Midterm

Question 1

weather

Answer 1

current state of the atmosphere

Question 2

climate

Answer 2

long term average of weather (30 yrs)

Question 3

wind

Answer 3

movement of air (speed and direction)

Question 4

pressure

Answer 4

force/area

Question 5

density

Answer 5

mass of air molecules/volume

Question 6

temperature

Answer 6

degree of hotness or coldness

Question 7

atmospheric composition (3 major gases)

Answer 7

78 - N2
21 - O2
1 - other

Question 8

permanent gasses

Answer 8

concentration does not change

Question 9

eg of permanent gases

Answer 9

N2 (creation: decaying bio matter, removal: bio processes)
O2 (creation: photosynthesis, removal: oxides)
Argon, Neon, Helium, Krypton, Hydrogen

Question 10

variable gases

Answer 10

concentration changes over time and space

Question 11

eg of variable gases

Answer 11

CO2 (creation: veg decay, volcanoes, deforestation, removal: photosyntheses, chemical weathering, oceans)
methane, ozone, CFCs, aerosols, water vapour, greenhouse gases

Question 12

greenhouse gases

Answer 12

CO2
H2O vapour
CH4
N2O
CFC's

Question 13

aerosols defintion

Answer 13

tiny particles (s or L) suspended in the air

Question 14

aerosol sources

Answer 14

natural: volcanoes, fires, dust
human: fossil fuel consumption

Question 15

temperature profile (high to low)

Answer 15

exosphere
thermosphere
mesosphere
stratosphere
troposphere

Question 16

troposphere

Answer 16

lowest 11km
temp decrease with height
convection current (weather)

Question 17

stratosphere

Answer 17

11-50 km ASL
temp increases with height
contains O3
suppresses upward movement from troposphere

Question 18

O3 what it do

Answer 18

absorbs UV radiation from sun
warms stratosphere
creates inversion

Question 19

mesosphere

Answer 19

50-90 km ASL
99.9% of air is below it
no UV absorption (little O3)
temp decreases with height

Question 20

thermosphere

Answer 20

90-500 km
O2 absorb sunlight
temp increases with height increase
huge E input, very energetic molecules

Question 21

exosphere

Answer 21

more than 500 km

Question 22

density equation

Answer 22

density = mass / volume

Question 23

pressure equation

Answer 23

P = force / area

Question 24

energy definition

Answer 24

ability or capacity to do work

Question 25

kinetic energy

Answer 25

energy of motion | temp of air is proportional to kinetic energy

Question 26

potential energy

Answer 26

potential to conduct work (because of position)

Question 27

radiant energy

Answer 27

due to solar radiation with warms earth and emits energy back to space

Question 28

solar radiation vs energy

Answer 28

short wave vs long wave

Question 29

heat is transferred in 3 ways

Answer 29

conduction convection radiation

Question 30

conduction

Answer 30

heat transfer thru direct contact

Question 31

convection

Answer 31

heat transfer by mass movement of a fluid (eg air or water)

Question 32

radiation

Answer 32

heat transfer by electromagnetic waves (magnetic and electrical properties) release E when waves are absorbed by an object

Question 33

convection vs advection

Answer 33

vertical vs horizonal

Question 34

short wave vs long wave energy

Answer 34

high vs low

Question 35

objects with a temp above ___ emit radiation

Answer 35

0K

Question 36

black body radiation

Answer 36

absorbs all radiation and emits max radiation (sun and earth)

Question 37

Stefan-Boltzman Law

Answer 37

law of radiation all objects with T greater than 0K emit radiation proportional to the fourth power of their temperature E=oT^4

Question 38

Wien's Law

Answer 38

the wavelength of maz emitted radiation by an object is inversly proportional to the objects temp (higher T, shorter wavelength) Lambda=W/T

Question 39

radiative equilibrium

Answer 39

if the T is constant over time, the object is at equilibrium, and temp is called equilibrium temp earth is in radiative equilibrium

Question 40

how to find radiative equilibrium temp of earth WITHOUT atmosphere

Answer 40

use stefan-boltzman -earth would be frozen without atmosphere

Question 41

how to find radiative equilibrium temp of earth WITH atmosphere

Answer 41

some LW radiation escapes, some absorbed by the clouds and remitted - greenhouse effect

Question 42

greenhouse effects

Answer 42

warming of atmosphere by absorbing and emitting thermal radiations major ones: water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane

Question 43

atmosphere

Answer 43

selective absorber of radiation. each are selective in wavelengths of radiation they absorb

Question 44

water vapour and CO2 absorb and don't absorb what waves

Answer 44

absorb most LW IR | do not absorb most incoming SW (UV and visible)

Question 45

O3 absorb and don't absorb what waves

Answer 45

absorb