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ES- The Physical Environment > The Atmosphere > Flashcards

The Atmosphere Flashcards

1
Q

What greenhouse gas is produced from vehicle exhausts and fertiliser usage?

A

Nitrous oxides

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2
Q

Which type of radiation is trapped by the greenhouse layer?

A

Infared radiation

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3
Q

What is the name of the feature where water from melting ice collects on the surface of a glacier?

A

An Ice lake

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4
Q

How does the retention of heat energy by the atmosphere influence ocean currents, rainfall patterns and wind patterns?

A

Heating of the atmosphere causes changes in pressure, which in turn drives the winds. The winds in turn influence ocean currents while the temperature of air influences evaporation and condensation (and so rainfall).

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5
Q

Why might it be difficult to predict future changes in rainfall due to climate change?

A

There may be a time delay between causes and effect
Patterns may alter due to changes in wind direction
We do not fully understand natural processes that interact between systems

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6
Q

Give an example of a negative feedback in relation to climate change….

A

If there is an increase in CO2 levels, this means there is more CO2 in the atmosphere which increases the rates of photosynthesis, the process of photosynthesis uses the CO2 from the atmosphere therefore decreasing CO2 levels.

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7
Q

Which agreement set out to ban the use of CFCs?

A

Montreal protocol

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8
Q

How could climate change impact the North Atlantic Conveyer?

A

Increased melting of ice makes seawater less saline
Increased freshwater input reduces density of seawater
Surface water sinks less readily due to the reduced density

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9
Q

Why are HCFCs less of a concern for ozone depletion than CFCs?

A

They are more reactive so don’t reach the stratosphere

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10
Q

What causes ozone to naturally breakdown in the stratosphere?

A

Exposure to UV

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11
Q

What is proxy data?

A

Involves making an estimate about one factor by measuring another related factor

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12
Q

What term relates to two or more opposing processes that cancel each other out.

A

Dynamic equilibrium

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13
Q

What term relates to two or more opposing processes that cancel each other out.

A

Dynamic equilibrium

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14
Q

What is the tipping point?

A

The point at which human actions cause enough change that further climate change occurs even if human actions are halted

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15
Q

What are some reasons why Antarctica has the highest ozone depletion?

A

Polar vortex prevents mixing of air here with the rest of the atmosphere
Exposure to sunlight in springs splits chlorine molecules to produce free radicals
Stratospheric clouds and ice crystals provide surface of reactions releasing chlorine

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16
Q

Why might glaciers sometimes extend due to climate change?

A

Meltwater increases lubrication

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17
Q

What is the proportion of Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere today?

A

78%

18
Q

What is the proportion of oxygen in the atmosphere today?

A

21%

19
Q

What is the proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today?

A

0.04%

20
Q

What is the proportion of other combined rare gases in the atmosphere today?

A

1%

21
Q

What is the proportion of ozone in the atmosphere today?

A

0.000007%

22
Q

How do the atmospheric gases support life on Earth ( carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen)?

A

These are needed to make biological molecules used by living organisms
Carbohydrates, lipids and proteins all contain carbon oxygen and hydrogen
Proteins also contain nitrogen

23
Q

How does the absorption of electromagnetic radiation from the sun support life on earth?

A

Biologically damaging UV radiation is prevented from reaching the ground by the upper atmosphere
The ozone layer absorbs UV radiation

24
Q

What three forms of oxygen form the ozone layer?

A

Monatonic
Diatomic
Triatomic

25
Q

What three forms of oxygen form the ozone layer?

A

Monatonic
Diatomic
Triatomic

26
Q

How does delaying the escape of infrared energy support life on Earth?

A

Naturally occurring atmospheric gases absorb infrared energy convert it to heat and increase the temperature of the atmosphere, this infared energy is either absorbed by the Earth’s surface or reduces heat loss by conduction from land and the oceans.

27
Q

Why is atmospheric pressure important for life on earth?

A

Atmospheric pressure controls the ease with which water molecules can evaporate and escape from the water surface. If Atmospheric pressure was much lower there would be no liquid water on earth

28
Q

What happens in the natural greenhouse effect?

A

Visible light passes through the atmosphere easily and is absorbed by the earth’s surface. The warm earth’s surface emits infrared radiation which cannot pass through the atmosphere as easily as visible light because it is absorbed by gases in the atmosphere.

29
Q

What would be the problem if there was no natural greenhouse effect?

A

The mean temperature of the Earth’s surface would be 33°C colder than it actually is

30
Q

What human activities increases atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations?

A

Combustion of fossil fuels and wood
Ploughing of soils
Drainage of marshes and bogs

31
Q

What human activities increases methane concentrations in the atmosphere?

A

Anaerobic respiration by microbes in Padi fields, landfill sites and livestock intestines
Produced during the formation of fossil fuels, the ventilation of coal mines, leaks from natural gas fields and pipelines

32
Q

What human activities increases the atmospheric concentrations of oxides of nitrogen?

A

Oxygen and nitrogen from the air react at high temperatures in vehicle engines and power stations. They are then released into the atmosphere in exhaust gases

33
Q

What human activities increases the atmospheric concentrations of CFCs?

A

Used as aerosol propellants, fire extinguishers, refrigerants, solvents and in expanded foam plastics

34
Q

What human activities have increased the atmospheric concentrations of tropospheric ozone?

A

Produced by the photochemical breakdown of NO2 and subsequent reactions with oxygen

35
Q

What are some ecological changes which are as a result of climate change?

A

Species affected directly by the temp, by changes to other species they rely on or by changes to natural processes that effect them
Temperature rise, plants may grow faster providing more food for herbivores (caterpillars), many plants produce toxins that build up in their leaves for protection. If this begins earlier in the year the toxins may build up sooner which could kill the caterpillars.
Precipitation changes may cause wetland habitats to enlarge or shrink
Hibernation may be disturbed by warmer winters causing them to use up stored fat. They may starve before Spring when they can start feeding again
The distribution of species may change as conditions change and they colonise areas that have become suitable

36
Q

As conditions change why might some species not be able to colonise areas that have become suitable?

A

They may colonise new areas more slowly than they dissappear from their old range ( trees)
Suitable new areas may not be available
Human land use may block movement
Species live in interdependent communities of species , all will not be able to move at the same speed

37
Q

What are jet streams?

A

Strong winds that blow from west to east along a meandering path in the upper troposphere

38
Q

What are jet streams caused by?

A

The difference in temperature and density between two air masses, warm air in mid attitudes and the cold air in the polar regions

39
Q

What do jet streams control?

A

The movements of air bodies that create rain such as the cyclonic storms.

40
Q

What is El Niño?

A

The sequence of events which occur naturally ( every 2 to 7 yrs) although they seem to be happening more frequently
It is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the Eastern tropical Pacific ocean

41
Q

What is El Niño?

A

The sequence of events which occur naturally ( every 2 to 7 yrs) although they seem to be happening more frequently

42
Q

What is La Niña?

A

Occurs when winds blow more strongly in the normal direction so water currents speed up and temperature differences between the Western and Eastern Pacific are increased

ES- The Physical Environment (2 decks)

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