Definitions: Modules 1-5

Question 1

the old view

Answer 1

humans aren’t part of the environment and remains unaffected by humans

Question 2

earth’s spheres

Answer 2

atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere

Question 3

atmosphere

Answer 3

• first system
• thin blue region along the edge of the earth
• merges with space

Question 4

hydrosphere

Answer 4

• liquid part of the earth

- frozen part is sometimes called cryosphere

Question 5

lithosphere

Answer 5

• solid part of the earth

- sometimes called pedosphere

Question 6

biosphere

Answer 6

• includes all life on earth

Question 7

radioactively/chemically active gases

Answer 7

gases that get transformed into chemical reactions or react when exposed to radiation

Question 8

environmental lapse rate (ELR)

Answer 8

rate of decreasing when the lower atmosphere temperate drops with altitude

Question 9

layers of the atmosphere

Answer 9

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere

Question 10

troposphere

Answer 10

• lowest and thinnest layer
• 80% of atmosphere mass
• promotes atmosphere overturning
• all weather processes can occur here

Question 11

tropopause

Answer 11

top of troposphere where temperature stops cooling and separates the troposphere from the stratosphere

Question 12

stratosphere

Answer 12

• temperature increases with elevation
• most of the energy that is responsible for heating the stratosphere is absorbed in the upper part and removed before it reaches lower layers

Question 13

mesosphere

Answer 13

• colder layer

- temperature decreases with height

Question 14

thermosphere

Answer 14

• upper most layer
• merges with space
• increasing temperature as height increases
• only 0.1% of total atmospheric mass

Question 15

ionosphere

Answer 15

• electrical region in upper atmosphere where large concentrations of ions and free electrons axis
• causes the Aurora Borealis (Northern lights) and communication disruptions

Question 16

pollution

Answer 16

human-caused addition of any material or heat energy in drastic amounts that cause undesired alterations to the environment

Question 17

air pollutant

Answer 17

gas, aerosol, or particulate that added to the atmosphere that can have harmful effects on humans, the environment, or climate

Question 18

primary pollutants

Answer 18

direct products of either combustion or evaporation

Question 19

secondary pollutants

Answer 19

products of the interaction of primary pollutants with atmosphere and light from the sun

Question 20

point source

Answer 20

once controllable site

Question 21

fugitive sources

Answer 21

open areas exposed to wind action

Question 22

area sources

Answer 22

well defined areas where there are several sources of air pollutants

Question 23

mobile sources

Answer 23

move from place to place while emitting pollutants

Question 24

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

Answer 24

organic chemicals that have a low boiling point, causing molecules to evaporate and enter the surrounding air

Question 25

ozone

Answer 25

• O3
• mostly found in the upper atmosphere or stratosphere
• shields plants, animals, and humans from the sun’s harmful UV rays
• absorbs UV radiation

Question 26

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Answer 26

• group of greenhouse gases

- releases chlorine, which destroys ozone

Question 27

photosphere

Answer 27

• sun’s outer luminous surface

- temps here are much cooler than interior

Question 28

radiant energy/radiation

Answer 28

energy transferred from the sun to the earth

Question 29

solar constant

Answer 29

solar energy received at the top of the atmosphere

Question 30

Rayleigh scattering

Answer 30

the preferential scattering of the shortest wavelength by air molecules, creating a blue sky

Question 31

transmitted radiation

Answer 31

solar radiation that passes through the air unimpeded

Question 32

insolation

Answer 32

incoming solar radiation

Question 33

albedo

Answer 33

percent of shortwave radiation returning from a given surface compared to how much initially striked the surface

Question 34

sensible heat

Answer 34

• result of kinetic energy of molecular motion
• it’s heat that is transferred by conduction from molecule to molecule, or by convection as fluid flows
• can be felt

Question 35

conduction

Answer 35

the transfer of heat from molecule to molecule within a substance

Question 36

convection

Answer 36

• transfer of heat occurs as a mass movement of fluid

- takes place in liquids and gases

Question 37

latent heat

Answer 37

energy required for a change of state

Question 38

latent heat of condensation

Answer 38

energy released when water vapour condenses to form liquid droplets

Question 39

latent heat of evaporation

Answer 39

energy used to change liquid into vapour

Question 40

latent heat of melting

Answer 40

energy used when melting

Question 41

latent heat of sublimation

Answer 41

energy used when changing ice to vapour

Question 42

earth’s revolution

Answer 42

annual trip around the sun

Question 43

perihelion

Answer 43

point at which earth’s closest to the sun

Question 44

aphelion

Answer 44

point at which earth is farthest from the sun

Question 45

subsolar point

Answer 45

• latitude where Sun is directly overhead at noon

- this point changes throughout the year

Question 46

heat capacity

Answer 46

the measure of the ability of a material to absorb heat