Year 8 Atmosphere Flashcards
List the layers of the atmosphere in order
Troposphere, Stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, ionosphere
Where is ozone found?
In the top edge of the stratosphere
Where does all of the Earth’s weather take place?
In the bottom half of the troposphere
What is the buffer between the stratosphere and the troposphere called?
The tropopause
What temperature is the mesosphere?
-130 degrees C
What temperature is the thermosphere?
2000 degrees C, but you cannot feel it because the particles are too spread out
Why is the ionosphere named as such?
The sun’s radiation is ionised here
What is the chemical formula for ozone?
03
What does the ozone layer absorb?
No UV-A rays, most UV-B rays and all UV-C rays
List some common greenhouse gases and their chemical formulae
Carbon dioxide - CO2, carbon monoxide - CO, nitrous oxides - NOx, methane - CH4, water vapour - H2O, ozone - O3, CFCs
What forms acid rain?
Nitrogen dioxide reacting with water and oxygen
What is the greenhouse effect?
The process by which gases in the atmosphere trap the sun’s heat, warming the Earth
What would be the average temperature on Earth without the greenhouse effect?
-22ºC, as opposed to 13ºC now
What is the carbon cycle?
- Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the air
2 Carbon is passed along the food chain when animals feed - Respiration and combustion return carbon dioxide to the air
Is carbon dioxide acidic or alkaline?
Acidic