Chapter 2 (atmosphere)

Question 1

how is nitrogen deposited on earth

Answer 1

nitrogen fixation and reactions involving lightning and subsequent precipitation

Question 2

where are the largest amounts of water vapor

Answer 2

equator, over oceans, tropical regions

Question 3

where does CO2 come from

Answer 3

burning of fossil fuels and deforestation

Question 4

where is most ozone

Answer 4

stratosphere

Question 5

what does ozone do

Answer 5

absorbs UV radiation

Question 6

when is ozone produced

Answer 6

production of photochemical smog

Question 7

where is a hole in the ozone layer

Answer 7

Antarctica

Question 8

what chemical is the primary cause of the breakdown of ozone

Answer 8

CFCs

Question 9

where is 75% of the atmosphere’s mass

Answer 9

troposphere

Question 10

what is the temperature pattern in the stratosphere

Answer 10

increases w altitude due to absorption of heat by ozone

Question 11

what is the temp pattern in the mesosphere

Answer 11

decreases w altitude

Question 12

which atmos layer is coldest

Answer 12

mesosphere (ice clouds, meteors burn up)

Question 13

what is the temp pattern in the thermosphere

Answer 13

increases w height due to gamma, x, and uv rays

Question 14

radiation

Answer 14

flow of EM radiation (method by which earth recieves solar energy)

Question 15

conduction

Answer 15

energy transfered by collisions between heat carrying molecules

Question 16

convection

Answer 16

heat transferred from hot to cold regions

primary determinant of weather patterns

Question 17

air mass

Answer 17

large body of air that has similar temp and moisture content

equatorial, tropical, polar, arctic, continental, maritime

Question 18

albedo

Answer 18

reflectivity
ocean water has low albedo
land masses have moderate albedo
snow and ice have high albedo

Question 19

consumption of CO2 results in

Answer 19

cooling

Question 20

clouds

Answer 20

collections of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in atmosphere
warm air rises, expands (low pressure) and drops in temp, cannot hold as much water, water is released

Question 21

oceans are thermally more stable than

Answer 21

land

Question 22

the higher the latitude, the less

Answer 22

solar radiation

Question 23

sea breeze

Answer 23

land warms faster than sea during day

Question 24

land breeze

Answer 24

land cools faster than sea during night

Question 25

anabatic winds

Answer 25

develop in hilly or mountainous areas during daytime

air around hilltops become warmer than air in valleys

Question 26

katabatic winds

Answer 26

occur on clear, still nights when the air that is in contact w the ground loses heat rapidly by radiation back to space
air around hills and mountains become colder than air in valleys

Question 27

climactic optimum

Answer 27

global temps at their max

4000 BCE

Question 28

trade winds

Answer 28

move east to west

near equator

Question 29

hadley cells

Answer 29

air heats near equator, rises, spreads out north and south, sinks
tropical = high humidity, high clouds, heavy rains
subtropical = low humidity, little clouds, high evaporation, deserts

Question 30

ferrel cells

Answer 30

develop between 30-60 N and S latitudes

midlatitudes

Question 31

polar cells

Answer 31

originate as icy cold, dry, dense air that decends
meets warm air from midlatitudes, returns to poles, and sinks
no precipitation

Question 32

monsoons

Answer 32

strong violent winds that change direction with the season
blow from cold to warm
land to sea in winter
sea to land in summer

Question 33

el nino

Answer 33

trade winds decrease in strength
ocean water piles up off of south america
decreases upwelling

Question 34

la nina

Answer 34

trade winds increase in strength
warm water piles up in western pacific
increases upwelling