Chapter 2 (atmosphere) Flashcards
how is nitrogen deposited on earth
nitrogen fixation and reactions involving lightning and subsequent precipitation
where are the largest amounts of water vapor
equator, over oceans, tropical regions
where does CO2 come from
burning of fossil fuels and deforestation
where is most ozone
stratosphere
what does ozone do
absorbs UV radiation
when is ozone produced
production of photochemical smog
where is a hole in the ozone layer
Antarctica
what chemical is the primary cause of the breakdown of ozone
CFCs
where is 75% of the atmosphere’s mass
troposphere
what is the temperature pattern in the stratosphere
increases w altitude due to absorption of heat by ozone
what is the temp pattern in the mesosphere
decreases w altitude
which atmos layer is coldest
mesosphere (ice clouds, meteors burn up)
what is the temp pattern in the thermosphere
increases w height due to gamma, x, and uv rays
radiation
flow of EM radiation (method by which earth recieves solar energy)
conduction
energy transfered by collisions between heat carrying molecules
convection
heat transferred from hot to cold regions
primary determinant of weather patterns
air mass
large body of air that has similar temp and moisture content
equatorial, tropical, polar, arctic, continental, maritime
albedo
reflectivity
ocean water has low albedo
land masses have moderate albedo
snow and ice have high albedo
consumption of CO2 results in
cooling
clouds
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
oceans are thermally more stable than
land
the higher the latitude, the less
solar radiation
sea breeze
land warms faster than sea during day
land breeze
land cools faster than sea during night
anabatic winds
develop in hilly or mountainous areas during daytime
air around hilltops become warmer than air in valleys
katabatic winds
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
climactic optimum
global temps at their max
4000 BCE
trade winds
move east to west
near equator
hadley cells
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
ferrel cells
develop between 30-60 N and S latitudes
midlatitudes
polar cells
originate as icy cold, dry, dense air that decends
meets warm air from midlatitudes, returns to poles, and sinks
no precipitation
monsoons
strong violent winds that change direction with the season
blow from cold to warm
land to sea in winter
sea to land in summer
el nino
trade winds decrease in strength
ocean water piles up off of south america
decreases upwelling
la nina
trade winds increase in strength
warm water piles up in western pacific
increases upwelling
