Earth Atmosphere

Question 1

envelope of gas that surrounds the Earth, earth surface, percent by mass

Answer 1

Atmosphere, 80,000 km, 99

Question 2

_____ prior to life, formed from
outgassing from interior of the planet.
probably dominated by__,___ small concentrations of __, ___,___,____.

Answer 2

primitive atmosphere, H2, He, NH3, H2O, CO2 and N2

Question 3

are chemical species containing unpaired electrons and are generally highly reactive

Answer 3

Free radicals

Question 4

that developed in oxygen-poor atmosphere (i.e., anaerobes) are forced to live in secluded environment (sediments, intestinal
canals).

Answer 4

primitive organisms

Question 5

___ forms carbohydrates, not all these plant matter are recycled back to
the atmosphere through ___ (oxidative decay,
forming CO2).

Answer 5

Photosynthesis, respiration

Question 6

Some of these are effectively
permanently removed, e..g. buried in the sediments,
forming part of the soil and in time fossil matter.

Answer 6

carbohydrates

Question 7

decrease in CO2 and increase in O2 levels in
the atmosphere

Answer 7

Present atmosphere

Question 8

*complex mixture of gases and suspended particles
*dominated by two gases: which together account for 99% of the
volume of dry air
*Argon + other gases of varying concentrations, normally considered as pollutants:

Answer 8

Present atmosphere, N2 (78 mol%) and O2
(21%), 1%

Question 9

*very low density, low pressure
*formed when high-energy short-wave solar radiation is
absorbed.
* The temperature of the thermosphere decreases with decreasing altitude, until this is reached

Answer 9

*Thermosphere (< 10-5 atm)
* atoms and ions (&laquo_space;200 nm)
* mesopause ( 90 km)

Question 10

maximum temperature in the mesosphere-stratosphere region

Answer 10

Stratopause

Question 11

*Solar radiation energy > absorbed by molecules > thermal motion
> chemical reaction. Ozone production
*dissociates oxygen molecules to O atoms

Answer 11

Stratosphere, UV light

Question 12

This localized heating creates an inversion that stabilizes
against

Answer 12

vertical air movement

Question 13

Troposphere

• Contains about ___ of the mass of the atmosphere
* ___ reactions among various molecular species
* Absorption of the terrestrial radiation causes warming
near the surface of the Earth > greenhouse effect temperature ___; otherwise, temperature would be ___ or lower.
* not greenhouse gases

Answer 13

• 90%
• Complex
• 15 °C and -17 °C
• nitrogen, oxygen, and argon

Question 14

*limits the flux of matter from the troposphere to the stratosphere.
* where weather occurs

Answer 14

*tropopause
* Troposphere

Question 15

Temperature increases with increasing altitude

Answer 15

Thermosphere

Question 16

• An increasing number of ionized particles form the Van Allen Belts.

Answer 16

Exosphere (above 700 km)

Question 17

The composition of the atmosphere is mainly
constant, result of ___ including
 Emissions
 Possible transformations
 Reactions with other compounds
 Eventual removal by deposition

Answer 17

global cycles

Question 18

increased transport to the atmosphere as evaporation though the stomata of plants

Answer 18

Vegetation

Question 19

*Clouds with vertical development
* Middle clouds 6,500 –
20,000 ft.
* Low clouds, surface up to 6,500 ft.
*High clouds 20,000 ft and above

Answer 19

• Cumulonimbus clouds
• Altocumulus clouds
  *Nimbostratus clouds
• Cirrus clouds

Question 20

formed by large-scale vertical movements (cm/s), lifetime: 1 day over oceans

Answer 20

Stratus

Question 21

bubble formed clouds, formed locally, due to heating of the Earth’s surface, rising velocity in m/s, lifetime – about 1 hour

Answer 21

Cumulus

Question 22

Tread-formed thin clouds, formed at larger heights (> 5 km), consists of ice particle

Answer 22

Cirrus