Midterm Flashcards
pass
weather
current state of the atmosphere
climate
long term average of weather (30 yrs)
wind
movement of air (speed and direction)
pressure
force/area
density
mass of air molecules/volume
temperature
degree of hotness or coldness
atmospheric composition (3 major gases)
78 - N2
21 - O2
1 - other
permanent gasses
concentration does not change
eg of permanent gases
N2 (creation: decaying bio matter, removal: bio processes)
O2 (creation: photosynthesis, removal: oxides)
Argon, Neon, Helium, Krypton, Hydrogen
variable gases
concentration changes over time and space
eg of variable gases
CO2 (creation: veg decay, volcanoes, deforestation, removal: photosyntheses, chemical weathering, oceans)
methane, ozone, CFCs, aerosols, water vapour, greenhouse gases
greenhouse gases
CO2 H2O vapour CH4 N2O CFC's
aerosols defintion
tiny particles (s or L) suspended in the air
aerosol sources
natural: volcanoes, fires, dust
human: fossil fuel consumption
temperature profile (high to low)
exosphere thermosphere mesosphere stratosphere troposphere
troposphere
lowest 11km
temp decrease with height
convection current (weather)
stratosphere
11-50 km ASL
temp increases with height
contains O3
suppresses upward movement from troposphere
O3 what it do
absorbs UV radiation from sun
warms stratosphere
creates inversion
mesosphere
50-90 km ASL
99.9% of air is below it
no UV absorption (little O3)
temp decreases with height
thermosphere
90-500 km
O2 absorb sunlight
temp increases with height increase
huge E input, very energetic molecules
exosphere
more than 500 km
density equation
density = mass / volume
pressure equation
P = force / area
energy definition
ability or capacity to do work
kinetic energy
energy of motion
temp of air is proportional to kinetic energy
potential energy
potential to conduct work (because of position)
radiant energy
due to solar radiation with warms earth and emits energy back to space
solar radiation vs energy
short wave vs long wave
heat is transferred in 3 ways
conduction
convection
radiation
conduction
heat transfer thru direct contact
convection
heat transfer by mass movement of a fluid (eg air or water)
radiation
heat transfer by electromagnetic waves (magnetic and electrical properties) release E when waves are absorbed by an object
convection vs advection
vertical vs horizonal
short wave vs long wave energy
high vs low
objects with a temp above ___ emit radiation
0K
black body radiation
absorbs all radiation and emits max radiation (sun and earth)
Stefan-Boltzman Law
law of radiation
all objects with T greater than 0K emit radiation proportional to the fourth power of their temperature
E=oT^4
Wien’s Law
the wavelength of maz emitted radiation by an object is inversly proportional to the objects temp (higher T, shorter wavelength)
Lambda=W/T
radiative equilibrium
if the T is constant over time, the object is at equilibrium, and temp is called equilibrium temp
earth is in radiative equilibrium
how to find radiative equilibrium temp of earth WITHOUT atmosphere
use stefan-boltzman
-earth would be frozen without atmosphere
how to find radiative equilibrium temp of earth WITH atmosphere
some LW radiation escapes, some absorbed by the clouds and remitted - greenhouse effect
greenhouse effects
warming of atmosphere by absorbing and emitting thermal radiations
major ones: water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane
atmosphere
selective absorber of radiation. each are selective in wavelengths of radiation they absorb
water vapour and CO2 absorb and don’t absorb what waves
absorb most LW IR
do not absorb most incoming SW (UV and visible)
O3 absorb and don’t absorb what waves
absorb
