the atmosphere part 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

state 3 essentials to life that the atmosphere provides us with

A

protection from solar radiation / gas resources / transfer of energy and water around the globe

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2
Q

state proportion of air and importance for life of nitrogen

A

78% / used in proteins

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3
Q

state proportion of air and importance for life of oxygen

A

21% / used in aerobic respiration

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4
Q

state proportion of air and importance for life of carbon dioxide

A

0.04% / used in photosynthesis

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5
Q

state importance for life of methane

A

some chemoautotrophs use methane as a source of carbon, important for early life and in deep oceans

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6
Q

state importance for life of ozone

A

absorbs UV light in the stratosphere

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7
Q

what does the magnetosphere do and what would happen if we didn’t have it

A

provides protection from radiation and deflects harmful solar wind - solar wind would blow away the earth’s atmosphere

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8
Q

what compounds were in earths prebiotic atmosphere compared to now (in order of amount biggest to smallest)

A

prebiotic: CO2 N2 H2O {NH3 CH4 H2}
modern: N2 O2 H2O {CO2 AR CH4}

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9
Q

give an example of dynamic equilibrium to do with photosynthesis

A

uses carbon dioxide at the same rate respiration releases it, so in the long term no overall change to atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration

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10
Q

list the 4 layers of the atmosphere in order of those closest to the ground to that furthest away

A

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere

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11
Q

what warms the troposphere

A

GREENHOUSE GASES. visible light from sun is transmitted through atmosphere and absorbed by earths surface, some of which is radiated back into the atmosphere from surface as INFRARED RADIATION, longer wavelength, heating effect, infrared is absorbed by greenhouse gases

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12
Q

why does infrared result in a larger heating effect

A

it has a longer wavelength, is absorbed by greenhouse gases which then vibrate and re radiate in all directions, accumulating heat energy

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13
Q

why does the temp decrease up the troposphere

A

less infrared. because the source of infrared radiation is from the visible light absorbed by the earths surface and radiated as infrared so the further away from the surface the less infrared = lower temp

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14
Q

explain the trend in temperature in the stratosphere

A

higher temperature at the top of the stratosphere as UV intensity is higher, bc UV comes from the sun so more UV absorbed so more reactions take place. absorbed UV initially stored as chemical energy in products of reactions, some energy is released as heat

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15
Q

explain the trend in temperature in the mesosphere

A

temperature decreases up the mesosphere. because you get further away from the heat of the stratosphere

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16
Q

explain the trend in temperature in the thermosphere

A

temperature increases up the thermosphere. due to high energy solar radiation absorbed by air particles, radiation is more intense up the top, where incoming solar radiation first arrives

17
Q

why is the tropopause at its highest temp around the earth during the day at the equator

A

high intensity of sunlight warms the troposphere the most here, causing troposphere to become less dense and expand

18
Q

why is the atmosphere very dry beyond the troposphere

A

most water falls as precipitation in the troposphere

19
Q

describe the trend in pressure across the atmosphere and why

A

its higher at the bottom of the troposphere because gravity pulls air molecules towards the surface

20
Q

what does nuclear fusion in the sun do

A

releases enormous amounts of energy as electromagnetic radiation, some reaches earth

21
Q

what happens to the electromagnetic radiation that reaches earth

A

some is absorbed into the atmosphere eg UV in ozone or stratosphere also greenhouse gases absorb visible light and infrared / some light is reflected or absorbed by clouds

22
Q

how much insolation is absorbed by the earth surface and where does the rest of it go

A

51% / reflected by clouds, atmosphere, surface / absorbed by atmosphere, clouds / carried to clouds and atmosphere by latent heat of vaporisation

23
Q

high albedo means cooler or hotter temperatures

A

cooler temperatures (high albedo=cooler temperatures)

24
Q

name the 3 surfaces that have highest albedo (highest cooling temperature)

A

snow, desert sands, concrete

25
Q

what does it mean if something has a high albedo

A

it reflects lots of solar radiation

26
Q

name the bottom 3 surfaces that have the lowest albedo

A

water, tropical rainforest, tarmac

27
Q

what does the mesosphere protect us from

A

meteorites

28
Q

why don’t you feel the heat in the thermosphere

A

because the air pressure in so low

29
Q

in what 6 ways does the atmosphere support life

A

gases for natural processes / absorption of electromagnetic radiation from the sun / delaying the escape of infrared energy / heat distribution / ocean currents / transport of water vapour

30
Q

how does the atmosphere support life with ocean currents

A

winds blowing over the ocean creates current that distributes heat by carrying warm water from tropical areas to higher latitudes, North Atlantic Conveyor