Making earth habitable Flashcards
why do other planets in our solar system not have water in liquid form
only small temp range for liquid water, while blackbody temps are viable, actual surface temps are not possible for liquid water due to albedo and atmosphere
name two planets that have lots of CO2
Venus and Mars
what is all the energy in to the earth called, and describe the wavelengths
total solar irradiance, short wave
through which two processes does energy leave the earth system and describe the wave length
reflection and radiation, long wave
what is insolation
the energy that reaches earths surface
why doesn’t all the energy that reaches the atmosphere reach the surface of the earth
the earth is curved, the atmosphere reflects some, the atmosphere filters out some radiation
what is snowball earth
initial cooling increases snow and ice, albedo increases, positive feedback. Can escape this as we see today
give the temperature profile of the troposphere
temp decreases with altitude, upper boundary= tropopause
give the temp profile of the stratosphere
temp increases with altitude. Ozone absorbs UV radiation and turns it to longer wavelengths which heat the air
give the temp profile of the mesosphere
temp decreases with altitude. coldest layer of the atmo, with no ozone present
give the temp profile of the thermosphere
temp increases with altitude, due to absorption of solar radiation and bombardment of gas molecules by protons and electrons from the sun. but very little heat energy (would feel cold)
what is the very outer layer of the atmosphere called
exosphere
why are the majority of gases in the lower part of the atmosphere
compression of gases
