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General Meteorology > Lecture 1-Earth System > Flashcards

Lecture 1-Earth System Flashcards

1
Q

List the three most abundant gases of the atmosphere by volume.

A

Nitrogen 78.08%
Oxygen 20.95%
Argon 0.93%

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2
Q

Name the 5 gases that surround the Earth.

A 
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Argon
H2O water vapor
Carbon dioxide
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3
Q

What does the Hydrosphere contain?

A

All the Earth’s oceans, lakes, underground water, ice and snow

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4
Q

What does the Geosphere contain?

A

The solid earth (rocks and regolith)

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5
Q

What does the Biosphere contain?

A

All the Earth’s organisms and organic matter that has not yet decomposed

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6
Q

What does the Anthropsphere contain?

A

The part that has been made or modified by human beings

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7
Q

What is the definition of the atmosphere?

A

A gaseous envelope that surrounds a planet or other celestial body

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8
Q

What is air?

A

Air is a mixture of gases and suspended particles that surrounds the Earth

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9
Q

Why is the atmosphere important?

A

It affects the Earth’s surface temperature (greenhouse effect) because of the presence of gases like water vapor and carbon dioxide

It also allows us to breathe and ozone protects the Earth by absorbing UV rays

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10
Q

What is Meteorology?

A

The study of the atmosphere and its phenomena

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11
Q

What are aerosols?

A

Tiny liquid droplets or tiny particles that are so small they remain suspended in the air

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12
Q

Name 5 examples of aerosols

A 
Smoke
Volcanic ash
Dust
Ocean spray (sea salt crystals)
Ice crystals
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13
Q

What affect do aerosols have on climate?

A

Some aerosols directly absorb radiation. Soot from industrial pollution for example heats the atmosphere

Other aerosols reflect incoming radiation such as sulfur which provides a cooling effect

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14
Q

Describe the Earth’s first atmosphere

A

It was primarily composed of Helium and Hydrogen however did not last very long as they were both extremely light gases. At the time Earth’s gravity was too weak to hold such a light compound and its magnetic field was not strong enough to protect the developing atmosphere from solar winds.

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15
Q

How was Earth’s second atmosphere created?

A

Volcanic eruptions pushed out water vapor, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

Water vapor formed oceans, carbon dioxide went into oceans and rocks

Comets and their icy bodies came crashing into the Earth

Photosynthesis increased oxygen in the air and as a result produced ozone in the upper atmosphere which enabled plant and animal life to evolve

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16
Q

Describe Nitrogen.

A

Nitrogen is 78.08% dry volume of air.

Removed from the atmosphere by soil bacteria

Returned to atmosphere through animal/plant decay

17
Q

Describe Oxygen.

A

Oxygen holds 20.95% of dry air volume.

Removed from atmosphere when organic matter decays

Returned to atmosphere through photosynthesis

Taken from atmosphere through breathing, lungs release carbon dioxide

18
Q

Describe Water vapor.

A

Most abundant variable gas

Supplied through evaporation

Removed from atmosphere through condensation

Concentration reaches maximum in tropics and decreases rapidly with higher altitudes

It is a greenhouse gas that absorbs thermal energy and releases latent heat to fuel weather systems

19
Q

Describe Carbon Dioxide

A

Holds concentration of 385 ppm

Created/input by volcanic eruptions, burning fossil fuels, decay/combustion of biomass

Output/sink: photosynthesis (plants consume carbon dioxide to produce green matter)

Phytoplankton fix carbon dioxide into organic tissues

20
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A

The greenhouse effect is the process by which the earth absorbs infrared radiation through water vapor, carbon dioxide and other related gases

Increase in carbon dioxide is believed to be the primary cause of global warming as it traps the earths outgoing energy

21
Q

Describe Methane

A

Holds a concentration of 1.75 ppm

Comes mainly from breakdown of plants by methogenic bacteria

Low oxygen soil

Termite activity

22
Q

Describe Nitrous oxide

A

Holds a concentration of 0.3 ppm

Produced by natural and human sources

Formed in soils by denitrifying bacteria and fossil fuel combustion

Destroyed by ultra violet rays

23
Q

Describe Chlorofluorocarbons

A

Holds concentration of 0.0002 ppm

Used to be found mostly in propellants and sprays

Plays a role in destruction of oZone

Uv rays breaks it apart and destroys ozone by production of chlorine

24
Q

How can the structure of the atmosphere be characterized?

A

Pressure
Density
Temperature
Composition

25
Q

Describe atmospheric density

A

It is the concentration of molecules

Atmospheric density decreases with altitude

26
Q

How do you calculate the atmospheric density?

A

Density = mass/volume

p=m/v

27
Q

Describe Pressure

A

It is the force exerted on a given area

Air pressure occurs when air molecules move and collide with objects

It is exerted in a directions

28
Q

How do you calculate pressure?

A

Pressure = force/area

29
Q

What is the average sea level pressure?

A

1013.25 millibars

30
Q

Name the four atmospheric layers

A

Troposphere- temperature decreases with height

Stratosphere- temp increases with height

Mesosphere - temp decreases with height

Thermosphere - temp increases with height

31
Q

What is the lapse rate?

A

The rate at which air temp decreases with height.

T  = temperature
z = height
32
Q

Describe the troposphere

A

Average lapse rate of ~6.5 C/km

Goes up to 12km

Weather occurs here

33
Q

Describe stratosphere

A

Ranges from 12 to 50 km

Air is very and oZone rich

Temp maximum goes to stratopause

34
Q

Describe mesosphere

A

Ranges from 50 to 85 km

Extremely thin air, atmospheric pressure averaging 1 millibar

Lowest temperature found here -85C

35
Q

Describe exosphere

A

Above 500 km

Above thermosphere level

Region where atoms and molecules shoot into space

36
Q

Describe thermosphere

A

Highest temperatures found here due to absorption of high energy radiation

Temperature increase due to photodisassociation and photoionization

37
Q

What does the homosphere contain

A

Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere

38
Q

What does the heterosphere contain

A

Thermosphere

Exosphere

39
Q

List the four spheres of the Earth.

A 
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Hydrosphere
Geosphere
Anthropsphere

General Meteorology (1 decks)

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