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124 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the atmosphere and what does it affect |
-Is the layer of gases that surround a planet -without we would have no weather -earth is made mostly out of nitrogen (n triple bound means it's a very strong bond) 1 part of the earths system |
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What is mars atmosphere |
Is 1% as dense as the earths -mostly cardon dioxide -150 km/h weeds feel like a light breeze |
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What are the 2 supdidciplines of atmospheric science |
Meteorology (the study of the atmospheric processes responsible for weather) Climatology (study of the climate) |
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What are earths 6 systems |
Atmosphere (air of the earth) Lithosphere( rocks and soils of earth) Biosphere (life on earth) Hydrosphere( water on earth) Cryosphere( ice on earth) Anthrophere( humans of earth) interacting with atmosphere |
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What are the 2 kinds of feedback loops |
Positive (a change starts small and grows) Negative (a change reduces itself) |
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Example of a positive and negative feedback |
Darker soils absorb more solar radiation and snow less solar radiation because it bounces off Positive (an increase in energy, warmer temps, melt snow, lower albedo, energy increases) Negative (energy increase, warmer temps, more evaporation, more clouds, increased alberto) |
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What is are scientific laws |
Provides precise descriptions of how nature works -cab be expressed in words, math equations or both |
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What are scientific theories |
Proved detailed explanations of how nature works -typify not an equation |
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What are the 5 steps to the scientific method |
1)make an observation 2)ask a question 3)form hypothesis 4)test hypothesis 5)accept or reject hypothesis |
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What are models |
Representation for a purpose (representation= something in real world. Purpose= particular use of model) -all models are wrong but can still be useful -models are simplifications |
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What are the 3 kinds of models |
Conceptual Physical Mathematical |
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What are conceptual models |
Represent our attempts to present our ideas about how something works - show relationships -abstract concepts -usually diagrams ex. Feedback loops |
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What are physical models |
Copies of the natural mechanism -used for visualization or investigation -ex. Wind tunnels, paper air plans, cloud chamber, rotating annulus |
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What is a rotating annulus |
Shows us what happens to the atmosphere of a spinning planet |
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What are mathematical models |
-reprwsent physicam process thtough math equations -1 simple one or a vast set -changing numbers allow up to investigate effects of changing conditions -ex. Stefan boltzmann equation |
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What does math do |
Provides way of communicating the form of a relationship -is the language of science Provides us with numbers we use to quantify our observations -allows us to make predictions |
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What is force |
Explained by Newtons 1st 2 law of motion -a body at rest will remain at rest unless an outside force acts on it, a body in motion at a constant velocity will remain in motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an outside force - the force required to accelerate a given mass is the product of the mass and the acceleration |
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What is energy and work |
Are related -have the same units -work is done when a net force .over an object through a distance -work is a type of energy transfer |
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What is power |
The rate of which energy flows or work is done -power is energy or work decided by time |
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What is pressure |
The force pur unit area -atmospheric pressure - The force exerted by the atmosphere in the earth s surface |
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Mass vs weight |
-mass is amount of matter (kg)-weight is the force on an object due to gravity (n) |
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What is density |
How much mass at a given volume -high density(more stuff) -less density(less stuff) -can have same volume and different mass -or different volume same mass |
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Pressure and density in the atmosphere |
Density decreases with hight in the atmosphere because air is compressible Pressure decreases with hight because pressure results for the weight of oveaying atmosphere |
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The atmosphere pressure |
90 % of atmosphere is below 100hPa -50% is below 500hPa When density is low it makes it hard to breath |
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What is temperature and inversions |
Changes with hight -treating layers of decreasing and increasing temp in atmosphere -inversions are well temp gets higher with hight |
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What is the troposphere |
-From earth s surface to 11km -boundary is the tropopause -temps decrease at a rate of 6.5°c/km -warmed by contact with earth s surface -well mixed vertically -most clouds |
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What is stratosphere |
