Week 1

Question 1

What is the Atmosphere?

Answer 1

A thin diffuse fluid (gas) that sits above the surface of a palnet held by gravity

Question 2

Why does pressure increase as altitude decreases?

Answer 2

Because air molecules must support the weight of the molecules lying above it

Question 3

What two elements add up to 99% of the gases in the atmosphere?

Answer 3

N2- 78%
O2-21%

Question 4

The order of global variation in the atmosphere ?

Answer 4

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere

Question 5

Temperature lapse rate- Troposphere vs Strateosphere?

Answer 5

Troposphere - dT/dz<0
Stratosphere- dT/dz>0 due to O3 heating

Question 6

What is the transition (5-10m) between one region to another in the atmosphere called?

Answer 6

A pause- determined by the way temp varies with altitude

Question 7

What happens when temp increases with altitude?

Answer 7

Atmosphere is stable- hotter air=less dense

Question 8

Height of the tropopause in the tropics?

Answer 8

Higher in the tropics vs polar regions

Question 9

What is temperature lapse rate?

Answer 9

The rate at which temp increases with height in the atmosphere