Solar Radiation and the Atmosphere Flashcards

1
Q

What is the Sun made of?

A

Dense hydrogen gas

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2
Q

What are the reactants and products of nuclear fusion?

A

hydrogen + hydrogen —> helium + energy

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3
Q

How much of the solar system’s matter is present in the Sun?

A

99.8%

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4
Q

What two things enable nuclear fusion to occur in the Sun?

A

heat and pressure

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5
Q

Protons, neutrons and electrons in most common isotope of hydrogen

A

protons = 1
neutrons = 0
electrons = 1

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6
Q

What are the two other isotopes of hydrogen called?

A

deuterium
tritium

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7
Q

Define insolation

A

the amount of solar radiation reaching a given area

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8
Q

Define albedo

A

a measure of how reflective a surface is

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9
Q

What is energy?

A

the ability to do work

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10
Q

Where does most of the energy on Earth come from?

A

the Sun

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11
Q

The majority of Solar radiation is in what wavelength?

A

infra-red

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12
Q

Where on Earth do the Sun’s rays hit most directly?

A

the equator

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13
Q

Where on Earth do the Sun’s rays hit least directly?

A

the poles

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14
Q

Wavelength of UV

A

100-350 nm

shorter

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15
Q

Environmental Importance of UV

A

important for the production of vitamin D

inhibits photosynthesis in plants and algae (phytoplankton = 1/2 O2 in atmosphere)

dissolves dead organic matter - useful for cleaning water

kills bacteria

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16
Q

Wavelength of Visible Light

A

380-700 nm

17
Q

Environmental importance of Visible Light

A

photosynthesis in plants

regulates animal behaviour

degrades organic pollutants

enables us to see

18
Q

Wavelength of Infra-red

A

700-1000 nm

longer

19
Q

Environmental importance of Infra-red

A

keeps a stable temperature and climate

causes climate change

affects range of tolerance

20
Q

What is conduction?

A

when heat moves from areas of more heat to areas of less heat by DIRECT CONTACT

21
Q

What is convection?

A

where heat is transferred by movement of heated materials

cooling and rising effect

22
Q

What is a convection cell?

A

rising of warm air and sinking of cool air

23
Q

How much of the Sun’s energy is filtered out by the atmosphere?

24
Q

What happens to most of the energy that reaches the surface?

A

absorbed

warms soil/water/rock

25
What happens to the rest of the energy that reaches the surface?
re-radiated back into the air as heat (3%)
26
What is the Earth's energy budget?
the difference between the energy entering and exiting the atmosphere usually in balance
27
What happens when the Earth absorbs more energy than it emits?
warms up
28
What happens when the Earth emits more energy than it absorbs?
cools down
29
What is the greenhouse effect?
the warming of the atmosphere due to insulation by greenhouse gases
30
How is the greenhouse effect helpful for life on Earth?
maintains a stable temperature - within our range of tolerance important for photosynthesis
31
What human activities are enhancing the greenhouse effect?
burning fossil fuels and deforestation - release CO2 grazing livestock, rice fields, landfill sites (anaerobic breakdown of organic material) - release methane fertilisers and vehicles - release nitrous oxides
32
How do human activities enhance the greenhouse effect?
increase levels of C02 (by 50% since 1750), methane and nitrous oxides cause global warming