Definitions: Modules 1-5 Flashcards
the old view
humans aren’t part of the environment and remains unaffected by humans
earth’s spheres
atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere
atmosphere
- first system
- thin blue region along the edge of the earth
- merges with space
hydrosphere
- liquid part of the earth
- frozen part is sometimes called cryosphere
lithosphere
- solid part of the earth
- sometimes called pedosphere
biosphere
- includes all life on earth
radioactively/chemically active gases
gases that get transformed into chemical reactions or react when exposed to radiation
environmental lapse rate (ELR)
rate of decreasing when the lower atmosphere temperate drops with altitude
layers of the atmosphere
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
troposphere
- lowest and thinnest layer
- 80% of atmosphere mass
- promotes atmosphere overturning
- all weather processes can occur here
tropopause
top of troposphere where temperature stops cooling and separates the troposphere from the stratosphere
stratosphere
- 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
mesosphere
- colder layer
- temperature decreases with height
thermosphere
- upper most layer
- merges with space
- increasing temperature as height increases
- only 0.1% of total atmospheric mass
ionosphere
- electrical region in upper atmosphere where large concentrations of ions and free electrons axis
- causes the Aurora Borealis (Northern lights) and communication disruptions
pollution
human-caused addition of any material or heat energy in drastic amounts that cause undesired alterations to the environment
air pollutant
gas, aerosol, or particulate that added to the atmosphere that can have harmful effects on humans, the environment, or climate
primary pollutants
direct products of either combustion or evaporation
secondary pollutants
products of the interaction of primary pollutants with atmosphere and light from the sun
point source
once controllable site
fugitive sources
open areas exposed to wind action
area sources
well defined areas where there are several sources of air pollutants
mobile sources
move from place to place while emitting pollutants
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
organic chemicals that have a low boiling point, causing molecules to evaporate and enter the surrounding air
ozone
- O3
- mostly found in the upper atmosphere or stratosphere
- shields plants, animals, and humans from the sun’s harmful UV rays
- absorbs UV radiation
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
- group of greenhouse gases
- releases chlorine, which destroys ozone
photosphere
- sun’s outer luminous surface
- temps here are much cooler than interior
radiant energy/radiation
energy transferred from the sun to the earth
solar constant
solar energy received at the top of the atmosphere
Rayleigh scattering
the preferential scattering of the shortest wavelength by air molecules, creating a blue sky
transmitted radiation
solar radiation that passes through the air unimpeded
insolation
incoming solar radiation
albedo
percent of shortwave radiation returning from a given surface compared to how much initially striked the surface
sensible heat
- 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
conduction
the transfer of heat from molecule to molecule within a substance
convection
- transfer of heat occurs as a mass movement of fluid
- takes place in liquids and gases
latent heat
energy required for a change of state
latent heat of condensation
energy released when water vapour condenses to form liquid droplets
latent heat of evaporation
energy used to change liquid into vapour
latent heat of melting
energy used when melting
latent heat of sublimation
energy used when changing ice to vapour
earth’s revolution
annual trip around the sun
perihelion
point at which earth’s closest to the sun
aphelion
point at which earth is farthest from the sun
subsolar point
- latitude where Sun is directly overhead at noon
- this point changes throughout the year
heat capacity
the measure of the ability of a material to absorb heat
