Unit 2.1: Energy and Air Temperature. Flashcards
(34 cards)
Define the atmosphere
AKA air. It is a thin envelope of gases and suspended particles that surrounds the Earth. Held in place by gravity and linked to the surface by a host of energy and matter exchanges.
What are the 3 principle components of air and the quantities of each.
Nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), argon (0.93%).
Natural sources produce a ________ quantity, and are _________ lived.
Greater
Shorter
Without the atmosphere, the earth would be…
as sterile as the moon.
What are some variable/greenhouse gases that could be in the atmosphere?
Water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, CFC&HFC.
The modern atmosphere and its shells/spheres are defined by…
Temperature, function, and chemical compositions.
What is the temperature structure of the atmosphere?
- Thermosphere: (Top, 80-180kms) temperature increases sharply with height due to absorption of reals emitted by sun.
- Mesopause: coldest part of atmosphere.
- Mesosphere: (50-80kms) temperature decreases with height, also known for having low pressure.
- Stratopause: isothermal zone, temperature near 0.
- Stratosphere: (20-50kms) temperature increases with height due to concentration of ozone that absorbs radiation of sun.
- Tropopause: cold, isothermal layer.
- Troposphere: (0-15kms) temperature decreases with height at rate of 6.5 degrees/km.
What layer contains 90% of the atmosphere mass?
Troposphere.
How is the atmosphere divided based on function?
- Ionosphere: goes through thermosphere & Mesosphere. Absorbs comic rays, gamma rays, and x-rays from sun. Home to the Aurora’s.
- Ozonosphere: goes through stratosphere, has increased levels of ozone, absorbs ultraviolet radiation that is harmful to biological life.
What is the chemical structure of the atmosphere?
- Heterosphere: located at more than 80 kms. The lighter particles/gases (hydrogen, helium) go to outer space and heavier ones (nitrogen, oxygen) go to inside.
- Homosphere: 0-80kms, gases are mixed well, proportions are roughly equal.
Define seasons.
Refers to both variation of sun’s position and changing day lengths during the year.
What is a solstice and when does it occur?
During December and June, occurs when sun is directly overhead at the furthest point from the equator. This point is also known as the sub polar point.
What is an equinox and when does it occur?
During March and September, occurs when sun is directly over equator.
The earth _______ on an axis and _______ around the sun.
Rotates
Revolves
What are various reasons for the seasons?
- Revolution of Earth around sun, it is not a circular pattern.
- Circle of illumination: Divides earth into daylight and darkness, fully rotates in 24hrs.
- Axial hilt: the earth is on 23.5 degree tilt and it always points to the North Star.
- Parallelism: The earth is always pointing the same way and parallel to itself at all times.
Define perihelion and aphelion.
Perihelion: In January, marks the time in orbit when the earth is closest to the sun.
Aphelion: In July, time in orbit when earth is furthest from the sun.
What is energy?
Propagation of electromagnetic waves or radiation. Shorter waves = hotter.
What is temperature?
The intensity or degree of “hotness” of an object.
What is heat?
Total amount of random motion in molecules, their movement is the heat you feel. Warm= more random motion.
What is sensible heat?
It is the quantity of heat held by an object that can be sensed by touching or feeling and typically measured by a thermometer.
What are the 2 primary mechanisms for heat transfer?
- Convection: Heat transfer caused by the organized flow of many molecules from one place to another. By the air.
- Conduction: Caused by intermolecular collisions.
What is solar/shortwave radiation? What does it consist of?
Energy emitted by sun. Ultraviolet radiation (9%), visible (41%), and near infrared (50%).
What is terrestrial/longwave radiation? What does it consist of?
Emitted by the Earth. Mid-far infrared, microwave.
What is insolation?
incoming solar radiation.
