Geography Chapter 3
troposphere
Which atmospheric zone supports the biosphere and is the region of principle weather activity?
air pressure
the force exerted from the ongoing collision of gas molecules on all surfaces
particulate matter
"PM" diverse mix of fine particles, solid and liquid, that pollute the air and affect human health
exosphere
"outer sphere" where the atmosphere is less dense and nearly a vacuum
ozonosphere
"ozone layer" the layer of the atmosphere that absorbs significant amounts of ultraviolet radiation
noctilucent clouds
A rare, shining band of ice crystals that may glow at high latitudes long after sunset; formed within the mesosphere, where cosmic and meteoric dust act as nuclei for the formation of ice crystals.
not enough molecules to transfer heat
Despite its high temperatures, why would the thermosphere feel cold to humans?
homosphere
Gases are uniformly mixed.
low atmospheric density
How can the temperature in the thermosphere exceed 1200° C but not be "hot"?
temperature
When we measure air _____________ , we are measuring the increased activity of individual molecules, such as nitrogen and oxygen.
acid rain
mix of wet and dry deposition from atmosphere higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids
CFCs
Chlorofluorocarbons. Man made chemicals used as coolants and propellants in aerosols. Potent greenhouse gases that also lead to depletion of the ozone layer.
thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere
In terms of incoming solar radiation (insolation), which is the correct order?
troposphere and mesosphere
In which two atmospheric zones does temperature decrease with altitude?
temperature to increase with altitude
Ozone converts UV radiation from the sun into heat energy causes what to happen in the stratosphere?
true
TF> Hydrogen and helium occur at the top of the heterosphere and oxygen and nitrogen dominate in the lower heterosphere.
more acidic
The lower the pH of a liquid,
at the equator
The tropopause altitude is highest ________ because of the AIR EXPANSION from intense heating at the surface.
volatile organic compounds
VOC's; compounds that contain carbon and evaporate very easily
temperature inversion v. air pollution
Vertical mixing of pollutants is halted, trapping the pollutants under the inversion layer
composition, temperatrue, function
What are the three atmospheric criteria scientists use to define layers of the atmosphere?
sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxides
What two pollutants react with water to produce acid rain?
UVC and UVB
What type of energy is absorbed in the ozonosphere?
1987; 1989
What year was the Montreal Protocol signed and what year did it go into action?
oxygen 21%
Which of the following associations correctly matches the atmospheric component with its approximate relative percentage by volume?
air
a simple mixture of gases that is naturally odorless, colorless, tasteless, and formless
tropopause
the upper boundary of the troposphere
Montreal Protocol
aims to reduce and eliminate all ozone depleting substances.
stratospheric ozone
good ozone, produces oxygen molecules to interact with UV radiation and prevent 95% of it from reaching the surface
clean air act
has resulted in the significant reduction in various atmospheric pollutants.
low density
low pressures ( further away from earth) =
photochemical smog
mix of pollutants that results from the interaction of sunlight and the combustion products in CARS EXHAUST
temperature inversion
occurs when surface temperatures are lower than warmer overlying air.
location of thermopause
on average, approximately 480 km (300 mi.) above Earth's surface.
industrial smog
principally associated with coal-burning industries and electrical generation.
6.4
the average lapse rate
mesopause
the coldest point in the atmosphere (-90 degrees C)
ionosphere
the layer of the earth's atmosphere that contains a high concentration of ions and free electrons and is able to reflect radio waves.
stratopause
the outer boundary of the stratosphere
atmospheric pressure
the pressure caused by the weight of the air in Earth's atmosphere
environmental lapse rate
the rate of temperature decrease with increasing height in the troposphere
solar constant is measure at
the top of the atmosphere (480 km (300 mi)).
mesosphere
the upper region of the hemisphere from 50 to 80 km (30 to 50 mi) above the ground; extremely ratified
lapse rate
The rate at which temperature decreases with an increase in altitude.
photochemical smog
The reaction of automobile exhaust and ultraviolet light produces what
homosphere
The region of the atmosphere that is so evenly mixed that it behaves as if it were a single gas is the
automobiles
The single major source for photochemical reactants in the United States are
nitrogen, oxygen, argon
The three stable (i.e., nonvariable) gases in the atmosphere, in order of abundance from most to least, are
nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, trace gases
What is the sequence of gases, from most to least, in terms of percentage within the homosphere?
northeast
In the U.S. what region is affected by acid rain the most?
