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8th: Science Semester 2 > U2L1 The Atmosphere > Flashcards

U2L1 The Atmosphere Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the definition of atmosphere?

A

The envelope of gases and small particles that surrounds Earth

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2
Q

What is the first layer of the atmosphere?

A

The troposphere

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3
Q

Which layer is closest to the Earth’s surface?

A

The troposphere is the warmest close to Earth’s surface and becomes cooler as altitude increases.

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4
Q

What type of circulation is in the troposphere?

A

Because there is warm air near Earth’s surface and cooler air above it, there is vertical air circulation in this layer.

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5
Q

What is the definition of troposphere?

A

The layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth’s surface

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6
Q

True or False.

Almost all weather occurs in the troposphere.

A

True

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7
Q

Why are the winds on the Earth’s surface slower than those on a higher altitude?

A

Winds at ground level are slower than they are at high altitude due to friction with Earth’s surface.

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8
Q

Which layer is above the troposphere?

A

Stratosphere

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9
Q

The boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere is marked by what?

A

At the top of the troposphere, the boundary with the stratosphere is marked by a region of air at a constant temperature.

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10
Q

The temperatures in the stratosphere increase with ____.

A

Elevation

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11
Q

Why is there little vertical circulation in the stratosphere?

A

Because the warmer air is already atop the colder air, there is little vertical circulation of air in this layer. Instead, it is marked by strong horizontal winds.

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12
Q

What is the definition of stratosphere?

A

The layer of Earth’s atmosphere above the troposphere

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13
Q

Why does temperature increase as altitude increases in the stratosphere?

A

When oxygen molecules in the stratosphere absorb ionizing radiation, they break apart, forming ozone. Heat from absorbing this radiation accounts for the increase in temperature with altitude in this atmospheric layer.

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14
Q

What is ozone?

A

Ozone is an oxygen molecule with three oxygen atoms rather than two. Ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation, shielding life on Earth from the effects of this radiation.

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15
Q

What is ionizing radiation?

A

Ionizing radiation is an energy transfer that can strip electrons from atoms or molecules.

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16
Q

How does ionizing radiation affect life on Earth?

A

Ionization disrupts molecular bonds, damaging living cells.

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17
Q

What are some common forms of ionizing radiation?

A

Gamma rays, x-rays, and higher ultraviolet rays.

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18
Q

What happens to ionizing radiation when it hits the atmosphere?

A

Ionizing radiation are largely absorbed by the atmosphere before they reach Earth’s surface. Atoms can absorb ionizing radiation, which can free electrons from these atoms, ionizing them.

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19
Q

What do atoms become when they are ionized?

A

When atoms are ionized they become reactive.

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20
Q

Why is ionizing radiation dangerous?

A

Ionization disrupts molecular bonds, which can damage cells in living things. Ionizing radiation is dangerous to life on Earth and to astronauts working outside Earth’s protective atmosphere.

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21
Q

What is above the stratosphere?

A

The mesosphere.

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22
Q

What type of circulation is in the mesosphere?

A

As the troposphere, temperature decreases with altitude, so there is vertical mixing of gases in this layer.

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23
Q

What is the definition of mesosphere?

A

Middle layer of the atmosphere

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24
Q

In rare circumstances, what can happen in the mesosphere?

A

Clouds can form

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25
Q

Why are clouds forming in the mesosphere?

A

In recent years, an increase in methane at high altitude has led to an increase in water vapor. This water vapor can form more high-altitude clouds that are visible at night.

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26
Q

What happens at the transition from the mesosphere to the thermosphere?

A

At the transition from mesosphere to thermosphere, temperature again increases with elevation.

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27
Q

In the thermosphere, what is temperature affected by?

A

Temperatures in this layer are strongly affected by solar activity and can vary widely. This is the hottest region in the atmosphere.

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28
Q

What is the hottest layer in the atmosphere?

A

Thermosphere

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29
Q

Most incoming X-rays and gamma rays are absorbed by which layer of the atmosphere?

A

Most incoming X-rays and gamma rays are absorbed by this layer, which is highly ionized. The absorption of radiation leads to higher temperatures at higher elevation in this layer.

30
Q

True or False.

The thermosphere can form clouds.

A

False, it is too dry and warm for clouds.

31
Q

True or False.

Auroras occurs in the thermosphere.

A

True :D

32
Q

What is the definition of thermosphere?

A

The hottest and most ionized layer of Earth’s atmosphere

33
Q

Which layer lays above the thermosphere?

A

The exosphere

34
Q

Describe the exosphere.

A

The exosphere is very thin and doesn’t behave like a normal gas. Atoms and molecules may travel for miles before colliding with other particles, or these particles might escape Earth altogether.

35
Q

True of False.

The rate of loss of molecules through the exosphere determines whether a planet retains its atmosphere.

A

True

36
Q

What is the definition of exosphere?

A

The outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere

37
Q

Fun Fact!

A

Although the thermosphere has the highest temperatures in the atmosphere, it would feel cool to exposed skin because the air is so thin.

38
Q

True of False.

About half of the solar energy that reaches Earth is in the form of visible light waves. The rest is mostly in the form of higher-energy ultraviolet and lower-energy infrared radiation.

A

True

39
Q

Why is ultraviolet radiation harmful?

