Unit 2.1: Energy and Air Temperature.

Question 1

Define the atmosphere

Answer 1

AKA air. It is a thin envelope of gases and suspended particles that surrounds the Earth. Held in place by gravity and linked to the surface by a host of energy and matter exchanges.

Question 2

What are the 3 principle components of air and the quantities of each.

Answer 2

Nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), argon (0.93%).

Question 3

Natural sources produce a ________ quantity, and are _________ lived.

Answer 3

Greater

Shorter

Question 4

Without the atmosphere, the earth would be…

Answer 4

as sterile as the moon.

Question 5

What are some variable/greenhouse gases that could be in the atmosphere?

Answer 5

Water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, CFC&HFC.

Question 6

The modern atmosphere and its shells/spheres are defined by…

Answer 6

Temperature, function, and chemical compositions.

Question 7

What is the temperature structure of the atmosphere?

Answer 7

1. Thermosphere: (Top, 80-180kms) temperature increases sharply with height due to absorption of reals emitted by sun.
2. 5. Mesopause: coldest part of atmosphere.
3. Mesosphere: (50-80kms) temperature decreases with height, also known for having low pressure.
4. 5. Stratopause: isothermal zone, temperature near 0.
5. Stratosphere: (20-50kms) temperature increases with height due to concentration of ozone that absorbs radiation of sun.
6. 5. Tropopause: cold, isothermal layer.
7. Troposphere: (0-15kms) temperature decreases with height at rate of 6.5 degrees/km.

Question 8

What layer contains 90% of the atmosphere mass?

Answer 8

Troposphere.

Question 9

How is the atmosphere divided based on function?

Answer 9

1. Ionosphere: goes through thermosphere & Mesosphere. Absorbs comic rays, gamma rays, and x-rays from sun. Home to the Aurora’s.
2. Ozonosphere: goes through stratosphere, has increased levels of ozone, absorbs ultraviolet radiation that is harmful to biological life.

Question 10

What is the chemical structure of the atmosphere?

Answer 10

1. Heterosphere: located at more than 80 kms. The lighter particles/gases (hydrogen, helium) go to outer space and heavier ones (nitrogen, oxygen) go to inside.
2. Homosphere: 0-80kms, gases are mixed well, proportions are roughly equal.

Question 11

Define seasons.

Answer 11

Refers to both variation of sun’s position and changing day lengths during the year.

Question 12

What is a solstice and when does it occur?

Answer 12

During December and June, occurs when sun is directly overhead at the furthest point from the equator. This point is also known as the sub polar point.

Question 13

What is an equinox and when does it occur?

Answer 13

During March and September, occurs when sun is directly over equator.

Question 14

The earth _______ on an axis and _______ around the sun.

Answer 14

Rotates

Revolves

Question 15

What are various reasons for the seasons?

Answer 15

1. Revolution of Earth around sun, it is not a circular pattern.
2. Circle of illumination: Divides earth into daylight and darkness, fully rotates in 24hrs.
3. Axial hilt: the earth is on 23.5 degree tilt and it always points to the North Star.
4. Parallelism: The earth is always pointing the same way and parallel to itself at all times.

Question 16

Define perihelion and aphelion.

Answer 16

Perihelion: In January, marks the time in orbit when the earth is closest to the sun.
Aphelion: In July, time in orbit when earth is furthest from the sun.

Question 17

What is energy?

Answer 17

Propagation of electromagnetic waves or radiation. Shorter waves = hotter.

Question 18

What is temperature?

Answer 18

The intensity or degree of “hotness” of an object.

Question 19

What is heat?

Answer 19

Total amount of random motion in molecules, their movement is the heat you feel. Warm= more random motion.

Question 20

What is sensible heat?

Answer 20

It is the quantity of heat held by an object that can be sensed by touching or feeling and typically measured by a thermometer.

Question 21

What are the 2 primary mechanisms for heat transfer?

Answer 21

1. Convection: Heat transfer caused by the organized flow of many molecules from one place to another. By the air.
2. Conduction: Caused by intermolecular collisions.

Question 22

What is solar/shortwave radiation? What does it consist of?

Answer 22

Energy emitted by sun. Ultraviolet radiation (9%), visible (41%), and near infrared (50%).

Question 23

What is terrestrial/longwave radiation? What does it consist of?

Answer 23

Emitted by the Earth. Mid-far infrared, microwave.

Question 24

What is insolation?

Answer 24

incoming solar radiation.

Question 25

What happens to solar radiation?

Answer 25

Transmitted: passes through atmosphere unaltered (47%).
Absorbed: by selective or non-selective molecules (23%).
Reflected: redirection of radiation in a single pathway (30%).

Question 26

What happens to terrestrial radiation?

Answer 26

Emission: can be re-emitted to surface as counter radiation (71%).
Transmission: leaves earth unaffected to outer space (18%).

Question 27

Define albedo.

Answer 27

Measure of shortwave reflectivity of a surface, lighter surfaces have higher albedos. (% is percentage that is reflected)

Question 28

What is net radiation?

Answer 28

Difference between incoming and outgoing radiation. Locally does not have to balance, but planetary, it does.

Question 29

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 29

Absorption of some shortwave and most of the longwave radiation by molecules in the atmosphere.

Question 30

Define isotherms.

Answer 30

How we map global distribution of air temperature. They are lines of equal temperature on map.

Question 31

What is inversion?

Answer 31

Reversal of normal pattern of temperature change.

Question 32

What is the difference between marine and continental temperature regimes?

Answer 32

Marine area have less variation in temperature due to water whereas there is more variation in the middle of the continent.

Question 33

What are 6 factors that control spatial distribution of air temperature?

Answer 33

1. Latitude (as it increases, temperature decreases)
2. elevation (temp decreases with increase in height)
3. continental vs. marine regimes
4. ocean currents (currents coming from warm places will make that place warmer)
5. prevailing winds (wind changes temp)
6. urban vs rural areas (urban tends to be warmer due to differences in physical environment)

Question 34

What is temperature inversion?

Answer 34

Layer in the atmosphere where air temperature increases with increased height.