Chapter 28 Flashcards
A layer of the atmosphere extending an average of 12 km above Earth’s surface.
Troposphere
This occurs when air temperature increases with altitude and the air becomes stable.
Temperature Inversion
A natural process in which certain gases in the atmosphere warm a planet as they absorb and emit infrared radiation.
Greenhouse Effect
What can Earth’s atmosphere be divided into layers based on?
The differences in composition and temperature.
What gas makes up the majority of the atmosphere?
Nitrogen, which is 78%.
What is the second most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
Oxygen, which is 21%.
What is the remaining 1% of gases in the atmosphere?
Argon.
What is the ozone layer?
It is a layer of the atmosphere that protects us from harmful radiation from the Sun.
Withing the troposphere, the higher in altitude it goes, does the temperature decrease or increase?
It decreases.
How many layers are there in the atmosphere?
5
What are the names of the atmospheric layers starting closest to Earth’s surface, to farthest from Earth’s surface?
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.
What layer is the ozone layer in?
The stratosphere.
Within the mesosphere, does the temperature increase or decrease with altitude?
It decreases.
Does the thermosphere and the exosphere effect weather?
No, neither of them do.
Where does 100% of our solar energy come from?
The Sun.
How much solar radiation is absorbed by Earth’s SURFACE?
50%.
What percent of solar radiation is REFLECTED back by Earth’s surface?
5%.
How much solar radiation is absorbed by PARTICLES in the atmosphere?
20%.
How much solar radiation is reflected by CLOUDS and OTHER PARTICLES?
25%.
What are the three basic cloud types?
Stratus, cumulus, and cirrus.
Describe stratus clouds.
Layered, sheet-like clouds, associated with rain.
Describe cumulus clouds.
Puffy, occur in fair weather.
Describe cirrus clouds.
Wispy, high-altitude.
What is the process in which water moves from the land to the atmosphere, and then eventually comes back to the land?
The water cycle.