Module 3 - Atmospheric Energy and Matter
The atmosphere is diverse, varying in temperature, air pressure, and the amount and composition of gases. Drag the following phrases to their proper location on the cross section of the atmosphere below.
thermosphere - auroras originate here mesosphere - radio waves bounce off this layer stratosphere - temperature increase with altitude, planes, cruise at the lower part of this layer troposphere - 70% of the atmosphere is found here
The atmosphere interacts with visible light and other energy radiated by the Sun, as well as energy reflected from and radiated from Earth's surface, through transmission, reflection, absorption, and scattering. Drag the following statements to the correct mechanism of atmosphere-energy interaction.
transmission - atmosphere is largely transparent to visible light absorption - retention of energy that strikes molecules, energy absorbed can be given off as radiant energy called emission reflection - light that bounces off objects, white highly reflective, black low reflectance scattering - energy given off in various directions, responsible for blue sky color
Incoming shortwave radiation and outgoing longwave radiation interact with Earth's atmosphere. Complete the following sentences by dragging the correct phrase that completes each sentence.
Insolation at shorter wavelengths is nearly all absorbed by atmospheric gases and scattered by particles. Incoming visible light and adjacent wavelengths of UV are barely impacted by atmospheric gases. Most insolation entering the top of Earth's atmosphere is as visible light, whereas Earth emits its radiation back to space in the form of longwave radiation. The amount of outgoing longwave radiation blocked by the atmosphere is greatly influenced by the amount of cloud cover. Water vapor is the most abundant, and the most important, greenhouse gas. It absorbs a wide range of wavelengths of outgoing longwave radiation.
The seasons are caused by variations in the tilt of the Earth's axis as the Earth revolves around the Sun. As Earth orbits the Sun, the Northern Hemisphere faces in the direction of the Sun during some times of the year, while the Southern Hemisphere faces the Sun at other times. Changes in the position of the Sun and day length are marked by four dates: the June solstice, the September Equinox, the December solstice, and the March Equinox.
june solstice - june 21, all the area within the antarctic circle is in 24 hours darkness, all the area within the arctic circle is in 24 hours sunlight September equinox - on 9.21 the sun is directly overhead at the equator, September 21 december solstice - south pole and southern hemisphere face the sun, all the area within the arctic circle is in 24 hours darkness, all the area within the antarctic circle is in 24 hours sunlight march equinox - march 21, on 3/21 neither the north nor south poles are inclined toward the sun
The seasons are caused by variations in the tilt of the Earth's axis as the Earth revolves around the Sun. As Earth orbits the Sun, the Northern Hemisphere faces in the direction of the Sun during some times of the year, while the Southern Hemisphere faces the Sun at other times. Changes in the position of the Sun and day length are marked by four dates: the June solstice, the September Equinox, the December solstice, and the March Equinox.
june solstice - north pole and northern hemisphere face the sun, south pole and southern hemisphere face away from the sun, sun directly overhead at 23.5 degrees north september equinox - neither the north pole nor south pole inclined toward the sun on 9/21, 12 hours of daylight 12 hours of night everywhere on 9/21 december solstice -sun directly overhead at 23.5 degrees south, december 21, north pole and northern hemisphere face away from the sun march equinox - 12 hours of daylight 12 hours of night everywhere on 3/21, sun directly overhead at the equator on 3/21
The different wavelengths (and therefore frequencies) of electromagnetic radiation are arranged in what is called the electromagnetic spectrum, shown below. Inspect this figure and then read the associated text. Drag the description for a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to its proper location.
long radio waves - communication with submarines infrared - our skin perceives this form of energy as heat red visible spectrum - longest wavelengths in the visible spectrum purple visible spectrum - shortest wavelengths in the visible spectrum ultraviolet - skin cancer gamma rays - shortest wavelength
