like when the vertical movements of air are strong?
Unstable
What is the air like when the vertical movements of air are weak?
Stable
In which layer of the atmosphere are weather balloons found?
The stratosphere
Which layer of the atmosphere has the maximum height of planes?
Stratosphere (the beginning)
In which layer does all weather happen?
The troposphere
Which layer do space shuttles orbit?
The thermosphere
Which layer do satellites orbit?
Exosphere
Where are the lowest latitudes?
The tropics
Where are the highest latitudes?
The poles
What do global wind belts influence?
The climate and the weather
Where is low air pressure usually located?
the tropics
What are the 9 trace gases in the atmosphere?
Argon (0.93%), Carbon dioxide (0.03), Neon, Helium, Methane, Krypton, Xenon, Hydrogen, Ozone
