Lecture 8 Flashcards
(15 cards)
1
Q
what makes planets different
A
- location to the sun
- rotation: faster or slower
- active core
2
Q
atmospheres
A
layer of gas that blankets a planet
3
Q
earths atmosphere
A
- 10km thick (troposphere)
- mostly N2 and O2
- 15psi at surface: pressure is not constant
4
Q
planetary warming
A
- visible light passes through atmosphere
- light absorbed warms earths surface
5
Q
albedo
A
fraction of light reflected
-a lot of light reflected = a high albedo
6
Q
ionization
A
removal of electrons
7
Q
dissociation
A
destruction of a molecule
8
Q
absorption
A
photons energy is absorbed
9
Q
lights effects
A
- ionization
- dissociation
- scattering
- absorption
- —x-rays and UV rays can ionize and dissociates
10
Q
scattering
A
change in a photons direction
11
Q
atmospheric structure
A
- troposphere
- stratosphere
- thermosphere
- exosphere
12
Q
troposphere
A
lowest layer
- temperature drops with altitude
- warmed by infrared light from surface convection
13
Q
stratosphere
A
- temperature rises with altitude is lower part but falls in higher part
- warmed by absorption of ultra violet light
14
Q
thermosphere
A
temperature rises with altitude
-x rays and UV light from sun ionize gases
15
Q
Coriolis effect
A
conservation of momentum causes wind and patterns to swirl
