The atmosphere

Question 1

what is the atmosphere?

Answer 1

The atmosphere is a thin layer of air surrounding the Earth.

Question 2

what does the atmosphere do?

Answer 2

 Acting as a screen and blocking out the dangerous rays from the Sun
(UV rays).
 Ensuring a stable climate on Earth by retaining heat.
 Including oxygen (cellular respiration) and carbon dioxide
(photosynthesis)

Question 3

What is atmospheric pressure?

Answer 3

Air exerts a pressure because it contains particles that are colliding with one
another. These collisions determine the atmospheric pressure; the more collisions,
the higher the atmospheric pressure (see p.224).

Question 4

What happens when the air becomes warmer?

Answer 4

When the air is warmer, particles move faster and collide more often so the
pressure increases.

Question 5

Why does pressure decrease with altitude?

Answer 5

Number of particles: When the number of particles decreases, the pressure
decreases. This is why pressure decreases with increasing altitude.

Question 6

What is the Coriolis effect?

Answer 6

Earth changes its trajectories through what is called
the Coriolis effect. This causes winds to deviate to the
right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 7

(Est) What is the Hadley cell?

Answer 7

The Hadley cell: warm air over the equator rises and cools as it travels north or
south.

Question 8

(est)What is a prevailing wind?

Answer 8

winds that blow from a single direction over a specific area of the Earth. These winds also play an important roll in spreading contaminants throughout the globe.

Question 9

(est)What direction do polar easterlies move in?

Answer 9

East to west

Question 10

(est)What direction do westerlies move in?

Answer 10

west to est

Question 11

(Est) what is a trade wind

Answer 11

Trade Winds: Easterly winds moving East to west near the equator.

Question 12

Advantages and disadvantages of wind energy.

Answer 12

It is the energy that can be drawn from the wind. Wind energy is renewable, which
means that it can regenerate naturally and efficiently as it is used. It also does not
emit greenhouse gases. However, some people believe that the towers ruin the

beauty of the landscape and are very noisy (sound pollution). It is also impossible to
predict when or how fast the wind will blow and this type of energy cannot be
stored.

Question 13

What is an air mass?

Answer 13

Air masses are large regions of the atmosphere with uniform temperatures and
humidity. They can change the weather due to winds.

Question 14

What is a front?

Answer 14

When two air masses meet, the denser cold air slides under the lighter warm air.
The line where those two air masses meet is called a front.

Question 15

What is a warm front?

Answer 15

A warm front forms when a mass of warm air moves toward a mass of cold air. The
warm air rises gently over the cold air and creates light clouds (nimbostratus)
resulting in cloudy weather and light showers.

Question 16

What is a cold front?

Answer 16

A cold front occurs when a mass of cold air meets a mass of warm air. The warm air
rises quickly and in a steep slope over the cold air, and then cools. This results in
condensation that forms puffy clouds (cumulus), which often produce wind and
heavy rain.

Question 17

What is the weather produced by an anticyclone?

Answer 17

Clear skies and stable weather

Question 18

What is the weather produced by a depression?

Answer 18

Precipitation and if it’s strong it can cause hurricanes or typhoons.

Question 19

(est) What substances are considered contaminants for the atmosphere?

Answer 19

 Substances that are considered contaminants are:
 Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides play a role in acid rain.
 Metals like mercury, arsenic, and lead that come from the combustion of fossil
fuels, burning garbage, and glass making are toxic to humans.
 CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) destroy the ozone layer.
 Dust and other particles coming from factory chimneys and exhaust pipes can
damage the respiratory system.

Question 20

(est)What is responsible for the destruction of the Ozone

Answer 20

cfcs used in refrigeration
systems and aerosol cans are responsible for the
destruction of the ozone layer.

Question 21

(Est) what is smog?

Answer 21

smog is when the ozone combines with sulfur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide.