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CLIMATE SCIENCE > Exam > Flashcards

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1
Q

The most important issue regarding atmosphere chemistry today and why

A

The greenhouse effect

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2
Q

Describe earths 1st atmosphere

A

Hydrogen and helium no oxygen
No oceans
NO MAGNETIC FIELD to deflect Solar winds 

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3
Q

How did earths 1st atm form into Earth

A
  1. Cooled down to form crust
  2. Many volcanoes- release gases
  3. Formation of magnetic field that deflects the solar wind & cosmic rays
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4
Q

Five layers of the Earth

A 
Crust
Upper mantle
Lower mantle
Outer core 
Inner core
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5
Q

How does earth not freeze over

A

Greenhouse effect

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6
Q

What happened when Earth began to cool?

A
  1. Water condenses to form oceans
  2. CO2 Dissolves into oceans forming carbonates
  3. Nitrogen becomes major component of atmosphere
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7
Q

What produced the ozone layer

A

The increase of oxygen concentration, around 1% of the atmosphere.

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8
Q

Residence time

A

The amount of time I gases in the atmosphere

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9
Q

Permanent gases versus variable gases

A 
Permanent gas- long residence time 
N, O, H
Variable- short residence time (10days-150yrs)
H2O, CO2, Methane

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10
Q

What are the major greenhouse gases

A

CO2, Methane and H2O

Variable gases

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11
Q

What does ozone protect us against

A

Harmful UV radiation

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12
Q

Possible causes of ice age

A

Change in atmosphere composition
Change in earths orbit
Motion of tectonic plates
Heightened volcanic activity

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13
Q

What is the geological timescale

A

Divides up history of earth based on life forms that have existed during specific times since the creation of the planet.

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14
Q

What is a fossil?

A

An organism from the geological past that has been preserved in sediment or rock

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15
Q

What is palaeoclimatology?

A

Study of climate prior to the period of instrumental measurements

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16
Q

How is our impact on climate change affecting the Earth’s temperature

A
  1. Carbon emissions raised temperature by half a degree C
  2. 50% chance global average will rise by 5°
  3. 75% chance global temperatures rise between 2° and 3° over next 50 years
17
Q

How does having greenhouse gases affect other planets

A

Plants with a little greenhouse gases are cold, e.g. Pluto

Planets with a lot of greenhouse gases are hot, e.g. Venus (457°)

18
Q

What is positive feedback in terms of climate

A

Positive causes global warming negative causes cooling

Positive- Increasing CO2 causes temperature rise and water vapour- more temp rise

19
Q

Factors that influence Earth’s climate

A 
Human influences
Biosphere
Aerosols
Changes in atmosphere composition
Changes in hydrological cycle 
volcanic activity
20
Q

Purpose of climate models

A

Used to link affects to their causes (mainly human impact) e.g Why global temperatures are increasing

21
Q

Permanent gases in the atmosphere example

A

Nitrogen and oxygen

Other: Argon, Hydrogen, Helium

22
Q

Name the four zones of gaseous areas surrounding the planet

A

Troposphere
stratosphere
mesosphere
thermosphere

TSMT

23
Q

Describe the troposphere

A
  1. Atmospheric layer closest to planet- most weather occurs here 
  2. Temp and water vapour content decrease rapidly with altitude here
  3. Troposphere is characterised by density of its air
24
Q

How does water vapour regulate air temperature

A

Absorbs solar energy and thermal radiation from planet’s surface

25
Q

Tropopause

A

Separate stratosphere from next layer, troposphere

Air temperature here remains constant with increasing altitude

26
Q

Describe the stratosphere

A
  1. Second layer (strata) of an atmosphere
  2. 10 to 50KM above surface
  3. Air temperature remains constant up to an altitude of 20 5KM
  4. Ozone regulates thermal regime of stratosphere- as water content is low
27
Q

What happens with increased ozone concentration inside the stratosphere

A

Temperature increases

Solar energy converted to Connecticut energy when it was on molecules absorb UV radiation

28
Q

Negative effects of UV radiation

A

Harmful environmental effects:
damages plant life
increase in cancers

29
Q

Describe the Mesosphere

A
  1. 50 to 80 KM
  2. Concentrations of ozone and water are negligible- hence temp is low
  3. Chemical composition of air becomes dependent on altitude
30
Q

Describe the thermosphere

A
  1. Above measures fear and separated by mesopause
  2. Temperature increases with altitude up to 1000-1500K
  3. Atmospheric components- N and O
  4. At this altitude gas molecules are widely separated
31
Q

Describe the exosphere 

A
  1. Outermost layer
  2. Atoms rarely undergo collisions because of the density of the atoms is so low
  3. 500km-100,000km above surface

CLIMATE SCIENCE (1 decks)

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