meteorology- atmosphere Flashcards
The atmosphere is the envelope of ______ that surrounds the earth, travels with it through space, and __________ with it.
Air is the ________ of gases comprising the atmosphere.
____________ mixing maintains a high degree of constancy in the _________ of air.
gases
rotates
mixture
turbulent
composition
Average values are:
Nitrogen __.__%
Oxygen __.__%
Argon _.__%
Carbon Dioxide _.__%
78.09
20.95
0.93
0.03
What does the ozone absorb?
ultraviolet light
How does carbon dioxide enter the atmosphere
animal exhalation and fuel combustion
What is carbon dioxide balanced out by
plant absorption
What is specific heat
the amount of heat required to change temperature.
What is latent heat
the amount of heat required to change state.
How do solid particles of dust, sand, smoke, salt, volcanic ash, meteoric debris (20 t/d) and bacteria also affect meteorological processes
by their effect on solar radiation and by providing hygroscopic nuclei for
condensation of water vapour.
How are the subsections of the atmosphere measured
By a radiosonde
What is a radiosonde
a lightweight instrument package and radio
transmitter carried aloft by balloon released from shore stations and ships.
What does a radiosonde transmit
air temperature, atmospheric pressure, and humidity as they rise through the
atmosphere
What is the lowest layer of the atmosphere
Troposphere
Characteristics of the troposphere
Temperature decreases with altitude at approximately 6.5°C per km on average, from 15°C at the surface to -54°C.
There are wide local variations, and temperature increases with altitude under certain circumstances.
The troposphere contains approximately 75% of the mass of the atmosphere, and virtually all the water
vapour.
This is the layer in which atmospheric turbulence and weather phenomena occur.
2nd layer of atmosphere
Tropopause
Characteristics of the tropopause
The tropopause is the upper boundary of the troposphere.
It varies in altitude from approximately 8 km at the poles to approximately 18 km at the equator.
Due to the increase of temperature above this level, an inversion, turbulence is limited to the region
below the tropopause.
3rd layer of the atmosphere
Stratosphere
Characteristics of the stratosphere
In this layer temperature increases with altitude due to radiation absorption by ozone.
Ozone concentration is high in the stratosphere, the highest concentration being at approximately 22 km.
4th layer of the atmosphere
Stratopause
Characteristics of the stratopause
The stratopause is the upper boundary of the stratosphere at approximately 48 km.
The highest temperatures associated with radiation absorption by ozone occur at this level and may be
0°C.
5th layer of the atmosphere
Mesosphere
Characteristics of the mesosphere
The mesosphere is characterised by decreasing temperature with increasing altitude, to approximately
-92°C.
Noctilucent clouds, thought to be formed by ice crystals forming on meteoric dust, occur in this layer.
6th layer of the atmosphere
Mesopause
Characteristics of the mesopause
The mesopause is the upper boundary of the mesosphere, at approximately 80 km
7th layer of the atmosphere
Thermosphere
Characteristics of the thermosphere
The thermosphere contains extremely rarefied air in which temperature rises with altitude due to the
absorption of ultraviolet radiation by oxygen.
Phenomena such as aurorae due to ionization of the gases occur at altitudes up to 1000 km.
The upper limit of the atmosphere is not easily defined.
Radiation is
is the transfer of energy that can take place through space where no matter is present.
Conduction is
is the transfer of energy directly from particle to particle through a substance.
Convection is
is the transfer of energy by bulk movement in fluids.
Thermal radiation is
is the transfer of energy by infrared waves.
Latent heat is
is the energy involved in a change of state, between solid, liquid and vapour.
The frequency of radiation from a body is related to
its surface temp
The surface temperature of the sun is approximately
6000 K
The surface temperature of the sun is approximately 6000K.
The peak radiance at this temperature occurs at a wavelength of
483 nanometres (nm). (nano = 10-9
)
The wavelength of solar radiation ranges from approximately
200 nm, X-rays, to 2000 nm, infrared.
The band of visible light is from approximately
400 to 740 nm, violet to red.
The Solar Constant is the amount of
energy reaching the upper atmosphere
The solar constant is
the solar energy incident on unit area, in unit time, on a surface perpendicular to
solar radiation.
The majority of solar radiation lies in
the visible spectrum, with the next largest portion in the infrared.
Components of the atmosphere selectively absorb radiation.
Air is virtually _________ to radiation
Transparent
Radiation is a ________ by substances in the atmosphere, increasing their ____________.
Ozone absorbs approximately _% of solar radiation, principally ______ ______ light in the ____________.
Water as vapour and droplets in clouds absorbs approximately __% of solar radiation in the ____________.
absorbed
temperature
3
ultra violet
stratosphere
15
troposphere
Radiation striking clouds, earth and water is partially ______ into space.
Approximately __% of solar radiation is reflected by _____ and _% by the surface.
reflected
21
clouds
4
Radiation striking particles in the atmosphere is __________ in all directions.
Approximately _% of solar radiation is scattered back into _____.
scattered
6
space
Insolation is the radiation
reaching the surface and absorbed by land and water.
Any body at a temperature above __________ ______radiates energy at a wavelength inversely proportional to
its temperature.
absolute zero
Overall solar radiation is matched by
reradiation to space and the earth’s temperature remains
approximately constant, although there are cyclic variations on various time scales.
Energy is conducted from
land and water surfaces to air in contact with them.
Air heated by conduction moves vertically due to its
reduced density in a convective cycle, carrying
energy upward
Air moving horizontally carries energy from
area to area
Water vapour evaporating from bodies of water and from plants carries
latent heat energy into the
atmosphere from the surface.
Water vapour condensing into liquid water in the atmosphere releases
latent heat energy into the air.