Tropopause to 50km - the stratopause -temps increase with hight -warmed from above through ultraviolet radiation by ozone -little vertigo movement (turbulence) |
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What is the mesophere |
50 km to 85 km -mesopause -temp decreases with hight -warmed from below by contact with the stratosphere |
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What is the thermsphere |
Top layer - no defied boundary -temps increase with hight -heated from above by absorbing short wavelengths of solar radiation -mass is 0.01% of atmosphere -low density (we wouldn't feel warmth) |
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What does the earth atmosphere do |
Supports life processes -protects life From harmful radiation -helps produce ideal climate for life |
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What is the atmosphere made of |
99% N2 and O2 H2O Ar CO2 (N2 because 2 molecules bonded together) (Water has big impact on climate) |
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What are the constant gases |
Concentrations remain the same over timescales (large residence time) -well mixed horizontally and versitcall at a highly of 800km -nitrogen (78%) oxygen (21) inert gases (1%) |
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What are variable gases |
Concentrations vary over time and space (small residence time) -reactive, with small reservoirs -carbon dioxide -ozone -water vapour |
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What is residence time |
Average amount of time that a substance might be expected to remain in the atmosphere -sources are the inputs to a reservoir -sinks are the outputs for a reservoir |
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Residence times for constant and variable gases |
Constant -long -nitrogen (14,000,000 years) -oxygen (4,500 years) Variable -muh shorter -water(9.5 days) -carbon dioxide (5-200 years) |
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What are sources in nitrogen |
-denittificatiom -bacteria converts fixed nitrogen into N2 or nitrous oxide(N2O) -N2O is every converted back into N2 by photodissociation |
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What are the sinks in nitorgen |
Nitrogen fixation -converts nitrogen into forms that organisms can use to make proteins -bacteria, lightning (can break triple bond) |
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What are the sources in oxygen |
Photosynthesis -using light to produce carbohydrates and oxygen |
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What are the sinks if oxygen |
Respiration -carbohydrates and oxygen make energy (CO2 and H2O) -on absence of oxygen anaerobic decomposition is produces Oxidation -oxygen reacts with material in the earth s crust ex rust |
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What are the sinks and sources for carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas) |
Sources -Respiration -decomposition -combustion -volcanics Sinks -Photosynthesis -atmosphere ocean exchange -burial of organic carbon -weathering of silicate minerals |
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What is water vapour and it's sinks and sources |
Water that exists in 3 phases -solid, liquid and gas Sources Evaporation Sinks -condensation |
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What are the 3 roles of the ozone and it's sinks and sources |
1) absorbs untraviolt radiation (protects earth form harmful radiation ) 2) absorbes longwave readiaton 3) is a pollutant (can damage rubber and plastic and is harmful to plant and animals) Sinks and sources -photoxhemical reactions involving sunlight |
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Electromagnetic spectrum |
Hotter objects have shorter wavelengths |
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What are aerosols and their primary sources |
Solid or liquid particles suspended into air Sources -sea spray -dust and sand -seeds, spores, bacteria, viruses -soot and ash |
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What are aerosols secondary sources |
-sulphur dioxide gas converted to sulphuric acid -nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide converted to nitric acid -volatile oceanic compounds converted to solid or liquid hydrocarbons |
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What us the heterosphere and homoshpere |
Heterosphere -80km and higher -dominated by molecular diffusion -heaviest parties at bottom Homoshpere -below 80km -dominated by turbulent mixing -Constant gases are uniformly mixed |
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What is the ionosphere |
Electrified region -ions (positive and negative molrcules) -electrons -without it no am radio -at night we get better reflection because lawyers arnt as think or disappear |
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The formation of atmosphere |
Venus earth and bars all have atmosphere -they weren't these when planets formed -initial atmosphere must have formed later |
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What is the 2 reasons for the forming of the primitive(first) atmosphere |
1) outgassing (release of gases dissolved in rock) 2) comers and asteroids -contained mostly water vapour and carbon dioxide with small amounts of Nitrogen, sulphur, other gases |
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What are causes for atmospheric thinning |
-Water vapour condensed into liquid water -carbon dioxide removed slowly |
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The formation of atmosphere oxygen |
-phoyidissociation of water and carbon dioxide -Photosynthesis Started abound 3.5 billion years ago |
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The formation of atmosphere |
-change in relative proportion of major gases of the atmosphere over time -earth as a habitable planet |
