Atmospheric Layers
What is the Atmosphere?
A thin layer of gases that surround the Earth
What are the three types of heat transfer and the single words associated with them.
Radiation - waves
Conduction - touch/contact
Convection - density
What is wind? ( 8th grade response!)
Horizontal movement of air from areas of high pressure to low pressure
What is air pollution?
contamination of the air through chemical such as smoke and gases
Troposphere
Stratosphere
mesosphere
Thermosphere
Exosphere
Give a description of each of the electromagnetic waves that the sun omits.
(wavelength and impact on people)
Visible light - medium wavelength; allows us to see color
Infrared (IR) - long wavelength; felt as heat
Ultraviolet (UV) - short wavelengths; break chemical bonds (give us sunburn/skin cancer)
Describe the doldrums.
Very light winds at the equator.
What is Point and Nonpoint source pollution? Be sure to give examples
point source - Pollution that comes from an identifiable source such as factories, power plants and erupting volcanoes
nonpoint source - Pollution that comes from a widespread area such as a large city or bacteria found in swamps
What is the relationship between temperature and altitude in the troposphere? Why?
As altitude increases, temperature decreases because of moving away from the warm surface of the Earth
What do the Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere do? Why can the greenhouse gas effect be bad?
Trap infrared radiation and direct it back to the surface which causes and additional buildup of heat at the Earth’s surface. This can be a bad thing because humans are also emitting these gases and therefore globally warming the planet.
What is the Coriolis Effect and how does it affect the different Hemispheres?
Rotation of the Earth causes winds to curve as they move across the Earth’s surface
Northern Hemisphere - curve to the right
Southern Hemisphere - curve to the left
What is acid precipitation and what harm can come from it?
Definition: Precipitation that has a lower pH than normal rainwater that forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides combine with moisture in the atmosphere.
Harm:
- Affects the chemistry of lakes and rivers which can harm organisms living in the water
- Damages buildings and structures made of stone
What is the ionosphere? Where is it located? How does it help benefit society?
A region of the mesosphere and thermosphere that contains ions (electronically charged particles. This layer is used to transmit radio waves that reflect back to Earth on these ions.
Give a specific example of of each of the types of heat transfers.
Answers may vary:
Conduction - feet on tile floor; food cooking in a frying pan
Convection - boiling water; fan circulating
Radiation - sunlight; campfire
Describe the difference of the types of local winds. Why do these winds occur?
Sea breeze - Breeze from water to land; day time
land breeze - breeze from land to water; night time
These winds occur because the land heats up and cools faster than the ocean
What is smog and what is its main component?
Air pollution that forms from the interaction between chemicals in the air and sunlight. It mainly contains ground level ozone which can make it difficult to breathe and reduce visibility.
Name a "fun" fact about each of the 5 layers that makes them important to learn about.
Troposphere - we live here and all weather occurs here
Stratosphere - planes fly up in this layer; ozone layer is found here
Mesosphere - meteors burn up in this layer
Thermosphere - the auroras are located here along with the ionosphere
Exosphere - satellites orbit in this layer
What type of weather is associated with stable air? Unstable air?
BONUS: What natural phenomenon occurs during stable conditions
Unstable - creates storms because there is a big air pressure difference between regions
stable - has clear weather because very little air needs to circulate to achieve equilibrium between air pressure regions
Bonus: a temperature inversion - when the bottom half of the troposphere suddenly becomes cold and a warm layer forms in the middle.
Describe the three types of Global winds. Be sure to include where they are located globally and the direction they blow.
Trade winds - closets to the equator; blow form east to west
Prevailing Westerlies - In the middle of the three (winds USA experiences); blow from west to east
Polar Easterlies - closets to the poles; blow form east to west
Who can help reduce air pollution? How can this be done? Give concrete examples of what has been done or what can be done.
Government officials - pass bills/laws ( ex. Clean Air Act)
Scientists - figure out what is causing the pollution; come up with alternative situations to hep reduce the production of pollution
YOU! - car pull; walk; public transportation