FEB SSA 2025 Flashcards
What is the atmosphere?
The layer of gases that surround the Earth.
What is the Troposphere?
- The layer closest to the Earths surface in which we live.
- All weather occurs in this layer
- Contains all gases necessary for life.
What is the tropopause?
Upper level of troposphere where temperature remains constant with increasing altitude.
What are some characteristics of the Stratosphere?
contains ozone gases
There is a temperature inversion (temp gets warmer the higher altitude)
What is the stratopause?
Upper level of the stratosphere where temperature remains constant with increasing altitude.
What are some characteristics of the mesosphere?
Temperature decreases with increasing altitude
Protects Earth from meteors.
What is the mesopause?
upper level of the mesosphere where temperature remains constant with increasing altitude.
What is the Thermosphere?
Consists of the exosphere and the ionosphere.
What are compositions of the Atmosphere?
Gases, liquids and solids
What are three things that show the atmosphere is important?
Provides oxygen for respiration.
Ozone absorbs harmful uv rays.
Helps photosynthesis.
What are the three greenhouse gases?
Methane, CO2 and Water vapour
Where is most 03 found?
Stratosphere
How many atoms does the ozone gas consist of?
3 oxygen atoms
What can destroy ozone?
Chlorofluorocarbons
What effect does the depletion of the ozone layer have on humans?
Weakens immune system
eye cataracts
Skin cancer
What effect does the depletion of the ozone layer have on the environment?
Decrease in phytoplankton
Decrease in photosynthesis
Increase in surface temperatures
Name two methods to reduce ozone depletion.
Plant more trees to increase O2
Less high altitude flights
What is insolation?
Energy from the sun
What type of energy is insolation mostly?
Shortwave
What is Insolation is known as?
Insolation is known as ultraviolet radiation.
What is the solar constant?
The amount of insolation that reaches the top of the tropopause.
Why does some of the solar constant not reach some of the ground?
Scattering, Reflection and Absorption.
What is reflection?
Reflection is radiation that bounces off a object and back into the atmosphere without being absorbed.
What is scattering?
Radiation bounces off the atmospheric particles in random directions.
What is absorption?
Some insolation is absorbed like CO2 and water vapour.
What is terrestrial radiation?
Energy radiating off the earths surface.
What absorbs terrestrial radiation?
CO2 and water vapour.
What is conduction?
The transfer of heat between molecules in contact with each other.
What is convection?
movement of energy through air currents.
what is latent heat?
Occurs when energy is released during the process of condensation.
How do the greenhouse gases keep the atmosphere warm?
Water vapour and CO2 absorb radiation.
What are some causes of global warming?
Industry and burning of fossil fuels
Deforestation
Farming of cattle and rice releases methane
What are some effects of global warming?
Ice Caps melting
Global temperatures increasing
Sea levels rise
Loss in biodiversity
What angle does installation strike polar regions?
angle oblique
What is ELR?
Environmental lapse race a decrease in temperature with altitude
Ocean currents created by?
Surface winds and differences in density
what prevailing winds?
When is the blow the warmer or cooler air onto the land
Is a brief summary on oceans
Oceans heat up and cool down slowly. Oceans therefore moderate the temperature of coastal areas
Why do land masses heats up quickly?
There is less evaporation, there is no movement, land is solid.
what do aspects referred to
the direction of slope faces
What slopes get direct sunlight
North facing slopes
