midterm Flashcards
- What are the three main atmospheric elements?
o Nitrogen (78%)
o Oxygen (20.9%)
o Argon (0.93%)
- Do nitrogen levels vary a lot in the environment?
o No, nitrogen levels remain consistent in the environment
- What is happening to the concentration of nitrogen in the atmosphere because of human activity?
o Nitrogen concentrations are increasing
- What is the role of nitrogen in the environment?
o Limited direct role but serves as a precursor molecule of nitrate which is used by plants to synthesize molecules essential to life
- Why is having too much nitrogen in the atmosphere bad?
o Too much nitrogen results in algal blooms which suffocates the water
- Why is oxygen important?
o Vital to almost all life
o Precursor for O3 which absorbs high energy UV light
- What is argon?
o An inert gas
- What are the trace gases that make up the rest of the atmosphere composition?
o Carbon dioxide
o Water vapor
- What is the source of carbon from which all life is based?
o Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
- What chemical compound is the basis for the Global Warming Potential (GWP)?
o Carbon dioxide
- What is the Global Warming Potential (GWP)?
o The potential of any chemical to add to the global warming problem
- What does it mean if methane has a GWP of 28?
o 1 molecule of methane contributes as much as 28 molecules of carbon dioxide
- What compound is the most important greenhouse gas?
o Carbon dioxide
- Why is carbon dioxide the most important greenhouse gas?
o Carbon dioxide accounts for the greatest portion of warming by anthropogenic activities
- T/F. Carbon dioxide levels are steady in the environment?
o False, carbon dioxide levels are increasing
- When did carbon dioxide levels begin to rise?
o 1870, the industrial revolution
- Why do we have a huge increase in carbon dioxide levels beginning in 1960?
o The development of cars becoming cheaper
- What is the most variable atmospheric component?
o Water
- What is vapor pressure?
o The partial pressure of water vapor
o Humidity
- What are the two types of humidity?
o Absolute
o Relative
- As temperature increases, what happens to the ability of air to hold water?
o Air can hold more water at higher temps
What happens to relative humidity as the temperature increases
o Relative humidity decreases as temperatures increase
o Since air can hold more water at higher temperatures
- What are the components of the Psychrometric chart pictured on the right?
o Dry bulb
o Wet bulb
o Specific humidity
o Dew point
o Relative humidity
o Saturation line
o Humidity ratio
- How do you get the dry bulb temperature?
o Hang a thermometer