Chapter 2 (atmosphere) Flashcards
(34 cards)
how is nitrogen deposited on earth
nitrogen fixation and reactions involving lightning and subsequent precipitation
where are the largest amounts of water vapor
equator, over oceans, tropical regions
where does CO2 come from
burning of fossil fuels and deforestation
where is most ozone
stratosphere
what does ozone do
absorbs UV radiation
when is ozone produced
production of photochemical smog
where is a hole in the ozone layer
Antarctica
what chemical is the primary cause of the breakdown of ozone
CFCs
where is 75% of the atmosphere’s mass
troposphere
what is the temperature pattern in the stratosphere
increases w altitude due to absorption of heat by ozone
what is the temp pattern in the mesosphere
decreases w altitude
which atmos layer is coldest
mesosphere (ice clouds, meteors burn up)
what is the temp pattern in the thermosphere
increases w height due to gamma, x, and uv rays
radiation
flow of EM radiation (method by which earth recieves solar energy)
conduction
energy transfered by collisions between heat carrying molecules
convection
heat transferred from hot to cold regions
primary determinant of weather patterns
air mass
large body of air that has similar temp and moisture content
equatorial, tropical, polar, arctic, continental, maritime
albedo
reflectivity
ocean water has low albedo
land masses have moderate albedo
snow and ice have high albedo
consumption of CO2 results in
cooling
clouds
collections of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in atmosphere
warm air rises, expands (low pressure) and drops in temp, cannot hold as much water, water is released
oceans are thermally more stable than
land
the higher the latitude, the less
solar radiation
sea breeze
land warms faster than sea during day
land breeze
land cools faster than sea during night