A

It can cause sunburns

40
Q

Which radiation can be felt as heat?

A

Infrared radiation

41
Q

What happens to the solar energy that enters the earth?

A

Clouds are gases that make up the atmosphere absorb about a fourth of solar energy that reaches Earth and reflect about another fourth of the energy back out to space. Much of solar energy that reaches Earth’s surface is also redistributed back to the atmosphere. Some energy is carried to the atmosphere by evaporation of surface water. The water vapor stores energy in the atmosphere. The atmosphere absorbs energy from thermal infrared radiation from the ground.

42
Q

What is the definition of convection?

A

Energy transferred by particle movement within a fluid. Energy in the atmosphere is circulated by convection, as heated air rises and cooler air sinks.

43
Q

What is the definition of weather?

A

Atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place

44
Q

What can cause winds and storm systems to form?

A

Changes in energy in different parts of the atmosphere can produce winds and cause storm systems to form. As the air near Earth’s surface warms, it rises, cools, and releases energy Moisture in the cooling air condenses, forming clouds and eventually precipitation. Winds and storm systems can form as higher-density cool air moves in under the lower-density, rising warms air.

45
Q

How is the sun a source of energy for tornadoes and hurricanes?

A

The source of energy for all storm systems, including tornadoes and hurricanes, is electromagnetic energy from the sun. This energy is absorbed partly by the atmosphere but mainly by land and water. It is then redistributed to the atmosphere where it provides energy in the rising warm, moist air in tornadoes, hurricanes, and all other storm systems.

46
Q

What is the definition of air mass?

A

A large body of air with similar temperatures and humidity

47
Q

What is the definition of front?

A

The boundary between air masses

48
Q

The sun’s heating of air, land, and water produces predictable changes in ____.

A

Air masses

49
Q

How do fronts form?

A

Fronts form when the leading edges of two air masses meet.

50
Q

What is a secondary front?

A

The border of cold and warm air masses can

produce several days of clouds and drizzling rain.

51
Q

What is a cold front?

A

A cold air mass moving under warm air can form strong thunderstorms ahead of the front as the less dense, warm air rises, followed by clear, cooler weather. Cold fronts are associated with the most severe storms.

52
Q

What is a warm front?

A

A warm front moving into a cold area can form thick clouds and light precipitation ahead of the front, followed by warmer weather.

53
Q

What is an occluded front?

A

A cold air mass can overtake and push up a warm air mass, producing strong winds and precipitation.

54
Q

What is a tornado?

A

A tornado is a column of rapidly spinning, rising air.

55
Q

How do tornadoes form?

A

Tornadoes form during thunderstorms when winds cause a strong updraft near the ground to swirl.

56
Q

How long to tornadoes usually last? How fast are they?

A

Tornadoes often remain in an area just a few minutes. While winds within the strongest tornadoes swirl at speeds up to 320 kph (200 mph), the tornado itself moves more slowly, usually about 20 to 30 kph (12 to 19 mph). Tornadoes usually dissipate after moving less than 10 km (6 mi).

57
Q

What is a hurricane?

A

A hurricane is a large storm system with intense, swirling winds and heavy rain.

58
Q

What is an other name for a hurricane.

A

Typhoon or cyclones

59
Q

How do hurricanes form?

A

Hurricanes form near the equator when ocean water, warmed by solar energy, heats the overlying air. The lower density of the warm air causes it to rise. Colliding winds can begin to swirl. The storm system grows as more energy and moisture are drawn into the air.

60
Q

What causes hurricanes to move east to west?

A

Global winds in the lower latitudes typically cause hurricanes to move east to west.

61
Q

What is the definition of climate?

A

A pattern of atmospheric conditions over a long period of time.

62
Q

What is albedo? What is Earth’s average albedo?

A

The percentage of solar radiation reflected back into space is called albedo. Earth’s average albedo is about 0.3, meaning about 30 percent of incoming solar energy is reflected back into space, and 70 percent is absorbed.

63
Q

The absorbed energy is transformed into ____.

What does this help with?

A

Heat energy

This helps regulate the temperature of Earth’s crust, surface waters, and the lower atmosphere. The absorption drives photosynthesis, fuels evaporation, melts snow and ice, and warms Earth.

64
Q

What does carbon dioxide do to the Earth?

A

Carbon dioxide created by human activities, such as burning of coal and deforestation, is released into the atmosphere. These particles absorb more radiation, accelerating warming. When radiation is reflected back, greenhouse gases trap heat, which raises the global average temperature.

65
Q

Where are fonts located?

A

Between air masses

66
Q

Which layer of the atmosphere is most strongly affected by conditions on Earth’s surface?

A

troposphere

67
Q

Which layer of Earth’s atmosphere is most strongly affected by conditions on the sun’s surface?

A

thermosphere

68
Q

Which gas has recently increased in the mesosphere, creating a rise in water vapor which has led to the formation of high-altitude clouds that are visible at night?

A

Methane

69
Q

Which statement describes how the atmosphere gains energy by convection?

A

Air warmed by the ground rises.

70
Q

About how much of the solar energy that reaches Earth’s atmosphere is absorbed by the atmosphere?

A

one-fourth

8th: Science Semester 2 (65 decks)

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