climate change/atmosphere

Question 1

what is the atmosphere composed of

Answer 1

78% Nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% argon

Question 2

describe radiation travel from the sun

Answer 2

shortwave ultraviolet waves reach earths surface and are absorbed, its re-radiated out as long wave infared radiation (heat)

Question 3

how do green house gasses work

Answer 3

molecules absorb radiation and send out absorbed infared radiation

Question 4

energy travels…

Answer 4

in radiation waves

Question 5

the more rapid the particle movement…

Answer 5

the shortwe thr wavelength

Question 6

Radiation that reaches the troposhphere and earths surface

Answer 6

insolation

Question 7

what lets you know you have reached a new layer

Answer 7

temperature change

Question 8

list the layers of the atmosphere from bottom to top

Answer 8

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere

Question 9

describe the troposphere

Answer 9

(10-11km)temp. decreases with elavation because of loss of kinetic energy WEATHER OCCURS BC OF WATER

Question 10

what is the tropopause(anvil clouds)

Answer 10

a barrier to keep air in (doesnt change temp)

Question 11

describe the startosphere

Answer 11

(20-60km) gets warmer as increasing because of ozone layer

Question 12

describe mesosphere

Answer 12

(50-85km) temp. decreases, meteroids burn up

Question 13

describe thermosphere

Answer 13

(1000km) increasing temp, with very low pressure (auroa borealis)

Question 14

exosphere

Answer 14

upper level with space junk

Question 15

3 things that affect amount of insolation

Answer 15

albedo, angle of sun’s rays, surface area of suns rays

Question 16

the amount of energy reflected back to space

Answer 16

albedo (high albedo=high reflection)

Question 17

what creates earths energy budget

Answer 17

energy moved through winds and ocean currents

Question 18

why is c02 so bad for the atmosphere

Answer 18

its abundant in the atomosphere and has a high concentration

Question 19

describe the carbon cycle

Answer 19

photosynthesis (removes), respiration (adds), feeding (changes state), decomposition (adds), fossilization (removes), combustion (adds)

Question 20

describe photosynthesis

Answer 20

Chloroplasts host the autotrophic food being made, they capture light energy and turn it into chemical energy using water and carbon dioxide to produce sugar and oxygen

Question 21

photosynethesis equation

Answer 21

6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Question 22

heterotrophs making energy

Answer 22

aerobic respiration

Question 23

describe respiration

Answer 23

producing energy in the cell and using oxygen to breakdown glucose. Produces carbon dioxide and water

Question 24

describe carbon stores and where theyre found

Answer 24

resovior of carbon that lowers co2 concentration from the atmosphere (found in vegetation and ocean)

Question 25

carbon stored in vegetation vs ocean

Answer 25

vegetation-plants use co2 in photosynthesis
ocean-dissolves co2 for photosynthesis by phytoplankton

Question 26

common GHG

Answer 26

carbon dioxide, Methane, and Water vapour

Question 27

major sources of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities

Answer 27

combustion of fossil fuels, ricefields and livestock, and landfill sites

Question 28

why is there a variation in co2 found in the air by year

Answer 28

because of carbon sources (winter causes vegetation loss) more co2

Question 29

describe the natural green house affect

Answer 29

keeps the surface temperature from freezing and keeps earth habitable (more heat escapes into space)

Question 30

describe the human enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 30

green house gases trap the heat from escaping and reradiate it tpo warm earths surface (less heat escapes into space)

Question 31

why is it hard to monitor limited historical data

Answer 31

(proxy tools help determine historical climate) There is only a limited amount of data from past climate conditions and its not always accurate

Question 32

climate models and their difficulties

Answer 32

Computer models are used to include difffernt variables. Their are many differnt projections but the trend is consistent

Question 33

describe a positive feedback loop

Answer 33

(BAD) amplifys the affects of warming ex: permafrost, lower albedo, risk of drought

Question 34

describe the negative feedback loop

Answer 34

(good) reduces to effects of warming. Less carbon in the atmo. and more reflection of solar radiation