Earth's Atmosphere and Energy Transfer/Budget

Which step(s) of the greenhouse effect are being most affected by the increases in greenhouse gases, leading to an increase in heat? 1. Solar radiation enters the Earth system and is reflected and absorbed. 2. Absorbed energy is released into the atmosphere as heat. 3. Heat is absorbed by the atmosphere. 4. The atmosphere re-releases heat, warming Earth's surface and lower atmosphere.

3 and 4

This table shows the work of four companies. What percentage of these companies do work that would increase the greenhouse effect?

50%

How does conduction differ from convection?

Conduction warms the atmosphere as fast-moving molecules come into contact with lower-energy molecules until all molecules are moving at about the same rate. As the atmosphere warms, molecules move apart. As the heated air flows, heat is transferred by convection from warm, low-pressure air to cooler, high-pressure air.

The effect occurs as solar radiation is absorbed by the Earth's surface and re-radiated into the atmosphere, where it gets trapped and warms the Earth.

Greenhouse

Which of the following lists the atmospheric layers in the correct order beginning at the Earth's surface?

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere

____ is the thermal energy transfer that occurs from the motion of fluid in a liquid or gas.

Convection

What is the source of energy in the water cycle?

The Sun

What is the hydrosphere?

The hydrosphere is all the water on Earth's surface.

The __________ is the layer of the atmosphere where satellites and the space shuttle orbit the Earth.

exosphere

There are ____ molecules of air at high elevations, so air pressure is less.

fewer

If the ozone layer disappeared, life on Earth would be exposed to ____ concentrations of ultraviolet radiation.

higher

Where is the air pressure greater—at sea level or on a mountaintop? Explain.

Air pressure is greater at sea level because there are more molecules of air that push down from above.

Energy from the Sun is transferred to Earth through convection.

False

Radiation requires a heated liquid to transfer energy.

False

What do you call all the water on Earth's surface?

Hydrosphere

How does the water cycle affect weather and climate?

If more water evaporates it can create humidity and cause the atmosphere to be warm as well as causes precipitation such as rain ,snow, and sleet.

Which atmospheric layer is represented by F? What are its characteristics?

Ionosphere. F region is the highest of all regions and it functions as a reflector.

If greenhouse gases in the atmosphere act like a blanket around the Earth, how is this "blanket" being changed by human activities?

It is getting thicker and keeping the Earth warmer.

You can't see, touch, or smell the ozone layer. Why is it important to you?

It's a layer in the stratosphere that absorbs much of the ultraviolet radiation coming from the Sun. Holes in the ozone layer expose us to too much ultraviolet radiation, which causes skin cancer and other health problems.

Identify and describe layer A in the figure above.

Layer A is the thermosphere. In the thermosphere, atoms of nitrogen and oxygen absorb solar radiation (sunlight), which is converted to heat. The temperature of the thermosphere is incredibly high due to the radiation absorbed by each molecule. However, because the molecules that make up the thermosphere are so spread out, heat is not easily transferred from molecule to molecule. Therefore, there is not much heat retained in the thermosphere.

Identify and describe layer B in the figure above.

Layer B is the mesosphere. It is the middle layer of the atmosphere and also the coldest.

Identify the atmospheric layer containing the ozone layer in the figure above. Describe other characteristics of this layer.

Layer E, the stratosphere, contains the ozone layer. The gases in the stratosphere are layered, and the air is very thin. Temperatures in the lower stratosphere are very cold, but rise as the altitude increases due to ultraviolet radiation.

In Figure 15-3, which gas makes up the greatest percentage of Earth's atmosphere?

Nitrogen

the most common gas in the atmosphere

Nitrogen

According to Figure 15-3, which gas makes up 21 percent of Earth's atmosphere?

Oxygen

makes up 21 percent of the atmosphere

Oxygen

____ is the transfer of energy in the form of rays or waves.

Radiation

How is energy transferred from the Sun to the Earth?

Radiation transfers energy from Sun to the Earth by electromagnetic radiation.

Which statement best describes the effect of texture on absorption of radiant energy?

Rough surfaces absorb more energy than smooth surfaces.

The ____ is the source of all energy in our atmosphere.

Sun

Which of the following statements about the thermosphere is true?

Temperatures are high but heat produced is low

What three things can happen to the radiation that Earth receives from the Sun?

The radiation can be reflected back into space, be absorbed by Earth's atmosphere, or be absorbed by Earth's surfaces.

Solar radiation bounces off of a polar ice cap, then goes into the atmosphere where it remains trapped. Which statement best describes this situation?

The radiation is reflected by the ice and then absorbed by the atmosphere.

How does water move between the hydrosphere and atmosphere?

Water moves between the hydrosphere and atmosphere in a cycle of evaporation and condensation.

Why do clouds form?

Water vapor rising in the atmosphere cools and condenses.

How do chlorofluorocarbons affect Earth's ozone layer?

When a chlorine atom from a chlorofluorocarbon molecule comes near a molecule of ozone, the ozone molecule breaks apart

Air pressure is greatest ____ because there are more molecules of air pushing down from above.

at sea level

Earth's energy ___ is a description of how Earth uses the energy from the Sun as it flows in and out of the Earth system.

budget

Peter is burning fossil fuels as he uses his lawn mower. Which greenhouse gases is he generating?

carbon dioxide and methane

process by which water vapor changes to a liquid

condensation

Figure 15-1 is an example of heat transfer by ____________________.

convection

transfer of heat through flowing material

convection

Earth's atmosphere is composed of about 78 percent of what gas?

d. nitrogen

When Earth receives energy from the Sun, ____.

d.all of the above...a.some energy is reflected back into space b.some is absorbed by the atmosphere c.some is absorbed by land and water on Earth's surface

In general, atmospheric pressure is greatest near Earth's surface and ____ as you move upward away from sea level.

decreases

Reflection and absorption by the atmosphere prevent some ____ from reaching Earth's surface.

radiation

the thermal transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves through the vacuum of space

radiation

What occurs when solar radiation bounces off a surface?

reflection

radiation is radiant energy that comes from the Sun and interacts with surfaces or objects near or on Earth.

solar

The ____ contains the highest concentration of ozone.

stratosphere