Midterm 1 Flashcards
chapters 1 - 4
What is the Law of conservation of energy?
Energy can never be created or destroyed, but it can be transformed from one form to another and transferred from one object to another.
Sensible Heat
- molecules move faster which cause temperature to increase
- heat transfer that leads to temperature change
Latent Heat
- Intermolecular bonds break, giving rise to a phase change
- Heat absorbed or released by a change in phase
Internal Energy
- Total energy contained in the molecules of a substance.
- Combination of thermal and potential energies
Thermal energy
- Kinetic energy of molecules
- Changes in thermal energy = Change in temperature
Potential Energy
- Arises due to attractive forces between the molecules
- Phase changes
- Chemical reactions
- A positive feedback mechanism ________ the effects of an initial change.
a) amplifies
b) lessens
c) stabilizes
a) reverses
A) Amplifies
- The SI unit of Energy is ________.
a) pascal
b) newton
c) joule
d) watt
C) Joule
- The variable change of ________ with height in the atmosphere defines four atmospheric layers.
a) density
b) temperature
c) pressure
d) humidity
B) Temperature
- All our weather occurs and almost all clouds form in the ________.
a) thermosphere
b) troposphere
c) mesosphere
d) stratosphere
B) Troposhere
- ________ is a constant gas in the atmosphere.
a) Methane
b) Carbon dioxide
c) Water vapour
d) Argon
D) Argon
- An atmospheric sink for oxygen gas is ________.
a) photosynthesis
b) transpiration
c) oxidation
d) photodissociation
C) Oxidation
- The approximate residence time of carbon dioxide is ________.
a) 1 year
b) 10 years
c) 100 years
d) 1000 years
C) 100 Years
- About 80 to 90 per cent of aerosols are removed from the atmosphere through ________.
a) the influence of gravity
b) precipitation
c) photosynthesis
d) evaporation
B) Precipitation
- If the volume of a gas is held constant, an increase in ________ will result in an increase in ________.
a) temperature; pressure
b) temperature; density
c) pressure; density
d) mass; pressure
A) Temperature; Pressure
- The hydrostatic equation shows that the change in pressure with height in a fluid is ________ to the fluid’s density.
a) exponentially related
b) logarithmically related
c) directly proportional
d) inversely proportional
C) Directly proportional
- When applied to the atmosphere, hypsometry is about the relationship between ________ and ________.
a) temperature; pressure
b) height; pressure
c) pressure; volume
d) height; temperature
B) Height; Pressure
- If we assume that the atmosphere is isothermal, we assume that it is constant in ________.
a) density
b) volume
c) pressure
d) temperature
D) Temperature
- For meteorological analysis, atmospheric sounding data are needed up to heights of about ________.
a) 1 km
b) 10 km
c) 100 km
d) 1000 km
B) 10km
- Upper-air weather maps show the variation of ________.
a) wind speeds
b) pressure at a standard height
c) pressure normalized to sea level
d) variation in height of a constant pressure surface
D) Variation in height of a constant pressure surface.
- We can measure ________ with a thermometer.
a) latent heat
b) specific heat
c) sensible heat
d) all types of heat
C) Sensible heat
- Of the following substances, ________ has the highest specific heat.
a) ice
b) water
c) steam
d) air
B) Water
- As a solid goes through a phase change to a liquid, heat is absorbed and the temperature ________.
a) decreases
b) increases
c) remains the same
d) any of the above depending upon the substance
C) Remains the Same
- A phase change from solid to gas is called ________.
a) deposition
b) convection
c) conduction
d) sublimation
A) Deposition
- Convection does not commonly occur in ________.
a) liquids
b) solids
c) gases
d) It occurs in all of the above.
B) Solids
- Convection does not commonly occur in ________.
a) liquids
b) solids
c) gases
d) It occurs in all of the above.
B) Solids
Contrast the troposphere and stratosphere in terms of temperature, pressure, weather, and composition.
- Troposphere is cold higher up and warmer lower down well stratosphere is warmer higher up and colder lower down due to absorption of ultraviolet radiation by ozone
- Pressure is drops with height so the troposphere has higher pressure then the stratosphere
- almost all weather occurs in the Troposphere
- Troposphere contains most of the water vapour well the stratosphere has most of the ozone.
