Key Words Atmospheric Systems And Societies

Question 1

Ozone

Answer 1

O3; it exists primarily in the Earth’s stratosphere, where it absorbs harmful UV radiation. However it also exists in the troposphere, where it is a harmful pollutant and a greenhouse gas

Question 2

Radiation

Answer 2

Energy transmitted in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles, such as solar radiation from the Sun

Question 3

Albedo effect

Answer 3

The measure of how much sunlight is reflected by the Earth’s surface; higher albedo surfaces, like sand, snow, ice or concrete, reflect more sunlight, cooling the Earth; low albedo surfaces, like forests, oceans or asphalt absorb more sunlight, warming up the Earth

Question 4

Greenhouse gas (GHG)

Answer 4

Gases like CO2, CH4 or H2O that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere by absorbing infrared radiation in the form of heat, contributing to the greenhouse effect

Question 5

Transformation

Answer 5

Change in chemicals nature, matter or energy from one form to another

Question 6

Ultraviolet light

Answer 6

Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light, which can be harmful to living organisms

Question 7

System

Answer 7

A set of interacting components that function together

Question 8

Troposphere

Answer 8

A layer of the atmosphere that is the closest to the Earth, where weather occurs and most of the planet’s air mass is found

Question 9

Greenhouse effect

Answer 9

The warming of the Earth’s surface due to the trapping of heat by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Question 10

Reflection

Answer 10

The process by which light or heat is bounced back from a surface

Question 11

Shortwave radiation

Answer 11

High-energy radiation, primarily from the Sun, which includes visible light and UV radiation

Question 12

Storage

Answer 12

The accumulation of energy or matter in a particular system

Question 13

Biosphere

Answer 13

The global sum of all ecosystems, encompassing all living organisms and their interactions with the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.

Question 14

Convection

Answer 14

The transfer of heat by the movement of fluids (liquids or gases), such as warm air/water (less dense) rising and cool air/water sinking (more dense)

Question 15

Longwave radiation

Answer 15

Infrared radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface, atmosphere, and clouds as the planet radiates absorbed solar energy back to space

Question 16

Transfer

Answer 16

A change of location of something within a system

Question 17

open system

Answer 17

A system in which an exchange of matter and energy with the surroundings occurs

Question 18

A closed system

Answer 18

A system in which an exchange of only energy with the surroundings occurs (no exchange of matter)

Question 19

Global dimming

Answer 19

The gradual reduction in the amount of sunlight reaching Earth’s surface, mainly due to air pollution and aerosols

Question 20

Negative feedback

Answer 20

A process that reduces the effects of changes within a system, promoting stability, the equilibrium is re-established, like increased cloud cover cooling the Earth

Question 21

Positive feedback

Answer 21

A process that amplifies changes in a system, a new equilibrium is established, such as ice melting reducing albedo, leading to further warming and more ice melting

Question 22

Tropospheric heating

Answer 22

The warming of the troposphere (lowest layer of the atmosphere) due to greenhouse gases, anthropogenic activities (burning fossil fuels, deforestation, polluting the air with pollutants that absorb heat), etc.

Question 23

General circulation model

Answer 23

A type of climate model used to simulate the Earth’s atmosphere, ocean, and surface processes to predict climate change

Question 24

Methane

Answer 24

CH4; a greenhouse gas released from natural processes and human activities like agriculture and fossil fuel extraction

Question 25

Coral bleaching

Answer 25

The loss of color in corals due to stress, often caused by warming ocean temperatures, which leads to expulsion of symbiotic algae

Question 26

Permafrost

Answer 26

Permanently frozen ground, found in polar regions, which stores large amounts of carbon that can be released when it melts

Question 27

Combustion

Answer 27

The process of burning fossil fuels or other materials, releasing energy, CO2 and pollutants into the atmosphere

Question 28

Acidification

Answer 28

The process by which water bodies become more acidic due to the absorbtion of excess CO2 which is then transformed into carbonic acid HCO3, negatively impacting marine life

Question 29

Nitrous oxide

Answer 29

N2O; a greenhouse gas, often released from agricultural practices and industrial activities

Question 30

Deforestation

Answer 30

A large-scale removal of forests, leading to biodiversity loss and contributing to increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere

Question 31

Mass transit

Answer 31

Public transportation systems that move large numbers of people efficiently, reducing the need for individual cars and helping reduce emissions

Question 32

Tropospheric ozone

Answer 32

The “bad” ozone; ground-level ozone; a harmful pollutant and greenhouse gas formed from reactions between pollutants like nitrogen oxides and VOCs

Question 33

Stratospheric ozone

Answer 33

The “good” ozone; it forms the ozone layer around the Earth, which protects life on Earth from the negative effects of the UV radiation from the Sun.

Question 34

Equilibrium

Answer 34

A state of balance within a system, where inputs and outputs are equal

Question 35

Atmospheric gases

Answer 35

The mix of gases that make up Earth’s atmosphere (oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and trace gases)

Question 36

CFCs, ODSs

Answer 36

CFC’s — propellants in spray cans, foams, refrigerators
ODSs — ozone depleting substances; CFCs, HCFCs, Halon; chemicals that damage the stratospheric ozone layer

Question 37

Photochemical smog

Answer 37

A type of air pollution made from primary and secondary pollutants, formed when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides and VOCs, producing harmful chemicals like tropospheric ozone

Question 38

VOC

Answer 38

Volatile organic compounds; organic chemicals that easily evaporate into the air, contributing to air pollution and formation of smog

Question 39

Secondary pollutant

Answer 39

A pollutant not emitted directly into the atmosphere, but formed when primary pollutants react in the atmosphere, such as ozone

Question 40

Thermal inversion

Answer 40

A weather phenomenon where a layer or warm air traps cooler air beneath it, preventing pollution from dispersing and worsening air quality

Question 41

Soot

Answer 41

Fine black particles primarily made of carbon, produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels or biomass

Question 42

Catalytic converter

Answer 42

A device in vehicles that reduces harmful emissions by converting toxic gases like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides into less harmful substances like carbon dioxide and nitrogen