The Atmosphere

Question 1

Why is water vapor an important compound to air?

Answer 1

Because it’s responsible for cloud formation and precipitation, (it also contains suspended solid particles that come from the surface of the Earth)

Question 2

What is the atmosphere?

Answer 2

The layer of air surrounding the Earth.

Question 3

The atmosphere is made up of gases that are necessary for what? (Name 2 things)

Answer 3

1. Acting as a shield against UV rays

2. Retaining heat to ensure a stable climate on Earth

Question 4

What 3 gases does the atmosphere include?

Answer 4

1. Oxygen
2. Carbon dioxide
3. Water vapour

Question 5

Why does air exert a pressure?

Answer 5

Because it contains particles that are colliding with one another, (the more collisions, the higher atmospheric pressure).

Question 6

How can atmospheric pressure be measured?

Answer 6

By using barometer.

Question 7

What 2 things does atmospheric pressure depend on?

Answer 7

1. Height of a place above sea level

2. Gravity with an increase in altitude

Question 8

What happens at higher altitude?

Answer 8

The density and temperature of the air are decreasing, so the number of the collisions are decreasing, thus the pressure is decreasing.

Question 9

What 2 things cause air movement?

Answer 9

1. Convection, (circulation cells)

2. Temperature variations

Question 10

What happens to the moving air around the Earth?

Answer 10

It rises above the equator, heads towards the poles, then sinks to dry regions.

Question 11

What’s happening at the same time as the Earth rotates?

Answer 11

Convection: the cold polar air makes its way to the equator.

Question 12

What happens to the air during atmospheric circulation?

Answer 12

Air masses move in a straight line, (north to south and vise versa) but since the Earth rotates, it changes their trajectories.

Question 13

ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION: What are prevailing winds?

Answer 13

Major atmospheric currents that blow in a certain direction given by the atmospheric circulation.

Question 14

How are prevailing winds created?

Answer 14

Air movement within the cells.

Question 15

What will effect how air pollutants disperse?

Answer 15

Prevailing winds.

Question 16

What are air masses?

Answer 16

Large regions of the atmosphere with uniform temperature and humidity.

Question 17

What can change the weather?

Answer 17

Winds.

Question 18

The warm air masses in Quebec come from where?

Answer 18

Tropical regions.

Question 19

The cold air masses in Quebec come from where?

Answer 19

Polar regions.

Question 20

What is a front?

Answer 20

Where air masses meet.

Question 21

What happens when 2 air masses meet?

Answer 21

The cold air slides under the hot air.

Question 22

What’s a warm front?

Answer 22

Warm air mass moving into a cold mass.

Question 23

What’s a cold front?

Answer 23

High pressure air mass moving into a warm mass.

Question 24

What happens to the moisture in the air as it cools?

Answer 24

Condensation and precipitation.

Question 25

When does precipitation occur?

Answer 25

When the air is warm because it rises and encourages cloud formation.

Question 26

What type of clouds form when a warm front forms?

Answer 26

Lousy clouds, (since there's low pressure).

Question 27

What type of clouds form when a cold front forms?

Answer 27

Fluffy clouds, (since there's high pressure).

Question 28

When does air sink?

Answer 28

When the air cools, (high density).

Question 29

When does air rise?

Answer 29

When the air warms, (low density).

Question 30

What happens when there's a depression?

Answer 30

It's when the air warms, because the air mass becomes lighter and rises, which leaves an empty space under it, (low pressure) which causes clouds and precipitation.

Question 31

What's anticyclone?

Answer 31

The cold air sinks and makes high pressure, (the area of high pressure is called an anti-cyclone),

Question 32

Why does anticyclone make the weather happy?

Answer 32

It's when the air cools and the pressure is high so there are no clouds.

Question 33

What pressure systems are associated with clouds and precipitation?

Answer 33

Low-pressure systems.

Question 34

What are high pressure systems associated with?

Answer 34

Normally with dry weather and mostly clear skies with fluffy light clouds.

Question 35

What type of weather is it if there's low pressure?

Answer 35

Lousy weather.

Question 36

Where do strong depressions form?

Answer 36

Over warm waters of tropical oceans.

Question 37

What happens when a cyclone/hurricane/etc forms?

Answer 37

A huge spiral with heavy winds form.

Question 38

What's the purpose of the greenhouse effect?

Answer 38

It's a natural process that allows the Earth to keep in some of the heat it receives from the sun.

Question 39

What are the 4 greenhouse gases in our atmosphere?

Answer 39

1. Water Vapour 2. Carbon Dioxide 3. Methane 4. Nitrous oxide

Question 40

What do we use fossil fuels for?

Answer 40

Energy production.

Question 41

What negative consequence would occur if we didn't have the greenhouse effect?

Answer 41

The Earth would be extremely cold.

Question 42

How does the greenhouse effect work?

Answer 42

Most of the sun's rays are absorbed by the surface, some infrared rays are shot back into space, and some infrared rays are absorbed into the atmosphere.

Question 43

For thousands of years, the amount of greenhouse gases remained constant. How?

Answer 43

CO2 was emitted by volcanic eruptions and cellular respiration and was balanced by photosynthesis.

Question 44

What 3 human activities emit too many greenhouse gases?

Answer 44

1. Transportation of Fossil Fuels 2. Production of Fossil Fuels 3. Red meat

Question 45

What contributes to climate change?

Answer 45

Global Warming.

Question 46

What 2 things play a role in acid rain?

Answer 46

1. Sulphur dioxide (SOx) | 2. Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Question 47

What 3 metals come from the combustion of fossil fuels, burning garbage, and glass making?

Answer 47

They're all toxic to humans 1. Mercury 2. Arsenic 3. Lead

Question 48

What's the element of the Ozone?

Answer 48

03

Question 49

What is the ozone layer?

Answer 49

A chemical filter that absorbs UV rays.

Question 50

What's smog?

Answer 50

Ozone that chemically combines with sulphur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide, (a mixture of fog, smoke, and other air pollutants).

Question 51

When is ozone harmful towards us?

Answer 51

At low altitudes.

Question 52

What are the 2 advantages of wind energy?

Answer 52

1. Renewable | 2. No emissions

Question 53

What are the 2 disadvantages of wind energy?

Answer 53

1. Weather dependant | 2. Ugly

Question 54

How do wind turbines work?

Answer 54

Huge machines with gigantic blades. When the wind rotates the blades, it activates an electric generator hidden in the nacelle.

Question 55

What's passive heating systems?

Answer 55

It naturally heats the air.

Question 56

What's photovoltaiccells?

Answer 56

Solar panels. When sunlight hits the material, it allows electrons to move which makes an electric current.

Question 57

What's solar collectors?

Answer 57

Glass panels that capture heat to warm up the air, homes, etc.

Question 58

What are the 2 advantages to solar panels?

Answer 58

1. Renewable | 2. Zero-emissions

Question 59

What are the 3 disadvantages to solar panels?

Answer 59

1. Expensive 2. Ugly 3. Sun dependent