Topic 3: Climate Systems And Climate Change Flashcards
What is the atmosphere mainly composed of?
- Nitrogen.
- Oxygen.
- Water Vapour.
- Aerosols.
Why are aerosols important in weather?
Water vapour requires a non-gaseous substance to condense on, so aerosols allow for the formation of rain.
What are aerosols?
Minute suspended particles and droplets.
Is the atmosphere structured?
Yes.
What determines atmospheric gas behaviour?
Temperature and pressure.
What are the layers of the atmosphere?
- Troposphere.
- Stratosphere.
- Mesosphere.
- Thermosphere.
What are the characteristics of the troposphere?
Ranges in depth from 18km to 8km.
All weather occurs here.
Life occurs here.
What is the tropopause?
The transition boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere.
How high above the troposphere does the stratosphere go?
Approx. 50km.
What is characteristic of the stratosphere?
Almost no water vapour.
1000X more ozone than the troposphere.
Also called the Ozone Layer.
What is characteristic of the mesosphere?
Vaporises meteors.
A cold layer of dense gases.
What is characteristic of the thermosphere?
Begins at approx. 80km above earth’s surface.
Ionized gases.
High temperatures.
Which layer of the atmosphere causes the Aurora Borealis?
The lower thermosphere.
Which two things energise the atmosphere?
- The sun’s heat.
- Earth’s rotation.
What is responsible for earth’s annual seasons?
The tilt of earth’s axis.
What is responsible for large-scale atmospheric weather effects?
The rotation of the earth.
What happens to solar energy as it goes towards earth?
- Some are reflected by clouds and atmosphere.
- Some are absorbed by clouds and atmosphere. Then, re-emitted or retained.
- Some reach the earth’s surface and are absorbed.
- Some reach the earth’s surface and are reflected.
How much solar energy is absorbed by clouds and atmosphere?
1/4
How much solar energy is reflected by clouds and atmosphere?
1/4
How much solar energy reaches earth’s surface?
About 1/2
Of the energy that reaches earth’s surface, how much is reflected?
5%
What is albedo?
The fraction of energy/light that gets reflected.
A high albedo indicates high reflectivity.
What is the overall net average albedo of earth?
30%
What is the difference between climate and weather?
Weather is short-term.
Climate is long-term.
What are the 5 variables used to determine the state of the atmosphere?
- Temperature.
- Air pressure.
- Humidity.
- Cloudiness.
- Wind speed and direction.
What is the name of tiny particles of smoke, dust, salt, spores, and volcanic ash that must be present for water condensing? (Includes aerosols)
Condensation nuclei
How is energy stored in water vapour?
As latent heat.
What happens when water vapour condenses?
Heat energy is released.
What are the wind cells?
Polar.
Ferrel.
Hadley.
What is the global pattern caused by the rotation of the earth that influences deflection of moving objects?
The Coriolis Effect.
What direction do moving objects in the Northern hemisphere deflect?
Right.
What direction do moving objects in the Southern hemisphere deflect?
Left.
What are the 3 main ocean current influences on weather?
- Surface Ocean Currents
- Deep Ocean Currents
- Differences in water density (temp. and salinity)
What are Gyres?
Huge cycling surface ocean currents that carry water north and south.
What is a weather front?
A boundary separating two different types of air.
One type of air is usually denser than the other, with different temperatures and humidity levels.
What is a cold front?
The boundary formed when the cold dense air displaces the warm air, pushing it upwards.
What is a warm front?
The boundary formed when warm air displaces cold air.
Warm air is less dense, so it slides overtop the cold air.
What are the target global reductions of carbon use by 2050?
> 50%
