Unit 11 Earth's Atmosphere

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Oxygen O2 % in atmosphere

21%

Tilt of Earth's axis

23.5 degrees; depending on the tilt of our earth we will have different seasons

Force of air determined by temperature and distance above sea level

Air pressure

The ____ of air is the mass of air per unit of volume.

Air pressure

Weight of air pushing down against a given area

Air pressure

Gas in the atmosphere that is needed for life

Carbon dioxide

Why does conduction occur mainly in the lower atmosphere?

Conduction can't happen in the upper atmosphere because the molecules are too far apart for them to come into contact with each other and transfer heat through conduction.

How do convection currents form in the atmosphere? Why are they deflected?

Convection occurs in the atmosphere when hot material rises and cold material sinks. Convection currents are deflected due to the rotation of the Earth, and produces the Coriolis Effect.

Layer of the that has high thermosphere concentration of electrically charged particles

Ionosphere

Gas Consumers of Oxygen

Fossil fuel, burning, cellular respiration

Greenhouse gases

Gases that absorb heat in the atmosphere

Permanent Gases

Gases with large residence times; Nitrogen and oxygen

Summer solstice

Greatest tilt towards the sun, longest day of sunlight, June 20-22

Historically, global climate...

Has varied slightly over time

Gamma rays

Have highest energy of all electromagnetic rays

Radio Waves

Have longest wavelength of all EM waves

What would happen if the number of photosynthetic organisms increased? Decreased?

If the number of photosynthetic organisms increased then there would be more oxygen in the atmosphere. If they decreased then there would not be enough for eukaryotes to survive.

Modern Atmosphere

Ozone layer began to form which allowed for cyanobacteria/Stomatolites to live outside of water and multiply. They performed photosynthesis which released oxygen that built up in the atmosphere

Ozone facts

Ozone protects Earth's surface from harmful radiation, a molecule of ozone consists of three oxygen molecules, ozone absorbs high energy ultraviolet light, splitting of ozone molecules DOES NOT warm the mesosphere.

What is the importance of a permanent gas? Examples?

Permanent gases make up the majority of the mass of the atmosphere, including nitrogen and oxygen.

What role did photosynthetic organisms play in our early atmosphere?

Photosynthetic organisms produced earth's first atmosphere supply of oxygen which allowed for the ozone layer to develop

Gas Producers of Oxygen

Plants in photosynthesis

Gas Consumers of Carbon Dioxide

Plants in photosynthesis, dissolving in the oceans

Cold air is denser than warm air and, therefore, has higher ____

Pressure

Which property of air vary from sea level to the top of a high mountain?

Pressure

A greenhouse gas mainly absorbs heat that...

Re-radiated from earth's surface

Type of pollution that can be formed by car exhaust and burning coal or oil

Smog

Form of energy that ravels through matter in waves

Sound

Layer of atmosphere that includes the ozone layer

Stratosphere

Evidence of Cyanobacteria

Stromatolites

Why is the atmosphere necessary for life on earth?

The atmosphere provides crucial conditions for life to exist on Earth. Without the atmosphere, all of the oceans would boil away, and no life could exist in the oceans. Without the atmosphere there would be no way for the Earth to stay warm without the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Without the atmosphere there would be no weather, so water would be stuck in the oceans. There would be no wind and water to weather rocks so soil would not be able to form. There would be no ozone layer, so life would not be able to exist outside of the oceans.

Global Heat budget

The balance between incoming and outgoing radiation

What evidence can we see of the oxygen revolution?

The banded iron formation in rocks

Infrared

Light with wavelengths too long for humans to see

Ultraviolet

Light with wavelengths too short for humans to see

What was the earth's second atmosphere composed of?

Lots of water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen

Ozone layer

Made up of oxygen molecules that were formed from broken down water vapor, O3, protects us from UV radiation

Magnetosphere

Magnetic field that protects earth from solar winds

Solid particles in the atmosphere

May include slat, ash, may harm human health, and allow clouds to form

The coldest temperatures in the atmosphere occur in the...

Mesopause

Coldest layer of the Earth's atmosphere

Mesosphere

How do photosynthetic and eukaryotic organisms "strike a balance" for our atmosphere?

