Features & Layers
The most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere: what is it and what percentage does it make up?
Nitrogen; 78%
Pollutants released directly into the air from a specific, single identifiable place
Point Source Pollution
Day to day conditions
Weather
Greenhouse effect
Scientific evidence/data expressed as numerical measurements
Quantitative data
The atmospheric layer closest to Earth's surface where all weather occurs and where most air molecules are
Troposphere
Pollutants formed when primary pollutants undergo chemical reactions with sunlight, water vapor, or other gases in the atmosphere
Secondary pollutants
The horizontal lines on a map that divide Earth into different climate zones
Latitude lines
The specific term for an increase in Earth's average global surface temperature
global warming
Which chemicals did the Montreal Protocol phase out?
What household product(s) were they found in? (list one)
Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs
Aerosol sprays, fridges, ACs
The amount of water vapor currently in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at a specific temperature
Relative humidity
Two major pieces of legislation designed to protect the air
Clean Air Act (US)
Montreal Protocol (international)
The circular motion of air that creates winds; driven by warm air rising and cool air sinking
convection currents
What are three major greenhouse gases?
Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor
What is the name of Ms. Lutzker's cat?
Chungus
This layer gets hotter as altitude increases because of ozone
Stratosphere
Acid rain forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide from factories mixes with water in the atmosphere and precipitates down as acids. What are the names of those two acids?
Sulfuric Acid and Nitric Acid
Solar energy reaches earth as light and heat waves, also known as ______________
Radiation
Ice cores; sediment layers; tree rings
They help scientists study past climates
What is the natural process done by producers that takes carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere?
photosynthesis
Which layer is the hottest? And which layer is the coldest?
Hottest = thermosphere; Coldest = Mesosphere
A thick, hazy mixture of pollutants trapped near Earth's surface, often formed when sunlight reacts with emissions
Photochemical Smog
The central line of latitude (0 degrees) that receives the most direct solar radiation year round
Equator
The broad-scale clearing of forests, which amplifies climate change by removing producers that absorb carbon dioxide
Deforestation
What process do humans do that increases the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere? (and increases air pollution)
burning (combustion) of fossil fuels