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Earth atmosphere > Midterm 1 > Flashcards

Midterm 1 Flashcards

chapters 1 - 4

1
Q

What is the Law of conservation of energy?

A

Energy can never be created or destroyed, but it can be transformed from one form to another and transferred from one object to another.

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2
Q

Sensible Heat

A
  • molecules move faster which cause temperature to increase
  • heat transfer that leads to temperature change
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3
Q

Latent Heat

A
  • Intermolecular bonds break, giving rise to a phase change

- Heat absorbed or released by a change in phase

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4
Q

Internal Energy

A
  • Total energy contained in the molecules of a substance.

- Combination of thermal and potential energies

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5
Q

Thermal energy

A
  • Kinetic energy of molecules

- Changes in thermal energy = Change in temperature

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6
Q

Potential Energy

A
  • Arises due to attractive forces between the molecules
  • Phase changes
  • Chemical reactions
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7
Q
  1. A positive feedback mechanism ________ the effects of an initial change.

a) amplifies
b) lessens
c) stabilizes
a) reverses

A

A) Amplifies

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8
Q
  1. The SI unit of Energy is ________.

a) pascal
b) newton
c) joule
d) watt

A

C) Joule

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9
Q
  1. The variable change of ________ with height in the atmosphere defines four atmospheric layers.

a) density
b) temperature
c) pressure
d) humidity

A

B) Temperature

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10
Q
  1. All our weather occurs and almost all clouds form in the ________.

a) thermosphere
b) troposphere
c) mesosphere
d) stratosphere

A

B) Troposhere

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11
Q
  1. ________ is a constant gas in the atmosphere.

a) Methane
b) Carbon dioxide
c) Water vapour
d) Argon

A

D) Argon

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12
Q
  1. An atmospheric sink for oxygen gas is ________.

a) photosynthesis
b) transpiration
c) oxidation
d) photodissociation

A

C) Oxidation

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13
Q
  1. The approximate residence time of carbon dioxide is ________.

a) 1 year
b) 10 years
c) 100 years
d) 1000 years

A

C) 100 Years

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14
Q
  1. 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

A

B) Precipitation

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15
Q
  1. 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

A) Temperature; Pressure

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16
Q
  1. 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
A

C) Directly proportional

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17
Q
  1. When applied to the atmosphere, hypsometry is about the relationship between ________ and ________.
    a) temperature; pressure
    b) height; pressure
    c) pressure; volume
    d) height; temperature
A

B) Height; Pressure

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18
Q
  1. If we assume that the atmosphere is isothermal, we assume that it is constant in ________.
    a) density
    b) volume
    c) pressure
    d) temperature
A

D) Temperature

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19
Q
  1. 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
A

B) 10km

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20
Q
  1. 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
A

D) Variation in height of a constant pressure surface.

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21
Q
  1. We can measure ________ with a thermometer.
    a) latent heat
    b) specific heat
    c) sensible heat
    d) all types of heat
A

C) Sensible heat

22
Q
  1. Of the following substances, ________ has the highest specific heat.
    a) ice
    b) water
    c) steam
    d) air
A

B) Water

23
Q
  1. 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
A

C) Remains the Same

24
Q
  1. A phase change from solid to gas is called ________.
    a) deposition
    b) convection
    c) conduction
    d) sublimation
A

A) Deposition

25
Q
  1. Convection does not commonly occur in ________.
    a) liquids
    b) solids
    c) gases
    d) It occurs in all of the above.
A

B) Solids

26
Q
  1. Convection does not commonly occur in ________.
    a) liquids
    b) solids
    c) gases
    d) It occurs in all of the above.
A

B) Solids

27
Q

Contrast the troposphere and stratosphere in terms of temperature, pressure, weather, and composition.

A
  • 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.
28
Q

Describe the composition of Earth’s atmosphere. Pick one gas and comment on its source, sink, variability and residence time

A

Nitrogen 78% oxygen 21% Argon 1%

Oxygen 
Sink = Respiration / oxidation
Source = Photosynthesis
Variability
Residence time = 3000- 4000 yr
29
Q

What are Ozone has three primary roles

A

It absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun

It absorbs Earth’s longwave radiation

It is a pollutant

30
Q

Describe how latent heat and sensible heat are different from one another.

A

Latent heat is the well sensible heat is the amount of energy

31
Q

How far does the Troposphere reach

A

From earth surface to 11km or Earth to Stratosphere

32
Q

How far does the Stratosphere reach

A

11km to 50km or from the Troposphere to Mesosphere

33
Q

How far does the Mesosphere

A

50km to 85km or From the Stratosphere to Thermosphere

34
Q

How far does the Thermosphere reach

A

85k to No defined boundary

35
Q

What is the difference between weather and climate

A

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.

36
Q

What is density?

A

Density is the mass per unit volume

37
Q

Density of water and air?

A

Water 1g/cm3

Air 1.23 kg/m3

38
Q

What are Constant gases?

A

Concentrations remain the same on century timescales

39
Q

What are Variable gases?

A

Concentrations vary over time and space

40
Q

N2 has the longest resident time and O2 has a shorter resident time. Why might this be?

A

N2 is much less reactive than O2 and there is more N2 Gas then O2

41
Q

Nitrogen cycle
Sink
Source
Reservoir

A

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)

42
Q

Oxygen cycle
Sink
Source
Reservoir

A

Oxygen

Sink

  • Respiration
  • Oxidation
  • Decomposition of organic matter

Source

-Photosynthesis

Residence time = 3000- 4000 yr

43
Q

Carbon Dioxide Cycle
Source
Sinks
Reservoir

A

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

44
Q

Carbonate- Silicate cycle

Sink
Source

A

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
45
Q

Water Cylce Key points

A
  • Water Vapour is a powerful greenhouse gas and accounts for twice the warm of CO2
  • Hydrologic cycle involves phase changes rather than chemical changes
46
Q

What are Primary Aerosols

A

Aerosols emitted into the atmosphere

47
Q

What are Secondary Aerosols

A

Aerosols formed by gases in the atmosphere

48
Q

Primary Aerosol Sink and Sources

A

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

49
Q

Secondary Aerosols Sinks and Sources

A

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

50
Q

What is the Laminar Boundary layer

A

The thin layer of air that’s in contact with the ground

Earth atmosphere (1 decks)

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