The wast product of photosynthesis is the necessary reactant for cellular respiration and vice versa

Convection

Transfer of energy by a circulation or movement of a liquid or gas, transfer of heat by vertical movement of air masses, main way that heat moves through the atmosphere

Conduction

Transfer of energy from molecule to molecule by direct contact

Layer of atmosphere where weather, clouds, and smog occur

Troposphere

The ____ contains 75 percent of the atmospheric gases

Troposphere

Gas Producers of Water

Water Cycle

What makes water astonishingly unique?

Water can exist in all three states of matter under Earth's normal conditions.

Gas in the atmosphere that varies in amount from place to place

Water vapor

Ozone depletion

caused by CFCs that react with the ozone layer

The pressure of the air _____as altitude increases

decreases

Winter solstice

earth is tilted the most away form the sun, longest darkness, December 21-22

Convection occurs in...

gases and liquids

Variable gas

gases that have small residence times; tend to be greenhouse gases like H2O and CO2; keep earth from freezing

Greenhouse effect

greenhouses gases trap in radiation causing the atmosphere to warm up

Warm air is ____ dense than cool air

less

Ozone pollution

located in the troposphere, caused by pollutants produced by cars, power plants, chemical plants and other sources chemically reacting in the presence of sunlight

The density of air is highest at ____ altitudes

low

The pressure of the air is greatest at _____

low altitudes

Without photosynthesis, there would be little _____ in the air.

oxygen

The greenhouse effect is caused...

partly by human action, partly by natural processes

Accretion disk

the process of a growth of a massive object by gravitationally attracting and collecting of additional materials; Happens through disk-like structure of diffuse material or gas

The division of the Earth's atmosphere into layers is based on _____ differences

temperature

____ is a measure of how fast or how slow molecules move

temperature

Residence time

the amount of time a gas is in the atmosphere

Evidence of high oxygen content in atmosphere and oceans recorded in...

the banded iron

The tropopause prevents cool air in the troposphere from mixing with the...

warm air in the stratosphere

Chemical reactions between ____ and ____ result in formation of ____

water and carbon dioxide, limestone rocks

_____ makes up 0 to 4 percent of the atmosphere

water vapor

Vernal/Spring Equinox

no tilt either direction, 12 hr each, March 20-21

Autumnal/Fall Equinox

no tilt either direction, 12 hr each, September 22-23

Third most common gas in the earth's atmosphere

Argon

First Atmosphere

-Hydrogen and Helium -Solar winds came and swept them away bc too light for Earth's gravity to hold them

Carbon Dioxide CO2 % in atmosphere

0.0395%

Water H20 % in atmosphere

0.4%

Stratosphere

-2nd layer -contains ozone layer -gets warmer with altitude -some bacteria live here -Warned by ozone layer, when ozone molecules are broken up, they release energy -Temperature and pressure increase with altitude -aka nitrogen layer because of temperature variation

Mesosphere

-3rd layer (middle layer) -coldest layer -strong winds -breaks up asteroids -Not warmed by anything -Pressure decrease with altitude -Meteors break up

Thermosphere

-4th layer -warms up with altitude -hottest layer -contains the ionosphere, large portion of charged particles -blocks high energy radiation such as x-rays and gamma rays -Temperature increases with altitude -most ionosphere contained here -Gases to far apart, even though high temp, doesn't feel hot

Troposphere

-closest to surface -where we are located -most weather occurs here -75% of atmosphere mass -warmed by terrestrial radiation -ozone pollution located here -gets colder with higher altitude -Pressure/density and temperature decrease with altitude

Exosphere

-outermost layer -very thin air -fades into space -where light gases such as hydrogen and helium are found -temperature increases with height, but material is so sparse that it would fee cold Where the ISS and other satellites orbit the Earth -Thickest layer

ionosphere

-radio waves move here -grows and shrinks depending on the amount of sunlight -photoionization occurs here -where aurora borealis is located -grows when solar radiation is highest -blocks high energy solar radiation (gamma, x-rays) -responsible for radio communication

Ozone O3 % in atmosphere

0.000006%

3 important events in earth's atmospheric history

1. Formation of Oceans 2. Photosynthesis 3. Ozone development

When did our first atmosphere form? Our second? Our current?

1st: 4.5 BYA 2nd: 4 - 3.8 BYA Current: 400 MYA

Nitrogen N2 % in atmosphere

78%

Height above sea level

Altitude

Aurora

Bands of light that occur at the poles due to the coupling if solar flares and Earth's magnetic field

How does a temperature inversion affect air quality?

Because air is trapped in the lower stratosphere, pollutants are trapped with it.

