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Atmosphere > Introduction Atm. wk 1 > Flashcards

Introduction Atm. wk 1 Flashcards

1
Q

why does temperature decrease with height just above the Earth’s surface?

A

the sun primarily warms up the surface and no the atmosphere, so it is the land surface that warms the atmosphere

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2
Q

what is the lapse rate?

A

the change in temperature per metre of altitude

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3
Q

tell me about the troposphere

A

lowest 11km of atm.
well mixed by vertical and horizontal air movements
ends when temperature stops decreasing, at tropopause (temp is -50/60)
wind speed increases with height

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4
Q

jet stream

A

the maximum wind temperature reached in the troposphere, after this point, it decreases again.

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5
Q

tell me about the stratosphere

A

where temp increases with height.
from tropopause to 50km above earth.
ozone layer is at 30km, and abxorbs harmful uv radiation emitted by the sun. This is why temperature increases in the stratosphere.

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6
Q

tell me about the mesosphere

A

temperature remains stable then decreases again
density is 10 thousand x smaller than at surface
ends 85 km

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7
Q

tell me about the thermosphere

A

temp. increases
oxygen absorbs solar radiation causing the layer.
the atoms have a high mean free path.

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8
Q

on what does atmospheric pressure depend

A

amount of molecules, volume, kinetic energy

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9
Q

hydrostatic equilibrium

A

upwards force due to decreasing pressure is balanced by a downward gravitational force.

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10
Q

pressure level maps

A

we identify at which height in the atmosphere the same pressure can be found and consequently, it looks like a mountain maps

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11
Q

isohypses

A

lines along areas with the same pressure level .

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12
Q

ridges and troughs

A

H(ridges) are elevated compared to their surroundings
L(troughs) are lower compared to surroundings

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13
Q

atmosphere 3.5 billion years ago

A

nitrogen + GHGs. Earth was warm, no oxygen in atmosphere.
plant life developed 10m below sea level, where UV light was no longer dangerous. Oxygen released, ozone formed, rest of oxygen reacted with iron and O2 disappears for a while.

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14
Q

atmosphere 2.5 billion years ago.

A

great oxidation event.
more oxygen, UV blocked more, more organisms could develop.

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15
Q

constant composition of our current atmosphere

A

78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
0.9% Argon

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16
Q

what are the other gases and what do they do?

A

CO2 CH4 NOx
chemical reactions,
air pollution
cleansing atmosphere
protecting against damage by UV
GH effect.

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17
Q

carbon dioxide

A

0.04& = 400ppm
absorbs and reemits radiation in the IR range.
average surface temperature increases with increasing amounts of GHGs in the atmosphere.

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18
Q

trace gases

A

gases with very small mole fraction

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19
Q

photochemical smog

A

ozone is the primary ingriedient for this.

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20
Q

summer smog

A

occurs with chemicals due to high temperatures.

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21
Q

winter smog

A

SO2 and H2SO4 particles.

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22
Q

aerosols

A

small solid or liquid particles that are transported in the atmosphere. they vary in composition.

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23
Q

cloud condensation nuclei.

A

aerosols on which water vapour condenses to form clouds

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24
Q

mole fraction of gases

A

ppm or ppb or ppt

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25
Q

S(A)TP

A

standard atmospheric temperature and pressure.
273.15 K
101.325 kPa

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26
Q

number density

A

used for gas phases, the number of molecules per cubic cm

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27
Q

what determines residence time?

A

sources and sinks, deposition rate. the formulae are the same as for soil .

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28
Q

what does residence time refer to?

A

the amount of time it takes to reduce to 1/e or 37% of its initial value (like half life but not half)

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29
Q

properties of water

A

naturally occurs in all 3 phases
main GHG
high SHC

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30
Q

humidity

A

amount of water vapour present in the air (sometimes!)

31
Q

evaporation with Crawford

A

water molecules can escape but this depends on several factors.
A higher temperature - there are more particles that have a high enough kinetic energy to escape.
Larger surface area - more particles are near the top.
Increased air flow/ low humidity - less particles are directly above the surface and able to condense again.

32
Q

moist air

A

air that contains water molecules

33
Q

saturated air

A

when an equilibrium exists between a body of water and the air above it. the amount of molecules escaping the liquid is equal to the number of molecules condensing.

34
Q

what happens to the equilibrium of saturated air at higher temperatures?

A

the rates of evaporation and condensation are higher, and the water holds more water vapour.

35
Q

water vapour pressure

A

e
the pressure exerted by the molecules on the “walls” of their container.

36
Q

when does the law of Clausius- Clapeyron apply?

A

pure water
smooth water surface

37
Q

what are two possible deviations of the Clausius- Clapeyron law?

A

when below freezing point, two equilibria can occur: ice and undercooled water.
equilibrium for ice is always lower than for undercooled water because molecules can escape less easily.

38
Q

What happens to boiling point at higher temperatures

A

the boiling point is higher so it takes longer to cook vegetables. .

