the atmosphere part 1

Question 1

state 3 essentials to life that the atmosphere provides us with

Answer 1

protection from solar radiation / gas resources / transfer of energy and water around the globe

Question 2

state proportion of air and importance for life of nitrogen

Answer 2

78% / used in proteins

Question 3

state proportion of air and importance for life of oxygen

Answer 3

21% / used in aerobic respiration

Question 4

state proportion of air and importance for life of carbon dioxide

Answer 4

0.04% / used in photosynthesis

Question 5

state importance for life of methane

Answer 5

some chemoautotrophs use methane as a source of carbon, important for early life and in deep oceans

Question 6

state importance for life of ozone

Answer 6

absorbs UV light in the stratosphere

Question 7

what does the magnetosphere do and what would happen if we didn’t have it

Answer 7

provides protection from radiation and deflects harmful solar wind - solar wind would blow away the earth’s atmosphere

Question 8

what compounds were in earths prebiotic atmosphere compared to now (in order of amount biggest to smallest)

Answer 8

prebiotic: CO2 N2 H2O {NH3 CH4 H2}
modern: N2 O2 H2O {CO2 AR CH4}

Question 9

give an example of dynamic equilibrium to do with photosynthesis

Answer 9

uses carbon dioxide at the same rate respiration releases it, so in the long term no overall change to atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration

Question 10

list the 4 layers of the atmosphere in order of those closest to the ground to that furthest away

Answer 10

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere

Question 11

what warms the troposphere

Answer 11

GREENHOUSE GASES. visible light from sun is transmitted through atmosphere and absorbed by earths surface, some of which is radiated back into the atmosphere from surface as INFRARED RADIATION, longer wavelength, heating effect, infrared is absorbed by greenhouse gases

Question 12

why does infrared result in a larger heating effect

Answer 12

it has a longer wavelength, is absorbed by greenhouse gases which then vibrate and re radiate in all directions, accumulating heat energy

Question 13

why does the temp decrease up the troposphere

Answer 13

less infrared. because the source of infrared radiation is from the visible light absorbed by the earths surface and radiated as infrared so the further away from the surface the less infrared = lower temp

Question 14

explain the trend in temperature in the stratosphere

Answer 14

higher temperature at the top of the stratosphere as UV intensity is higher, bc UV comes from the sun so more UV absorbed so more reactions take place. absorbed UV initially stored as chemical energy in products of reactions, some energy is released as heat

Question 15

explain the trend in temperature in the mesosphere

Answer 15

temperature decreases up the mesosphere. because you get further away from the heat of the stratosphere

Question 16

explain the trend in temperature in the thermosphere

Answer 16

temperature increases up the thermosphere. due to high energy solar radiation absorbed by air particles, radiation is more intense up the top, where incoming solar radiation first arrives

Question 17

why is the tropopause at its highest temp around the earth during the day at the equator

Answer 17

high intensity of sunlight warms the troposphere the most here, causing troposphere to become less dense and expand

Question 18

why is the atmosphere very dry beyond the troposphere

Answer 18

most water falls as precipitation in the troposphere

Question 19

describe the trend in pressure across the atmosphere and why

Answer 19

its higher at the bottom of the troposphere because gravity pulls air molecules towards the surface

Question 20

what does nuclear fusion in the sun do

Answer 20

releases enormous amounts of energy as electromagnetic radiation, some reaches earth

Question 21

what happens to the electromagnetic radiation that reaches earth

Answer 21

some is absorbed into the atmosphere eg UV in ozone or stratosphere also greenhouse gases absorb visible light and infrared / some light is reflected or absorbed by clouds

Question 22

how much insolation is absorbed by the earth surface and where does the rest of it go

Answer 22

51% / reflected by clouds, atmosphere, surface / absorbed by atmosphere, clouds / carried to clouds and atmosphere by latent heat of vaporisation

Question 23

high albedo means cooler or hotter temperatures

Answer 23

cooler temperatures (high albedo=cooler temperatures)

Question 24

name the 3 surfaces that have highest albedo (highest cooling temperature)

Answer 24

snow, desert sands, concrete

Question 25

what does it mean if something has a high albedo

Answer 25

it reflects lots of solar radiation

Question 26

name the bottom 3 surfaces that have the lowest albedo

Answer 26

water, tropical rainforest, tarmac

Question 27

what does the mesosphere protect us from

Answer 27

meteorites

Question 28

why don’t you feel the heat in the thermosphere

Answer 28

because the air pressure in so low

Question 29

in what 6 ways does the atmosphere support life

Answer 29

gases for natural processes / absorption of electromagnetic radiation from the sun / delaying the escape of infrared energy / heat distribution / ocean currents / transport of water vapour

Question 30

how does the atmosphere support life with ocean currents

Answer 30

winds blowing over the ocean creates current that distributes heat by carrying warm water from tropical areas to higher latitudes, North Atlantic Conveyor