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10 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Atmosphere
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a mixture of gases that surrounds Earth
its composition is Nitrogen (N) = 78 % Oxygen (O) = 21 % 1% pollutants, CO2, Water Vapor |
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Air pressure
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the measure of the force with which air molecules push on a
surface - ↑ altitude (elevation) = ↓ air pressure because gravity pulls air down - **remember the hot air rises = low pressure and cold air sinks = high pressure |
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layers of Atmosphere
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Troposphere - the layer we live in, where weather occurs
Stratosphere- where the ozone layer is found, which protects us from harmful UV rays Mesosphere - middle layer, temperature decreases as altitude increases Thermosphere - upper layer, very very high temperatures the higher you go Ionosphere - located between the mesosphere and thermosphere, contains Nitrogen and Ogygen atoms that absorb the sun's rays and become charged particles that create the aurora borealis. |
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Three ways energy can be transferred in the atmosphere
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convection
conduction radiation |
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Radiation
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electromagnetic waves transfer heat
after the sun beams heat energy down to earth, the earth heats up and re-radiates heat back out into space. That balances out the temperature so earth doesn't get too unbearably hot. |
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conduction
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heat energy is transferred through materials
The sun's energy beams down to earth and heats up the particles in the air. those hot particles bounce around as they heat up and hit a cold object and cause their particles to get hot. |
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convection
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the sun's energy beams down on earth and heats up the cold dense air particles causing them to heat up and rise. when the hot particles rise to the top they push down the cold air.
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Green house effect
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the sun's energy beams down on earth and heats up the earth. The earth radiates the heat back out into the atmosphere, but greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor trap the heat in the atmosphere. Because the heat can't escape back out into space the atmosphere over heats.
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Radiation balance
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When the sun's energy beams down on earth and heats earth up the earth is supposed to re-radiate those heat waves back out into space so that the earth can't over heat
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Global warming
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the gradual increase in average global temperatures
It happens when greenhouse gases trap heat energy in the atmosphere and the earth overheats |