Unit 2 Chapter 7 - Atmosphere

Question 1

Albedo

Answer 1

A measure of the reflectivity of the sun

Question 2

Anthropogenic

Answer 2

Something made or caused by human activities

Question 3

CFC

Answer 3

Chloroflourocarbons – pollutants that cause ozone depletion resulting in climate change

Question 4

Chemoautotroph

Answer 4

Organism that gains metabolic energy from chemical reactions, eg. nitrifying bacteria

Question 5

Dynamic equilibrium

Answer 5

Combination of active processes that cancel out each other’s effects, so there is no overall change

Question 6

El Niño

Answer 6

Name given to the reversal of equatorial Pacific Ocean current that normally flows westwards

Question 7

Electromagnetic Radiation

Answer 7

Energy in the form of energy waves with a range of frequencies

Question 8

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Answer 8

The range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation

Question 9

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 9

Alternative name for global climate change

Question 10

Greenhouse Effect

Answer 10

The natural processes by which atmospheric gases allow visible light to pass through but absorb infrared energy, causing heating

Question 11

HCFCs

Answer 11

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons – used to replace CFCs

Question 12

HFCs

Answer 12

Hydrofluorocarbons – group of chemicals used to replace CFCs

Question 13

Infiltration

Answer 13

Process of surface water entering the ground between particles of soil or rock

Question 14

IR/Infra-Red energy

Answer 14

Long wavelength electromagnetic radiation emitted from warm objects

Question 15

Kyoto Protocol

Answer 15

International Agreement intended to control emissions of greenhouse gases.

Question 16

La Niña

Answer 16

Name given to strengthening of westward flowing equatorial Pacific Ocean Current

Question 17

LEDC

Answer 17

Less Economically Developed Countries

Question 18

MEDC

Answer 18

More Economically Developed Countries

Question 19

Montreal Protocol

Answer 19

International Agreement tha has controlled release of ozone-depleting substances.

Question 20

Negative Feedback Mechanism

Answer 20

Situation where an initial change causes a reaction that reduces the original change (warming would increase evaporation leading to more low level cloud, increasing the albedo and reducing solar heating)

Question 21

Nuclear Fusion

Answer 21

Release of energy during the joining of nuclei of small atoms ie 4 Hydrogen molecules fuse to create Helium

Question 22

Ozone

Answer 22

Triatomic oxygen

Question 23

Positive feedback mechanism

Answer 23

Situation where an initial change causes a reaction that increases the original change (melting permafrost releases methane gas which causes further heating)

Question 24

Stratosphere

Answer 24

Layer of atmosphere that absorbs UV and contains ozone layer. It lies above the Troposphere between 6- 30 miles above the earth

Question 25

Troposphere

Answer 25

Layer of atmosphere below the stratosphere – ground level to 6 miles

Question 26

Tropospheric ozone

Answer 26

Ozone in Troposphere, largely produced by human activities

Question 27

UV/Ultraviolet light

Answer 27

High-energy electromagnetic radiation, including short wavelength radiation emitted by sun. Can cause chemical reactions such as in ozone layer or sunburn or DNA damage.