industrial activity
Sources of natural variable pollutants and materials include all of the following except
false
TF. Acid deposition increase in nutrients in forest ecosystems
true
TF. Acid deposition results in declining fish populations, forest damage, and altered soil chemistry.
true
TF. Air consists of gases thoroughly mixed so that they behave like a single gas.
true
TF. CO2 has reached 400 ppm in approximately 2013.
true
TF. Natural events, such as volcanoes and wildfires, produce air pollution and may cover large areas.
false
TF. Only exposure to UVA is a concern, not exposure to UVB and UVC.
false
TF. Temperatures increase with altitude in the troposphere because the higher in altitude, the closer to the sun.
true
TF. The CFC molecules react with ultraviolet light to release chlorine which then destroys ozone.
true
TF. The ozonosphere corresponds with the stratosphere.
false
TF. carbon dioxide occurs in large amounts in the atmosphere relative to other gases
poorly mixed; gravity causes gases of different weight to separate in layers
The heterosphere is the layer of the atmosphere in which the gases are ________ because of ________.
direct contact with high energy solar radiation
The high temperatures in the thermosphere occur because
thermosphere
The highest temperatures in the atmosphere occur in the
homosphere
The lower layer of the atmosphere
480 km above the earth's surface
The top of the Earth's atmosphere is approximately
aerosols
Tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere EX: volcanos, dust, wildfires, and anthropogenic pollutants
absorbs harmful uv radiation
Why is stratospheric ozone loss a concern?
decrease
as you increase in altitude the air pressure_____
1013.2
at the sea level, the atmosphere exerts a pressure of
high density
high pressures-
gases of troposphere
water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide
ionosphere and ozonosphere
what are the two specific zones of the atmosphere?
O3
what in the lower troposphere causes lung irritation, asthma, and susceptibility to respiratory illness in humans.
heterosphere and homosphere
Based on COMPOSITION, the atmosphere is divided into TWO broad classifications
two zones
Based on FUNCTION, the atmosphere has_______ that absorb radiation from the Sun
four regions
Based on TEMPERATURE, the atmosphere is divided into________ that ranges from the troposphere to the thermosphere
air pollution
Both natural and anthropogenic gases, particles, and other substances in amounts that cause damage to the environment or are harmful to humans.
hole in the ozone
Chlorine freed from CFCs elsewhere migrate to the Antarctic region, where they are trapped by the polar vortex.
industrial smog
Coal/oil gets burned but not completely combusted (high concentrations of carbon dioxide, particulates, and sulfur oxides)
mesosphere conditions
It contains the coldest portion of the atmosphere along its outer boundary.
Troposphere
0-17 km above Earth's surface, site of weather, organisms, contains most atmospheric water vapor. (temperature decreases with increasing altitude, pressure decreases)
Stratosphere
12 to 50 km, Ozone held here, absorbs UV radiation
10,000
Given the pH scale is logarithmic where each whole number represents a tenfold increase, a rain with a pH of 3 is how many times more acidic than rain with a pH of 7?
5500
Half of the total mass of Earth's atmosphere lies below an elevation of ________ meters.
pollutants
Harmful substances in the air, water, or soil
1
How many CFC molecules does it take to damage thousands of ozone molecules?
stratosphere and thermosphere
In which two atmospheric zones does temperature increase with altitude?
Peroxyacyl Nitrates
(PANs) component of photochemical smog; irritate human eyes and respiratory system functions and damages plants
carbon monoxide
by-product of combustion that is dangerously toxic
oxygen
"O2" a by-product of photosynthesis.
protects human health in lower troposphere
Which of the following statements about ozone (O3) is false?
oxygen
Which of the gases listed below has accumulated in the atmosphere as a result of biological processes?
argon
Which stable (nonvariable) gas in the atmosphere is inert and unusable in life processes?
nitrogen dioxide
cycled through the environment via the activity of bacteria.
heterosphere
The outermost region of the atmosphere, based on COMPOSITION, is the
ultraviolet wavelengths
The ozonosphere is critical to life because it absorbs most
false
TF. Air pressure decreases through the troposphere though increases in the stratosphere.
true
TF. Anthropogenic pollution includes carbon monoxide, photochemical smog, and volatile organic compounds.
true
TF. As ozone absorbs the shorter wavelengths of UV radiation, UV energy is converted to heat energy
true
TF. in the ionosphere, the region principally absorbs gamma rays, X-rays, and interacts with the solar wind
true
TF. the depletion of ozone in the ozonosphere results from chemical reactions with chlorine derived from CFCs.
ozone, PAN, nitric acid
The main ingredients in photochemical smog are