M1 Topic 1 Part 1: Atmosphere

Question 1

what are the 4 spheres

Answer 1

atmosphere
hydrosphere
lithosphere
biosphere

Question 2

what is the atmosphere

Answer 2

thin layer of gases that surrounds the Earth protects living things from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Question 3

what is the atmosphere made up of

Answer 3

4 layers mostly consisting of oxygen and water vapour

Question 4

what are the 4 layers of the Atmosphere (from highest to lowest

Answer 4

thermopause
mesopause
Stratopuase
tropopause

Question 5

what type of energy is emitted from the sun

Answer 5

short wave solar radiation (Isolation)

Question 6

how does the suns energy effect Earth (4)

Answer 6

the planets climate
the planets weather
the hydro-logical cycle
allows for photosynthesis to occur

Question 7

what factors effect the amount of solar radiation that Earth receives (3)

Answer 7

the orbit of the earth around the sun
latitude and intensity of the sun
Angle of the Earth

Question 8

Why does Earth’s distance from the sun change

Answer 8

Earth follows a elliptical orbit around the sun which causes the Earth to be closer to the sun at certain times of the year

Question 9

How does the change in Earth’s distance from the sun effect the amount of solar radiation that it receives

Answer 9

it results in a change of 6% in the amount of isolation received by the Earth at different places at a time

Question 10

How does latitudes effect on Earths exposure to solar radiation

Answer 10

at higher latitudes the sun has more surface area to heat, which means temperature is lower at higher latitudes

Question 11

how much is Earths axis tilted by

Answer 11

23.5°

Question 12

How do variations in the Earths axis effect Earths exposure to solar radiation

Answer 12

Earths tilt leads to change in length of day changing the amount of time there is to absorb solar radiation.

Question 13

what is the global heat budget

Answer 13

the balance between the energy Earth receives from the Sun, and the energy the Earth radiates back into outer space

Question 14

what are the features of the global heat budget (2)

Answer 14

positive heat balance in the tropics

negative heat balance in polar regions and high altitudes

Question 15

why do polar regions have negative heat balence

Answer 15

there is a high surface albedo in the region

Question 16

what is albedo

Answer 16

the reflectivity of a surface

Question 17

how is heat energy transferred on Earth (2)

Answer 17

Horizontal transfers: wind, ocean currents

Question 18

how do horizontal transfers transfer heat

Answer 18

they move heat along the Earths surface through conduction, and convection currents that transfer heat via condensation

Question 19

what would happen if horizontal transfers didn’t occur (2)

Answer 19

Earths surface would get hotter

temperatures would get cooler

Question 20

what is lapse rate

Answer 20

the rate of change in temperature due to increase in altitude (6.5°C/1000m of elevation)

Question 21

what causes air on earth to move

Answer 21

air moves due to differences in pressure (higher moves to lower pressure ), these systems are called Hadley cells

Question 22

where are Hadley cells located

Answer 22

between the equator and 30° north and south

Question 23

what are the processes of the Hadley cells (3)

Answer 23

hot air rises at 30° north and south
air cools and condensation occurs
dry air descends and forms deserts

Question 24

what is the difference between anti cyclone, and cyclones (2)

Answer 24

Anti-Cyclones:high pressure systems that bring cool calm weather

Cyclones:Intense low pressure systems that brings unstable weather conditions

Question 25

what is the difference in movement in air in pressure systems for different hemispheres (2)

Answer 25

Southern hemispheres:
low pressure systems move counter clockwise,
high pressure systems move clockwise

Northern hemisphere:
low pressure systems move clockwise,
high pressure systems move counter clockwise

Question 26

what is an air mass

Answer 26

a body of air that has been effected by large area on the Earths surface

Question 27

what types of air masses are there

Answer 27

Maritime

continental

Question 28

what is a source region

Answer 28

an extensive region where large air masses originate from

Question 29

what do air masses do

Answer 29

influence climate by bringing source region climate characteristics