Gas Consumers of Ozone

CFC's, naturally destroyed and created in stratosphere

Gas Producers of Carbon Dioxide

Cellular respiration, burning of fossil fuels, cement manufacturing

Solar Winds

Charged particles from the sun that caused Hydrogen and Helium to escape into space

Terrestrial radiation

Energy absorbed by the Earth and re-radiated into the atmosphere; Long-wave electromagnetic radiation originating from Earth and its atmosphere. It is the radiation emitted by naturally radioactive materials on Earth including uranium, thorium, and radon.

Pressure change with altitude

Decrease in pressure with increasing altitude

Gas Producers of Nitrogen

Denitrification, volcanic eruptions, burning fuels

Energy Facts

Energy can change form, can do work, can travel, but CAN'T be created

Coriolis effect

Effect deflects moving objects to right in northern Hemisphere and left in southern; responsible for large scale weather patterns, winds will bend in different directions (northern vs. southern hemispheres) due to earth's rotation

Forms of energy include...

Electrical energy, chemical energy, and light energy

Layer of atmosphere between the thermosphere and space

Exosphere

The international space station orbits Earth in the...

Exosphere

Earth's atmosphere consists mainly of oxygen

F

Energy can only travel through matter

F

Gas molecules in the exosphere are extremely cold

F

Gases in the atmosphere are too thin to block any solar rays

F

Light with the most energy is infrared light

F

Most of the heat in the troposphere comes from the sun

F

Sound waves travel through empty spaces between air molecules

F

The atmosphere is about 10% water vapor

F

The aurora borealis occur because of storms on Earth's surface

F

The density of the air is greatest at high altitudes

F

The greenhouse effect causes more solar energy to reach the surface of the earth

F

The top of the mesosphere is warmer than the bottom

F

Warm air sinks and cool air rises

F

The type of energy trapped by the atmosphere is ultraviolet light

F (Solar Energy)

Radiation

How the sun travels through space

What was the earth's atmosphere first composed of?

Hydrogen and Helium

What is a foreseeable issue with ozone depletion?

If ozone depletion continues, then many land-dwelling organisms would suffer from cancer

What would happen if the number of eukaryotic organisms increased? Decreased?

If the number of eukaryotes increased there would be too much carbon dioxide in the air. If they decreased there would not be enough.

Why is the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere important?

It helps regulate the amount of energy the atmosphere absorbs

Role of Carbon Dioxide

Keeps the earth warm, necessary for photosynthesis, forms rocks

The climate of a region or location is affected by...

Latitude, elevation, and season

How does Earth's temperature vary by latitude? What causes this variation? How does the temperature of earth affect Earth's atmosphere?

Latitudes farther from the equator receive slanted rays from the sun. This is because of Earth's axial tilt. At some times of the year, these regions experience more (or fewer) hours of sunlight, causing seasons and global temperature variations.

Earth's spheres

Layers above the Earth's surface that are based on temperature

Main gas in the earth's atmosphere

Nitrogen

What is the percent of each gas in our current atmosphere?

Nitrogen = 78% Oxygen = 21% Argon = 1% Carbon dioxide = 0.0391%

Where did the gases from the third atmosphere come from?

Nitrogen and argon were there from earlier atmospheres, whereas the oxygen came into being because of photosynthetic organisms

Gas consumers of Nitrogen

Nitrogen fixation bacteria, lightning

What is the role of each gas in our atmosphere?

Nitrogen makes up the majority of the atmosphere. Oxygen allows respiration organisms to survive. Carbon dioxide keeps the Earth warm. Water vapor controls the water cycle

What happened to the gasses in the second atmosphere?

Nitrogen stayed in the atmosphere, carbon dioxide dissolved in the water to form oceans which became limestone rocks. Large portion of carbon dioxide and water caused the Earth to be very warm because of the greenhouse effect

What was the earth's third atmosphere composed of?

Nitrogen, oxygen, and argon

Exact percent of modern atmosphere gases

Nitrogen-78% Oxygen-21% Argon-0.9% CO2-0.0395% Water Vapor-0.4%

Second Atmosphere

Outgassing-nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, as well as methane and ammonia

About 99% of the atmosphere consists of nitrogen and _____

Oxygen

Which has was not present on Earth at time of formation 4.6 billion years ago

Oxygen

Naturally occurring gas in the stratosphere that is considered a pollutant in the lower atmosphere

Ozone

What does ozone do?