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What is energy |
The ability to do work - we see it as light -feel it as heat -experience it as movement |
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What are the law of conservation of energy |
- energy can never be made or destroyed -can be transformed from 1 form to anouther - Can be transferred form objects -sun will eventually burn itself out |
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2 ways every is transferred |
1) as heat -conduction (touch) -convention (happening) -radiation (feel) 2) as work |
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What is heat |
- energy that is being transferred as a result of temp difference -heat flux (rate of energy transfer) -heat flux density( rate of energy transfer pur unit area) Causes kenetic energy |
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What is temperature and internal energy |
Temp -a measure of the average speed of molecules Internal -total energy contained within the atoms and molecules of a substance (Hotter objects move faster) (Larger abject give off more energy) |
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What are the 2 forms of energy |
Potential -stored energy (gravitational, chemical) Kenetic - energy in motion (radiant energy, latent heat, sensible heat) |
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What is sensible heat |
Het transfer that leads to temp change -is a property of a substance -heat capacity (ration of sensible heat absorbed to change temp) -not all substance warm at the same amount |
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What is latent heat |
Heat absorbed or released by a change in phase - no change in temp Absorbed latent heat -melting, evaporation, sublimation Release latent heat -freezing, condensation, deposition |
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Work |
Transfers energy by mechanical means ex. A person pushing a cart -work is equal to force times distance -gas does work by pushing on surroundings -expanding gas works on surroundings -compressing a gas requires work on the case (internal energy goes up) |
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What are the 2 ways to raise the temp of gas |
1) add heat 2) add work Both increase the internal energy |
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What is conduction |
Transfers heat from molecule to molecule -fast molecules pass energy to slower -highest for solids |
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In conduction what us the laminar boundary layer |
Layer of air that is contact with the ground -receives heat from conduction -few millimetres thick |
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What is convection and 2 types |
Transfers heat through the movement of liquids and gases 1) thermal convection (free) -driven by density differences that result from temp difference 2) forced convection (turbulence) -driven by mechanical forced -mixing driven by winds and turbulence |
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What is advection |
The lateral or horizontal transfer of mass, heat, or other property |
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What is radiation |
Energy that travels as electromagnetic waves (light waves, radio waves) - Can travel in a vacuum (only in heat transfer in space -everything emits and absorbs radiation - Hotter objects emit more radiation -have to be above absolute 0 |
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What transfer at night and day |
Day - radiation from sun warms the surface (some heat is transferred to atmosphere) Night -emission of radiation cools the surface (some heat is transferred from atmosphere) |
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What are wavelengths |
Distance between 2 bumps -all waves carry energy (some more then othrts) |
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The 3 parts if the electromagnetic spectrum |
Visible (0.4-0.7um) Infrared( 0.4-100um) Ultraviolet (0.1-0.4um) |
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What is Stefan boltzmann law |
Everything emits radiation above 0k -as temp of an object increases the more energy is emitted each second |
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What is Wiens law |
Substances do not emit over all wavelengths -wavelength of a maximum emission is inversely proportional to the temp -what the max for a given temp is |
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What is Planck law |
Radiation travels in bundles of energy call photons -shower wavelengths have large amounts if energy per photon -used to determine the rate emission of radiation at a single wavelength at a given temp (Equations for the shape of the curve) |
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Shortwave length and long Wave length |
Shortwave From the sun t= 5,777k -most emission I'd less then 2 um Longwave -from earth t=288k -most emission between 5 and 25um |
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What is incoming solar radiation |
Amount revived at the top of atmosphere (1361 w/m2) -340w/m2 throught the day Entering the atmosphere -absorbed -scattered -reflected -transmitted |
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What is scattering and what are the 3 kinds |
Sends radiation off in many directions 1) Raleigh scattering 2)Mie scattering 3) non selective |
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What is Raleigh scattering |
-particles doing scattering are smaller than the wavelengths of light -gas molecules perform Ashleigh scattering on visible light -scattering is inversely proportional to save me father (short are scattered more then long) -Why the sky is blue( blues and violts are more scattered) |
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What is non selective scattering |
