Climate and Atmosphere Flashcards
(22 cards)
Atmosphere Boundary Layer
approximately 1km above the surface, most important layer for life, 10% of the atmosphere
is in a constant state of flux, due to planetary circulation, weather systems, clouds and precipitation
What % of the atmosphere is within 12km?
90%
Some key atmospheric pollutants (5)
sulphur dioxide nitrogen dioxide ozone carbon monoxide lead
What makes the air polluted? (3)
High emission rates
Low horizontal / vertical dispersion
Slow removal rates
Characteristics of good and poor dispersion:
Good: windy and warm, large boundary layer
Poor: calm, invasion, cold, small boundary layer
The depth of the boundary layer is determined by: (2)
pressure from above
energy available at the surface
The stability of the boundary layer is determined by (2)
horizontal wind
changes in temperature with height
A stable atmosphere is one where:
temperature increases with altitude
Emissions inventory
a list of sources of that pollutant within a given geographic area, together with estimates of their total emissions over a given time period
Characteristics of Ozone
three oxygen molecule (O3), unstable and chemically active, short lifetime in the atmosphere
Atmospheric affects on incoming solar radiation (4)
Scattering
Reflection
Absorption
Re-emission
Consequences of ozone hole and increases UV: (4)
skin cancer
cataracts and sunburns
suppression of immune systems
adverse effect on plants and crops
Why do we see the ozone hole in the Antarctic and in the winter?
polar stratospheric clouds, which require very cold temperatures, facilitate a series of reactions which prolong the life of chlorine
Insolation
Direct or diffused shortwave solar radiation that is received in the Earth’s atmosphere or at its surface
Energy Balance =
Net incoming solar radiation = energy used to heat the earth + energy used to evaporate water + change in heat stored by the ground
Milankovitch’s theory of Earth-sun variations
Eccentricity cycle every 100,000 years
Axial Tilt 41,000 cycle
Precession 23,000 cycle
Albedo
describes the reflexivity of the Earth’s surface
outgoing radiation / incoming radiation
average is about .3
Three questions to verify global warming:
- Are human activities changing the composition of the atmosphere?
- Is the global climate changing - are temperatures increasing?
- Are these two phenomenon related?
Global Pollutants typically: (4)
are stable and have long residence times
limited impact at local levels, large impact at global
indirect effects on human health
linked to industrial and agricultural use
Two types of climate change evidence
Fingerprints: indicators of the global, long-term warming trend observed in the historical record. They include heat waves, sea-level rise, melting glaciers and warming of the poles
Harbingers: events that foreshadow the impacts likely to become more frequent and widespread with continued warming. They include spreading disease, earlier spring arrival, plant and animal range shifts, coral reef bleaching, downpours, and droughts and fires.
Factors affecting pollution exposure and concentration:
emission rates meteorology Topography indoor / outdoor social / economic conditions
Sources of indoor pollution (8)
Furnishings combustion smoking cleaning materials paints moulds people and pets outdoor air
