Atmosphere And Weather Flashcards
(62 cards)
What is the atmosphere?
A layer of gases surrounding Earth, primarily composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and trace gases, which protect life and regulate climate.
The atmosphere plays a crucial role in maintaining life on Earth by filtering solar radiation and regulating temperature.
Define the troposphere.
The lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere, extending up to about 8-15 km, where weather events occur and temperature decreases with altitude.
The troposphere is where most of the Earth’s weather phenomena take place.
What is the tropopause?
The boundary layer between the troposphere and the stratosphere, where temperature stops decreasing with altitude and remains relatively constant.
The tropopause acts as a barrier to the mixing of air between the troposphere and stratosphere.
Describe the stratosphere.
The second layer of Earth’s atmosphere, extending from the tropopause to about 50 km, where temperature increases with altitude and the ozone layer absorbs UV radiation.
The ozone layer within the stratosphere is vital for protecting living organisms from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
What is the mesosphere?
The third layer of Earth’s atmosphere, extending from about 50 km to 85 km, where temperature decreases with altitude and most meteorites burn up.
The mesosphere is the least explored layer of the atmosphere due to its altitude.
Define the thermosphere.
The fourth layer of Earth’s atmosphere, extending from about 85 km to 600 km, where temperature increases with altitude and solar activity causes ionization, leading to phenomena like the auroras.
The thermosphere contains the ionosphere, which is important for radio communication.
What is the exosphere?
The outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere, extending from about 600 km to 10,000 km, where atmospheric particles are sparse and can escape into space.
The exosphere is where satellites orbit the Earth.
What is temperature inversion?
Occurs when temperature increases with altitude, rather than decreasing, trapping pollutants near the Earth’s surface and often leading to poor air quality.
Temperature inversions can exacerbate pollution problems in urban areas.
Define solar radiation.
The energy emitted by the Sun in the form of electromagnetic waves, including visible light, ultraviolet, and infrared, which reaches Earth and drives weather and climate.
Solar radiation is essential for photosynthesis and influences global climate patterns.
What are radiation windows?
Specific wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that pass through Earth’s atmosphere without being absorbed, allowing solar energy to reach the surface and thermal energy to escape into space.
Radiation windows are crucial for the greenhouse effect and climate regulation.
What are atmospheric aerosols?
Tiny particles or droplets suspended in the air, which can influence climate, weather, and air quality by reflecting sunlight or acting as nuclei for cloud formation.
Atmospheric aerosols can have both warming and cooling effects on the climate depending on their properties.
Define radiation.
The transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves, including visible light, infrared, and ultraviolet, which can travel through space and interact with matter.
Radiation is a key concept in understanding energy transfer in the atmosphere.
What does diurnal mean?
Events or patterns that occur daily, typically relating to the cycle of day and night, such as temperature variations or animal behavior.
Diurnal patterns are essential for understanding ecological and climatic processes.
Fill in the blank: Isolation is the amount of solar radiation received by a specific area, which influences _______.
[temperature and climate patterns]
Isolation affects local weather conditions and ecological systems.
What is albedo?
The proportion of solar radiation that is reflected by a surface, influencing local temperature and climate conditions.
Albedo is an important factor in climate science as it affects how much solar energy is absorbed by the Earth.
What does global albedo refer to?
The average reflectivity of Earth’s surface, considering all land, water, and atmospheric factors.
Global albedo impacts climate patterns and energy balance on Earth.
Define conduction in the context of heat transfer.
The transfer of heat through a material without the movement of the material itself, occurring when particles collide and transfer energy.
Conduction is a primary method of heat transfer in solids.
What is short-wave radiation?
The high-energy solar radiation, including visible light and ultraviolet, that is emitted by the Sun and reaches Earth.
Short-wave radiation is crucial for photosynthesis and warming the Earth’s surface.
What is terrestrial radiation?
The long-wave infrared radiation emitted by Earth’s surface as it releases heat absorbed from the Sun.
Terrestrial radiation plays a key role in the Earth’s energy balance.
Define long-wave radiation.
The lower-energy infrared radiation emitted by Earth’s surface and atmosphere as they release heat.
Long-wave radiation is significant for understanding the greenhouse effect.
What is the natural greenhouse effect?
The process by which Earth’s atmosphere traps heat from the Sun, keeping the planet warm enough to support life.
The natural greenhouse effect is essential for maintaining the Earth’s climate.
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
When human activities increase the concentration of greenhouse gases, intensifying heat retention in Earth’s atmosphere and contributing to global warming.
The enhanced greenhouse effect is a major concern for climate change.
Define convection.
The transfer of heat through the movement of fluid or gas, where warm, less dense material rises and cooler, denser material sinks.
Convection is a key mechanism in weather patterns and ocean currents.
What is sensible heat transfer?
The process of heat exchange that causes a change in temperature of a substance without changing its phase.
Sensible heat transfer is important in heating and cooling processes.
