Composition of Atmosphere Flashcards
What are the 5 most abundant gassed in the atmos? (N.O.A.W.C)
1) Nitrogen, N2 (78%)
2) Oxygen, O2 (21%)
3) Argon, Ar (0.93%)
4) Water Vapor, H2O (0.4%)
5) Cardon Dioxide, CO2 (0.0395%)
What are “Aerosals”?
= solid/liquid particles suspended in the atmos.
-salt (ocean waves), dust (desert), ash (volcanos), particles from combustion (fire)
What are some characteristics of Water Vapor?
- most variable
- evaporation depends on energy (temp) and water availablity
How does Water Vapor vary in space?
- most in lowest 2km (troposphere)
- High in equilateral areas (warm oceans)
- Low in poles, deserts (cold oceans)
How does Water Vapor vary in time?
- high in summer
- low in winter
Which gases vary in concentration? Why?
=Carbon Dioxide CO2
- increasing
- seasonal variation
Most of Earth’s Carbon is stored in the…
=Rocks
The oxygen in our atmosphere is produced by…
=Photosynthesis
What is a “Fossil Fuel”? Examples.
=Naturally occurring
=Hydrocarbons compounds in the remains of of organic materials in rocks
-ex: coal, crude oil, natural gas
What are Carbon “Sinks”?
- processes that ABSORBS carbon
ex. Photosynthesis
What are Carbon “Sources”?
- processes that RELEASE carbon into atmos.
ex. respiration, decay, combustion
Explain the “Organic Cycle” of Cardon
1) Carbon in absorbed (sink) into the Earth (photosynthesis)
2) Carbon is stored in Fossil Fuels as long term storage (coal, oil, natural gas)
3) Carbon is released back (source) into the atmos. (respiration, decay, combustion)
Explain the “In-Organic Cycle” of Cardon
1) CO2 dissolves in precipitation; sink in carbonic acid, weathered rocks
2) Below the surface, CO2 is stored in Limestone
3) Volcanoes are a source of CO2 back into the atmos.
Define “Green House Gases” (GHG)
- a gas that absorbs the radiation emitted by Earth, warming the atmos. in the process
- GHG in atmos. created Greenhouse Effect
Which Greenhouse Gases are Increasing? 5 (C.M.N.O.C.)
1) Cardon Dioxid, CO2
2) Methane, CH4
3) Nitrous Oxide, N2O
4) Ozone, O3
5) Chlorofluorocarbons, CFCs (Halocarbons)
Why is the GHG Carbon Dioxide CO2 increasing?
- burning fossil fuels
- deforestation
- 41% increase
Why is the GHG Methane CH4 increasing?
- grazing animals
- mining fossil fuels
- landfills
- rice patties
- 158.6% increase
- natural source=anaerobic decay (wet lands)
Why is the GHG Nitrous Oxide N2O increasing?
- fertilizer use
- 20% increase
- natural source= denitrification
What is “Nitrogen Fixation” in the Nitrogen Cycle?
- bacteria change nitrogen into ammonium
- fertilizer and animal waste
- lighting & combustion
What is “Denitrification”in the Nitrogen Cycle?
-N2O enter the atmos. from soils and ocean under anaerobic conditions (no oxygen)
Explain the Nitrogen Cycle.
1) Nitrogen Fixation by bacteria-converted into ammonia and nitrates (fertilizers + animal waste)
2) Nitrification-ammonium in the soil undergoes changes through bacterial activity and is taken up by plants
3) Denitrification–N2O enter the atmos. from soils and ocean under anaerobic conditions (no oxygen)
What are the 3 stages in the Nitrogen Cycle?
1) Nitrogen Fixation
2) Nitrification
3) Denitrification
What is “Nitrification”in the Nitrogen Cycle?
-Ammonium in the soil undergoes changes through bacterial activity and is taken up by plants
Why is the GHG Ozone O3 increasing in the lower atmos?
-due to car exhaust
Why is the GHG Ozone O3 decreasing in the stratosphere?
- due to CFCs
- Chlorofluorocarbons
What are Chlorofluorocarbons (Halocarbons)?
- compounds containing carbon + halogens (ex. chlorine)
- not natural
- not toxic=not reactive and stay for a long time
What are 2 problems with Chlorofluorocarbons (Halocarbons)?
-destroy ozone layer
-very powerful GHGs
=because of the long atmos. life of halocarbons
Why is the GHG Water Vapor increasing?
-temp. increase - more evap - more water vapor - temp increase
= positive feedback effect
-causing water vapor to increase since 1980s
What is the “Feedback Effect”?
-a mechanism that operates in a system to amplify or lesson the effect of an initial change
What is an example of a Positive Feedback Event?
Temp increases - permafrost melts - releases methane - increases temp
=renforces initial change
What are 3 roles of the Ozone?
1) absorbs radiation from Sun
2) absorbs GHG (radn. from Earth)
3) is Toxic
Ozone absorbs UV-B & UV-C. What are 2 results of this?
1) Warming in the stratosphere (inversion)
2) protects life from harmful radiation
How is Ozone Layer being destroyed by CFCs?
1) UV radiation breaks off a Chlorine atom
2) Releasing an O2 molecule & chlorine monoxide molecule (ClO)
3) ClO bonds with O2
4) releasing another Chlorine atom
5) which breaks up another ozone atom
Why is “Tropospheric Ozone” referred to as “bad ozone”?
- because of its harmful impact on vegetation and human health
- not natural
How is Tropospheric Ozone emitted into the atmos?
- Vehicle exhaust
- Petroleum refining and power plants
What are the “Primary Pollutants” of Tropospheric ozone that are emitted directly into the atmos? (N.V.C.)
1) Nitrogen Oxides (NOx, NOo, NO2)
2) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
3) Carbon Monoxide (CO)
How do Nitrogen Oxides contribute to Tropospheric ozone?
- form as N2+O2 react in the high temps of internal combustion engines
- toxic
How do Volatile Organic Compounds contribute to Tropospheric ozone?
-incomplete combustion in engins
-fumes from gasoline and paint
(=substances that readily vaporize)
How do Cardon Monoxide contribute to Tropospheric ozone?
- incomplete combustion in engines
- toxic
How is ground levels of O3 (ozone) concentration monitored?
=Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)
What is the AQHI?
=Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)
-used to report the public about levels of air pollutants
What is an “Air Pollutant”?
-unwanted substances injected into the atmos. from Earth’s surface by human or natural sources
What are some examples of Air Pollutants?
- gases
- Aerosols
- Particulate Matter (PM)
What are Aerosols?
=extremely small air particles that flow freely with air movement
What are Particulate Matter (PM)?
=larger/heavier particles that eventually fall back to Earth
-dust, industrial processes, combustion
-measured in: PM2.5 or PM10
(millionths of a meter)
What is the Air Quality Health Index based on?
- PM2.5, NO2
- most dangerous: PM10 + Ozone
