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Earth And Space Science NCEA Scholarship > Y13 Atmosphere > Flashcards

Y13 Atmosphere Flashcards

1
Q

Atmosphere define

A

The thin layer of gas surrounding a planet
Held by gravity

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2
Q

Factors affecting atmosphere size

A

Gravity
Greater = larger atm

Temperature
Lower temp = greater retention of atmosphere

Presence of a magnetic field

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3
Q

Outline the 4 phases of the history of earth’s atmosphere

A

Phase 1: earth’s formation
H and He pulled in by grav
Solar winds blow gases away

Phase 2:
Volcanic activity release H2O, CO2, NH3

Phase 3: earth cooled
H2O fell as rain, carrying CO2 to form oceans
Photosynthesis of oceanic algae release O2
UV radiation breaks NH3 into N2 and H2, H2 escapes into space

Phase 4:
Early life converts CO2 to C compounds

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4
Q

What is the soil atmosphere? CO2 content

A

Extends about 1m into the soil

Bacteria/fungi/plant roots perform respiration, so soil has higher CO2 and lower O2

Difference in conc causes diffusion of gases between soil and atm

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5
Q

5 reasons why the atmosphere is important

A

Part of the water cycle

Protect against UV

Provides O2 and CO2

Traps heat to create survivable temp

Transfers heat around the earth

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6
Q

What are the 5 layers of the atmosphere?

A

Closest to furthest:

Troposphere (80%)
Stratosphere (19%) ozone layer here
Mesosphere
Ionosphere / thermosphere
Exosphere (1% total) up to 800km

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7
Q

What is ozone and what does it do?

A

O3
Absorbs UV
Warms the stratosphere

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8
Q

What makes UV dangerous

A

UV radiation had energy to break chemical bonds

Ionisation - electrons break away from their atoms

Damage materials / living tissues

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9
Q

types of UV radiation and the ozone layer

A

Shorter wavelength = more penetrating and dangerous

UV-c most dangerous

Ozone layer absorbs 100% of UV-c and 95% of UV-b radiation

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10
Q

Formation and destruction of ozone via UV light

A

UV light below 240mm disrupts the bond of the O2 molecule
Forms 2 separate O atoms which join with O2 to form O3
Formation of ozone: UVC absorbed

UV light 240-315nm disrupts the bond of the ozone molecule, converting it back to oxygen
Destruction of ozone: UVB adsorbed

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11
Q

Anthropogenic ozone depletion

A

CFC molecules used (CFCl3)

UV causes one Cl to break away

Cl pulls O from O3, forming ClO and O2

Free O removes Cl, forms O2

Free Cl repeat cycle

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12
Q

Mesosphere

A

50km to 80km
Less than 1% of the atmosphere

Meteors burn up

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13
Q

Thermosphere

A

Contains the ionosphere

X rays and UC radiation absorbed

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14
Q

What factor impacts the height of the troposphere?

A

7-20km ASL
Widest at the equator and thinnest at the poles
Depends on AIR TEMPERATURE
Colder = particles closer together

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15
Q

Describe the temperature of the layers

A

Temperature gradient INVERTS at layers

Troposphere - higher, temp DEcrease

Stratosphere - higher, temp INcrease

Mesosphere - higher, temp DEcrease

Thermosphere - higher, temp INcrease

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16
Q

Why does the temperature of the Troposphere change the way it does?

A

Temp increases higher
Heat source is Earth’s surface
Moving away from heat source

17
Q

Why does the temperature of the stratosphere change the way it does

A

Temp increase higher
Heat source Ozone layer
Chemical reaction that forms ozone releases heat energy
Cooler air already at the bottom, warm air sits above it. Little or no convection, hence stable

18
Q

Why does the temperature of the mesosphere change the way it does

A

Temp decreases higher

Heat source stratosphere

Further away

Few gas particles present to absorb solar energy

19
Q

Why does the temperature of the Thermosphere change the way it does

A

Temp increase higher
Solar energy absorbed by gas particles and re-emitted as heat energy
Particles can become very hot but few particles present so it ‘feels’ cold

20
Q

Earth’s tilt

A

23.5 degrees from vertical in relation to the earth’s orbital plane around the sun (eliptic plane)

Hence 23.5N is Tropic of Cancer
23.5S is Tropic of Capricorn

21
Q

Describe atmospheric circulation at the equator

A

Earth radiates heat to the air
Warm air rises at equator until it reaches the Tropopause
Deflected toward the poles, pushed by rising air
Convection currents formed
Cool air from sides move in to the equator to replace the rising air (trade winds)

22
Q

Name the three circulation cells and the boundaries

A

Hadley cell (0-30)
Ferrel cell (30-60)
Polar cell (60-90)

Intertropical convergence zone between Hadley cells
Area of low pressure, no winds = doldrums

Horse latitude between Hadley and Ferrel cells

Polar front between ferrel and polar cells

23
Q

Describe the Hadley cell system

A

The strongest of the three cells.

