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Chapter 11 (Final) Flashcards

(63 cards)

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1
Q

what are the layers of the atmosphere?

A

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere

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2
Q

what does the troposphere contain (4)?

A

nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, air pollutants

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3
Q

what does the stratosphere contain?

A

the ozone layer

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4
Q

what does the ozone layer do?

A

absorbs 95% of UV radiation

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5
Q

pollutants in the ozone layer

A

supersonic transports, aerosol sprays, and nuclear weapons

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6
Q

what does the mesosphere do/temperature

A

protection zone against incoming small meteors/cold

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7
Q

what does the thermosphere do/temp

A

absorbs both X-rays and UV radiation from the sun/hot, home to ISS

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8
Q

exosphere

A

outermost layer of atmosphere

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9
Q

ozone

A

A gas (O3) located within the troposphere and stratosphere. It contributes to smog in the troposphere and absorbs 95 percent of ultraviolet radiation coming into the stratosphere

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10
Q

what gases maintain the earth’s temperature?

A

carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), water (H2O), and ozone (O3)

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11
Q

albedo

A

reflectivity on a surface on a scale of 0 to 1, the higher the albedo score, the greater the reflectivity

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12
Q

weather vs. climate

A

daily vs. long term

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13
Q

meteorology

A

study of the atmosphere

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14
Q

how weather cells work

A

https://resized-images.flatworldknowledge.com/shostell_1-31754/1600/shostell_1-31754-fig706.png

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15
Q

Coriolis effect

A

Movement of the air in large convection cells is deflected due to the force of the Earth’s spinning from west to east: wind belts

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16
Q

trade winds

A

air moving towards the equator

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17
Q

hurricanes

A

violent circulating windstorms; also known as a tropical cyclones.

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18
Q

El Niño

A

northeast trade winds weaken and the warm waters of the Pacific swash back to South America (warm)

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19
Q

Milankovitch cycles

A

Periodic wobbling of the Earth and a change in its axis tilt, in predictable incidences every 41,000 or 100,000 years.

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20
Q

anthropogenic GHG emissions….

A

magnify warming effect b/c surpass natural emissions

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21
Q

Greenhouse effect

A

traps greenhouse gases in atmosphere and keep from escaping into space, positive feedback cycle

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22
Q

GHGs released by society

A

CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases, carbon dioxide is most

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23
Q

origins of GHGs released by society

A

fossil fuels, fertilizers, manufacturing, consumer purchases

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24
Q

CO2 emissions from

A

Emissions from burning of fossil fuels in transportation, electricity, industry, residences

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25
methane originates from
second most common/more warming potential: originates from landfills, agriculture (rice), livestock, natural gas
26
hadley cells
equator and 30 degrees N and S
27
ferrel cells
between 30/60 degrees
28
polar cells
between 60 and poles
29
why are there deserts?
60 degree latitudes, descent of cool, dry air
30
nitrous oxide from where/potency
laughing gas, 300 times warming power, third most abundant, agricultural sector
31
fluorinated gases
most potent, developed as replacements for HCFCs, cooling equipment
32
aerosols
solid/liquid particles in the atmosphere of natural/anthropogenic origin
33
types of aerosols
sulfates/black carbon
34
sulfates
reflecting ability
35
black carbon
absorb solar radiation, contribute to climate change
36
climate change effects (9)
global warming, ocean acidification, melting of ice sheets, flooding, changing of ocean currents, increase of storm events, heat waves, longer droughts, more precipitation
37
thermal expansion
the expansion of volume due to warming; a significant cause of rising sea levels
38
how will species distribution change?
poleward shift to too cold lands, lakes will decrease in size, depth, and number, larger, warmer, deeper oceans will offer new habitats
39
ocean acidifcation
co2 reacts with water and forms carbonic acid, releases hydrogen ions/lowers pH
40
urban heat island effect
Air temperatures are higher in cities relative to surrounding rural areas.
41
natural pollutants
volcanoes, forest fires, the ground, ozone, sea spray, and dust storms
42
acid rain
originates from the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into atmosphere upon combustion of fossil fuels, undergo chemical reactions to form sulfuric and nitric acid, fall back to Earth
43
ozone holes why?
result of CFCs release from cooling/solvents/aerosol spray cans/Styrofoam puffing agents
44
smog
A mixture of air pollutants including ozone due to fossil fuel combustion; originally considered as a combination of smoke and fog.
45
air inversion
A layer of cold air near the ground becomes trapped by a layer of warmer air above.
46
radon gas
An indoor toxin emanating from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil and bedrock. It enters buildings through drains and through cracks in foundations.
47
how are weather patterns determined?
earth's distance from the sun, tilt relative to rotational axis, distribution of water/landmasses on surface, composition of gasses in the atmosphere
48
what does solar radiation do?
warms surface, drives hydrologic/biogeochemical cycles, produces climate
49
how much of energy produced by sun reaches the Earth?
barely any
50
when/what direction does the sun tilt towards the earth?
March-Sept = northern hemisphere, other is opposite
51
differences in precipitation depend on...
amount of water in the atmosphere, equatorial uplift, geographic location, topographic features
52
equatorial uplift
water evaporates from warm areas of the ocean
53
rain shadow
dry on one side of mountain away from wind b/c of air temp. cooling as it rises, raining on the other side
54
temp increase by 2100
2.0-5.5 C
55
mitigation of climate change?
forests as carbon sinks, fuel economy of motor vehicles, separate and capture CO2 produced during fossil fuel combustion
56
mitigation of rising sea level?
move settlements/seawalls, rivers channeled to prevent saltwater intrusion, find substitute crops, city planning
57
greenhouse gas
absorbs infrared radiation
58
Montreal protocol
50% reduction of CFC production by 1998, ozone continued
59
acid deposition
sulfur dioxide/nitrogen oxide react with water vapor in the atmosphere that return to surface as either dry or wet deposition
60
effects of acid deposition
thin-shelled eggs, decline in aquatic animal populations, forest decline
61
atmosphere composition
78% nitrogen, 21% O2
62
ecosystem services performed by atmosphere
protects Earth from most radiation, greenhouse gases absorb reradiated heat, atmosphere maintained by living organisms, cellular respiration/photosynthesis
63
atmospheric convection
solar heating of ground causes air to warm, producing updraft of less dense, warm air

ENS (11 decks)

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