Describe the composition of Earth’s atmosphere. Pick one gas and comment on its source, sink, variability and residence time
Nitrogen 78% oxygen 21% Argon 1%
Oxygen Sink = Respiration / oxidation Source = Photosynthesis Variability Residence time = 3000- 4000 yr
What are Ozone has three primary roles
It absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun
It absorbs Earth’s longwave radiation
It is a pollutant
Describe how latent heat and sensible heat are different from one another.
Latent heat is the well sensible heat is the amount of energy
How far does the Troposphere reach
From earth surface to 11km or Earth to Stratosphere
How far does the Stratosphere reach
11km to 50km or from the Troposphere to Mesosphere
How far does the Mesosphere
50km to 85km or From the Stratosphere to Thermosphere
How far does the Thermosphere reach
85k to No defined boundary
What is the difference between weather and climate
Weather is the short term state of atmosphere at a give time and place describing cloud cover, precipitation, winds, temp, pressure, humidity. Well climate is the average of theses atmosphere conditions over a period of time at a certain location.
What is density?
Density is the mass per unit volume
Density of water and air?
Water 1g/cm3
Air 1.23 kg/m3
What are Constant gases?
Concentrations remain the same on century timescales
What are Variable gases?
Concentrations vary over time and space
N2 has the longest resident time and O2 has a shorter resident time. Why might this be?
N2 is much less reactive than O2 and there is more N2 Gas then O2
Nitrogen cycle
Sink
Source
Reservoir
Reservoir
Most N2 stored in Earth’s atmosphere
Has strong triple bond* long residence time 1.6million years
Sink
Nitrogen fixation: Converts nitrogen into forms that organisms can use (flow from atmosphere biosphere)
Source
De-nitrification:
Bacteria converts fixed nitrogen into N2 or nitrous oxide (N2O)
Oxygen cycle
Sink
Source
Reservoir
Oxygen
Sink
- Respiration
- Oxidation
- Decomposition of organic matter
Source
-Photosynthesis
Residence time = 3000- 4000 yr
Carbon Dioxide Cycle
Source
Sinks
Reservoir
Sources
-Respiration
- Decomposition
- Combustion (burning of fossil fuels)
Sinks
- Photosynthesis
- Atmosphere–ocean exchange
- Burial of organic carbon (long term storage for carbon)
Reservoir 100- 300 yrs
Carbonate- Silicate cycle
Sink
Source
Sink
- CO2 reacts with rainwater to form carbonic acid (H2CO3)
- The acid reacts with calcium silicate rocks
- Marine organisms use the calcium and bicarbonate to produce calcium carbonate for hard shells and skeletons … source of limestone (largest reservoir of carbon)
Source
- Carbonate sediments are subducted into the Earth’s crust
- High temperatures form magma and produce CO2
- Volcanoes release CO2 into the atmosphere
Water Cylce Key points
- Water Vapour is a powerful greenhouse gas and accounts for twice the warm of CO2
- Hydrologic cycle involves phase changes rather than chemical changes
What are Primary Aerosols
Aerosols emitted into the atmosphere
What are Secondary Aerosols
Aerosols formed by gases in the atmosphere
Primary Aerosol Sink and Sources
Sources of primary aerosols:
Sea spray
Dust and sand
Seeds, pollen, spores, bacteria and viruses
Soot and ash and smoke
Sinks
80–90% of aerosols are removed by precipitation:
Water condenses around an aerosol
The growing droplet absorbs more aerosols
When it reaches rain drop size, it falls to the surface
Secondary Aerosols Sinks and Sources
Sources of secondary aerosols:
Sulphur dioxide gas (SO2) converted to sulphuric acid (H2SO4)
Nitric oxide (NO) and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) converted to nitric acid (HNO3)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) converted to solid or liquid hydrocarbons
Sinks
80–90% of aerosols are removed by precipitation:
Water condenses around an aerosol
The growing droplet absorbs more aerosols
When it reaches rain drop size, it falls to the surface
What is the Laminar Boundary layer
The thin layer of air that’s in contact with the ground