Warm rising air from equator moves N/S when it meets the tropopause

Air mass rises —> expands (less air pressure)
Cools and temperature drops, water vapour condenses to form clouds

Dry cool air moves towards poles and warms due to pressure, creating high region (subtropical high)

24
Q

Describe the ferrel cell system

A

Driven by the Hadley and polar cells, NOT a hot/cold air source
Hence goes in the opposite direction, acting like a gear

Coriolis effect

Eddies - temp from warm to cold over a short distance

25
Q

Describe the polar cell system

A

Cold dense air at poles sink (high pressure system)
Spreads toward equator, meets warmer tropical air (low pressure)

Similar cycle to Hadley cells

26
Q

Latent energy define

A

The energy needed to change state

27
Q

Features associated with low and high pressure zones

A

Low pressure - rising air. Much more rainfall (hence equatorial rainforests and relatively wet UK weather)

High pressure - little rainfall
Desert regions

28
Q

Explain the coriolis effect

A

Equator moving “faster” relative to the poles
Different speeds at different latitudes

Hence air moving from tropics toward equator is slower, deflected left
Air moving from equator to tropics faster, deflected right
(Trade winds)

Anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere
Clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere

29
Q

What are winds caused by?

A

Differences in air pressure.

Air moves from HIGH to LOW pressure areas, creating wind

Greater difference in pressure —> stronger wind

Winds are labeled by the direction they come from (westerlies from the west)

30
Q

Describe the zones of air mass movement on earth

A

Six zones called Wind Belts

Formed from movement of air from high to low pressure

Top to bottom:
Polar easterlies
Westerlies
Northeast trade winds
Southeast trade winds
Westerlies
Polar easterlies

31
Q

Describe the location and nature of jet streams

A

Narrow belts of high speed winds

High in the troposphere, just below the tropopause, near air mass boundaries with large temperature differences

Polar jet between polar and ferrel cells - very fast
Subtropical jet between ferrel and Hadley cells - slower

Flow parallel to temp gradient, moving West to East

32
Q

How do jet streams affect weather?

**scholarship

A

Causes changes in wind pressure at a high level, affecting things near the surface.

Movement doesn’t have to be straight and smooth - this slows things, making areas of low pressure move less predictably
Slower jet stream cause areas of high pressure to strengthen

Can lower a low pressure system like a vacuum - sucks air out the top

33
Q

Pressure gradient force

A

Pascals per meter
Eg low pressure at equator, high pressure at poles due to temp results in a pressure gradient,

Acts from high to low pressure

34
Q

Describe how land/sea breezes work

A

Land heats up and cools down FASTER than water

Day: warm air over land rises, replaced by cool air from ocean = onshore breeze

Night: opposite = offshore breeze

35
Q

Describe Walker circulation

A

A cycle of warm moist air from the Western Pacific (South America) rising, then cooling and falling at the Eastern side (Australia). Dry air circles back.

Caused by TRADE WINDS moving to the west

Mirrored by a cell in the ocean - drives the El Niño and La Niña events

36
Q

What are hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones?

A

Tropical Storm systems created when ocean temperature exceeds 26C.
Large air masses circulating around a LOW pressure centre

Hurricane - America, Caribbean
Typhoon - SE Asia
Cyclone - Indonesia, Aust, NZ

37
Q

What is a temperature inversion and what causes it?

A

In the troposphere, usually warm to cold higher up. Inversion is the opposite
Happens when air in contact with colder earth’s surface cools more than the air above (usually a clear/calm night)
Or interactions of cold and warm fronts

Causes fog - trapped ‘cloud’

38
Q

main pressure belts

A

ITCZ Equatorial Low

Subtropical highs

Subpolar lows

Polar Highs

relates to where warm air is rising and cool air is descending (cells)

Earth And Space Science NCEA Scholarship (10 decks)

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