-particles in scattering are about the same size as the wavelengths of light -wavelengths closest to the particle size are scattered the best -smaller particles dominate then blue light scatters - Larger particle dominate then red light scatters -range of particles then we see grey it white haze |
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What is mie scattering |
Particles doing the scattering are larger then the waves of light -scattered all wavelengths |
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In reflection what is albedo |
The reflectivity of a substance -clouds, snow and ice have high albedoes -vegetated surfaces have low |
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What happens when there is no convention or conduction |
Absorption is greater then emission the object gets hotter Absorption is less then emission then the object gets cooler |
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What are blackbodies |
-perfect absorber and perfect emitter -Wavelength specific -doesnt have to be black -earth surface (laobgwave) Is 1 |
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Radiative equilibrium |
Earth is in radiation equilibrium -what goes in comes out in a few years |
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What is kitchoffs law |
The absorptivity for a substance at a given wavelength is equal to it's emissivity - Good absorber is a good emitter (vice versa) -an object will admit radiation in the same spectrum it absorbs it |
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What is selective absorption |
-atmosphere easily transmits the sun's radiation buy never complelty absorbs Earth s radiation -longwave radiation is more strongly absorbed in atmosphere then short - some gases are good at absorbing the sun's radiation (short) -others good last absorbing Earth s radiation( long) |
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Selective absorption |
H20 and CO2 are good absorbers of infrared -molecules gain sensible heat (bump into other gases that are not good absorbers and give some energy) -H2O and CO2 good emitter of infrared |
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Selective absorption in could and clear nights |
-clear night are cooler -cloudy nights are warmer Because more water vapour is present |
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What is planetary radiation balance |
Over the entire planet and long time interval (incoming radiation= outgoing radiation) |
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The radiative fluxes and turbulent fluxes that balance energy |
Radiative -Shortwave(sunglight) -longwave (infrared) -net radiation Turbulent fluxes -latent heat -sensible heat (Net energy has to be balanced) Net radiation=turbulent fluxes |
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Long wave radiation |
-know how much solor radiation the earth receives -know how the earth is at radiative balance -using Stefan boltzmann law we can calculate temp -relates the temp of a black body to it's total radiation (energy=temp4) -portion of energy is absorbed a d reradiated towards surface (our average albeto is 30%) |
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What absorbe longwave (infrared) radiation |
CO2 N2O H2O |
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Latent heat of vaporization and condensation |
Vaporization - energy is taken from the environment Condensation - energy is given to the environment |
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Condution and convection in sensible heat |
Conduction -atmosphere is poor conductor -warms the air near the surface Convection -warms air is less dense -warms air rises and cooler air sinks -thermal |
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Surpluses and deficients |
Can't have a a continuous of either bauce then we are getting hotter and hotter or we are getting colder and colder Ocean current and atmosphere currents have a big role in this |
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Daily budgets |
Day= surpluses Night= deficient At night 0 solar radiation Ex desert surface -temp increase during day is large -know specific heat -little moisture -know hear conductivity (Q is low to high albedo 30% and L is high because large temp decrease at night, clear skies is dry conditions) |
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Ex of sail budgets |
Ocean example -Q is high cause low albedo (10%) -L is low cause small temp decrease at night Temp increase during the say is low -high specific heat -lots of evaporation -convective mixing carries heat deeper into water |
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What are some the physical controls if temp |
Controling QH flux at the surface - Net radiation - sun angle, surface features, elevation -ground and latent heat flux -soil/ground conditions, availabilty of moisture -sensible heat flux -differences in temp, wind, atmophetric stability -advection between oceans and continents -caused by weather systems |
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Seasons |
Earth is titled I'm it's axis creating summer and winter (23.5°) -closer to the sun in January then in July - sun angle (winter= closer to horizon , summer= higher above) -not a perfect ellipse (northern vs southern hemisphere) |
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Sun angle |
Energy is spread over a larger area when titled (As we add more angle we see more scattering because over a larger area) -cosine law of illumination |
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Seasons |
Solstices (the longest days) Equinoxes(when day and night are equal as sun crossed the equator) |
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Aspect and elevation |
The southern side with no trees will have less moisture because of the sun |
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What are the daytime warming |
