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SLE103 Ecology And The Environment > Topic 3: Climate Systems And Climate Change > Flashcards

Topic 3: Climate Systems And Climate Change Flashcards

1
Q

What is the atmosphere mainly composed of?

A
  • Nitrogen.
  • Oxygen.
  • Water Vapour.
  • Aerosols.
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2
Q

Why are aerosols important in weather?

A

Water vapour requires a non-gaseous substance to condense on, so aerosols allow for the formation of rain.

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3
Q

What are aerosols?

A

Minute suspended particles and droplets.

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4
Q

Is the atmosphere structured?

A

Yes.

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5
Q

What determines atmospheric gas behaviour?

A

Temperature and pressure.

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6
Q

What are the layers of the atmosphere?

A
  1. Troposphere.
  2. Stratosphere.
  3. Mesosphere.
  4. Thermosphere.
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7
Q

What are the characteristics of the troposphere?

A

Ranges in depth from 18km to 8km.
All weather occurs here.
Life occurs here.

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8
Q

What is the tropopause?

A

The transition boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere.

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9
Q

How high above the troposphere does the stratosphere go?

A

Approx. 50km.

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10
Q

What is characteristic of the stratosphere?

A

Almost no water vapour.
1000X more ozone than the troposphere.
Also called the Ozone Layer.

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11
Q

What is characteristic of the mesosphere?

A

Vaporises meteors.
A cold layer of dense gases.

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12
Q

What is characteristic of the thermosphere?

A

Begins at approx. 80km above earth’s surface.
Ionized gases.
High temperatures.

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13
Q

Which layer of the atmosphere causes the Aurora Borealis?

A

The lower thermosphere.

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14
Q

Which two things energise the atmosphere?

A
  1. The sun’s heat.
  2. Earth’s rotation.
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15
Q

What is responsible for earth’s annual seasons?

A

The tilt of earth’s axis.

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16
Q

What is responsible for large-scale atmospheric weather effects?

A

The rotation of the earth.

17
Q

What happens to solar energy as it goes towards earth?

A
  1. Some are reflected by clouds and atmosphere.
  2. Some are absorbed by clouds and atmosphere. Then, re-emitted or retained.
  3. Some reach the earth’s surface and are absorbed.
  4. Some reach the earth’s surface and are reflected.
18
Q

How much solar energy is absorbed by clouds and atmosphere?

A

1/4

19
Q

How much solar energy is reflected by clouds and atmosphere?

A

1/4

20
Q

How much solar energy reaches earth’s surface?

A

About 1/2

21
Q

Of the energy that reaches earth’s surface, how much is reflected?

A

5%

22
Q

What is albedo?

A

The fraction of energy/light that gets reflected.
A high albedo indicates high reflectivity.

23
Q

What is the overall net average albedo of earth?

A

30%

24
Q

What is the difference between climate and weather?

A

Weather is short-term.
Climate is long-term.

25
Q

What are the 5 variables used to determine the state of the atmosphere?

A
  1. Temperature.
  2. Air pressure.
  3. Humidity.
  4. Cloudiness.
  5. Wind speed and direction.
26
Q

What is the name of tiny particles of smoke, dust, salt, spores, and volcanic ash that must be present for water condensing? (Includes aerosols)

A

Condensation nuclei

27
Q

How is energy stored in water vapour?

A

As latent heat.

28
Q

What happens when water vapour condenses?

A

Heat energy is released.

29
Q

What are the wind cells?

A

Polar.
Ferrel.
Hadley.

30
Q

What is the global pattern caused by the rotation of the earth that influences deflection of moving objects?

A

The Coriolis Effect.

31
Q

What direction do moving objects in the Northern hemisphere deflect?

A

Right.

32
Q

What direction do moving objects in the Southern hemisphere deflect?

A

Left.

33
Q

What are the 3 main ocean current influences on weather?

A
  1. Surface Ocean Currents
  2. Deep Ocean Currents
  3. Differences in water density (temp. and salinity)
34
Q

What are Gyres?

A

Huge cycling surface ocean currents that carry water north and south.

35
Q

What is a weather front?

A

A boundary separating two different types of air.
One type of air is usually denser than the other, with different temperatures and humidity levels.

36
Q

What is a cold front?

A

The boundary formed when the cold dense air displaces the warm air, pushing it upwards.

37
Q

What is a warm front?

A

The boundary formed when warm air displaces cold air.
Warm air is less dense, so it slides overtop the cold air.

38
Q

What are the target global reductions of carbon use by 2050?

A

> 50%

SLE103 Ecology And The Environment (11 decks)

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