Atmosphere Flashcards
What makes acid rain
Sulphur dioxide (SO4), nitrogen monoxide & nitrogen dioxide (NOx), rain water
What are the consequences of acid
- damage to plants
- damage to water resource (fresh water ecosystems)
- chemical imbalance in the soil
- Erosion of city infrastructures
What is the ozone layer?
Part of the atmosphere with a high concentration of O3
absorbs some of the UV rays from the sun
Where is the “hole” in the ozone layer?
The hole in the ozone layer is located over Antarctica and is continuing to decrease
What is smog?
It is chemical rxns taking place in the presence of sunlight, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and troposphere ozone
What is atmospheric circulation?
Global scale movement of the layer of air surrounding the Earth
Cold air
Drops in altitude and moves from poles towards the equator
Warm air
From near the equator rises up, moves towards the poles and then descends over colder regions
What is the Coriolis effect?
The result of Earth’s rotation on weather patterns and ocean currents. The Coriolis effect makes storms swirl clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere
What are prevailing winds?
Major atmosphere currents that blow in a given direction according to global patterns
What are air masses?
Large expanse of the atmosphere with relatively uniform temperature
What is a front?
Line where 2 air masses meet
Cold Front
Cold air mass blown into warm air mass
Consequences of a cold front
Often brings about wind and heavy rain
Warm front
Warm air mass blown into a cold air mass
