Structure Of The Atmosphere

Question 1

Pollution dissipation

Answer 1

Dissipates in local sense but never removed from atmosphere

Question 2

Variation of pressure with altitude

Answer 2

Pressure decreases exponentially with increasing altitude so average distance travelled by gas molecule before it collides increases exponentially with altitude

Question 3

Scale height

Answer 3

Height increase needed to the pressure to decrease by 1/e

Question 4

Scale height

Answer 4

Changes with altitude and depends on atmospheric temp therefore atmospheric temp changes with altitude

Question 5

Solar constant

Answer 5

Fraction of radiation intercepted per unit area at distance equivalent to orbital radius of the Earth

Question 6

How does temp change with altitude

Answer 6

Temp decreases with increasing altitude in troposphere/mesosphere
Temp increases with increasing altitude in stratosphere/thermosphere

Question 7

Structure of atmosphere

Answer 7

Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere

Question 8

Γ

Answer 8

dry adiabatic lapse rate
Rate at which atmosphere cools as we go to higher altitudes

Question 9

Temp inversion in thermosphere

Answer 9

High energy radiation produces hot fragments via photo dissociation
Low pressures at high altitude = small collision rate = slow loss of thermal energy
Emission of IR radiation becomes competitive to equilibrate hot fragments
Enhanced average translation energy gives high temp
Effect more pronounced as altitude increases in thermosphere

Question 10

Temp inversion in stratosphere

Answer 10

Photo/thermal chemistry of formation/destruction of ozone releases heat = temp increase
Higher altitude = stronger UV-C penetration = more heat release