Conduction( is a poor conductor) Free convection( thermals) warm Forced convection (thurbulence) cooler A thermometer will be out in a box to measure temp so it doesn't absorbs any radiation and warm up |
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Daytime warming |
QH positive -sensible heat flux into the air QH negative -air losses sensible heat to the surface -depends on soil type, moisture and vegetation |
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Nighttime cooling |
-Radiative cooling -surface cooks quickly -Radiation inversion |
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What can ve dine ti protect crops from frost damage |
-cover -orchard heaters (circulate the air by setting up convection current to arm trees) -wind machines (propeller fans mounted on poles to mix the cold air below and warm air above) -sprinklers |
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Circulation of water and the hydrologic cycle |
-Humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air -Humidity is not constant through time or space Hydrologic cycle -made of constant circulation of water -transforming water form a liquid to solid to vapour and back to liquid |
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What are the storage compartments and exchanges in the hydrologic cycle |
Storage -oceans Atmosphere -ice -surface water -ground water -soil moisture Exchanges -precipitation -evaporation -transpiration -surface and subsurface flow |
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Water budgets |
If water inputs are greater then outputs you see increasing -evapotromsperation (evaporation through plants) -potential vs actual evapotromsperation |
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What are the phase changes |
Gas(water vapour) -molecules more freely Liquid -molecules closer together, constantly bumping into each other Ice -orderly Patten, each molecule locked into a rigid position |
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What is evaporation, condensation and saturation |
Evaporation -liquid into a gas -needs heat Condensation -gas into a liquid -releases heat Saturation -equilibrium condition - rate of evaporation equals condensation (Warmer liquids have more evaporation ) (Warmer air can hold more gas) |
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What is condensation nuclei and supersaturated |
Condensation nuclei - small particles that water vapour molecules condence into Supersaturated -amount of water vapour exceeds saturation level Supersaturated=net condensation |
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Absolute , specific and mixing ratio in humidity |
Absolute - water vapour density not often used because - changing in copy me it change in moisture content -rising and descending parcels of air Mixing ratio -not dependent on volume |
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What us vapour pressure (Daltons law of partial pressure) |
-every gas exerts a partial pressure that adds to the total atmospheric pressure - vapour pressure is the partial pressure of water vapour |
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What is saturation vapour pressure |
Vapour pressure at which an air parcel will be saturated -evaporation=condensation -it is the maximum vapour pressure that can exist at a given temp -dependent in temp (Warmer air can hold onto more moisture then cold air) |
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What us evaporation and boiling |
-are different -E at 100c is 1013hPa (100c Is the boiling point of water at sea level) -when e is equal to air pressure the entire volume of liquid will begin vaporize -changes in air pressure affect boiling points (when air pressure goes down so does boiling point) |
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What is relative humindidty |
Measure of how close the air temp is to saturation -not a measure of actual amount of water vapour in air -depends on both the vapour content and temp -change the amount of water or temp or both -in % -100% is saturated |
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What us dew point |
Is the temp air must be cooled to for saturation to happen -dew point is goid measure if actual water vapour content -see point indicates amount of water vapour (High dew point, high amounts of water) Water vapour is good for trapping radiation so high dew point=High temp |
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What are the maingeograpgic controls |
Latitude Land and water distribution Ocean current Elevation |
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What are isotherms in geographic |
Lined connecting places that have the same temp |
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Temperature data |
Daily, monthly, yearly temps Range -dry vs humid areas -cities vs rural areas Mean Based on previous 30 years of observation |
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Using temp data |
Heating degree day( assumes people use furnaces when temp below 18°c) Cooling degree day( used to estimate energy needs for air conditioning, temp above 18°c) Growing degree day( guide to planting schedule, determine when crop should be ready) |
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What is human comfort |
Body heat provided by metabolism -body cooled by emitting infrared energy and evaporation of prespiration perceived or sensible temps -influenced by condition and convection -wind speed and wind chill index -Humidity |
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What are 2 ways to measure temp |
Thermometers -liquid in glass (max and min) -electrical (resistance, thermistors, thermocouple) -bimetallic(made of brass and iron) as temps change the brass expands more then iron to cause strip to bend) Sensors - infrared radiometer |
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What are shelters |
-important for standardized measurements Thermometers are housed in instrument shelter ex. Stevenson screen |
