Chapter 3

Question 1

Heterosphere

Answer 1

the outer most sphere where gases are distributed in distinct layers by gravity according to their atomic weight

Example sentence: The heterosphere contains layers of gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon.

Question 2

Homosphere

Answer 2

lies between the Earth’s surface and the heterosphere. Gases are nearly uniformly mixed through this layer even though density decreases with height above the surface

Example sentence: The homosphere is where gases like nitrogen and oxygen are evenly mixed.

Question 3

Constant Gases

Answer 3

Nitrogen, oxygen and argon are called the ‘constant gases’ because their concentration has remained virtually the same for much of recent earth history

Example sentence: The constant gases make up the majority of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Question 4

Variable Gases

Answer 4

those present in small and variable amounts. These include carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, water vapor, and particulates among others.

Example sentence: Variable gases like methane and carbon dioxide can have significant impacts on the environment.

Question 5

Ozone

Answer 5

O is both beneficial and harmful to life on Earth

Example sentence: The ozone layer protects life on Earth by absorbing harmful UV radiation.

Question 6

Carbon dioxide

Answer 6

(CO2) makes up only .036% of the atmosphere by volume. Carbon dioxide is essential to photosynthetic processes of plants.

Example sentence: Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that plays a key role in the Earth’s climate.

Question 7

Methane

Answer 7

(CH4) is a greenhouse gas contributing to about 18% of global warming and has been on the rise over the last several decades. Methane is a product of the decomposition of organic matter, with major natural sources being that which occurs from wetlands, termites, the oceans, and hydrates.

Example sentence: Methane emissions from livestock farming contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Question 8

Particulates (and aerosols)

Answer 8

very small particles of solid or liquid suspended in the air

Question 9

Water Vapor

Answer 9

an extremely important gas found in the atmosphere.

Question 10

Environmental lapse rate (ELR)

Answer 10

The rate of change in temperature with altitude

Question 11

Normal lapse rate of temperature

Answer 11

the average value of the ELR, .65 C /100 meters

Question 12

Inverted lapse rate of temperature (inversion)

Answer 12

when the air temperature actually increase with an increase in altitude above the Earth

Question 13

Troposphere

Answer 13

the layer closest to the Earth’s surface

Question 14

Tropopause

Answer 14

lies above the troposphere. Here the temperature tends to stay the same with increasing height.

Question 15

Stratosphere

Answer 15

Above the tropopause lies the stratosphere. Through most of the stratosphere the air temperature increases with an increase in elevation creating a temperature inversion

Question 16

Mesosphere

Answer 16

air temperatures begin to decrease with increasing altitude

Question 17

Thermosphere

Answer 17

above the mesosphere. air temperature increasing with increasing altitude

Question 18

Ionosphere

Answer 18

not really a layer of the atmosphere, but an electrified field of ions and free electrons

Question 19

Ozonosphere

Answer 19

also called the ‘ozone layer’, is the concentrated layer of ozone found in the stratosphere

Question 20

Greenhouse effect

Answer 20

longwave radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface and directed toward the sky is readily absorbed by greenhouse gases. When absorbed, the temperature of the atmosphere increases. Some of this absorbed energy is emitted to space while some is emitted back towards the Earth.