39
Q

list all the moisture parametres

A

water vapour pressure
absolute humidity
mixing ratio
specific humidity
relative humidity
dew point temp
wet bulb temp

40
Q

Relative humidity

A

e/es x100%
= water vapour pressure/ saturated water pressure
fog occurs when these two are equal

41
Q

specific humidity

A

mass of water vapour/ mass of moist air. (q) stays constant with height.

42
Q

mixing ratio

A

w = mass of water vapour/ mass of dry air.
stays constant with temperature. Differs from specific humidity, though usually similar value.

43
Q

dew point temperature

A

at a certain temperature and water vapour pressure, you can cool down the air parcel until it is saturated. On the graph, this means that you just cross horizontally.

44
Q

wet bulb temperature

A

the temperature measured by a thermometer if you cover it with a wet sock. The cloth dries (temperature goes up) and the water vapour pressure in the air goes up. On the graph, this is the line that goes backwards diagonally, with a gradient of 67 Pa/K

45
Q

compare wet bulb temp with dry temp

A

wet bulb > dry
except when RH = 100%. At this point they are equal.
When the difference between the two is large, the humidity is lower

46
Q

compare the mass of dry air with the molecular mass of moist air

A

dry air is heavier than moist air.As a result, moist air rises.

47
Q

describe the graph refering to relative humidity and mixing of air parcels.

A

you have a non linear RH curve, with two air parcels at varying temperatures. you draw a straight line between these two. if the dotted line ever crosses above the RH line, the two parcels will mix to form a saturated parcel. If not, the newly formed parcel will be unsaturated.

48
Q

which measuring instrument is used to record wet bulb temperature?

A

a psychrometer.

49
Q

what is the vapour pressure deficit?

A

the difference between the amount of water vapour that the airholds when it is saturated and the actual amount of water vapour in the air.

50
Q

what is dQ used for?

A

increase the internal energy and perform work

51
Q

what is an adiabatic process/

A

a process in which no energy is exchanged with the environment.

52
Q

when are adiabatic processes applicable?

A

on a small temporal scale and large spatial scale

53
Q

what do thermodynamic processes refer to?

A

relations between heat, work, temperature, and energy

54
Q

where do thermodynamic processes occur?

A

during vertical motion
inversions,
convections
phase changes
cloud formation

55
Q

types of vertical motion

A

orographic lifting
front wedging
convergence
convective lifting

56
Q

what is orographic lifting

A

airflow goes up the mountain from the sea and clouds form on the left. the airflow then goes over the mountain

57
Q

what is frontal wedging?

A

the warm air rises diagonally above the cool air and clouds form at the front.

58
Q

what is convergence flow?

A

the wind flows from oopposite directions, going up when the two flows meet

59
Q

what is convective lifting?

A

patches of air are heated, air parcels rise and clouds form at the CLC

60
Q

what is the dry adbiatic lapse rate?

A

the temperature change with height.
no evaporation, condensation, and occurs during ascent or descent.
a fixed value of a bout 10 degrees per km

61
Q

what about normal lapse rate

A

if the line is steeper than the standard one, temp drops more slowly. If the lineincreases with height instead, an inversion has occured.

62
Q

moist adbiatic lapse rate

A

same but with evaporation and concensation.
at LCL, reach saturated vapour pressure, moisture turns to liquid. latent heat is released, slowing down rate of of cooling.

63
Q

LCL

A

lifting condensation level.

64
Q

potetntial temperature

A

to compare temperatures, we take them to the same pressure. When you have the potential but not the actual,you flip the ps round in the formula.

65
Q

buoyancy

A

an expression used to describe whether an air parcel ahs a positive or negative ability to float.

66
Q

lapse rate below dry lapse rate stability?

A

stable

67
Q

what does statically stable mean?

A

parcel tries to rise to Td but the temperature of Td is lower than atm. so the parcel is forced back down. This means that it is difficult for air to rise . A temperature inversion occurs in this case.

68
Q

when T > Td

A

statically unstable. air parcel is relatively less dense than surrounding air and so it has poistive buoyancy. Td temp is higher so parcel keeps rising.

69
Q

what is absolute stability?

A

T < Ts < Td
both saturated and unsaturated parcels will become colder than the environment and they will return to initial position

70
Q

absolute instability

A

Ts < Td < T
saturated and unsaturated rising air parcels will become warmer than the environment and will be moved further away from initial position.

71
Q

conditional instability

A

Ts < T < Td
an unsaturated parcel becomes colder so atm is stable. but saturated will become warmer which corresponds to an unstable atmosphere. So this is dependent on saturation of atmosphere.

72
Q

what is an inversion

A

atm. is super stable. normally, air parcels then spread out horizontally at the bottom of the inversion. air pollution acccumulates in lower troposphere, leading to dangerous concentrations.

73
Q

three types of inversions

A

tropopause - the height at which temperatrue stops decreasing.
subsidence inversion - when air warms up in high part of atmosphere.
radiation inversion - low night temperatures causes lower atm to cool down. When this is extreme, the inversion can increase with height throughout the night.

Atmosphere (12 decks)

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