Ozone blocks out harmful UV-C radiation from the sun. Without the ozone layer, organisms would not be able to survive on land

Gas Consumers of Water

Plants, water cycle, oceans

The atmosphere is needed for all the following except

Plate tectonics

Gas Producers of Ozone

Produced by smog, naturally in the stratosphere

Role of Oxygen

Produces ATP when reacted with glucose

Role of Ozone

Protects life on land from UV-C Radiation, but harmful in the troposphere

Role of Nitrogen

Provides nutrients in the soil, makes up majority of mass of atmosphere

Energy can travel through space by...

Radiation

Describe how energy is transferred through the atmosphere by radiation

Radiation travels through the atmosphere through the radiation from electromagnetic waves. Some of the heat gets trapped by the molecules in the air, and some gets absorbed by the ground. The ground re-radiates some of the heat, in the form of terrestrial radiation.

Role of Water

Redistributes heat around globe, greenhouse gas, weather

What role did Eukaryotic organisms play in our current atmosphere?

Same as before

Clouds could not form if the air contained no solid particles

T

Convection currents occur in all five layers of the atmosphere

T

Convection drives global circulation

T

Friction with gas molecules causes meteors to burn in the atmosphere

T

Gamma rays do not penetrate Earth's atmosphere

T

Most of the heat that enters the mesosphere comes from the stratosphere

T

Solid particles in the atmosphere may include dust and soil

T

The density of the air depends on how close the gas molecules are packed together

T

The main reason Earth can support life is its atmosphere

T

The thermosphere contains charged particles called ions

T

Warmer molecules have more energy than cooler ones

T

Without the atmosphere we could not hear most sounds

T

Explain how temperature changes in the troposphere

Temperature decreases with altitude because the troposphere is warmed through terrestrial radiation. As the warm air rises, it cools.

Why do temperature inversions occur? Why do you think they are more common in winter?

Temperature inversions occur when cold, dense air is trapped in the lower troposphere. This happens more in the winter since the Earth receives fewer hours of direct sunlight.

Visible light

The only light that humans can see

Where did the ozone layer come from?

The ozone layer developed from the buildup of ozone molecules high in the atmosphere. Ozone is developed from the reaction between oxygen molecules

What is the ozone layer? Why is it important for living things?

The ozone layer is a small area of concentrated ozone in the lower stratosphere. It absorbs high energy UV-C radiation and protects living things from this deadly radiation.

Why do convection currents occur in the troposphere?

The troposphere is warmed through terrestrial radiation. This creates a temperature gradient between the warmer lower troposphere and the cooler upper troposphere causes the warm air to rise, causing convection. As the warm air rises, it cools.

The northern and southern lights occur in the...

Thermosphere

What role did Eukaryotic organisms play in our early atmosphere?

They aided in the cycle of exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide and helped the concentration of oxygen to not go out of control

Plants need oxygen in order to

They don't need oxygen

Where did Hydrogen and Helium go?

They have a low enough density for them to have been swept away by solar winds in Earth's early history

What role did photosynthetic organisms play in our current atmosphere

They produce oxygen so that anaerobic organisms can survive

Temperature decreases as altitude increases in the...

Troposphere and Mesosphere

Layers of Atmosphere in order from land to space

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere

What is the importance of a variable gas? Examples?

Variable gases are greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide and water vapor. Greenhouse gases keep the Earth warm and water vapor also allows for the water cycle to occur

Outgassing

Volcanic eruptions that released CO2, H2O, and N2 into atmosphere

Describe the role of the atmosphere in the water cycle

Water's role in evapotranspiration allows for weather, clouds, and water to be transported across the world

What is weathering? Give examples of how weathering occurs.

Weathering occurs when water or other chemical agents break down a rock. Weathering occurs when water infiltrates cracks in a rock, and expands as it freezes (frost wedging, for example).

Temperature inversions

When cool air stays close to the ground below a layer of warm air

Difference in solar energy by latitude result in...

Winds, Weather, and Ocean Currents

Why would there be no weather without the atmosphere?

Without the atmosphere there would be no water vapor to condense and form clouds.

Why is the atmosphere important for the formation of soil?

Without the water cycle, wind, and other parts of the atmosphere there would be no ability for weathering to occur, so rocks would not be able to be broken down to form soil. With no soil, there would be no life.

Without the atmosphere, Earth would have

a greater range of temperatures


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