Ch. 3 & 4: Earth's Atmosphere

The shorter the wavelength the ___?

greater the scattering. (Ex: blue on the spectrum)

The longer the wavelength the ___?

lesser the scattering. (Ex: red and orange on the spectrum)

Latent Heat of Condensation

Heat energy stored at the *molecular* level; as water changes phases it either absorbs or releases latent heat.

Sensible Heat

Heat that we can actual feel; like putting your hand over a fire.

What does the chemical composition of the atmospheric layers consist of?

Homosphere and the heterosphere.

The atmosphere provides O2 for?

Humans and animals to have the ability to breathe. (Oxygen)

Thermosphere

In the heterosphere, right above the mesosphere

Stratosphere

In the homosphere, right above the troposphere, and contains the ozone layer.

Absorption

Insolation is converted to longwave radiation or chemical energy

What are the functional layers of the atmospheric layers?

Ionosphere (upper layer) and the ozonosphere (lower layer).

How does the temperature move in the stratosphere?

Is constant within the ozone layer, then gets hotter as elevation increases.

Daily Radiation Patterns

Lag; The warmest time of day isn't when insolation is at its peak, but when the most insolation is absorbed and put back into the atmosphere from the ground. (See graph in ppt; slide 34)

What are some examples of natural atmospheric components?

Sulfur oxides, particulates, CO, CO2, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, pollen, methane, and dust which can come about due to volcanoes, forest fires, pants, etc.

Refraction

The bending effect on electromagnetic waves that occurs when isolation enters the atmosphere or another medium. (Ex: a pencil in a glass of water) (Ex2: when we see sunlight in the morning even though we can't see the sun yet; the light is being bent)

How does the temperature move in the troposphere?

The higher the elevation, the colder it gets (Ex: the top of mountains).

How does the temperature move in the mesosphere?

The higher the elevation, the colder it gets; air is getting thinner in this layer.

Troposphere

The home of the biosphere (where we live); the lowest layer of the homosphere.

How do different elevations affect air pressure?

At sea level air is more compacted and slow moving; in higher elevations air is more spaced and free moving. (Ex: A pile of books; most pressure in on bottom of the books)

Which city has one of the worst areas of pollution?

Beijing, China

What is an example of something with a low albedo?

Black clothing or asphalt absorbs heat; darker colors absorb heat.

Why is the sky blue?

Blue is easily scattered on the spectrum; at sunset the blue is scattered out of our line of sight therefore making the reds and oranges more visible.

What are some examples of anthropogenic pollution?

Burning of coal, cars, transportation, industrial, etc.

Albedo

Capacity of a surface to reflect energy.

Solar Energy Collection

Capturing energy and converting it into energy for use.

What are the three characteristics to define atmospheric layers?

Chemical composition, temperature profiles, and functional.

Reflection

Energy that bounces back into the atmosphere only; albedo.

Atmosphere

Gaseous layer surrounding the earth.

Solar Energy Collection: Kramer Junction, CA

Has tons of solar panels; the mirrors concentrate sunlight to vacuum-sealed tubes filled with synthetic oil which heats water which produces steam that rotates turbines which creates energy.

What percentage of Oxygen is in the atmosphere?

20.95%

What percentage of UV radiation does the ozone layer absorb?

97-99%

Heterosphere

After 50mi (in the thermosphere) includes the 4 elements but are arranged with the most dense element on the bottom layer to the least dense on the top layer; So from most dense to least: Nitrogen, Oxygen, Helium, and Hydrogen.

How does the temperature move in the thermosphere?

As elevation increases, the hotter the layer is getting due to its proximity to the sun.

What kind of materials are within the atmosphere?

Natural components and anthropogenic pollution.

What is the most common element in the atmosphere?

Nitrogen with it taking up 78.08%.

Ozone Layer

O3; protects us from sun radiation and so that we don't get fried by the sun.

Transmission

Passage of shortwave and longwave energy through the atmosphere or water; shortwaves come in, longwaves come back out.

The atmosphere provides CO2 for?

Plant nutrients in order to grow. (Carbon Dioxide)

The atmosphere provides N2 for?

Plants to perform photosynthesis. (Nitrogen)

Air Pressure

Pressure produced by the motion, size, and number of gas molecules in the air and exerted on surfaces in contact with the air.

How does the atmosphere provide sound?

Provides a medium at which soundwaves travel.

What are some functions of the atmosphere?

Provides oxygen which helps us breathe, protects us from sun radiation, creates weather, keeps us warm, creates carbon dioxide for plants, etc.

Rayleigh Scatterings

Scattering of radiation by small particles.

The Greenhouse Effect

Some sunlight (longwave radiation) can't get out of the atmosphere very easily so it becomes heat -> CO2 and other gases trap heat and keep the earth warm.

Why is the ozone layer in the troposphere bad?

Steals our oxygen and pollutes the air.

Where is the ozone layer found?

Stratosphere

What makes the temperature constant for a bit in the stratosphere?

The ozone layer; it absorbs uv radiation keeping it at a steady warm temperature.

Mesosphere

The upper region of the homosphere; right above the stratosphere.

What are the types of energy pathways in the atmosphere?

Transmission, scattering, refraction, reflection, and absorption.

What are the layers of the atmosphere?

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, and Thermosphere.

Homosphere

Up to 50mi (up to about the mesosphere) and has a mixture of all of the 4 elements (N2, O, He, & H) in the heterosphere.

What does energy balance in the troposphere affect?

Weather, ATM, and ocean circulation systems.

What is an example of something with a high albedo?

White clothing or snow doesn't absorb heat so it is reflected back into the atmosphere; lighter colors reflect heat.

Urban Heat Islands

a metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities; buildings block outgoing heat and are capture heat more easily.